UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No.)

Filed by the Registrant X   Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ☐

Check the appropriate box:

☐ Preliminary Proxy Statement

☐ Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

X Definitive Proxy Statement

☐ Definitive Additional Materials

☐ Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

The Hershey Company

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

☒ 
XNo fee required.

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☐ Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.


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Notice


LOGO

Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting of



logoa03.jpg
Notice of 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

Stockholders

Wednesday,Tuesday, May 3, 2017

21, 2019

10:00 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time

GIANT Center

The 20172019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of The Hershey Company (the “Company”) will be held on Wednesday,Tuesday, May 3, 2017,21, 2019, beginning at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time, at GIANT Center, 550 West Hersheypark Drive, Hershey, Pennsylvania. The purposes of the meeting are as follows:

1.To elect the 12 nominees named in the Proxy Statement to serve as directors of the Company until the 20182020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders;

2.To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2017;2019;

3.To conduct an advisory vote regarding the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers;

4.To conduct an advisory vote regarding the frequency of future advisory votes on named executive officer compensation; and

5.4.To discuss and take action on any other business that is properly brought before the Annual Meeting.

The Proxy Statement accompanying this Notice of 20172019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders describes each of these items in detail. The Proxy Statement contains other important information that you should read and consider before you vote.

The Board of Directors of the Company has established the close of business on March 6, 201722, 2019 as the record date for determining the stockholders who are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof.

The Company is furnishing proxy materials to its stockholders through the Internet as permitted under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Under these rules, many of the Company’s stockholders will receive a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials instead of a paper copy of the Notice of 20172019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement, our proxy card, and our Annual Report on Form10-K. We believe this process gives us the opportunity to serve you more efficiently by making the proxy materials available quickly online and reducing costs associated with printing and postage. Stockholders who do not receive a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials will receive a paper copy of the proxy materials by mail.

By order of the Board of Directors,

LOGO

Leslie M. Turner

dasignaturea01.jpg
Damien Atkins
Senior Vice President,

General Counsel and Secretary

March 23, 2017

April 11, 2019
Your vote is important. Instructions on how to vote are contained in our Proxy Statement and in the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials. Please cast your vote by telephone or over the Internet as described in those materials. Alternatively, if you requested a copy of the proxy/voting instruction card by mail, you may mark, sign, date and return the proxy/voting instruction card in the envelope provided.



LOGO

Proxy Statement Summary




2017
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Proxy Statement Summary

2019 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

Date and Time:

 

      Wednesday,Tuesday, May 3, 2017

21, 2019

10:00 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time

Place:

 

GIANT Center

550 West Hersheypark Drive

Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033

Record Date:

 March 6, 201722, 2019


VOTING MATTERS AND BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS

Voting Matter

Board Vote

Recommendation

  Page Number with  

More Information

Proposal 1:

Election of Directors
  FOR each nominee  
2221

Proposal 2:

Ratification of Appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as Independent Auditors
FOR
FOR4037

Proposal 3:

Advise on Named Executive Officer Compensation
FOR
FOR82

Proposal 4:

Advise on Frequency of Future Advisory Votes on Named Executive Officer Compensation1 YEAR8376












This Proxy Statement Summary contains highlights of certain information in this Proxy Statement. Because it is only a summary, it does not contain all the information that you should consider prior to voting. Please review the complete Proxy Statement and the Company’s 20162018 Annual Report onForm 10-K that accompanies the Proxy Statement for additional information.

1






OUR DIRECTOR NOMINEES

You have the opportunity to vote on the election of the following 12 nominees for director. Additional information regarding each director nominee’s experience, skills and qualifications to serve as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) can be found in the Proxy Statement under Proposal No. 1 – Election of Directors.

 

Name

 

 

 

Age

 

 

 

Years on

Board

 

 

 

Position

 

 

 

Independent

 

 

 

Committee

Memberships*

 

Pamela M. Arway

 63 7 Former President, Japan/Asia Pacific/Australia Region, American Express International, Inc. Yes 

Audit

Executive

Governance+

John P. Bilbrey**

 60 6 Chairman of the Board, The Hershey Company No Executive+

James W. Brown

 65 0 Director, Hershey Trust Company; Member, Board of Managers, Milton Hershey School Yes None

Michele G. Buck

 55 0 President and Chief Executive Officer, The Hershey Company No None

Charles A. Davis

 68 10 Chief Executive Officer, Stone Point Capital LLC Yes 

Audit+

Executive

Mary Kay Haben

 60 4 Former President, North America, Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company Yes 

Compensation

Governance

M. Diane Koken

 64 0 Director, Hershey Trust Company; Member, Board of Managers, Milton Hershey School Yes None

Robert M. Malcolm

 64 6 Former President, Global Marketing, Sales & Innovation, Diageo PLC Yes 

Compensation

Finance & Risk

James M. Mead

 71 6 Founder and Managing Director, JM Mead, LLC Yes 

Audit

Compensation+

Executive

Anthony J. Palmer

 57 6 President, Global Brands and Innovation, Kimberly-Clark Corporation Yes 

Compensation

Finance & Risk

Thomas J. Ridge

 71 10 Chairman, Ridge Global, LLC Yes 

Finance & Risk

Governance

David L. Shedlarz

 68 9 Former Vice Chairman, Pfizer Inc. Yes 

Compensation

Executive

Finance & Risk+

Name
 
Age
 
 
Years on
Board
 
Position
 
Independent
 
 
Committee
Memberships*
 
Pamela M. Arway659Former President, Japan/Asia Pacific/Australia Region, American Express International, Inc.Yes
Compensation
Finance & Risk
James W. Brown672Director, Hershey Trust Company; Member, Board of Managers, Milton Hershey SchoolYes
Audit
Governance
Michele G. Buck572President and Chief Executive Officer, The Hershey CompanyNoNone
Charles A. Davis**
7012Chief Executive Officer, Stone Point Capital LLCYes
Audit***
Compensation***
Executive+
Finance & Risk***
Governance
Mary Kay Haben626Former President, North America, Wm. Wrigley Jr. CompanyYes
Compensation
Executive
Governance+
James C. Katzman511Director, Hershey Trust Company; Member, Board of Managers, Milton Hershey SchoolYesFinance & Risk
M. Diane Koken662Director, Hershey Trust Company; Member, Board of Managers, Milton Hershey SchoolYes
Audit
Compensation
Robert M. Malcolm668Former President, Global Marketing, Sales & Innovation, Diageo PLCYes
Audit
Executive
Finance & Risk+
Anthony J. Palmer598
Chief Executive Officer,
TropicSport
Yes
Compensation+
Executive
Governance
Juan R. Perez520Chief Information and Engineering Officer, United Parcel Service, Inc.YesNone
Wendy L. Schoppert522Former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Sleep Number CorporationYes
Audit
Finance & Risk
David L. Shedlarz7011Former Vice Chairman, Pfizer Inc.Yes
Audit+
Executive
Finance & Risk
____________________
*
Compensation = Compensation and Executive Organization Committee

Finance & Risk = Finance and Risk Management Committee

**Mr. Bilbrey retired from the position of President and Chief Executive OfficerChairman of the Company effective March 1, 2017Board

***Mr. Davis, as our Chairman of the Board, is an ex-officio member of the Audit Committee, the Compensation and Executive Organization Committee and the Finance and Risk Management Committee
+Committee Chair

2





GOVERNANCE HIGHLIGHTS

  Board Composition

12 director nominees; 10 are independent

Average age of director nominees is 64
Composition of Directors and Director Nominees

Average tenure of director nominees is 5 years

3 new directors/director nominees in 2017

One-third of director nominees are femalechart-26835baa17e41f5ed35.jpgchart-636d826f8e64dde1a4fa03.jpg

Highly qualified directors reflect broad mix of business backgrounds, skills and experiences

  Corporate Governance


Separate Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer positions as of March 1, 2017

Strong Lead Independent Director position

4 fully independent Board committees plus an Executive Committee

Executive session of independent directors held at each regularly-scheduled Board meeting

Declassified Board – all directors elected annually

Frequent Board and committee meetings to ensure awareness and alignmentchart-cfe0d6dbe035e7654f8a03.jpgchart-0439fd801e07d79a488a03.jpg



Board Meetings and Attendance

chart-e4a9d92be3b00294f91.jpg
Average Director Attendance
95%


  Corporate Governance

Board Structure Ensures
Strong Oversight
Policies and Practices Align to High Corporate Governance Standards
 
Ÿ¡  4 standing independent Board committees
 13 Board meetings in 2016
Ÿ  All directors elected annually

 
Ÿ¡  Separate Chairman of the Board and CEO positions
 34 standing
Ÿ  Highly qualified directors reflect broad mix of skills, experiences and attributes
Ÿ  Independent directors meet separately at each regularly-scheduled Board meeting
Ÿ  Generally, committee chairs required to step down after 4 consecutive years as chair
Ÿ  Frequent Board and committee meetings in 2016

¡to ensure awareness and alignment 4 special committee meetings in 2016

On average, directors attended 94% of Board and committee meetings held in 2016

Generally, each committee chair required to step down after 4 consecutive years as chair

Annual Board and committee self-assessments and discussions with individual directors

Resignation requirement upon material change in director occupation (subject to acceptance by the Board)

 
ŸDirectors generally not nominated forre-election after 72nd72nd birthday

Strong clawback and anti-hedging policies

Significant stock ownership requirements for directors and senior executives

Active role in risk oversight, including separate risk management committee

Annual advisory vote on named executive officer compensation

 ¡ 
Ÿ  Active role in risk oversight, including separate risk management committee
Strong Alignment with
Stockholders' Interests
Ÿ  Strong clawback and anti-hedging policies
Ÿ  Significant stock ownership requirements
Ÿ  Annual advisory vote on executive compensation
ô Approximately 95% stockholder approval (basedevery year





COMPANY STRATEGY AND 2018 BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS
16,420$7.8B80+
EMPLOYEES GLOBALLYIN ANNUAL REVENUESBRANDS
Our vision is to be an innovative snacking powerhouse
We are focused on votes cast) every yearthree strategic imperatives to ensure the Company's success now and in the future:
Reignite our core confection business and broaden participation in snackingReallocate resources to enable margin expansion and fuel growthInvest to strengthen our capabilities and leverage technology for commercial advantage and growth

2 directors elected by holders of common stock voting separately
2018 Performance Highlights
3.7%14.3%
NET SALES GROWTH
ADJUSTED EARNINGS PER
SHARE-DILUTED GROWTH(1)
Over the last three years, we have delivered
peer-leading Total Shareholder Return

3


chart-a72d02685c2db6083f6a03.jpg

(1)While we report our financial results in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), we also use non-GAAP financial measures within Management’s Discussion and Analysis in the 2018 Annual Report on Form 10-K that accompanies this Proxy Statement in order to provide additional information to investors to facilitate the comparison of past and present performance. Some of the financial targets under our short- and long-term incentive programs are also based on non-GAAP financial measures. Non-GAAP financial measures are used by management in evaluating results of operations internally and in assessing the impact of known trends and uncertainties on our business, but they are not intended to replace the presentation of financial results in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted earnings per share-diluted is a non-GAAP financial measure. We define adjusted earnings per share-diluted as diluted earnings per share of the Company’s common stock (“Common Stock”), excluding costs associated with business realignment activities, costs relating to the integration of acquisitions, long-lived and intangible asset impairment charges, unallocated gains and losses associated with mark-to-market commodity derivatives, pension settlement charges relating to Company-directed initiatives, the one-time impact of U.S. tax reform and the gain realized on the sale of certain licensing rights.



EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION HIGHLIGHTS

Our strategic plan and the financial metrics we establish to help achieve and measure success against that plan, serve as the foundation of our executive compensation program. Our executive compensation program is intended to provide competitive compensation based on performance and contributions to the Company, to incentivize, attract and retain key executives, to align the interests of our executive officers and our stockholders and to drive stockholder value over the long term. To achieve these objectives, our executive compensation program includes the following key features:

We Pay for Performance by aligning our short- and long-term incentive compensation plans with business strategies to reward executives who achieve or exceed applicable Company and business division goals.

¡In 2016, approximately 70% of the target total direct compensation for our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and, on average, 60% of the target total direct compensation for our other named executive officers (“NEOs”) was variable and tied to Company performance.

¡Payouts under our annual cash incentive program for 2016 were 100% performance based.

¡50% of the equity awards granted to our NEOs in 2016 took the form of performance stock units, which will be earned based on achievement ofpre-determined performance goals.

¡25% of the equity awards granted to our NEOs in 2016 took the form of stock options, which will only have value to our NEOs to the extent our stock price increases over the long term.

We Pay Competitively by targeting total cash compensation and total direct compensation for each of our NEOs around the 50th percentile of our defined market for talent.

¡We regularly review and, as appropriate, make changes to our peer group to ensure it is representative of our market for talent, our business portfolio, our overall size and our global footprint.

¡We do not provide excessive benefits and perquisites to our executives.

We Align Our Compensation Program with Stockholder Interests by providing a significant amount of each NEO’s compensation opportunity in the form of equity and requiring executive stock ownership.

¡Equity grants represented 65% of our CEO’s 2016 target total direct compensation and, on average, 52% of the 2016 target total direct compensation for our other NEOs.

¡Stock ownership requirements for our NEOs range from 5x salary (for our CEO) to 3x salary (for NEOs other than our CEO).

We Pay for Performance by aligning our short- and long-term incentive compensation plans with business strategies to reward executives who achieve or exceed applicable Company and business division goals.
The target total direct compensation mix in 2018 for our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and our other named executive officers (“NEOs”), excluding Leslie M. Turner, our former Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, who retired from the Company on April 1, 2018, reflects this philosophy.
chart-252fa12c259a8e4501aa03.jpgchart-656f47c807a56322ea0a03.jpg

CEO Target Total DirectAt-Risk Compensation for 2016

= 87%
At-Risk Compensation = 74%

Payouts under our annual cash incentive program for 2018 were 100% performance based.
50% of the equity awards granted to our NEOs in 2018 took the form of performance stock units, which will be earned based on achievement of pre-determined performance goals.
We Pay Competitively by targeting total direct compensation for our executive officers, in aggregate, at competitive pay levels using the median of our peer group for reference.
We regularly review and, as appropriate, make changes to our peer group to ensure it is representative of our market for talent, our business portfolio, our overall size and our global footprint.
We do not provide excessive benefits and perquisites to our executives.
We Align Our Compensation Program with Stockholder Interests by providing a significant amount of each NEO’s compensation opportunity in the form of equity and requiring executive stock ownership.
Equity grants represented 67% of our CEO’s 2018 target total direct compensation and, on average, 52% of the 2018 target total direct compensation for our other NEOs, excluding Ms. Turner.
Stock ownership requirements for our NEOs range from 6x salary (for our CEO) to 3x salary (for NEOs other than our CEO).







Compensation Element

% of Total    

Description

Cash    

Equity    

Salary

14Fixed annual cash amount✓    

Annual Cash Incentive

21Variable annual cash payment✓    

Long-Term Incentive

65Equity awards with 3-4 year vest periods✓    Proxy Statement

4


Proxy Statement

The Board of Directors (the “Board”) of The Hershey Company (the “Company,” “we,” or “us”) is furnishing this Proxy Statement and the accompanying form of proxy in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the 20172019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company (the “Annual Meeting”). The Annual Meeting will be held on May 3, 2017,21, 2019, beginning at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time (“EDT”), at GIANT Center, 550 West Hersheypark Drive, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033.

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the

2017

2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 3, 2017

21, 2019

The Notice of 20172019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement, our proxy card, our Annual Report on Form10-K and other annual meeting materials are available free of charge on the Internet atwww.proxyvote.com.We intend to begin mailing our Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials to stockholders on or about March 23, 2017.April 11, 2019. At that time, we also will begin mailing paper copies of our proxy materials to stockholders who requested them.


QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING

Q:
Q:Who is entitled to attend and vote at the Annual Meeting?

A:You can attend and vote at the Annual Meeting if, as of the close of business on March 6, 201722, 2019 (the “Record Date”), you were a stockholder of record of the Company’s common stock (“Common Stock”) or Class B common stock (“Class B Common Stock”). As of the Record Date, there were 152,069,763147,913,263 shares of our Common Stock and60,619,777and 60,613,777 shares of our Class B Common Stock outstanding.


Q:
Q:How do I gain admission to the Annual Meeting?

A:
If you are aregistered stockholder, you must bring with you the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials and a government-issued photo identification (such as a valid driver’s license or passport) to gain admission to the Annual Meeting. If you did not receive a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials because you elected to receive a paper copy of the proxy materials, please bring the admission ticket printed on the top half of the proxy card supplied with those materials, together with your government-issued photo identification. If you receive your proxy materials by email, please call our Investor Relations Department at (800)539-0261 and request an admission ticket for the meeting.

 
If you hold your shares instreet name and want to attend the Annual Meeting, you must bring your government-issued photo identification, together with:

The Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials you received from your broker, bank or other holder of record; or

A letter from your broker, bank or other holder of record indicating that you were the beneficial owner of Company stock as of the Record Date; or

Your most recent account statement indicating that you were the beneficial owner of Company stock as of the Record Date.

5



Q:
Q:What is the difference between a registered stockholder and a stockholder who owns stock in street name?

A:
If you hold shares of Common Stock or Class B Common Stock directly in your name on the books of the Company’s transfer agent, you are aregistered stockholder. If you own your Company shares indirectly through a broker, bank or other holder of record, then you are a beneficial owner and those shares are held instreet name.




Q:
Q:What are the voting rights of each class of stock?

A:Stockholders are entitled to cast one vote for each share of Common Stock held as of the Record Date, and 10 votes for each share of Class B Common Stock held as of the Record Date. There are no cumulative voting rights.


Q:
Q:Can I vote my shares before the Annual Meeting?

A:
Yes. If you are aregistered stockholder, there are three ways to vote your shares before the Annual Meeting:

LOGO:
By Internet(www.proxyvote.com) – Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions until
11:59 p.m. EDT on May 2, 2017.20, 2019. Have your Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or
proxy card available and follow the instructions on the website to vote your shares.

LOGO

 

)

By telephone(800-690-6903) – Submit your vote by telephone until 11:59 p.m. EDT on May 2, 2017.20, 2019. Have your Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or proxy card available and follow the instructions provided by the recorded message to vote your shares.

LOGO

 

,

By mail – If you received a paper copy of the proxy materials, you can vote by mail by filling out the proxy card enclosed with those materials and returning it pursuant to the instructions set forth on the card. To be valid, proxy cards must be received before the start of the Annual Meeting.

If your shares are held in street name, your broker, bank or other holder of record may provide you with a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials that contains instructions on how to access our proxy materials and vote online or to request a paper or email copy of our proxy materials. If you received these materials in paper form, the materials included a voting instruction card so you can instruct your broker, bank or other holder of record how to vote your shares.

Please see the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or the information your bank, broker or other holder of record provided you for more information on these voting options.

Q:
Q:Can I vote in person at the Annual Meeting instead of by proxy?

A:
If you are aregistered stockholder, you can vote at the Annual Meeting any shares that were registered in your name as the stockholder of record as of the Record Date.

    
If your shares are held instreet name, you cannot vote those shares at the Annual Meeting unless you have a legal proxy from the holder of record. If you plan to attend and vote your street-name shares at the Annual Meeting, you should request a legal proxy from your broker, bank or other holder of record and bring it with you to the Annual Meeting.

6


    
If you plan to vote at the Annual Meeting, please pick up a ballot at the designated voting booth upon your arrival. You may then either deposit your ballot in any of the designated ballot boxes located inside the meeting room before the meeting begins or submit your ballot to a meeting usher at the time designated during the meeting.Ballots will not be distributed during the meeting. Shares may not be voted after the polls close.

    Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we strongly encourage you to vote your shares by proxy prior to the Annual Meeting.




Q:
Q:Can I revoke my proxy or change my voting instructions once submitted?

A:
If you are aregistered stockholder, you can revoke your proxy and change your vote prior to the Annual Meeting by:

Sending a written notice of revocation to our Corporate Secretary at 100 Crystal A Drive,19 East Chocolate Avenue, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033 (the notification must be received by the close of business on May 2, 2017)20, 2019);

Voting again by Internet or telephone prior to 11:59 p.m. EDT on May 2, 201720, 2019 (only the latest vote you submit will be counted); or

Submitting a new properly signed and dated paper proxy card with a later date (your proxy card must be received before the start of the Annual Meeting).

    
If your shares are held instreet name, you should contact your broker, bank or other holder of record about revoking your voting instructions and changing your vote prior to the Annual Meeting.

    If you are eligible to vote at the Annual Meeting, you also can revoke your proxy or voting instructions and change your vote at the Annual Meeting by submitting a written ballot before the polls close.


Q:
Q:What will happen if I submit my proxy but do not vote on a proposal?

A:If you submit a valid proxy but fail to provide instructions on how you want your shares to be voted, your proxy will be voted in the manner recommended by the Board on all matters presented in this Proxy Statement, which is as follows:

“FOR” the election of all director nominees;

“FOR” the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent auditors; and

“FOR” the approval of the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers (“NEOs”); and.

For “1 YEAR” as the frequency of future advisory votes on NEO compensation.

    If any other item is properly presented for a vote at the Annual Meeting, the shares represented by your properly submitted proxy will be voted at the discretion of the proxies.

7



Q:
Q:What will happen if I neither submit my proxy nor vote my shares in person at the Annual Meeting?

A:
If you are aregistered stockholder, your shares will not be voted.

    
If your shares are held instreet name, your broker, bank or other holder of record may vote your shares on certain “routine” matters. The ratification of independent auditors is currently considered to be a routine matter. On this matter, your broker, bank or other holder of record can:

Vote your street-name shares even though you have not provided voting instructions; or

Choose not to vote your shares.

    The other matters you are being asked to vote on are not routine and cannot be voted by your broker, bank or other holder of record without your instructions. When a broker, bank or other holder of record is unable to vote shares for this reason, it is called a “brokernon-vote.”

Q:
How do I vote if I am a participant in one of the Company’s 401(k) Plans?

A:Q:If you are a participant in either The Hershey Company 401(k) Plan or The Hershey Company Puerto Rico 401(k) Plan, you may have certain voting rights with respect to shares of our Common Stock credited to your account in the plan. You do not own these shares. They are owned by the plan trustee.

Each of the plans provides you with voting rights based on the number of shares of Common Stock that were constructively invested in your plan account as of the close of business on the Record Date. We originally contributed these shares to the plan on your behalf as matching or supplemental retirement contributions. You may vote these shares in much the same way as registered stockholders vote their shares, but you have an earlier deadline. Your vote must be received by the plan trustee by 11:59 p.m. EDT on April 28, 2017. You may vote these shares by following the instructions provided on the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials and on the voter website,www.proxyvote.com. If you requested a paper copy of the proxy materials, you also may vote by mail by signing, dating and returning the proxy/voting instruction card included with those materials.

The plan trustee will submit one proxy to vote all shares of Common Stock in the plan. The trustee will vote the shares of Common Stock credited to participants submitting voting instructions in accordance with their instructions and will vote the shares of Common Stock in the plan for which no voting instructions were received in the same proportion as the final votes of all participants who actually voted. Please note that if you do not submit voting instructions for the shares of Common Stock in your account by the voting deadline, those shares will be included with the other undirected shares and voted by the trustee as described above. Because the trustee submits one proxy to vote all shares of Common Stock in the plan, you may not vote plan shares in person at the Annual Meeting.

Q:How do I vote my shares in the Company’s Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Service Plan?

A:Computershare, our transfer agent, has arranged for any shares that you hold in the Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Service Plan to be included in the total registered shares of Common Stock shown on the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or proxy card we have provided you. By voting these shares, you also will be voting your shares in the Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Service Plan.

8




Q:
Q:What does it mean if I received more than one Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or proxy card?

A:You probably have multiple accounts with us and/or brokers, banks or other holders of record. You should vote all of the shares represented by these Notices/proxy cards. Certain brokers, banks and other holders of record have procedures in place to discontinue duplicate mailings upon a stockholder’s request. You should contact your broker, bank or other holder of record for more information. Additionally, Computershare can assist you if you want to consolidate multiple registered accounts existing in your name. To contact Computershare, visit their website at www.computershare.com/investor; or write to P.O. Box 30170, College Station, Texas 77842-3170;505000, Louisville, KY 40233-5000; or for overnight delivery, to Computershare, 211 Quality Circle,462 South 4th Street, Suite 210, College Station, Texas 77845;1600, Louisville, KY 40202; or call:

(800)851-4216 Domestic Holders

(201)680-6578 Foreign Holders

(800)952-9245 Domestic TDD line for hearing impaired

(312)588-4110 Foreign TDD line for hearing impaired


Q:
Q:How many shares must be present to conduct business at the Annual Meeting?

A:To carry on the business of the Annual Meeting, a minimum number of shares, constituting a quorum, must be present, either in person or by proxy.

 On most matters, the votes of the holders of the Common Stock and Class B Common Stock are counted together. However, there are some matters that must be voted on only by the holders of one class of stock. We will have a quorum for all matters to be voted on at the Annual Meeting if the following number of votes is present, in person or by proxy:

For any matter requiring the vote of the Common Stock voting separately: a majority of the votes of the Common Stock outstanding on the Record Date.
For any matter requiring the vote of the Class B Common Stock voting separately: a majority of the votes of the Class B Common Stock outstanding on the Record Date.
For any matter requiring the vote of the Common Stock and Class B Common Stock voting together without regard to class: a majority of the votes of the Common Stock and Class B Common Stock outstanding on the Record Date.
For any matter requiring the vote of the Common Stock voting separately: a majority of the votes of the Common Stock outstanding on the Record Date.

For any matter requiring the vote of the Class B Common Stock voting separately: a majority of the votes of the Class B Common Stock outstanding on the Record Date.

For any matter requiring the vote of the Common Stock and Class B Common Stock voting together without regard to class: a majority of the votes of the Common Stock and Class B Common Stock outstanding on the Record Date.

    It is possible that we could have a quorum for certain items of business to be voted on at the Annual Meeting and not have a quorum for other matters. If that occurs, we will proceed with a vote only on the matters for which a quorum is present.


Q:
Q:What vote is required to approve each proposal?

A:Assuming that a quorum is present:

Proposal No. 1: Election of Directors – the two nominees to be elected by holders of our Common Stock voting separately as a class who receive the greatest number of votes cast “FOR,” and the 10 nominees to be elected by holders of our Common Stock and Class B Common Stock voting together who receive the greatest number of votes cast “FOR,” will be elected as directors.
Proposal No. 2: Ratification of the Appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as Independent Auditors – the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the shares of Common Stock and Class B Common Stock (voting together as a class) represented at the Annual Meeting.
Proposal No. 3: Advise on Named Executive Officer Compensation – the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the shares of Common Stock and Class B Common Stock (voting together as a class) represented at the Annual Meeting.



Q:Proposal No. 1: Election of Directors – the two nominees to be elected by holders of our Common Stock voting separately as a class who receive the greatest number of votes cast “FOR,” and the ten nominees to be elected by holders of our Common Stock and Class B Common Stock voting together who receive the greatest number of votes cast “FOR,” will be elected as directors.

Proposal No. 2: Ratification of the Appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as Independent Auditors – the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the shares of Common Stock and Class B Common Stock (voting together as a class) represented at the Annual Meeting.

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Proposal No. 3: Advise on Named Executive Officer Compensation– the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the shares of Common Stock and Class B Common Stock (voting together as a class) represented at the Annual Meeting.

Proposal No. 4: Advise on the Frequency of Future Advisory Votes on Named Executive Officer Compensation –You are not being asked to vote “for” or “against” this proposal. Instead, this proposal asks stockholders to inform us how often we should conduct an advisory vote on the compensation of our NEOs. You are given the option of selecting every 1, 2 or 3 years, or abstaining. The frequency that receives the greatest number of votes from the holders of our Common Stock and Class B Common Stock voting together will be considered by the Board when determining how often the Company will conduct an advisory vote on NEO compensation in future years.

Q:Are abstentions and brokernon-votes counted in the vote totals?

A:Abstentions are counted as being present and entitled to vote in determining whether a quorum is present. Shares as to which brokernon-votes exist will be counted as present and entitled to vote in determining whether a quorum is present for any matter requiring the vote of the Common Stock and Class B Common Stock voting together as a class, but they will not be counted as present and entitled to vote in determining whether a quorum is present for any matter requiring the vote of the Common Stock or Class B Common Stock voting separately as a class.

    If you mark or vote “abstain” on Proposal Nos. 2 or 3, the abstention will have the effect of being counted as a vote “AGAINST” the proposal. If you mark or vote “abstain” on Proposal No. 4, your vote will not be counted as a vote for any of the other three options under that proposal. Brokernon-votes with respect to ProposalNos. 1-41-3 are not included in vote totals and will not affect the outcome of the vote on those proposals.


Q:
Q:Who will pay the cost of soliciting votes for the Annual Meeting?

A:We will pay the cost of preparing, assembling and furnishing proxy solicitation and other required Annual Meeting materials. We do not use a third-party solicitor. It is possible that our directors, officers and employees might solicit proxies by mail, telephone, telefax, electronically over the Internet or by personal contact, without receiving additional compensation. We will reimburse brokers, banks and other nominees, fiduciaries and custodians who nominally hold shares of our stock as of the Record Date for the reasonable costs they incur furnishing proxy solicitation and other required Annual Meeting materials to street-name holders who beneficially own those shares on the Record Date.

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

We have a long-standing commitment to good corporate governance practices. Our corporate governance policies and other documents establish the high standards of professional and personal conduct we expect of our Board, members of senior management and all employees, and promote compliance with various financial, ethical, legal and other obligations and responsibilities.

The business activities of the Company are carried out by our employees under the direction and supervision of our President and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”). The Board is responsible for overseeing these activities. In doing so, each director is required to use his or her business judgment in the best interests of the Company. The Board’s responsibilities include:

Reviewing the Company’s performance, strategies and major decisions;

Overseeing the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and the integrity of its financial statements;

Overseeing the Company’s policies and practices for identifying, managing and mitigating key enterprise risks;

Overseeing management, including reviewing the CEO’s performance and succession planning for key management roles; and

Overseeing executive and director compensation, and our compensation program and policies.

Corporate Governance Guidelines

The Board has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines that, along with the charters of the Board committees, provide the basic framework for the Board’s operation and role in the governance of the Company. The guidelines include the Board’s policies regarding director independence, qualifications and responsibilities, access to management and outside advisors, compensation, continuing education, oversight of management succession and stockholding requirements. They also provide a process for directors to annually evaluate the performance of the Board.

The Governance Committee is responsible for overseeing and reviewing the Board’s Corporate Governance Guidelines at least annually and recommending any proposed changes to the Board for approval. The Corporate Governance Guidelines are available on the Investors section of our website atwww.thehersheycompany.com.

Code of Ethical Business Conduct

The Board has adopted a Code of Ethical Business Conduct (the “Code of Conduct”) that applies to all of our directors, officers and employees worldwide. Adherence to this Code of Conduct assures that our directors, officers and employees are held to the highest standards of integrity. The Code of Conduct covers areas such as conflicts of interest, insider trading and compliance with laws and regulations. The Audit Committee oversees the Company’s communication of, and compliance with, the Code of Conduct. The Code of Conduct, including amendments thereto or waivers granted to a director or officer, if any, can be viewed on the Investors section of our website atwww.thehersheycompany.com.

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Stockholder and Interested Party Communications with Directors

Stockholders and other interested parties may communicate with our directors in several ways. Communications regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters may be emailed to the Audit Committee at auditcommittee@hersheys.com or addressed to the Audit Committee at the following address:

Audit Committee

c/o Corporate Secretary

The Hershey Company

100 Crystal A Drive

19 East Chocolate Avenue
P.O. Box 810

819

Hershey, PA 17033-0810

17033-0819

Stockholders and other interested parties also can submit comments, confidentially and anonymously if desired, to the Audit Committee by calling the Hershey Concern Line at(800) 362-8321 or by accessing the Hershey Concern Line website atwww.HersheysConcern.com.





Stockholders and other interested parties may contact any of the independent directors, including the Lead Independent Director,Chairman of the Board, as well as the independent directors as a group, by writing to the specified party at the address set forth above or by emailing the independent directors (or a specific independent director, including the Lead Independent Director)Chairman of the Board) at independentdirectors@hersheys.com. Stockholders and other interested parties may also contact any of the independent directors using the Hershey Concern Line telephone number or website noted above.

Communications to the Audit Committee, any of the independent directors and the Hershey Concern Line are processed by the Office of General Counsel. The Office of General Counsel reviews and summarizes these communications and provides reports to the applicable party on a periodic basis. Communications regarding any accounting, internal control or auditing matter are reported immediately to the Audit Committee, as are allegations about our officers. The Audit Committee will address communications from any interested party in accordance with our Board-approved Procedures for Submission and Handling of Complaints Regarding Compliance Matters, which are available for viewing on the Investors section of our website atwww.thehersheycompany.com. Solicitations, junk mail and obviously frivolous or inappropriate communications are not forwarded to the Audit Committee or the independent directors, but copies are retained and made available to any director who wishes to review them.

Director Independence

The Board, in consultation with the Governance Committee, determines which of our directors are independent. The Board has adopted categorical standards for independence that the Board uses in determining which directors are independent. The Board bases its determination of independence for each director on the more stringent independence standards applicable to Audit Committee members regardless of whether such director serves on the Audit Committee. These standards are contained in the Board’s Corporate Governance Guidelines.

Applying these categorical standards for independence, as well as the independence requirements set forth in the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE Rules”) and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), the Board determined that the following directors and director nominees recommended for election at the Annual Meeting are independent: Pamela M. Arway, James W. Brown, Charles A. Davis, Mary Kay Haben, James C. Katzman, M. Diane Koken, Robert M. Malcolm, James M. Mead, Anthony J. Palmer, Thomas J. RidgeJuan R. Perez, Wendy L. Schoppert and David L. Shedlarz. In addition, the Board determined the following directors who served in 2018 were independent: James M. Mead and Thomas J. Ridge. The Board determined that John P. Bilbrey, iswho served as a director in 2018, was not independent because he served as an executive officer of the Company until March 1, 2017, and that Michele G. Buck is not independent because she is an executive officer of the Company.

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In making its independence determinations, the Board, in consultation with the Governance Committee, reviewed the direct and indirect relationships between each director and the Company and its subsidiaries, as well as the compensation and other payments each director received from or made to the Company and its subsidiaries.

In making its independence determinations with respect to Ms. Koken and Messrs. Brown and Mead,Katzman, the Board considered their roles as current members of the board of directors of Hershey Trust Company and the board of managers (governing body) of Milton Hershey School, as well as certain transactions the Company had or may have with these entities.

Hershey Trust Company, as trustee for the trust established by Milton S. and Catherine S. Hershey that has as its sole beneficiary Milton Hershey School (such trust, the “Milton Hershey School Trust”), is our controlling stockholder. Hershey Trust Company is in turn owned by the Milton Hershey School Trust. As such, Hershey Trust Company, Milton Hershey School, the Milton Hershey School Trust and companies owned by the Milton Hershey School Trust are considered affiliates of the Company under SEC rules. During 2016,2018, we had a number of transactions with Hershey Trust Company, Milton Hershey School and companies owned by the Milton Hershey School Trust involving the purchase and sale of goods and services in the ordinary course of business and the leasing of real estate at market rates. We have outlined these transactions in greater detail in the section entitled “Certain Transactions and Relationships.” We have provided information about Company stock owned by Hershey Trust Company, as trustee for the Milton Hershey School Trust, and by Hershey Trust Company for its own investment purposes in the section entitled “Information Regarding Our Controlling Stockholder.”

Ms. Koken and Messrs. Brown and MeadKatzman do not receive any compensation from The Hershey Company, from Hershey Trust Company or from Milton Hershey School other than compensation they receive or will receive in the ordinary course as members of the board of directors or board of managers of each of those entities, as applicable. In addition, Ms. Koken and Messrs. Brown and MeadKatzman do not participate invote on Board decisions in connection with the Company’s transactions with Hershey Trust Company, Milton Hershey School and companies owned by the Milton Hershey School Trust. The Board therefore concluded that the positions Ms. Koken and Messrs. Brown and MeadKatzman have as members of the board of directors of Hershey Trust Company and the board of managers of Milton Hershey School do not impact their independence.



Director Nominations

The Governance Committee is responsible for identifying and recommending to the Board candidates for Board membership. As our controlling stockholder, Hershey Trust Company, as trustee for the Milton Hershey School Trust, also may from time to time recommend to the Governance Committee, or elect outright, individuals to serve on our Board.

In administering its responsibilities, the Governance Committee has not adopted formal selection procedures, but instead utilizes general guidelines that allow it to adjust the selection process to best satisfy the objectives established for any director search. The Governance Committee considers director candidates recommended by any reasonable source, including current directors, management, stockholders (including Hershey Trust Company, as trustee for the Milton Hershey School Trust) and other sources. The Governance Committee evaluates all director candidates in the same manner, regardless of the source of the recommendation. The Governance Committee has established a policy that it will not recommend a candidate to the full Board until all members of the Governance Committee have interviewed and approved the candidate for nomination.

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Occasionally, the Governance Committee engages a paid third-party consultant to assist in identifying and evaluating director candidates. The Governance Committee has sole authority under its charter to retain, compensate and terminate these consultants. In 2016,2018, the Governance Committee retained Egon Zehnder to assist in identifying potential future director candidates as several current directors approach their 72nd birthday.

candidates.

Stockholders desiring to recommend or nominate a director candidate must comply with certain procedures. If you are a stockholder and desire to nominate a director candidate at the 20182020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company, you must comply with the procedures for nomination set forth in the section entitled “Information Regarding the 20182020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.” Stockholders who do not intend to nominate a director at an annual meeting may recommend a director candidate to the Governance Committee for consideration at any time. Stockholders desiring to do so must submit their recommendation in writing to The Hershey Company, c/o Corporate Secretary, 100 Crystal A Drive,19 East Chocolate Avenue, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033-0810,17033, and include in the submission all of the information that would be required if the stockholder nominated the candidate at an annual meeting. The Governance Committee may require the nominating stockholder to submit additional information before considering the candidate.

There were no changes to the procedures relating to stockholder nominations during 2016,2018, and there have been no changes to such procedures to date in 2017.2019. These procedural requirements are intended to ensure the Governance Committee has sufficient time and a basis on which to assess potential director candidates and are not intended to discourage or interfere with appropriate stockholder nominations. The Governance Committee does not believe that these procedural requirements subject any stockholder or proposed nominee to unreasonable burdens. The Governance Committee and the Board reserve the right to change the procedural requirements from time to time and/or to waive some or all of the requirements with respect to certain nominees, but any such waiver shall not preclude the Governance Committee from insisting upon compliance with any and all of the above requirements by any other recommending stockholder or proposed nominees.





THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

General Oversight

The Board has general oversight responsibility for the Company’s affairs. Although the Board does not have responsibility forday-to-day management of the Company, Board members stay informed about the Company’s business through regular meetings, site visits and other periodic interactions with management. The Board is deeply involved in the Company’s strategic planning process. The Board also plays an important oversight role in the Company’s leadership development, and succession planning and risk management processes.

Composition

The Board is currently comprised of 1211 members, each serving aone-year term that expires at the Annual Meeting. TenEleven of the 12 director nominees are considered independent under the NYSE Rules and the Board’s Corporate Governance Guidelines.

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Leadership Structure

The Company’s governance documents provide the Board with flexibility to select the leadership structure that is most appropriate for the Company and its stockholders. The Board regularly evaluates its governance structure and has concluded that the Company and its stockholders are best served by not having a formal policy regarding whether the same individual should serve as both Chairman of the Board and CEO. This approach allows the Board to exercise its business judgment in determining the most appropriate leadership structure in light of the current facts and circumstances facing the Company, including the composition and tenure of the Board, the tenure of the CEO, the strength of the Company’s management team, the Company’s recent financial performance, the Company’s current strategic plan and the current economic environment, among other factors.

Throughout 2016, John P. Bilbrey served as our Chairman of At various times during the Board and CEO. The Board believed that combiningCompany's history, the roles of Chairman of the Board and CEO under Mr. Bilbrey’s leadership was inhave been combined. At this time, the best interestsroles are held by separate individuals.

Currently, Michele G. Buck serves as our President and CEO, a position she has held since March 1, 2017. In this role, Ms. Buck is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the Company and its stockholders for several reasons:

Mr. Bilbrey’s strong working relationshipplanning, formulating and high levelcoordinating the development and execution of trust withour corporate strategy, policies, goals and objectives. She also serves as the primary liaison between the Board gained through more than six years of serviceand Company management. Ms. Buck is responsible for Company performance and reports directly to the Board.
Charles A. Davis currently serves as a director;

Mr. Bilbrey’s deep understanding of Board governance and operations, the result of having worked with the priorour Chairman of the Board, and current Lead Independent Director to develop meeting topics, set meeting schedules and agendas, and ensure efficient communications among the directors; and

Mr. Bilbrey’s unparalleled knowledge of the Company and its products, which the Board believed put him in the best position to lead the Board through the strategic business issues facing the Company.

Effective March 1, 2017, the Board split the roles of Chairman of the Board and CEO, with Michele G. Buck assuming responsibility as President and CEO and Mr. Bilbrey transitioning to the role ofNon-Executive Chairman of the Board. The Board believes this leadership structure is the most appropriate at this time as it enables the Company to continue to leverage Mr. Bilbrey’s knowledge of the Company and his expertise in Board governance and operations while allowing Ms. Buck to focus on her new responsibilities as CEO.

The Board also recognizes the importance of strong independent Board leadership. Although no longer serving as an executive officer of the Company, the Board has determined that Mr. Bilbrey is not independent at this time due to his prior service as CEO. For that reason, James E. Nevels continues to serve as Lead Independent Director, a position he has held since AprilMay 2, 2015. Having previously served as2018. The Board has determined that Mr. Davis is an independent member of the Board under the NYSE Rules and the Board’s Corporate Governance Guidelines.

As our Chairman of the Board, from February 2009 until his appointment as Lead Independent Director, Mr. Nevels’s service helps ensure continuity of independent Board leadership as well as effective communication between the CEO, the Chairman of the Board, and the independent directors.

Under the terms of the Board’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, the Lead Independent Director’sDavis’s responsibilities include the following:

In the absence of the Chairman of the Board, presidingPresiding at all Board and stockholder meetings;

Approving Board meeting agendas and schedules to assure there is sufficient time for discussion of all agenda items;
Approving Board meeting materials and other information sent to the Board;
Reviewing committee agenda topics and time allotted for discussion (based on recommendations from the committee chairs);
Evaluating the quality and timeliness of information sent to the Board by the CEO and other members of management;
Calling meetings of the independent directors of the Board, in addition to the executive sessions of independent directors held during each Board meeting;

Establishing the agenda and presiding at all executive sessions and other meetings of the independent directors of the Board;

Communicating with the independent directors of the Board between meetings as necessary or appropriate;

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Ensuring that all orders, resolutions and policies adopted or established by the Board are carried into effect;
Serving as a liaison between the Chairman of the Board and the independent directors,CEO, ensuring independent directorBoard consensus is communicated to the Chairman of the Board,CEO and communicating the results of meetings of the independent directors to the Chairman ofCEO;
Implementing and overseeing the Board and members of management, as appropriate;

Approving Board meeting agendas and schedules to assure there is sufficient time for discussion of all agenda items;

Approving Board meeting materials and other information sent to the Board;

Evaluating the quality and timeliness of information sent to the Board by the CEO and other members of management;

Assisting the Chairman of the Board on matters of Board succession planning andprocess;
Overseeing the Board’s role in crisis management;

Overseeing the evaluation of the CEO;

Assisting the chairChair of the Governance Committee with Board and individual director evaluations; and

Being available for consultation and direct communication at the request of major stockholders.




The Board has determined that Mr. Nevels is an independent member of the Board under the NYSE Rules and the Board’s Corporate Governance Guidelines.

Mr. Nevels is not standing forre-election as a director at the Annual Meeting. Pursuant to the terms of the Board’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, the independent directors are currently considering potential candidates from among the other independent members of the Board to replace Mr. Nevels as Lead Independent Director upon expiration of his term.

In addition to the Lead Independent Director role, the Board has established five standing committees to assist with its oversight responsibilities: (1) Audit Committee; (2) Compensation and Executive Organization Committee (“Compensation Committee”); (3) Finance and Risk Management Committee; (4) Governance Committee; and (5) Executive Committee. Each of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee, the Finance and Risk Management Committee, and the Governance Committee is comprised entirely of independent directors. Finally, Mr. Mead is aMs. Koken and Messrs. Brown and Katzman are direct representativerepresentatives of the Company’s largest stockholder. This composition of our Board helps to ensure that boardroom discussions reflect the views of management, our independent directors and our stockholders.

Board Role in Risk Oversight

Our Board takes an active role in risk oversight. While management is responsible for identifying, evaluating, managing and mitigating the Company’s exposure to risk, it is the Board’s responsibility to oversee the Company’s risk management process and to ensure that management is taking appropriate action to identify, manage and mitigate key risks. The Board administers its risk oversight responsibilities both through active review and discussion of key risks facing the Company and by delegating certain risk oversight responsibilities to committees for further consideration and evaluation.

In August 2009, the Board established the Finance and Risk Management Committee. This committee was established, in part, to enhance the Board’s oversight of how senior management manages the material risks facing the Company.

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The following table summarizes the role of the Board and each of its committees in overseeing risk:

Governing Body

Role in Risk Oversight

Board

•  Regularly reviews and evaluates the Company’s strategic plans and associated risks.

•  Oversees the Company’s enterprise risk management (“ERM”) framework and the overall ERM process.

•  Conducts annual succession plan reviews to ensure the Company maintains appropriate succession plans for members of senior management.

Audit Committee

•  Oversees compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and the Company’s Code of Conduct.

•  Oversees risks relating to key accounting policies.

•  Reviews internal controls with the Principal Financial Officer, Principal Accounting Officer and internal auditors.

•  Meets regularly with representatives of the Company’s independent auditors.

Compensation and

Executive Organization

Committee

•  Oversees risks relating to the Company’s compensation program and policies.

•  Oversees the process for conducting annual risk assessments of the Company’s compensation policies and practices.

•  Employs independent compensation consultants to assist in reviewing the Company’s compensation program, including the potential risks created by such program.

•  Oversees the Company’s succession planning and talent processes and programs.

Finance and Risk

Management Committee

•  Reviews enterprise-level and other key risks identified through the Company’s ERM process as well as management’s plans to mitigate those risks.

•  Oversees key financial risks.

•  Oversees and approves proposed merger and acquisition activities and related risks.

•  Chair meets at least annually with the Audit Committee to discuss the Company’s risk management programs.

Governance Committee

•  Oversees risks relating to the Company’s governance structure and other corporate governance matters and processes.

•  Oversees compliance with key corporate governance documents, including the Corporate Governance Guidelines and the Insider Trading Policy.

Executive Committee

•  Reviews and approves, through a special committee of independent directors on the Executive Committee,Independent, disinterested members approve any related party transactions between the Company and entities affiliated with the Company and certain of its directors.

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The decision to administer the Board’s oversight responsibilities in this manner has an important effect on the Board’s leadership and committee structure, described in more detail above. The Board believes that its structure – including a strong, Lead Independent Director, 10independent Chairman of the Board, 11 of 12 independent directors and key committees comprised entirely of independent directors – helps to ensure that key strategic decisions made by senior management, up to and including the CEO, are reviewed and overseen by independent directors of the Board.



Experiences, Skills and Qualifications

The Governance Committee works with the Board to determine the appropriate characteristics, skills, experiences and experiencesattributes that should be possessed by the Board as a whole as well as its individual members. While the Governance Committee has not established minimum criteria for director candidates, in general, the Board seeks individuals with skills and backgrounds that will complement those of other directors and maximize the diversity and effectiveness of the Board as a whole. The Board also seeks individuals who bring unique and varied perspectives and life experiences to the Board. As such, the Governance Committee assists the Board by recommending prospective director candidates who will enhance the overall diversity of the Board. The Board views diversity broadly, taking into consideration the age, professional experience, race, education, gender and other attributes of its members. In addition, the Board’s Corporate Governance Guidelines describe the general experiences, qualifications, attributes and skills sought by the Board of any director nominee, including:

Qualifications, Attributes and SkillsKnowledge and Experience

ü   Integrity

ü   Finance

ü   Judgment

✓  International business

ü   Emerging Markets

ü   Skill

ü   Marketing

ü   Diversity

✓  Mergers and acquisitions

ü   Retail

ü   Ability to express informed, useful and constructive views

✓  Supply chain management

ü   Mergers and acquisitions

ü   Experience with businessbusinesses and other organizations of comparable size

✓  Information technology

ü   Risk management

ü   Ability to commit the time necessary to learn our business and to prepare for and participate actively in committee meetings and in
Board meetings

✓  Human resources

ü   Innovation

✓ Experience

ü   Interplay of skills, experiences and how it relates to the experiencesattributes with those of the other Board members

✓  Consumer products

ü   Digital technology

ü   Overall desirability as an addition to the Board and its committees

ü   Data analytics
 

ü   Supply chain
ü   Information technology
ü   Consumer products
ü   Government, public policy and regulatory affairs

In addition to evaluating new director candidates, the Governance Committee regularly assesses the composition of the Board in order to ensure it reflects an appropriate balance of knowledge, skills, expertise, diversity and independence. As part of this assessment, each director is asked to identify and assess the particular experiences, skills and other attributes that qualify him or her to serve as a member of the Board. Based on the most recent assessment of the Board’s composition completed in February 2017,2019, the Governance Committee and the Board have determined that, in light of the Company’s current business structure and strategies, the Board has an appropriate mix of director experiences, skills, qualifications and backgrounds.

A description of the most relevant experiences, skills attributes and qualificationsattributes that qualify each director nominee to serve as a member of the Board is included in his or her biography.

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MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD

Meetings of the Board of Directors and Director Attendance at Annual Meeting

The Board held 1311 meetings in 2016.2018. Each incumbent director attended at least 83%88% of all of the meetings of the Board and committees of the Board on which he or she served in 2016.2018. Average director attendance for all of these meetings equaled 94%95%.

In addition, the independent directors meet regularly in executive session at every Board meeting and at other times as the independent directors deem necessary. These meetings allow the independent directors to discuss important issues, including the business and affairs of the Company as well as matters concerning management, without any member of management present. Each executive session is chaired by the Lead Independent Director.Chairman of the Board. In the absence of the Lead Independent Director,Chairman of the Board, executive sessions are chaired by an independent director assigned on a rotating basis. Members of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, Finance and Risk Management Committee, and Governance Committee also meet regularly in executive session.

Directors are expected to attend our annual meetings of stockholders. TenAll of the eleven directors standing for election at the 20162018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company attended that meeting.

Committees of the Board

The Board has established five standing committees. Membership on each of these committees, as of March 6, 2017,22, 2019, is shown in the following chart:

Name

AuditCompensation and Executive OrganizationFinance and Risk ManagementGovernanceExecutive
Pamela M. Arway
 

      Audit          

 kissa01.jpg

Compensation    

and Executive    

Organization    

Finance and    

Risk    

Management    

Governance    

Executive    

Pamela M. Arway

LOGO     Chair    LOGO     

John P. Bilbrey

Chair    

Robert F. Cavanaugh

LOGO     LOGO     
 kissa07.jpg
  

Charles A. Davis

James W. Brown
Chair    
 kiss.jpg
  
kissa12.jpg
Charles A. Davis
  kiss.jpg*
  kissa06.jpg*
 kissa11.jpg*
 kissa13.jpg
Chair
Mary Kay Haben
kissa02.jpg
Chair
kissa15.jpg
James C. Katzman  LOGO     

Mary Kay Haben

LOGO     LOGO     
kissa08.jpg
  

Robert

M. Malcolm

Diane Koken
 kiss.jpg
LOGO     LOGO     
 kissa03.jpg
   

James

Robert M. Mead

Malcolm
 kiss.jpg
 LOGO     
Chair
 kissa16.jpg
Anthony J. Palmer
 Chair 
kissa14.jpg
kissa17.jpg
Wendy L. Schoppert
 kiss.jpg
 LOGO     

James E. Nevels

LOGO     LOGO *    LOGO *    LOGO     LOGO     

Anthony J. Palmer

LOGO     LOGO     
kissa09.jpg
  

Thomas J. Ridge

David L. Shedlarz
Chair
 
 kissa10.jpg
 
 kissa18.jpg
____________________
LOGO     LOGO     

David L. Shedlarz

LOGO     Chair    LOGO     

LOGO   
 kissa18.jpg
Committee Member
LOGO
kissa20.jpg*
Ex-Officio

All directors, including committee chairs, served on the respective committees listed above throughout 2016.

The Board’s Corporate Governance Guidelines require that every member of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, Finance and Risk Management Committee, and Governance Committee be independent.

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The Board may also from time to time establish committees of limited duration for a special purpose. In 2016, the BoardNo such committees were established a special committee to oversee the Company’s CEO search process. This special committee was chaired by Ms. Arway and included Ms. Haben and Messrs. Malcolm, Mead, Nevels and Shedlarz as members. The special committee met four times in 2016.

2018.



The table below identifies the number of meetings held by each standing committee in 2016,2018, provides a brief description of the duties and responsibilities of each committee, and provides general information regarding the location of each committee’s charter:

Committee

Audit

Meetings

96

Duties and Responsibilities

•  Oversee the Company’s financial reporting processes and the integrity of the Company’s financial statements.

•  Oversee the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.

•  Oversee the performance of the Company’s independent auditors and the internal audit function.

•  Approve all audit andnon-audit services and fees.

•  Oversee (in consultation with the Finance and Risk Management Committee) the Company’s risk management processes and policies.

•  Review the adequacy of internal controls.

•  Review and discuss with management Quarterly Reports on Form10-Q and Annual Report onForm 10-K prior to filing with the SEC.

•  Review and discuss with management earnings releases.

•  Administer the Company’s Procedures for Submission and Handling of Complaints Regarding Compliance Matters.

General Information

•  The Board has determined that all directors on the Audit Committee are financially literate. The Board has also determined that Messrs. Davis, MeadMs. Schoppert and NevelsMr. Shedlarz qualify as “audit committee financial experts” as defined in SEC regulations and that each has accounting or related financial management expertise.

•  Charter can be viewed on the Investors section of our website at www.thehersheycompany.com.

•  Charter prohibits any member of the Audit Committee from serving on the audit committees of more than two other public companies unless the Board determines that such simultaneous service would not impair the ability of the director to effectively serve on the Committee.

Committee

Compensation and Executive Organization

Meetings

86

Duties and Responsibilities

•  Establish executive officer compensation (other than CEO compensation) and oversee the compensation program and policies for all executive officers.

•  Evaluate the performance of the CEO and make recommendations to the independent directors of the Board regarding CEO compensation.

•  Review and recommend to the Board the form and amount of director compensation.

•  Make equity grants under and administer the Company’s Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan (the “EICP”).

•  Establish target award levels and make awards under the annual cash incentive component of the EICP.

•  Monitor executive compensation arrangements for consistency with corporate objectives and stockholders’ interests.

•  Review the executive organization of the Company.

•  Monitor the development of personnel available to fill key executive positions as part of the succession planning process.

General Information

•   Charter can be viewed on the Investors section of our website at www.thehersheycompany.com.

20


Committee

Finance and Risk Management

Meetings

87

Duties and Responsibilities

•  Oversee management of the Company’s assets, liabilities and risks.

•  Review and make recommendations regarding capital projects, acquisitions and dispositions of assets and changes in capital structure.

•  Review the annual budget and monitor performance against operational plans.

•  Recommend to the Board the terms of the Company’s principal banking relationships, credit facilities and commercial paper programs.

•  Oversee (in consultation with the Audit Committee) the Company’s risk management processes and policies.

General Information

•  Charter can be viewed on the Investors section of our website at www.thehersheycompany.com.



Committee

Governance

Meetings

85

Duties and Responsibilities

•  Review and make recommendations on the composition of the Board and its committees.

•  Identify, evaluate and recommend candidates for election to the Board consistent with the Board’s membership qualifications.

•  Review and make recommendations to the Board on corporate governance matters and policies, including the Board’s Corporate Governance Guidelines.

•  Administer the Company’s Related Person Transaction Policy as directed by the Board.

•  Evaluate the performance of the Board, its independent committees and each director.

General Information

•  Charter can be viewed on the Investors section of our website at www.thehersheycompany.com.

Committee

Executive

Meetings

10

Duties and Responsibilities

•  Manage the business and affairs of the Company, to the extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, when the Board is not in session.

•  Review, and approve through a subcommittee consisting of the independent directors on the Executive Committee who are not affiliated with Hershey Trust Company, Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company and/or Milton Hershey School, or any of their affiliates, any transaction not in the ordinary course of business between the Company and any of these entities, unless otherwise provided by the Board or the Corporate Governance Guidelines.

•   Currently, the Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that, unless directed otherwise by the independent members of the Board who have no affiliation with any of the above entities, such transactions will be reviewed and approved in advance by a special committee consisting of the directors elected by the holders of our Common Stock voting separately, and only in the absence of such directors will the subcommittee of the Executive Committee approve such transactions.


General Information

•  Charter can be viewed on the Investors section of our website at www.thehersheycompany.com.

•  For more information regarding the review, approval or ratification of related-party transactions, please refer to the section entitled “Certain Transactions and Relationships.”

21






PROPOSAL NO. 1 – ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

ü

The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that stockholders
voteFOR each of the nominees for director at the
2017 2019 Annual Meeting

The first proposal to be voted on at the Annual Meeting is the election of 12 directors. If elected, the directors will hold office until the 20182020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company or until their successors are elected and qualified.

Election Procedures

We have two classes of common stock outstanding: Common Stock and Class B Common Stock. Under our certificate of incorporation andby-laws:

One-sixth of the total number of our directors (which equates presently to two directors) will be elected by the holders of our Common Stock voting separately as a class. For the 20172019 Annual Meeting, the Board has nominated Mary Kay HabenJuan R. Perez and Robert M. MalcolmWendy L. Schoppert for election by the holders of our Common Stock voting separately as a class.

The remaining 10 directors will be elected by the holders of our Common Stock and Class B Common Stock voting together without regard to class.

With respect to the nominees to be elected by the holders of the Common Stock and the Class B Common Stock voting together, the nine10 nominees receiving the greatest number of votes of the Common Stock and Class B Common Stock will be elected as directors. With respect to the nominees to be elected by the holders of the Common Stock voting separately as a class, the two nominees receiving the greatest number of votes of the Common Stock will be elected as directors.

The Board’s Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that directors will generally not be nominated forre-election after their 72nd birthday. All of the directors standing for election at the 20172019 Annual Meeting satisfied the applicable age requirement at the time of their nomination.

All nominees for election as director have indicated their willingness to serve if elected. If a nominee becomes unavailable for election for any reason, the proxies will have discretionary authority to vote for a substitute.

Nominees for Director

The Board unanimously recommends the following nominees for election at the 20172019 Annual Meeting. These nominees were recommended to the Board by the Governance Committee. In making its recommendation, the Governance Committee considered the experience, qualifications, attributes and skills of each nominee, as well as each director’s past performance on our Board, as reflected in the Governance Committee’s annual evaluation of Board and committee performance. This evaluation considers, among other things, each director’s individual contributions to the Board, the director’s ability to work collaboratively with other directors and the effectiveness of the Board as a whole.

Mr. Nevels, the current Lead Independent Director, and Mr. Cavanaugh are not standing forre-election at the Annual Meeting.

On the following pages, we provide certain biographical information about each nominee for director, as well as information regarding the nominee’s specific experience, qualifications, attributes and skills that qualify him or her to serve as a director and as a member of the committee(s) of the Board on which the nominee serves.

22




LOGO

pmarwaya03.jpg
Director since

May 2010

Age63

 65

Board Committees

Governance (Chair)

Compensation

Audit

•  Executive

Finance and Risk Management
  Pamela M. Arway
 

PAMELA M. ARWAY

Former President, Japan/Asia Pacific/Australia Region, American Express International, Inc., a global payments, network and travel company, and its subsidiaries (October 2005 to January 2008)

QUALIFICATIONS, ATTRIBUTES AND SKILLS

Throughout her21-year career with American Express Company, Inc., Ms. Arway gained experience in the areas of finance, marketing, international business, government affairs, consumer products and human resources. She is a significant contributor to the Board in each of these areas.


PREVIOUS BUSINESS EXPERIENCE

• Spent 21 years in positions of increasing responsibility at American Express Company, Inc. and its subsidiaries

CURRENT PUBLIC AND OTHER KEY DIRECTORSHIPS

• Iron Mountain Incorporated (May 2014 to present)

• DaVita Inc. (July 2009 to present)





EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s degree in languages from Memorial University of Newfoundland

• Masters of Business Administration degree from Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada

LOGO

jwbrowna05.jpg
Director since

June 2011

 May 2017
Age60

67

Board Committees

Executive (Chair)

Audit
  • Governance
 James W. Brown
 

JOHN P. BILBREY

Chairman of the Board, The Hershey Company (March 2017 to present)

QUALIFICATIONS, ATTRIBUTES AND SKILLS

Having served as our President and Chief Executive Officer from May 2011 to March 2017, Mr. Bilbrey has a thorough and comprehensive knowledge of all aspects of the Company’s business. He has extensive experience in the consumer packaged goods and fast-moving consumer goods categories in the United States and international markets and has the benefit of having served as both Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer of the Company. His leadership within the Company, as well as his extensive industry and international experience, make Mr. Bilbrey a key contributor to the Board on a wide range of issues.

PREVIOUS BUSINESS EXPERIENCE

•   Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer, The Hershey Company (April 2015 to March 2017)

•   President and Chief Executive Officer, The Hershey Company (May 2011 to April 2015)

•   Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, The Hershey Company (November 2010 to May 2011)

•   Senior Vice President, President Hershey North America, The Hershey Company (December 2007 to November 2010)

•   Senior Vice President, President International Commercial Group, The Hershey Company (November 2005 to December 2007)

•   Senior Vice President, President Hershey International, The Hershey Company (November 2003 to November 2005)

CURRENT PUBLIC AND OTHER KEY DIRECTORSHIPS

•   Colgate-Palmolive Company (March 2015 to present)

PAST PUBLIC COMPANY BOARDS

•   McCormick & Company, Incorporated (November 2005 to May 2015)

EDUCATION

•   Bachelor’s degree in psychology from Kansas State University

23


LOGO

Director Nominee

Age65

Board Committees

•  None

JAMES W. BROWN

Director, Hershey Trust Company; Member, Board of Managers, Milton Hershey School (February 2016 to present)

QUALIFICATIONS, ATTRIBUTES AND SKILLS

One of three representatives of Hershey Trust Company and Milton Hershey School being nominated to servecurrently serving on ourthe Board, Mr. Brown will provideprovides valuable perspectives not only as a representative of our largest stockholder, but also of the school that is its sole beneficiary. In addition, Mr. Brown has significant experience in government relations, finance and private equity/venture capital. His familiarity with policy and operations of both Pennsylvania State and U.S. Federal Government and his experience as an investor in and director of both public and private companies will make him an important addition to ourthe Board on matters of strategy and risk management.

PREVIOUS BUSINESS EXPERIENCE

• Chief of Staff, United States Senator
Robert P. Casey, Jr. (January
(January 2007 to
February 2016)

• Partner, SCP Private Equity Partners
(January 1996 to December 2006)

• Chief of Staff, Pennsylvania Governor
Robert P. Casey (January
(January 1989 to
December 1994)


CURRENT PUBLIC AND OTHER KEY DIRECTORSHIPS

• FS Multi-Strategy Alternatives Fund/FS Series Trust
(August 2017 to present)
PAST PUBLIC COMPANY BOARDS
• FS Investment Corporation III (February
(February 2016 to present)

December 2018)

EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s degree,magna cum laude, from Villanova University

• Juris Doctor degree from the University of Virginia Law School


LOGO

mgbuck.jpg
Director since

March 2017

Age55

57

Board Committees

• None

Michele G. Buck
 

MICHELE G. BUCK

President and Chief Executive Officer, The Hershey Company (March 2017 to present)

QUALIFICATIONS, ATTRIBUTES AND SKILLS

On February 21, 2017,

As the Board, upon the recommendation of the Governance Committee, increased the size of the Board from 11 to 12 members and elected Ms. Buck as a director to fill the newly created directorship, effective March 1, 2017. As our President and Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Buck is responsible for allday-to-day global operations and commercial activities of the Company. Having served at the Company for more than 1113 years and as an executive in the consumer packaged goods industry for more than 25 years, Ms. Buck is a valuable contributor to ourthe Board in the areas of marketing, consumer products, strategy, supply chain management and mergers and acquisitions. Her presence in the boardroom also ensures efficient communication between the Board and Company management.


PREVIOUS BUSINESS EXPERIENCE

• Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer,
The Hershey Company (June 2016 to March 2017)

• President, North America, The Hershey Company (May
(May 2013 to June 2016)

• Senior Vice President, Chief Growth Officer, The Hershey Company (September 2011 to May 2013)

• Senior Vice President, Global Chief Marketing Officer, The Hershey Company (December 2007 to September 2011)

CURRENT PUBLIC AND OTHER KEY DIRECTORSHIPS

• New York Life Insurance (November 2013 to present)

EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s degree from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

• Master’s degree from the University of North Carolina



LOGO

cadavis.jpg    
Director since

November 2007

Age68

70

Board Committees

 • Executive (Chair)
• Audit (Chair)

(ex-officio)

Executive

Compensation
    (ex-officio)
 • Finance and Risk
    Management
    (ex-officio)
 • Governance
Chairman of the Board since May 2018
Charles A. Davis
 

CHARLES A. DAVIS

Chief Executive Officer, Stone Point Capital LLC, a global private equity firm (June 2005 to present)

QUALIFICATIONS, ATTRIBUTES AND SKILLS

Having served in the fields of investment banking and private equity for more than 40 years, Mr. Davis brings extensive experience in finance, investment banking and real estate to our Board, which is of particular importance in his role as chair of the Audit Committee.Board. His experience as a leader in international business allows him to bring important insights to the Board as the Company continues to focus on its international footprint.

PREVIOUS BUSINESS EXPERIENCE

• MMC Capital, Inc., the private equity business of 
Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc.:

¡

Chairman (January 2002 to May 2005)

¡

Chief Executive Officer (January 1999 to May 2005)

¡

President (April 1998 to December 2002)

CURRENT PUBLIC AND OTHER KEY DIRECTORSHIPS

• AXIS Capital Holdings Limited (November 2001 to present)

• The Progressive Corporation (October 1996 to present)

EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s degree from the University of Vermont

• Masters of Business Administration degree from Columbia University Graduate School of Business

24



LOGO

mkhaben.jpg 
Director since

August 2013

Age60

62

Board Committees

 • Governance (Chair)
• Compensation

Governance

Executive
Mary Kay Haben
 

MARY KAY HABEN

Former President, North America, Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company, a leading confectionery company (October 2008 to
February 2011)

QUALIFICATIONS, ATTRIBUTES AND SKILLS

Throughout Ms. Haben’s33-year career, she gained extensive experience managing businesses in the consumer packaged goods industry and developed a track record of growing brands and developing new products. Her knowledge of and ability to analyze the overall consumer packaged goods industry, evolving market dynamics and consumers’ relationships with brands make her a valuable contributor to the Board and the Company.


PREVIOUS BUSINESS EXPERIENCE

• Group Vice President and Managing Director,
North America, Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company (April
(April 2007 to October 2008)

• Held several key positions during 27-year career
with Kraft Foods, Inc., a grocery manufacturing
and processing conglomerate


CURRENT PUBLIC AND OTHER KEY DIRECTORSHIPS

•   Bob Evans Farms, Inc. (August 2012 to present); currently serves as Lead Independent Director

• Trustee of Equity Residential (July 2011 to present); currently serves as Chair of the Compensation Committee


EDUCATION

EDUCATION

Bachelor’sBachelor's degree,magna cum laude, in business administration from the University of Illinois

• Masters of Business Administration degree in marketing from the University of Michigan, Ross School of Business

                               One of two directors nominated for election by the holders of the Common Stock voting separately as a class.

LOGO

jckatzman.jpg
Director Nominee

since

May 2018
Age64

51

Board Committees

None

Finance and Risk Management
James C. Katzman
 

Director, Hershey Trust Company; Member, Board of Managers, Milton Hershey School (April 2017 to present)
QUALIFICATIONS, ATTRIBUTES AND SKILLS
One of three representatives of Hershey Trust Company and Milton Hershey School currently serving on the Board, Mr. Katzman provides the Board with valuable perspectives of our largest stockholder and the school that is its sole beneficiary. In addition, he has extensive experience in corporate financial matters and merger transactions, developed throughout his career in investment banking, which further adds to the Board as it oversees the Company’s financial stewardship and transformation into an innovative snacking powerhouse.

PREVIOUS BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
• Partner, Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
(December 2004 to March 2015)
CURRENT PUBLIC AND OTHER KEY
DIRECTORSHIPS
• Brinker International, Inc.
(January 2018 to present)





EDUCATION
• Bachelor’s degree, cum laude, from Dartmouth College
• Masters of Business Administration degree from Columbia University Graduate School of Business


mdkoken.jpg 
 Director since
 May 2017
 Age66
 Board Committees
  • Audit
  • Compensation
M. DIANE KOKEN

Diane Koken

Director, Hershey Trust Company; Member, Board of Managers, Milton Hershey School (December 2015 to present)

QUALIFICATIONS, ATTRIBUTES AND SKILLS

One of three representatives of Hershey Trust Company and Milton Hershey School being nominated to servecurrently serving on ourthe Board, Ms. Koken will be well positionedbrings to bring to ourthe Board valuable insights from our largest stockholder. Having served as Insurance Commissioner of Pennsylvania for three governors and as President of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, Ms. Koken has considerable expertise in the areas of insurance, risk management and regulatory affairs. Her experience in the areas of legal operations and corporate governance, developed throughout her22-year career at a national life insurer that culminated in her serving as Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, will further addadds to ourthe Board.

PREVIOUS BUSINESS EXPERIENCE

• Commissioner of Insurance in Pennsylvania (August
(August 1997 to February 2007)

• Provident Mutual Life Insurance Company (October
(October 1975 to July 1997)

CURRENT PUBLIC AND OTHER KEY DIRECTORSHIPS

• Capital Blue CrossBlueCross (December 2011 to present)

• NORCAL Mutual (January 2009 to present)

• Nationwide Corporation; Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company; Nationwide Mutual Fire Insurance Company (April
(April 2007 to present)

• Nationwide Mutual Funds (April 2019 to present)
EDUCATION
EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s degree,magna cum laude, in education from Millersville University

• Juris Doctor degree from Villanova University School of Law

25


LOGO

rmmalcolm.jpg 
Director since

December 2011

Age64

 66

Board Committees

Compensation

•   Finance and Risk Management (Chair)

  • Audit
  • Executive
Robert M. Malcolm

 

ROBERT M. MALCOLM

Former President, Global Marketing, Sales & Innovation, Diageo PLC, a leading premium drinks company (June 2002 to December 2008)

QUALIFICATIONS, ATTRIBUTES AND SKILLS

Mr. Malcolm is a globally recognized expert in strategic marketing and is currently Executive in Residence, Center for Customer Insight and Marketing Solutions, McCombs School of Business, University of Texas. He brings to the Board significant experience in international businessemerging markets and in the marketing and sales of consumer products, including consumer packaged goods and fast-moving consumer goods.

PREVIOUS BUSINESS EXPERIENCE

•   Spent 24 years at The Procter & Gamble Company

in positions of increasing responsibility

CURRENT PUBLIC AND OTHER KEY DIRECTORSHIPS

•   American Marketing Association

•   Boston Consulting Group (senior advisor)

EDUCATION
EDUCATION

•   Bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Southern California

Masters of Business Administration degree in marketing from the University of Southern California

                               One of two directors nominated for election by the holders of the Common Stock voting separately as a class.


LOGO

ajpalmer.jpg
Director since

April 2011

Age71

59

Board Committees

Compensation
(Chair)

Audit

Executive

Executive

Governance
Anthony J. Palmer 

JAMES M. MEAD

Founder

Chief Executive Officer, TropicSport, a natural suncare and Managing Director, JM Mead, LLC, an economic advisory firm serving the health care industry (July 2004skincare products company (April 2019 to present)

QUALIFICATIONS, ATTRIBUTES AND SKILLS

One of three representatives of Hershey Trust Company and Milton Hershey School being nominated to serve on our Board, Mr. Mead provides the Board with valuable perspective into the views of our largest stockholder. In addition, he has extensive experience in finance, marketing, insurance, information technology and risk management. Having served as a chief executive officer for 20 years, Mr. Mead also brings considerable leadership experience to the boardroom.

ADDITIONAL POSITIONS

•   Director and President, Hershey Trust Company; Member, Board of Managers, Milton Hershey School

•   CEO, PinnacleCare International, a private healthcare advisory and navigation company (July 2015 to present)

CURRENT PUBLIC AND OTHER KEY DIRECTORSHIPS

•   Capital BlueCross (1984 to present)

•   PinnacleCare International (2012 to present)

EDUCATION

•   Bachelor of Science degree in economics from The Pennsylvania State University

•   Masters of Arts degree in economics from The Pennsylvania State University

LOGO

Director since

April 2011

Age57

Board Committees

•   Compensation

•   Finance and Risk  Management

ANTHONY J. PALMER

President, Global Brands and Innovation, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, a manufacturer and marketer of various personal care and health care products worldwide (April 2012 to present)

QUALIFICATIONS, ATTRIBUTES AND SKILLS

Having spent most of his professional career in the consumer packaged goods industry, Mr. Palmer brings to ourthe Board substantial experience and insight in several key strategic areas for the Company, including fast-moving consumer packaged goods, international business,emerging markets, marketing and human resources.

PREVIOUS BUSINESS EXPERIENCE

Kimberly-Clark Corporation

○ President, Global Brands and Innovation (April 2012 to April 2019)
Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Kimberly-Clark Corporation
   (October 2006 to March 2012)

EDUCATION
EDUCATION

•   Bachelor’s degree in business marketing from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia

Masters of Business Administration degree, with distinction, from the International Management Institute, Geneva, Switzerland

26




LOGO

jperezbwphoto.jpg
Director since

November 2007

Nominee


Age71

52


Board Committees

Finance and Risk  ManagementNone

•   Governance

Juan R. Perez 

THOMAS J. RIDGE

Chairman, Ridge Global, LLC,

Chief Information and Engineering Officer, United Parcel Service, Inc., a global strategic consultingmultinational package delivery and supply chain management company (August 2015(April 2017 to present)

QUALIFICATIONS, ATTRIBUTES AND SKILLS

During his nearly 30-year career at United Parcel Service, Inc., Mr. Ridge’s backgroundPerez has developed a broad range of commercial, operational and experiences are invaluabletechnological expertise. In addition to ourhis overall leadership experience, Mr. Perez will bring significant strength in the areas of supply chain management and logistics, digital technology, innovation and data analytics to the Board. As Chairman of Ridge Global, LLC, he leadsMr. Perez was identified as a team of international experts that helps businesses and governments address issues suchpotential director nominee by Egon Zehnder as risk management, global trade security, technology integration and crisis management. As a partner in Ridge Policy Group, he provides strategic advice to clients to assist them in navigating the complexities of state and local government and raising awareness of their products and services that are relevant to government markets. As twice-elected Governor of Pennsylvania, he earned a reputation for high standards and results and championed issues such as health care and the environment. As Secretarypart of the Department of Homeland Security, he formed a new agency from 22 agencies employing more than 180,000 employees.

Governance Committee’s director succession planning process.

ADDITIONAL POSITIONS

•   Co-founder (with Howard Schmidt), Ridge Schmidt Cyber, a provider of strategic services to companies in the area of cyber security (March 2014 to present)

•   Partner, Ridge Policy Group, a bipartisan, full-service government affairs and issue management group (April 2010 to present)

PREVIOUS BUSINESS EXPERIENCE

• Chief ExecutiveInformation Officer, Ridge Global, LLC (July 2006United Parcel Service, Inc.
  (March 2016 to July 2015)

April 2017)

Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (October 2001 to February 2005)

•   Governor, Pennsylvania (1995 to 2001)

CURRENT PUBLIC AND OTHER KEY DIRECTORSHIPS

•   Advaxis,Vice President, Technology, United Parcel Service, Inc. (August 20152012 to present)

March 2016)



EDUCATION
Safety Quick Lighting & Fans Corp. (November 2014 to present)

Bachelor of Science in industrial and systems engineering from the University of Southern California

LifeLock, Inc. (March 2010 to present)

PAST PUBLIC COMPANY BOARDS

•   Chart Acquisition Corp. (July 2011 to August 2015)

•   FS Investment Corporation (November 2011 to February 2014)

•   Exelon Corporation (May 2005 to October 2013)

•   Brightpoint, Inc. (September 2009 to October 2012)

•   Geospatial Holdings, Inc. (April 2010 to May 2012)

��

EDUCATION

•   Bachelor’s degree,cum laude,Masters of Science in computer and manufacturing engineering from Harvardthe University

•   Juris Doctor degree from The Dickinson School of LawSouthern California










One of The Pennsylvania State University

two directors nominated for election by the holders
of the Common Stock voting separately as a class.


LOGO

wlschoppert.jpg
Director since

August 2008

 December 2017
Age68

52

Board Committees

Audit
  • Finance and Risk Management (Chair)
Wendy L. Schoppert

•   Compensation

•   Executive

 

DAVIDFormer Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Sleep Number Corporation, a bedding manufacturer, marketer and retailer (June 2011 to February 2014)
QUALIFICATIONS, ATTRIBUTES AND SKILLS
As Chief Financial Officer for Sleep Number Corporation, Ms. Schoppert gained extensive experience leading all finance functions including financial planning and analysis, accounting, tax, treasury, investor relations, decision support and IT. She began her career in the airline industry, serving in various financial, strategic, and general management leadership positions at American Airlines, Northwest Airlines and America West Airlines. 
PREVIOUS BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
• Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, 
Sleep Number Corporation (March 2008 to June 2011)
• Senior Vice President, International and New Channel Development, Sleep Number Corporation (April 2005 to March 2008)
CURRENT PUBLIC AND OTHER KEY
DIRECTORSHIPS
• Bremer Financial Corporation (May 2017 to present)
• Big Lots, Inc. (May 2015 to present)

PAST PUBLIC COMPANY BOARDS
• Gaia, Inc. (October 2013 to December 2018)

EDUCATION
• Bachelor of Arts in mathematics and operations research from Cornell University
• Masters of Business Administration in finance and general management from Cornell University









One of two directors nominated for election by the holders
of the Common Stock voting separately as a class.

dlshedlarz.jpg
 Director since
 August 2008
 Age70
 Board Committees
  • Audit (Chair)
  • Executive
  • Finance and Risk Management
 David L. SHEDLARZShedlarz

Former Vice Chairman, Pfizer Inc., a pharmaceutical, consumer and animal products health company (July 2005 to December 2007)

QUALIFICATIONS, ATTRIBUTES AND SKILLS

Mr. Shedlarz spent the majority of his professional career with Pfizer. At the time of his retirement in 2007, Mr. Shedlarz was responsible for operations including the animal health business, finance, accounting, strategic planning, business development, global sourcing, manufacturing, information systems and human resources, skills that are particularly valuable to the Board given his role as chair of the Audit Committee and a member of the Finance and Risk Management Committee. Mr. Shedlarz also brings to ourthe Board considerable international business and leadership experience he gained while at Pfizer.

PREVIOUS BUSINESS EXPERIENCE

•   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, 

Pfizer Inc. (January 1999 to July 2005)

CURRENT PUBLIC AND OTHER KEY
DIRECTORSHIPS

•   Teladoc Health, Inc. (September 2016 to present)

Pitney Bowes, Inc. (May 2001 to present)

Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association Board of Trustees (March 2007 to present)

EDUCATION
EDUCATION

•   Bachelor’s degree in economics and mathematics from Oakland/Michigan State University

Masters of Business Administration degree in finance and accounting from the New York University, Leonard N. Stern School of Business

27





NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

The Hershey Company Directors’ Compensation Plan

We maintain a Directors’ Compensation Plan that is designed to:

Attract and retain highly qualified,non-employee directors; and

Align the interests ofnon-employee directors with those of our stockholders by paying a portion ofnon-employee compensation in units representing shares of our Common Stock.

Directors who are employees of the Company receive no additional compensation for their service on our Board. Mr. Bilbrey, our current Chairman of the Board,Ms. Buck is the only employee of the Company who also served as a director during 20162018 and thus received no additional compensation for hisher Board service.

The Board targetsnon-employee director compensation at the 50th50th percentile of compensation paid to directors at a peer group of companies we call the 20162018 Peer Group. Information about the 20162018 Peer Group is included in the section entitled “Setting Compensation” in the Compensation Discussion & Analysis. Each year, with the assistance of the Compensation Committee and the Compensation Committee’s compensation consultant, the Board reviews the compensation paid to directors at companies in the current peer group to determine whether any changes tonon-employee director compensation are warranted.

As a result of its review in December 2015,2017, the Board determined that no changesincreased the annual restricted stock unit (“RSU”) award from $150,000 to $155,000 and increased the annual Audit Committee Chair retainer from $15,000 to $20,000.
non-employee director compensation were warranted for 2016.

Accordingly, compensation paid tonon-employee directors in 20162018 was as follows:

Form of Compensation

Payment

($)

Annual retainer for Chairman of the Board(1) (2)
150,000
Annual retainer for othernon-employee directors directors

100,000

Annual restricted stock unit (“RSU”)RSU award

155,000135,000

Annual fee for Lead Independent Director(1)(2) (3)

25,000

Annual fee for chairs of Audit, Compensation, and Finance and Risk Management Committees(1)

15,000

Annual fee for chair of Audit Committee(2)
20,000
Annual fees for chairs of Compensation, Finance and Risk Management, and Governance CommitteeCommittees(1)(2) 

15,00010,000

____________________
(1)Applies only when Chairman of the Board is a non-employee director.
(2)Paid in addition to $100,000 annual retainer fornon-employee directors.

(3)A Lead Independent Director is appointed if the Chairman of the Board is not independent.

The Board completed its annual review ofnon-employee director compensation in December 20162018 and determined that no changes to any of the following changescompensation elements were warranted for 2017 to ensure that the program remains aligned to the 50th percentile of compensation paid to directors from our 2016 Peer Group. The Board elected to increase the annual RSU award from $135,000 to $150,000 and to increase the annual Governance Committee Chair retainer from $10,000 to $15,000. The Board also elected to increase thenon-employee director stock ownership guidelines, as described below, from four times the annual retainer to five times the annual retainer. Except for these changes, all other elements of thenon-employee director compensation program described above remain unchanged for 2017.

28


2019.

Payment of Annual Retainer, Lead Independent Director Fee and Committee Chair Fees

The annual retainer (including the annual retainer for the Chairman of the Board, when applicable) and any applicable Lead Independent Director or committee chair fees for allnon-employee directors are paid in quarterly installments on the 15th15th day of March, June, September and December, or the prior business day if the 15th15th is not a business day.Non-employee directors may elect to receive all or a portion of the annual retainer (including the annual retainer for the Chairman of the Board, when applicable) in cash or in Common Stock.Non-employee directors may also elect to defer receipt of all or a portion of the retainer, (including the annual retainer for the Chairman of the Board, when applicable) any applicable Lead Independent Director fee or committee chair fees until the date their membership on the Board ends. Lead Independent Director and committee chair fees that are not deferred are paid only in cash.



Non-employee directors choosing to defer all or a portion of their retainer, any applicable Lead Independent Director fee or committee chair fees may invest the deferred amounts in two ways:

In a cash account that values the performance of the investment based upon the performance of one or more third-party investment funds selected by the director from among the mutual funds or other investment options available to all employees participating in our 401(k) Plan. Amounts invested in the cash account are paid only in cash.

In a deferred common stock unit account that we value according to the performance of our Common Stock, including reinvested dividends. Amounts invested in the deferred common stock unit account are paid in shares of Common Stock.

Restricted Stock Units

RSUs are granted quarterly tonon-employee directors on the first day of January, April, July and October. In 2016,2018, the number of RSUs granted in each quarter was determined by dividing $33,750$38,750 by the average closing price of a share of our Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) on the last three trading days preceding the grant date. RSUs awarded tonon-employee directors vest one year after the date of grant, or earlier upon termination of the director’s membership on the Board by reason of retirement (termination of service from the Board after the director’s 60th60th birthday), death or disability, for any reason after a Change in Control as defined in our Executive Benefits Protection Plan (Group 3A) (“EBPP 3A”), or under such other circumstances as the Board may determine. Vested RSUs are payable to directors in shares of Common Stock or, at the option of the director, can be deferred as common stock units under the Directors’ Compensation Plan until the director’s membership on the Board ends. Dividend equivalent units are credited at regular rates on the RSUs during the restriction period and, upon vesting of the RSUs, are payable in shares of Common Stock or deferred as common stock units together with any RSUs the director has deferred.

As of March 6, 2017,22, 2019, Messrs. Brown, Davis, Malcolm Mead, Nevels, Ridge and Shedlarz and Mmes. Arway, Haben and HabenKoken had attained retirement age for purposes of the vesting of RSUs.

Other Compensation, Reimbursements and Programs

The Board occasionally establishes committees of limited duration for special purposes. When a special committee is established, the Board will determine whether to providenon-employee directors with additional compensation for service on such committee based on the expected duties of the committee, the anticipated number and length of any committee meetings, and other factors the Board, in its discretion, may deem relevant. In 2016, the Board approved payments of $25,000 to Ms. Arway as Chair and $20,000 to each of Ms. Haben and Messrs. Malcolm, Mead, Nevels and Shedlarz for their service on the special committeeNo such committees were established in connection with the Company’s Chief Executive Officer search.

29


2018.

We reimburse our directors for travel and otherout-of-pocket expenses they incur when attending Board and committee meetings and for minor incidental expenses they incur when performing directors’ services. We also provide reimbursement for at least one director continuing education program each year. Directors receive travel accident insurance while traveling on the Company’s business and receive discounts on the purchase of our products to the same extent and on the same terms as our employees. Directors also are eligible to participate in the Company’s Gift Matching Program. Under the Gift Matching Program, the Company will match, upon a director’s request, contributions made by the director to one or more charitable organizations, on adollar-for-dollar basis up to a maximum aggregate contribution of $5,000 annually.

Stock Ownership Guidelines

Pursuant to the Board’s Corporate Governance Guidelines,non-employee directors are expected to own shares of Common Stock having a value equal to at least five times the annual retainer. Eachnon-employee director has until January 1 of the year following his or her fifth anniversary of becoming a director to satisfy the guideline.

The Compensation Committee reviews the stock ownership guidelines annually to ensure they are aligned with external market comparisons. Prior to December 2016,non-employee directors were expected to own shares of Common Stock having a value equal to at least four times the annual retainer. As part of the annual review completed in December 2016, the Board, upon the recommendation of the



2018 Director Compensation                                            Committee, elected to increase the
non-employee director stock ownership guidelines from four times the annual retainer to five times the annual retainer. Under the Board’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, eachnon-employee director serving on the Board as of the date of the increase has until January 1, 2019 to satisfy the new stock ownership guidelines. Anynon-employee director serving on the Board that had not yet reached his or her initial compliance date as of the date of the increase has until the second anniversary of such initial compliance date to satisfy the new stock ownership guidelines.

2016 Director Compensation

The following table and explanatory footnotes provide information with respect to the compensation paid or provided tonon-employee directors during 2016:

Name

 

 

Fees Earned

or Paid in Cash(1)

($)

 

  

Stock

Awards(2)

($)

 

  

All Other

Compensation(3)

($)

 

  

Total

($)

 

 

Pamela M. Arway

  135,000         135,000     5,000             275,000 

Robert F. Cavanaugh

  100,000         135,000     5,000             240,000 

Charles A. Davis

  115,000         135,000     5,000             255,000 

Mary Kay Haben

  120,000         135,000     5,000             260,000 

Robert M. Malcolm

  120,000         135,000     5,000             260,000 

James M. Mead

  135,000         135,000     5,000             275,000 

James E. Nevels

  145,000         135,000     5,000             285,000 

Anthony J. Palmer

  100,000         135,000     5,000             240,000 

Thomas J. Ridge

  100,000         135,000     5,000             240,000 

David L. Shedlarz

  135,000         135,000     —             270,000 

2018:
Name
 
 
Fees Earned
or Paid in Cash(3)
($)
 
 
Stock
Awards(4)
($)
 
 
All Other
Compensation(5)
($)
 
Total
($)
 
Pamela M. Arway100,000
155,000
5,000
260,000
John P. Bilbrey(1)
84,478
52,376
1,500
138,354
James W. Brown100,000
155,000
5,000
260,000
Charles A. Davis(2)
207,761
155,000
5,000
367,761
Mary Kay Haben115,000
155,000
5,000
275,000
James C. Katzman66,209
102,624
5,000
173,833
M. Diane Koken100,000
155,000
500
255,500
Robert M. Malcolm115,000
155,000
5,000
275,000
James M. Mead(1)
38,860
52,376
5,000
96,236
Anthony J. Palmer109,931
155,000
5,000
269,931
Thomas J. Ridge(1)
33,792
52,376
2,500
88,668
Wendy L. Schoppert100,000
166,005
5,000
271,005
David L. Shedlarz120,000
155,000

275,000
___________________
(1)Messrs. Bilbrey, Mead and Ridge retired from the Board on May 2, 2018.
(2)During 2018, Mr. Davis served as Lead Independent Director until May 2, 2018, when he was appointed Chairman of the Board.
(1)
(3)Includes amounts earned or paid in cash or shares of Common Stock at the election of the director or deferred by the director under the Directors’ Compensation Plan. Amounts credited as earnings on amounts deferred under the Directors’ Compensation Plan are based on investment options available to all participants in our 401(k) Plan or our Common Stock and, accordingly, the earnings credited during 20162018 were not considered “above market” or “preferential” earnings.

30


The following table sets forth the portion of fees earned or paid in cash or Common Stock, and the portion deferred with respect to retainers and fees earned during 2018:
Name
 
 
Immediate Payment
 
 
 
Deferred and Investment Election
 
 
Cash
Paid
($)
 
Value Paid in
Shares of
Common Stock
($)
 
 
Number
of Shares
of Common
Stock
(#)
 

 
Value
Deferred
to a Cash
Account
($)
 

 
Value Deferred
to a Common
Stock Unit
Account
($)
 

 
Number of
Deferred
Common Stock
Units
(#)
 

Pamela M. Arway100,000





John P. Bilbrey


84,478


James W. Brown100,000





Charles A. Davis207,761





Mary Kay Haben115,000





James C. Katzman



66,209
669
M. Diane Koken100,000





Robert M. Malcolm115,000





James M. Mead38,860





Anthony J. Palmer9,931
100,000
992



Thomas J. Ridge16,896
16,896
162



Wendy L. Schoppert100,000





David L. Shedlarz120,000





The following table sets forth the portion of fees earned or paid in cash or Common Stock, and the portion deferred with respect to retainers and fees earned during 2016:

Name

 

 

Immediate Payment

 

  

Deferred and Investment Election

 

 
 

Cash

Paid

($)

 

  

Value Paid in

Shares of

Common Stock

($)

 

  

Number

of Shares

of Common

Stock

(#)

 

  

Value

Deferred

to a Cash

Account

($)

 

  

Value Deferred

to a Common

Stock Unit

Account

($)

 

  

Number of

Deferred

Common Stock

Units

(#)

 

 

Pamela M. Arway

  135,000   —            —            —       —            —          

Robert F. Cavanaugh

  100,000   —            —            —       —            —          

Charles A. Davis

  115,000   —            —            —       —            —          

Mary Kay Haben

  120,000   —            —            —       —            —          

Robert M. Malcolm

  120,000   —            —            —       —            —          

James M. Mead

  135,000   —            —            —       —            —          

James E. Nevels

  107,500   37,500            393            —       —            —          

Anthony J. Palmer

     100,000            1,050            —       —            —          

Thomas J. Ridge

  100,000   —            —            —       —            —          

David L. Shedlarz

  135,000   —            —            —       —            —          

(2)(4)Represents the dollar amount recognized as expense during 20162018 for financial statement reporting purposes with respect to RSUs awarded to the directors during 2016.2018. RSUs awarded to directors are charged to expense in the Company’s financial statements at the grant date fair value on each quarterly grant date. TheWith the exception of Ms. Schoppert, the target annual grant date fair value of the RSUs for each director during 20162018 was $135,000.

$155,000. The following table provides information with respect to the number and markettarget annual grant date fair value of deferred common stock units andMs. Schoppert's 2018 RSUs held as of December 31, 2016, based on the $103.43 closing price of our Common Stock as reported by NYSE on December 30, 2016, the last trading day of 2016. The information presentedwas $166,005, which includes the accumulated value of each director’s deferred common stock units and RSUs. Balances shown below include dividend equivalent units creditedpro-rated RSUs related to her service in the formfinal quarter of additional common stock units on retainers and committee chair fees that have been deferred2017 as common stock units and dividend equivalent units creditedshe joined the Board in the form of additional common stock units on RSUs.December 2017.

Name

 

 

Number of

Deferred

Common Stock

Units

(#)

 

  

Market Value of

Retainers and

Committee Chair Fees

Deferred to the

Common Stock Unit

Account as of

December 31, 2016

($)

 

  

Number of

RSUs

(#)

 

   

Market

Value of

RSUs as of

December 31, 2016

($)

 

 

Pamela M. Arway

     —                1,448    149,767          

Robert F. Cavanaugh

  43,731   4,523,097                1,448    149,767          

Charles A. Davis

     —                1,448    149,767          

Mary Kay Haben

  3,485   360,454                1,448    149,767          

Robert M. Malcolm

     —                1,448    149,767          

James M. Mead

  8,107   838,507                1,448    149,767          

James E. Nevels

     —                1,448    149,767          

Anthony J. Palmer

     —                1,448    149,767          

Thomas J. Ridge

  29,942   3,096,901                1,448    149,767          

David L. Shedlarz

     —                1,448    149,767          



The following table provides information with respect to the number and market value of deferred common stock units and RSUs held as of December 31, 2018, based on the $107.18 closing price of our Common Stock as reported by NYSE on December 31, 2018, the last trading day of 2018.
The information presented includes the accumulated value of each director’s deferred common stock units and RSUs. Balances shown below include dividend equivalent units credited in the form of additional common stock units on retainers and committee chair fees that have been deferred as common stock units and dividend equivalent units credited in the form of additional common stock units on RSUs.
Name
 
Number of
Deferred
Common Stock
Units
(#)
 
 
Market Value of
Retainers and
Committee Chair Fees
Deferred to the
Common Stock Unit
Account as of
December 31, 2018
($)
 

Number of
RSUs
(#)
 
Market
Value of
RSUs as of
December 31, 2018
($)
 
Pamela M. Arway

1,553
166,451
John P. Bilbrey



James W. Brown952
102,035
1,553
166,451
Charles A. Davis

1,553
166,451
Mary Kay Haben6,649
712,640
1,553
166,451
James C. Katzman673
72,132
1,061
113,718
M. Diane Koken952
102,035
1,553
166,451
Robert M. Malcolm

1,553
166,451
James M. Mead



Anthony J. Palmer

1,553
166,451
Thomas J. Ridge4,939
529,362


Wendy L. Schoppert

1,657
177,597
David L. Shedlarz

1,553
166,451
(3)
(5)Represents the Company match for contributions made by the director to one or more charitable organizations during 20162018 under the Gift Matching Program.

31





SHARE OWNERSHIP OF DIRECTORS, MANAGEMENT

AND CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS

The following table sets forth information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our outstanding voting securities and stock options by:

Stockholders who we believe owned more than 5% of our outstanding Common Stock or Class B Common Stock, as of March 6, 2017;22, 2019; and

Our directors, director nominees, NEOs and all directors and executive officers as a group, as of March 6, 2017.22, 2019.

Holder

 

  

Common

Stock(1)

 

  

Exercisable

Stock

Options(2)

 

  

Percent of

Common

Stock(3)

 

  

Class B

Common

Stock

 

  

Percent

of

Class B

Common

Stock(4)

 

 

Hershey Trust Company,

as trustee for the

Milton Hershey School Trust(5)
100 Mansion Road
Hershey, PA 17033

Milton Hershey School(5)
Founders Hall
Hershey, PA 17033

 

 

 

 

 

 

LOGO

 

 

 

  12,753,521      8.4        60,612,012   99.9 

Hershey Trust Company(6)

   149,500      **        —     —   

BlackRock, Inc.(7)
55 East 52nd Street
New York, NY 10055

   9,680,398      6.4        —     —   

Vanguard Group, Inc.(8)
100 Vanguard Blvd.
Malvern, PA 19355

   9,042,606      6.0        —     —   

Pamela M. Arway*

   11,125      **        —     —   

John P. Bilbrey*

   105,126   1,000,655   **        —     —   

James W. Brown*

         **        —     —   

Michele G. Buck*

   21,039   109,445   **        —     —   

Robert F. Cavanaugh*

   1,000      **        —     —   

Charles A. Davis*

   19,103      **        —     —   

Mary Kay Haben*

         **        —     —   

M. Diane Koken*

   600      **        —     —   

Patricia A. Little

      22,486   **        —     —   

Robert M. Malcolm*

   7,061      **        —     —   

James M. Mead*

   700      **        —     —   

James E. Nevels*

   6,808      **        —     —   

Terence L. O’Day

   34,913   164,179   **        —     —   

Anthony J. Palmer*

   15,458      **        —     —   

Thomas J. Ridge*

   1,864      **        —     —   

David L. Shedlarz*

   18,336      **        —     —   

Leslie M. Turner

   1,918   51,896   **        —     —   

All directors and executive officers as a group (19 persons)

      285,270   1,665,557   **        —     —   

32


Holder
 
 
Common
Stock(1)
 
 
Exercisable     
Stock     
Options(2)      
 
 
Percent of
Common
Stock(3)
 
 
Class B     
Common     
Stock     
 
 
Percent     
of     
Class B     
Common     
Stock(4)      
 
Hershey Trust Company,
as trustee for the
Milton Hershey School Trust(5)
  100 Mansion Road
  Hershey, PA 17033
Milton Hershey School(5)
  Founders Hall
  Hershey, PA 17033
3,800,791

2.6
60,612,012
99.9
Hershey Trust Company(6)
102,330

**     


BlackRock, Inc.(7)
55 East 52nd Street
New York, NY 10055
13,764,673

9.2


Vanguard Group, Inc.(8)
100 Vanguard Blvd.
Malvern, PA 19355
11,174,446

7.5


Pamela M. Arway*
14,013

**     


James W. Brown*


**     


Michele G. Buck*
51,815
211,288
**     


Charles A. Davis*
21,992

**     


Mary Kay Haben*


**     


James C. Katzman*


**     


M. Diane Koken*
600

**     


Patricia A. Little
12,641
**     


Robert M. Malcolm*
9,950

**     


Terence L. O’Day36,298
172,931
**     


Anthony J. Palmer*
13,502

**     


Juan R. Perez*


**


Wendy L. Schoppert*


**     


David L. Shedlarz*
12,080

**     


Todd W. Tillemans6,463
11,653
**     


Leslie M. Turner
118,238
**


Mary Beth West23,083
21,666
**     


All directors and executive officers as a group (20 persons)
208,590
655,739
**     


____________________
*Director

**Less than 1%

(1)Amounts listed for NEOs and other executive officers include, if applicable, shares of Common Stock allocated by the Company to the officer’s account in The Hershey Company 401(k) Plan. Amounts listed also include the following RSUs that will vest and be paid to the following holders within 60 days of March 6, 2017:



(1)Amounts listed also include the following RSUs that will vest and be paid to the following holders within 60 days of March 22, 2019:

Name

RSUs

(#)

Pamela M. Arway

405374

Michele G. Buck

1,289

Charles A. Davis

405374

Robert M. Malcolm

405374

James E. Nevels

374

Terence L. O’Day

910

Anthony J. Palmer

405374

Thomas J. Ridge

374

David L. Shedlarz

405
Todd W. Tillemans3742,200
Mary Beth West13,236


Amounts listed also include shares for which certain of the directors share voting and/or investment power with one or more other persons as follows: Ms. Arway, 13,608 shares owned jointly with her spouse; Ms. Koken, 600 shares held at Glenmede Trust Company; Mr. Malcolm, 9,545 shares owned jointly with his spouse; and Mr. Palmer, 13,097 shares owned jointly with his spouse.

Amounts listed also include shares for which certain of the directors and NEOs share voting and/or investment power with one or more other persons as follows: Ms. Arway, 10,751 shares owned jointly with her spouse; Mr. Cavanaugh, 1,000 shares owned jointly with his spouse; Ms. Koken, 600 shares held at Glenmede Trust Company; Mr. Malcolm, 6,687 shares owned jointly with his spouse; Mr. Nevels, 5,546 shares owned jointly with his spouse and 888 shares owned jointly with another individual; Mr. Palmer, 15,084 shares owned jointly with his spouse; and Mr. Ridge, 1,490 shares owned jointly with his spouse.

(2)This column reflects stock options that were exercisable by the NEOs and the executive officers as a group on March 6, 2017.22, 2019. For Ms.Mmes. Little and West and Mr. Tillemans, the column reflects stock options that will become exercisable within 60 days of March 6, 2017.22, 2019.

(3)Based upon 152,069,763147,913,263 shares of Common Stock outstanding on March 6, 2017.22, 2019.

(4)Based upon 60,619,77760,613,777 shares of Class B Common Stock outstanding on March 6, 2017.22, 2019.

(5)Hershey Trust Company, as trustee for the Milton Hershey School Trust, has the right at any time to convert its Class B Common Stock into Common Stock on ashare-for-share basis. If on March 6, 2017,22, 2019, Hershey Trust Company, as trustee for the Milton Hershey School Trust, converted all of its Class B Common Stock into Common Stock, Hershey Trust Company, as trustee for the Milton Hershey School Trust, would own beneficially 73,365,53364,412,803 shares of our Common Stock (12,753,521(3,800,791 Common Stock shares plus 60,612,012 converted Class B Common Stock shares), or 34.5%30.9% of the 212,681,775208,525,275 shares of Common Stock outstanding following the conversion (calculated as 152,069,763147,913,263 Common Stock shares outstanding prior to the conversion plus 60,612,012 converted Class B Common Stock shares). For more information about the Milton Hershey School Trust, Hershey Trust Company, Milton Hershey School and the ownership and voting of these securities, please seethesee the section entitled “Information Regarding Our Controlling Stockholder.”

(6)Please see the section entitled “Information Regarding Our Controlling Stockholder” for more information about shares of Common Stock held by Hershey Trust Company as investments.

(7)Information regarding BlackRock, Inc. and its beneficial holdings was obtained from a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on January 24, 2017.February 4, 2019. The filing indicated that, as of December 31, 2016,2018, BlackRock, Inc. had sole voting and investment power over 9,680,39813,764,673 shares of Common Stock. The filing indicated that BlackRock, Inc. is a parent holding company or control person in accordance with Rule13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G) and that various persons have the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, our Common Stock.

(8)Information regarding Vanguard Group, Inc. and its beneficial holdings was obtained from a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 13, 2017.11, 2019. The filing indicated that, as of December 31, 2016,2018, Vanguard Group, Inc. had sole voting and investment power over 9,042,60611,174,446 shares of Common Stock. The filing indicated that Vanguard Group, Inc. is a parent holding company or control person in accordance with Rule13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G) and that various persons have the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, our Common Stock.

33


Ownership of Other Company Securities

Certain directors and NEOs hold Company securities not reflected in the beneficial ownership table above because they will not convert, or cannot be converted, to shares of Common Stock within 60 days of our March 6, 201722, 2019 Record Date. These securities include:

Certain unvested RSUs or deferred common stock units held by our directors and NEOs; and

Certain unvested stock options held by our NEOs.



The table below shows these holdings as of March 6, 2017.22, 2019. You can find additional information about RSUs and deferred common stock units held by directors in theNon-Employee Director Compensation section of this Proxy Statement. You can find additional information about stock options, RSUs and deferred common stock units held by the NEOs in the Executive Compensation section of this Proxy Statement.

Holder

 

 

Shares Underlying RSUs and
Common Stock Units Not

Beneficially Owned

 

  

Shares Underlying

Stock Options Not

Beneficially Owned

 

 

Pamela M. Arway*

  1,053                      —           

John P. Bilbrey*

  90,579                      —           

James W. Brown*

  —                      —           

Michele G. Buck*

  146,595                      130,007           

Robert F. Cavanaugh*

  45,542                      —           

Charles A. Davis*

  1,053                      —           

Mary Kay Haben*

  5,296                      —           

M. Diane Koken*

  —                      —           

Patricia A. Little

  34,671                      60,364           

Robert M. Malcolm*

  1,053                      —           

James M. Mead*

  9,918                      —           

James E. Nevels*

  1,053                      —           

Terence L. O’Day

  10,459                      59,921           

Anthony J. Palmer*

  1,053                      —           

Thomas J. Ridge*

  30,996                      —           

David L. Shedlarz*

  1,053                      —           

Leslie M. Turner

  72,627                      68,332           

Holder
 
 
Shares Underlying RSUs and
Common Stock Units Not
Beneficially Owned
 
 
Shares Underlying
Stock Options Not
Beneficially Owned
 
Pamela M. Arway*
1,163

James W. Brown*
2,869

Michele G. Buck*
111,114
114,562
Charles A. Davis*
1,163

Mary Kay Haben*
8,565

James C. Katzman*
2,331

M. Diane Koken*
2,869

Patricia A. Little49,158
35,590
Robert M. Malcolm*
1,163

Terence L. O’Day7,128
30,409
Anthony J. Palmer*
1,163

Juan R. Perez*


Wendy L. Schoppert*
2,021

David L. Shedlarz*
1,163

Todd W. Tillemans7,960
21,042
Leslie M. Turner38,195

Mary Beth West23,336
40,469
____________________
*Director

Information Regarding Our Controlling Stockholder

In 1909, Milton S. and Catherine S. Hershey established a trust having as its sole beneficiary Milton Hershey School, anon-profit school for the full-time care and education of disadvantaged children located in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Hershey Trust Company, a state-chartered trust company, is trustee of the Milton Hershey School Trust.

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In its capacity as trustee for the Milton Hershey School Trust, Hershey Trust Company is our controlling stockholder. In this capacity, it will have the right to cast 8.4%2.6% of all of the votes entitled to be cast on matters requiring the vote of the Common Stock voting separately and 81.6%80.9% of all of the votes entitled to be cast on matters requiring the vote of the Common Stock and Class B Common Stock voting together. The board of directors of Hershey Trust Company, with the approval of the board of managers (governing body) of Milton Hershey School, decides how funds held by Hershey Trust Company, as trustee for the Milton Hershey School Trust, will be invested. The board of directors of Hershey Trust Company generally decides how shares of The Hershey Company held by Hershey Trust Company, as trustee for the Milton Hershey School Trust, will be voted.

As of the Record Date, Hershey Trust Company also held 149,500102,330 shares of our Common Stock as investments. The board of directors or management of Hershey Trust Company decides how these shares will be voted.

In all, Hershey Trust Company, as trustee for the Milton Hershey School Trust and as direct owner of investment shares, will be entitled to vote 12,903,0213,903,121 shares of our Common Stock and 60,612,012 shares of our Class B Common Stock at the Annual Meeting. Stated in terms of voting power, Hershey Trust Company will have the right to cast 8.5%2.6% of all of the votes entitled to be cast on matters requiring the vote of the Common Stock voting separately and 81.6%80.9% of all of the votes entitled to be cast on matters requiring the vote of the Common Stock and Class B Common Stock voting together at the Annual Meeting.





Our certificate of incorporation contains the following important provisions regarding our Class B Common Stock:

All holders of Class B Common Stock, including Hershey Trust Company, as trustee for Milton Hershey School Trust, may convert any of their Class B Common Stock shares into shares of our Common Stock at any time on ashare-for-share basis.

All shares of Class B Common Stock will automatically be converted to shares of Common Stock on ashare-for-share basis if Hershey Trust Company, as trustee for Milton Hershey School Trust, or any successor trustee, or Milton Hershey School, as appropriate, ceases to hold more than 50% of the total Class B Common Stock shares outstanding and at least 15% of the total Common Stock and Class B Common Stock shares outstanding.

We must obtain the approval of Hershey Trust Company, as trustee for Milton Hershey School Trust, or any successor trustee, or Milton Hershey School, as appropriate, before we issue any Common Stock or take any other action that would deprive Hershey Trust Company, as trustee for Milton Hershey School Trust, or any successor trustee, or Milton Hershey School, as appropriate, of the ability to cast a majority of the votes on any matter where the Class B Common Stock is entitled to vote, either separately as a class or together with any other class.

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AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

To Our Stockholders:

The Audit Committee is currently comprised of fourfive directors, each of whom is considered independent under the NYSE Rules and the rules and regulations of the SEC. The Board has determined that each member of the Audit Committee is financially literate and that each of Messrs. Davis, MeadMs. Schoppert and NevelsMr. Shedlarz qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert,” as that term is defined under the rules promulgated by the SEC.

Our role as the Audit Committee is to assist the Board in its oversight of:

The integrity of the Company’s financial statements;

The Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements;

The independent auditors’ qualifications and independence; and

The performance of the independent auditors and the Company’s internal audit function.

The Audit Committee operates under a written charter that was last reviewed by the Audit Committee on December 5, 2016.

12, 2018.

Our duties as an Audit Committee include overseeing the Company’s management, internal auditors and independent auditors in their performance of the following functions, for which they are responsible:

Management

Preparing the Company’s financial statements;

Establishing effective financial reporting systems and internal controls and procedures; and

Reporting on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Internal Audit Department

Independently assessing management’s system of internal controls and procedures; and

Reporting on the effectiveness of that system.

Independent Auditors

Auditing the Company’s financial statements;

Expressing an opinion about the financial statements’ conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles; and

Annually auditing the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

We meet periodically with management, the internal auditors and independent auditors, independently and collectively, to discuss the quality of the Company’s financial reporting process and the adequacy and effectiveness of the Company’s internal controls. Prior to the Company filing its Annual Report on Form10-K for the year ended December 31, 20162018 with the SEC, we also:

Reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements with management and the independent auditors;

Discussed with the independent auditors the matters required to be discussed by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board;

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Received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent auditors in accordance with applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent auditors’ communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence; and

Discussed with the independent auditors their independence from the Company.

We are not employees of the Company and are not performing the functions of auditors or accountants. We are not responsible as an Audit Committee or individually to conduct “field work” or other types of auditing or accounting reviews or procedures or to set auditor independence standards. In carrying out our duties as Audit Committee members, we have relied on the information provided to us by management and the independent auditors. Consequently, we do not assure that the audit of the Company’s financial statements has been carried out in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, that the financial statements are presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles or that the Company’s auditors are in fact “independent.”



Based on the reports and discussions described in this report, and subject to the limitations on our role and responsibilities as an Audit Committee referred to above and in our charter, we recommended to the Board that the audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report onForm 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016,2018, filed with the SEC on February 21, 2017.

22, 2019.

Submitted by the Audit Committee:

Charles A. Davis,

David L. Shedlarz, Chair

Pamela

James W. Brown
M. Arway

JamesDiane Koken

Robert M. Mead

James E. Nevels

37


Malcolm

Wendy L. Schoppert




INFORMATION ABOUT OUR INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

The following table sets forth the amount of audit fees, audit-related fees, tax fees and all other fees billed or expected to be billed by KPMG,Ernst & Young LLP, (“KPMG”), our independent auditors for the fiscal years ended December 31, 20162018 and December 31, 2015:

Nature of Fees

 

  

2016

($)

 

   

2015

($)

 

 

Audit Fees

   5,170,365    5,674,000 

Audit-Related Fees(1)

   85,750    346,500 

Tax Fees(2)

   962,073    222,398 

All Other Fees

        

Total Fees

   6,218,188    6,242,898 

2017:
 
Nature of Fees 
2018
($)
 
2017
($)
 
Audit Fees5,224,136
4,745,504
Audit-Related Fees(1)
 
1,186,311
1,204,499
Tax Fees(2)
 
593,707
1,820,281
All Other Fees(3)
 
2,000
1,995
Total Fees 
7,006,154
7,772,279
____________________
(1)Fees associated primarily with services related to due diligence for potential business acquisitions, auditing ofcarve-out financial statements and auditing of employee benefit plans.acquisitions.

(2)Fees pertaining primarily to tax consultation and tax compliance services.

(3)Fees for other permissible services that do not meet the above category descriptions, including subscription programs.

The Audit Committeepre-approves all audit, audit-related andnon-audit services performed by the independent auditors. The Audit Committee is authorized by its charter to delegate to one or more of its members the authority topre-approve any audit, audit-related ornon-audit services, provided that the approval is presented to the Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting.

The Audit Committeepre-approved all services provided by KPMG in 2016.

On April 21, 2016, upon the approval of the Audit Committee, we notified KPMG that it would be dismissed as our independent auditors effective upon the completion of KPMG’s audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016 (and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016), and the issuance of their report thereon. The decision to dismiss KPMG was made as part of a competitive bidding process to determine the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2017.

The audit reports of KPMG on the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles. The audit reports of KPMG on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles, except that KPMG’s report indicates that the Company did not maintain effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, because of the effect of a material weakness related to the Company’s accounting for cocoa derivative instruments. During the Company’s two most recent fiscal years ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, there were no (1) disagreements with KPMG on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosures, or auditing scope or procedures, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of KPMG, would have caused KPMG to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in connection with its reports; and (2) events of the type listed in paragraphs (A) through (D) of Item 304(a)(1)(v) of RegulationS-K, except for the material weakness as described in this paragraph.

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On June 15, 2016, the Audit Committee appointed Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the Company’s fiscal year ending December 31, 2017. During the Company’s two most recent fiscal years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, neither the Company nor anyone acting on its behalf consulted with Ernst & Young LLP regarding either: (i) the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed; or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company’s financial statements, and neither a written report nor oral advice was provided to the Company that Ernst & Young LLP concluded was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to the accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue; or (ii) any matter that was either the subject of a disagreement (as defined in paragraph (a)(1)(iv) of Item 304 of RegulationS-K and the related instructions thereto) or a reportable event (as described in paragraph (a)(1)(v) of Item 304 of RegulationS-K).

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2018.





PROPOSAL NO. 2 – RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT

OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

ü

The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that stockholders
voteFORratification of the Audit Committee’sCommittee's appointment of
Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’sCompany's independent auditors for 2017

2019

The Audit Committee has appointed Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent auditors for 2017.2019. Although not required to do so, the Board, upon the Audit Committee’s recommendation, has determined to submit the Audit Committee’s appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent auditors to stockholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate governance.

The Audit Committee’s appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent auditors for 20172019 will be considered ratified if a majority of the shares of the Common Stock and Class B Common Stock (voting together without regard to class) present and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting are voted for the proposal. If stockholders do not ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent auditors for 2017,2019, the Audit Committee will reconsider its appointment.

Representatives of both Ernst & Young LLP and KPMG (our independent auditors for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016) will attend the Annual Meeting, will have the opportunity to make a statement, if they so desire, and will be available to respond to questions.

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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

This section discusses and analyzes the decisions we made concerning the compensation of our named executive officers (“NEOs”) for 2016.2018. It also describes the process for determining executive compensation and the factors considered in determining the amount of compensation awarded to our NEOs. Our NEOs for 20162018 are:

Name
Title

John P. Bilbrey(1)

Michele G. Buck
Chairman of the Board,
President and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”)

Patricia A. Little

Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”)

Michele G. Buck(2)

Terence L. O’Day
Executive
Senior Vice President, Chief OperatingProduct Supply and Technology Officer (“COO”)

Terence L. O’Day

Todd W. Tillemans
President, U.S.
Mary Beth WestSenior Vice President, Chief Supply ChainGrowth Officer

Leslie M. Turner

 (1)
Former Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

____________________

(1)On MarchMs. Turner retired on April 1, 2017, Mr. Bilbrey retired from the position of President and CEO. He continues to serve as Chairman of the Board.2018.

(2)On June 2, 2016, Ms. Buck was promoted from President, North America to Executive Vice President, COO. On March 1, 2017, Ms. Buck became our President and CEO.

Executive Summary

2016 Highlights

Strategic Plan
The Hershey Company (the “Company”), headquartered in Hershey, Pa., is a global confectionery leader known for bringing goodness to the world through its chocolate, sweets, mints, gum and other great-tasting snacks. We have approximately 17,98016,420 employees around the world who work every day to deliver delicious, quality products. We have more than 80 brands that drive approximately $7.4$7.8 billion in annual revenues. Building on its core business,
Our vision is to be an innovative snacking powerhouse.  We are currently the Company is expanding its portfolionumber two snacking manufacturer in the United States with leading edge capabilities.  We aspire to includebe a broader range of delicious snacks. The Company remainsleader in meeting consumers' evolving snacking needs while strengthening the capabilities that drive our growth. We are focused on growing its presencethree strategic imperatives to ensure the Company's success now and in key international markets while continuingthe future:
Reignite our core confection business and broaden participation in snacking;
Reallocate resources to extend its competitiveenable margin expansion and fuel growth; and
Invest to strengthen our capabilities and leverage technology for commercial advantage in North America.

and growth.

Our strategic plan and the financial metrics we establish to help achieve and measure success against that plan, serve as the foundation of our executive compensation program. In January 2016,February 2018, we announced the following Company expectations, which are substantially reflected in our 2016 incentive programs:

financial expectations:
Increase net sales between 5% and 7% from 2017; and
Increase constant currency net sales(1) around 3% from 2015; and

Increase adjusted earnings per share-diluted(2)(1) about 6%between 12% and 14% from 2015.2017.

See the section entitled "Annual Incentives" for more information regarding our 2018 annual incentive targets and related results.

(1)While we report our financial results in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), we also usenon-GAAP financial measures within Management’s Discussion and Analysis in the 20162018 Annual Report on Form10-K that accompanies this Proxy Statement in order to provide additional information to investors to facilitate the comparison of past and present performance. Some of the financial targets under our short- and long-term incentive programs are also based onnon-GAAP financial measures.Non-GAAP financial measures are used by management in evaluating results of operations internally and in assessing the impact of known trends and uncertainties on our business, but they are not intended to replace the presentation of financial results in accordance with GAAP.

Constant currency net sales is anon-GAAP financial measure. To calculate net sales on a constant currency basis, net sales for the current fiscal year period for entities reporting in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars at the average rates during the comparable period of the prior fiscal year.

(2)Adjusted earnings per share-diluted is anon-GAAP financial measure. We define adjusted earnings per share-diluted as diluted earnings per share of the Company’s common stock (“Common Stock”), excluding unallocatedmark-to-market losses on commodity derivatives, costs associated with business realignment activities, costs relating to the integration of acquisitions,non-service related components of our pension expense (income) (“NSRPE(I)”), goodwill long-lived and other intangible asset impairment charges, unallocated gains and losses associated with mark-to-market commodity derivatives, pension settlement charges relating to Company-directed initiatives, the one-time impact of the Shanghai Golden Monkey liability in conjunction with the purchase of the remaining 20% of the outstanding shares of Shanghai Golden Monkey,U.S. tax reform and the gain realized on the sale of a trademark, costs associated with the early extinguishment of debt and othernon-recurring gains and losses.certain licensing rights.

41


In April 2016, we lowered




While our guidance for our expected 2016 constant currency2018 net sales increase to 2.5% and for our expected 2016 adjusted earnings per share-diluted increase to 3% to 4%. See the section entitled “Annual Incentives” for more information regarding our 2016 annual incentive targets and related results.

Actual results for 2016 were as follows:

LOGO

While we did not meet our expectations, for net sales growth, we exceededdelivered on our adjusted earnings per share-diluted expectations. Becausecommitment and our financial performance exceeded the median performance of our mixed financial performance results, our NEOs earned significantly below-target performance stock unit (“PSU”) payouts and slightly above-target annual cash incentive awards, as2018 Peer Group. Our 2018 Peer Group is described furtherin more detail in the sectionssection entitled “Long-Term Incentives”"Setting Compensation."


chart-3be9059c1af3415121aa03.jpgchart-0b0c2f16d3f137b3864a03.jpgExecutive Compensation Philosophy
Our executive compensation philosophy is to provide compelling, dynamic, market-based total compensation tied to performance and “Annual Incentives.”

aligned with our stockholders’ interests. Our goal is to ensure the Company has the talent it needs to maintain sustained long-term performance for our stockholders, employees and communities. The guiding principles that help us achieve this goal are compensation programs which:

execcompphilosophyfinal.jpg


Hershey Has StrongPay-for-Performance Alignment

The Compensation and Executive Organization Committee (the “Compensation Committee”) of our Board of Directors (the “Board”) has oversight responsibility for our executive compensation framework and for aligning our executives’ pay with the Company’s performance. We believe we have a strongpay-for-performance alignment because a significant portion of each NEO’s target total direct compensation is tied to the financial performance of the Company as well as shareholderstockholder returns.

In 2016,2018, approximately 70%87% of our CEO’s and 60%74% of our other NEOs’ target total direct compensation, excluding Ms. Turner’s, was variable and tied to Company performance,at-risk, including a substantial portion tied to shareholderstockholder value. Specifically, 34% of our PSUsPerformance Stock Units ("PSUs") were tied to Total Shareholder Return (“TSR”). Combined with the other financial and strategic metrics that determine our NEOs’ compensation, we have aligned our executive compensation program with the long-term interests of our stockholders.

42


Over the last three years, we have delivered a TSR of 14%, which is at the bottom of our Financial Peer Group described in the section entitled “Performance Stock Unit Targets and Results.”

LOGO

Because our TSR metric was below threshold for the 2014-2016 PSU cycle, our NEOs received a 0% payout for this metric, significantly reducing their overall PSU payout, as described in more detail in the section entitled “Performance Stock Unit Targets and Results.”

Our Stockholders Strongly Approve of Our Pay Practices

Last year, our stockholders overwhelmingly approved our“say-on-pay” “say-on-pay” resolution, with more than 93% of the votes cast by the holders of Common Stock and more than 99% of the combined votes cast by the holders of the Common Stock and Class B Common Stock voting in favor. Our Compensation Committee believes the results of last year’s“say-on-pay” “say-on-pay” vote affirmed our stockholders’ support of our Company’s executive compensation program. Consequentially, our approach to executive compensation in 20162018 was substantially the same as the approach stockholders approved in 2015. In keeping with2017. At the preference expressed by our stockholders at the 20112017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, our Board has committedstockholders voted to continue having an annual“say-on-pay” “say-on-pay” vote as described in Proposal No. 3 – Approval of–Advise on Named Executive Officer Compensation on aNon-Binding Advisory Basis.Compensation. We are askingplan to ask stockholders to express a preference for the frequency of the“say-on-pay” “say-on-pay” vote pursuant to Section 14Aat our 2023 Annual Meeting of the Exchange Act, in this proxy statement.

Stockholders.



We believe our compensation and governance policies and practices are significant drivers of our stockholder support. These policies and practices include:

Pay for performance. A substantial percentage of each of our NEO’s target total direct compensation is variable, performance-based compensation.

Performance measures support strategic objectives. The performance measures we use for our variable, performance-based compensation reflect strategic and operating objectives, creating long-term value for our stockholders.

Appropriate risk-taking. We set performance goals that consider our publicly-announced financial expectations, which we believe will encourage appropriate risk taking. Our incentive programs are appropriately capped so as not to encourage excessive risk taking.

No taxgross-ups. We do not provide taxgross-ups, except for relocation expenses.

43


“Double-trigger” benefits in the event of a change in control. In the event of a change in control, the payment of severance benefits and the acceleration of vesting of time-based long-term incentive awards are “double-trigger” benefits. The severance payments and accelerated vesting of continuing incentive awards will not occur unless there is also a qualifying termination of employment upon or within two years following the change in control.

Nore-pricings or exchanges of underwater stock options. Our stockholder-approved Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan (“EICP”) prohibitsre-pricing or exchange of underwater stock options without stockholder approval.

Do not provide excessive perquisites.Executive perquisites are kept to a minimal level relative to a NEO’s total compensation and do not play a significant role in our executive compensation program.

Do not provide for the prepayment of dividends on unearned PSUs.Dividends are not paid on PSU awards during the three-year performance cycle.

Significant stock ownership guidelines. Our NEOs and other executives are required to accumulate and hold stock equal to a multiple of base salary. If an executive has not met his or her ownership requirement in a timely manner, the executive is required to retain a portion of shares received under long-term incentive awards until the requirements are met.

Anti-hedging policy. Our NEOs, directors and other insiders are prohibited from entering into hedging transactions related to our stock.

Anti-pledging policy. Our NEOs, directors and other insiders are prohibited from entering into pledging transactions related to our stock.

Clawbacks and other covenants.

¡
WHAT WE DOFor
Pay for performance: A substantial percentage of each NEO's target total direct compensation is at-risk.
Performance measures support strategic objectives: The performance measures we use in our compensation programs reflect strategic and operating objectives, creating long-term value for our stockholders.
Appropriate risk-taking: We set performance goals that consider our publicly-announced financial expectations, which we believe will encourage appropriate risk taking. Our incentive programs are appropriately capped so as not to encourage excessive risk taking.
“Double-trigger” benefits in the protectionevent of a change in control:In the Company, weevent of a change in control, the payment of severance benefits and the acceleration of vesting of long-term incentive awards that are replaced with qualifying awards will not occur unless there is also a qualifying termination of employment upon or within two years following the change in control.
Clawbacks and other covenants: We require our NEOs to enter into an Employee Confidentiality and Restrictive Covenant Agreement (“ECRCA”) as a condition of receipt of long-term incentive awards. Failure to comply with the ECRCA may subject the employee to cancellation of awards and a requirement to repay amounts received from awards.

¡
Under the EICP,Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan (“EICP”), when an individual’s actions result in the filing of financial documents not in compliance with financial reporting requirements, the Company has the right to recoup or require repayment of an award earned or accrued during the12-month period following the first public issuance or filing with the SECSecurities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) of the financial documentnon-compliant document.
Significant stock ownership guidelines:Our NEOs and other executives are required to accumulate and hold stock equal to a multiple of base salary. If an executive has not met his or her ownership requirement in compliance with sucha timely manner, the executive is required to retain a portion of shares received under long-term incentive awards until the requirement is met.
WHAT WE DON'T DO
Provide excessive perquisites:Executive perquisites are kept to a minimal level relative to a NEO’s total compensation and do not play a significant role in our executive compensation program.
Tax gross-ups: We generally do not provide tax gross-ups, except for relocation expenses.
Provide for the prepayment of dividends on unearned PSUs:Dividends are not paid on PSU awards during the three-year performance cycle.
Hedging Company stock: Our NEOs, directors and other insiders are prohibited from entering into hedging transactions related to our stock, including forward sale purchase contracts, equity swaps, collars or exchange fund.
Pledging Company stock: Our NEOs, directors and other insiders are prohibited from entering into pledging transactions related to our stock.
Re-pricings or exchanges of underwater stock options: Our stockholder-approved EICP prohibits re-pricing or exchange of underwater stock options without stockholder approval.



2018 Performance Results and Payouts
2018 One Hershey Incentive Program ("OHIP") - Performance Metrics and Results
Payouts under the 2018 OHIP reflect our below-target performance in net sales and above-target performance in adjusted earnings per share-diluted and operating cash flow. As a result, 65% of the 2018 OHIP award for each NEO was based on the Company performance score of 99.09%. The remainder of the 2018 OHIP award for each NEO was determined by individual performance as described in more detail in the section entitled "Annual Incentives."
Metric
2018 ResultsRe
2018 Awards
Net Sales(1)
5.0% growth was below targetCompany performance score of 99.09%
Adjusted Earnings per Share-Diluted(2)
14.9% growth was above target
Operating Cash Flow(3)
11.1% growth was above target
Individual Performance MetricsDescribed in more detail in the section entitled "Annual Incentives"Individual performance scores ranged from 80% to 130% of target for each NEO
____________________
(1)For purposes of determining the Company performance score, net sales is measured on a constant currency basis, further adjusted to reflect the impact of divestitures and acquisitions, which is a non-GAAP performance measure. To calculate net sales on a constant currency basis, net sales for the current fiscal year period for entities reporting in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars at the average rates during the comparable period of the prior fiscal year. For more information on our use of non-GAAP performance measures, please see footnote (1) in the section entitled "Executive Summary."
(2)For purposes of determining the Company performance score, adjusted earnings per share-diluted as determined for financial reporting requirement.purposes, which is a non-GAAP performance measure, is further adjusted to reflect the impact of divestitures and acquisitions. For more information regarding how we define adjusted earnings per share-diluted, please see footnote (1) in the section entitled “Executive Summary.”

(3)Operating cash flow is a non-GAAP performance measure. We define operating cash flow as the average of cash from operations less certain one-time items impacting comparability. For more information regarding our use of non-GAAP performance measures, please see footnote (1) in the section entitled “Executive Summary.”

2016-2018 PSU Cycle - Performance Metrics and Results
Our TSR results were significantly above target for the 2016-2018 PSU cycle, therefore our NEOs received a 247% payout for this metric, significantly increasing their overall PSU payout, as shown in the table below and described in more detail in the section entitled “Performance Stock Unit Targets and Results."
Metric
2016-2018 ResultsRe
2016-2018 Awards
Total Shareholder Return89th percentile was above target131.08% payout
Three-year Compound Annual Growth Rate
("CAGR") in Net Sales Growth(1)(2)
0.6% CAGR was below threshold
Three-year CAGR in Adjusted Earnings
per Share-Diluted(1)(3)
7.1% CAGR was above target
____________________
(1)Results for our barkTHINS, Amplify and Pirate Brands businesses were excluded from the following metrics, as applicable, as these acquisitions were made subsequent to the approval of the 2016-2018 PSU cycle metrics:
Three-year CAGR in net sales growth; and
Three-year CAGR in adjusted earnings per share-diluted.
(2)Net Sales is measured on a constant currency basis, which is a non-GAAP performance measure. To calculate net sales on a constant currency basis, net sales for the current fiscal year period for entities reporting in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars at the average rates during the comparable period of the base fiscal year.

(3)Adjusted earnings per share-diluted is a non-GAAP performance measure. For more information regarding how we define adjusted earnings per share-diluted, please see footnote (1) in the section entitled “Executive Summary.”


The Role and Philosophy of the Compensation Committee

The Compensation Committee has primary responsibility for making compensation decisions for our NEOs other than our CEO. Our CEO’s compensation is approved by the independent members of the Board based on the recommendations of the Compensation Committee.

The Compensation Committee operates under a charter approved by the Board. The Compensation Committee uses information from Mercer (US) Inc. (“Mercer”), the Compensation Committee’sits independent executive compensation consultant, input from our CEO (except for matters regarding hisher own pay) and assistance from our Human Resources Department to make decisions and to conduct its annual review of the Company’s executive compensation program.

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The Compensation Committee works with a rolling agenda, with its heaviest workload occurring during the first quarter of the year. During this quarter, decisions are made with respect to annual and long-term incentives earned based on the prior year’s performance and target compensation levels are finalized for the current year. The Compensation Committee also reviews and approves this Compensation Discussion & Analysis. During the second and third quarters, the Compensation Committee reviews materials relating to peer group composition, tally sheets, competitive pay analysis and other information that forms the foundation for future decisions. The Compensation Committee uses the third and fourth quarters to finalize decisions relating to the peer group and compensation plan design for use in the upcoming year.

The Compensation Committee may, in its discretion, delegate all or a portion of its duties and responsibilities to a subcommittee of the Compensation Committee and, pursuant to the provisions of the EICP, may appoint the CEO as a committee of the Board as necessary for the purpose of making equity grants under the EICP; provided, however, the Compensation Committee may not delegate the approval of certain transactions to a subcommittee or to the CEO if such transactions involve the approval or grant of equity-based compensation to an “officer” for purposes of Rule16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) or certification as to the attainment of performance goals for a “covered employee” for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) unless such subcommittee consists solely of members of the Compensation Committee who are (i)“Non-Employee “Non-Employee Directors” for the purposes of Rule16b-3 under the Exchange Act, and (ii) “outside directors” for the purposes of Section 162(m) of the IRC.

Compensation Advisor Independence
The philosophy of ourCompensation Committee retained Frederic W. Cook & Co., Inc. ("F.W. Cook") as its independent executive compensation program is to provide a compelling, dynamic, market-based total compensation program tied to performance and aligned with our stockholders’ interests. Our goal is to ensure the Company has the talent it needs to maintain sustained long-term performanceconsultant for our stockholders, employees and communities. The guiding principles that help us achieve this goal are:

Recruit and retain.Our program is designed to be market competitive and flexible to recruit and retain top talent for our critical roles.

Pay for performance. A significant portion of our executives’ compensation is tied to the performance of our Company, rewarding executives for both short-term and long-term progress towards our strategic and operational goals.

Aligned with strategy. Our compensation program is aligned with the strategies of our Company.

Aligned with stockholders. Our compensation program, through both design and payouts, is aligned with the long-term interests of our stockholders.

Reinforce robust succession planning. Our compensation program plays a key role in making sure we have the talent we need for long-term success and to deliver our Company strategies.

Data-driven decision making. We design our executive compensation program and make pay decisions considering a balance of information.

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Compensation Advisor Independence

Under its engagement letter withfiscal 2018. F.W. Cook advised the Compensation Committee Mercer has acknowledged that the firm is retained byon director and performs its services for the Compensation Committee while working with management to provide advice, counsel and recommendations that reinforce the Company’s business strategy, economics, organization and management style. Mercer has provided and continues to provide services and products to the Company in addition to itsexecutive compensation, but did no other work for the Company. Mercer (US) Inc. (“Mercer”) served as the Compensation Committee, includingCommittee’s independent executive compensation consultant in fiscal 2017 and continued to provide ad-hoc services related to globalexecutive and director compensation consulting and surveys for various geographies. Mercer and its affiliates also provide products and services to the Company that are unrelated to compensation, including expatriate consulting services (provided by Mercer), international benefits consulting and claims processing services (provided by Mercer) and coordination of certain third party health and welfare benefits (coordinated by Marsh). Mercer’s affiliates, Marsh USA Inc. and Marsh INSCO LLC, provided property and casualty insurance consulting services until June 2016.

through February 2018.

The Compensation Committee reviews all fees for services related to executive and director compensation provided by F.W. Cook. Because Mercer continued to provide ad-hoc executive and director compensation consultation services to the Compensation Committee through February 2018, as well as fees forother compensation-related products and services provided to the Company. The decision to engage Mercer for other services was made by management. NeitherCompany, the Compensation Committee nor the Board has a role in the engagement of Mercer or Mercer affiliates that provide products or services to the Company that are unrelated to compensation; however, the Compensation Committee reviews the fees for such products and services concurrently with its review of compensation-relatedalso reviewed fees paid to Mercer.

Mercer in 2018. Fees paid to Mercer and its affiliates for services provided in 20162018 related to executive and director compensation and compensation-related products and services totaled $476,782. Fees paid$26,706 and $111,231, respectively. The decision to engage Mercer for compensation-related products and its affiliates for other services provided in 2016 were as follows:

Compensation-related products and services

  $116,301 

Services unrelated to compensation

  $294,401 
  

 

 

 

Total other services

  $410,702 
  

 

 

 

was made by management.

The Compensation Committee also received and discussed with MercerF.W. Cook its letter to the Compensation Committee addressing factors relevant under the Securities Exchange Commission (“SEC”)SEC and New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) rules in assessing Mercer’sF.W. Cook’s independence from management and whether Mercer’sF.W. Cook’s work for the Compensation Committee has raised any conflicts of interest, as well as Mercer’sF.W. Cook’s belief that no conflict of interest exists and that it serves as an independent advisor to the Compensation Committee. The factors addressed included the extent of any business or personal relationships with any member of the Compensation Committee or any executive officer of the Company; Mercer’s and its affiliates’F.W. Cook’s provision of other services to the Company; the level of fees received from the Company as a percentage of total revenue of each of Mercer and Mercer’s parent company;F.W. Cook; the policies and procedures employed by MercerF.W. Cook to avoid conflicts of interest; and any ownership of Company stock by individuals employed by MercerF.W. Cook to advise the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee considered these factors before selecting or receiving advice from Mercer,F.W. Cook, and after considering these and other factors in their totality, the Compensation Committee identified no conflicts of interest with respect to Mercer’sF.W. Cook’s advice.



In establishing compensation levels and awards for executive officers other than our CEO, the Compensation Committee takes into consideration the recommendations of Mercerthe independent executive compensation consultant and the Human Resources Department, evaluations bycombined with our CEOCEO's evaluations of each officer’s individual performance and Company performance. The Compensation Committee evaluates director compensation primarily on the basis of peer group data used for benchmarking director compensation provided by Mercer.

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the independent executive compensation consultant.

Compensation Components

Our executive compensation program includes the following key elements:

Element

Design

Purpose

Key 20162018 Actions

Base Salary

Fixed compensation component. Reviewed annually and adjusted as appropriate.Intended to attract and retain executives with proven skills and leadership abilities that will enable us to be successful.Each
With the exception of Ms. Turner, each NEO received an increase at the beginning of the year consistent with how the Company sets compensation as described below.(1)

Annual Incentive Award

Variable, performance-based compensation component. Payable based on business results and individual performance.Intended to motivate and reward executives for successful execution of strategic priorities.
Targets as a percentage of base salary were established at the beginning of 20162018 for each NEO.(1) The metric weightings were changed in 2016 as follows: Net Sales(2) – 50% to 45%, Adjusted Earnings per Share-Diluted(3)plan design remained at 40% and Operating Cash Flow(4) – 10% to 15%.consistent with the previous year.

Long-Term Incentive Awards

Variable performance-based compensation component. Granted annually as a combination of Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”), PSUs and stock options. ThePSUs and stock options are considered to be performance-based; the value of amounts actually earned depend on Company and stock price performance.
Intended to motivate and reward executives for long-term Company financial performance and enhanced long-term stockholder value by balancing compensation opportunity and risk, while encouraging sustained performance and retention.Targets as a percentage of base salary were established at the beginning of 20162018 for each NEO. In 2016,The plan design remained consistent with the Compensation Committee approved changing the equity mix from 50% stock options and 50% PSUs to 25% stock options, 50% PSUs and 25% RSUs. In addition, the Compensation Committee approved changing the PSU metrics and weightings for the 2016 – 2018 performance cycle as described in the section entitled “Long-Term Incentives.”previous year.

(1)Ms. Buck’s base salary and annual incentive award were adjusted when she was promoted to Executive Vice President, COO, as described further in the sections entitled “Base Salary” and “Annual Incentives.”

(2)Net Sales is measured on a constant currency basis, which is anon-GAAP performance measure. For more information regarding how we define constant currency net sales, please see footnote (1) in the section entitled “Executive Summary.”

(3)Adjusted earnings per share-diluted is anon-GAAP performance measure. For more information regarding how we define adjusted earnings per share-diluted, please see footnote (2) in the section entitled “Executive Summary.”

(4)Operating cash flow is anon-GAAP performance measure. We define operating cash flow as the average of cash from operations less certainone-time items impacting comparability. For more information regarding our use ofnon-GAAP performance measures, please see footnote (1) in the section entitled “Executive Summary.”

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The following charts illustrate the weighting of base salary, annual incentive awards and long-term incentive awards at target for our CEO and our other NEOs, excluding Ms. Turner, during 2016:

LOGO

2018:

chart-925dd7286b9204285dea03.jpgchart-7f50ec0cdcc59b7ff50.jpg
At-Risk Compensation = 87%At-Risk Compensation = 74%






Setting Compensation

The Compensation Committee’s annual compensation review for 20162018 included an analysis of data, comparing the Company’s executive and director compensation levels against a peer group of publicly-held consumer products companies. MercerThe independent executive compensation consultant provides the Compensation Committee with advice, counsel and recommendations with respect to the composition of the peer group and competitive data used for benchmarking our compensation program. The Compensation Committee uses this and other information provided by Mercerthe independent executive compensation consultant to reach an independent recommendation regarding compensation to be paid to our CEO, directors and other officers. The Compensation Committee’s final recommendation with respect to CEO compensation is then given to the independent directors of our Board for review and final approval.

Before 2015, the Company had two separate peer groups, which we referred to as our Compensation Peer Group and our Financial Peer Group. Since 2015, the Compensation Committee has utilized one common peer group.

Companies in the peer group used to benchmark executive and director pay levels for 20162018 (the “2016“2018 Peer Group”) are:

Brown-Forman Corporation

Dean Foods Company
Hormel Foods Corporation

Campbell Soup Company

Kellogg Company

Colgate-Palmolive Company

McCormick & Company, Inc.

ConAgra Foods, Inc.

Campbell Soup Company
Mead Johnson Nutrition Company

Constellation Brands, Inc.

Molson Coors Brewing Company

Dean Foods Company

Mondelez International

Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc.

Molson Coors Brewing Company
Colgate-Palmolive Company
General Mills, Inc.
Mondelez International
ConAgra Foods, Inc.
Hormel Foods Corporation
The Clorox Company

General Mills,

Constellation Brands, Inc.

Kellogg Company
The J. M. Smucker Company

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The Compensation Committee selected these companies after reviewing publicly-held companies offering products/services similar to ours, with annual revenues within a range of approximatelyone-half to two andone-half times our annual revenue (with the exception of Mondelez International whom we also consider a peer company for executive talent) and market capitalization within a reasonable range of our market capitalization. The 20162018 Peer Group was composed of companies with annual revenues ranging from $3.6$3.9 billion to $29.6$25.9 billion (as(trailing twelve months as of fiscal year 2015)August 2017) and market capitalization ranging from $1.6$1.8 billion to $71.3$65.5 billion (as(most recent quarter as of December 31, 2015)August 2017). Hershey’s fiscal year 2015equivalent 2017 revenue of $7.4$7.5 billion and December 31, 2015 market capitalization of $19.4$23.2 billion were at the 51st45th and 56th66th percentiles, respectively. Except for Colgate-Palmolive Company and Mead Johnson Nutrition Company, allAll of the companies in our 20162018 Peer Group were included in our 2015 Peer Group. Kraft Foods Group,2017 peer group. Mead Johnson Nutrition Company, which was also included in 2015,our 2017 peer group, was not included in the 2016our 2018 Peer Group due tobecause it was acquired in 2017. For the purposes of measuring performance in our open PSU cycles only, Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. was removed from our 2018 Peer Group as a result of its merger occurringwith Keurig Green Mountain, Inc. in 2015.

July 2018.

Data from the 20162018 Peer Group was supplemented by composite data from consumer products companies ranging in size from $3 billion to $17 billion in approximate annual sales. This information was included in three national surveys conducted by Aon Hewitt, Mercer and Willis Towers Watson. The survey composite data provided us with broader, industry-specific information regarding pay levels at consumer products companies for positions similar to those held by our NEOs.

The Compensation Committee reviewed a report summarizing compensation levels at the 25th, 50th and 75th percentiles of the 2016 Peer Group and the survey composite data for positions comparable to those held by each of our NEOs. The Compensation Committee also reviewed a report comparing the target total cash compensation (base salary plus target annual incentive) and target total direct compensation (base salary plus target annual incentive plus target long-term incentive) levels at the 25th, 50th and 75th percentiles of the 2018 Peer Group and the survey composite data for positions comparable to those held by each of the NEOs against these benchmarks. For retention and competitive considerations, the Companyour NEOs. Hershey targets each NEO’s total cash compensation and total direct compensation for its executive officers, in aggregate, at competitive pay levels aroundusing the 50th percentilemedian of the 2016 Peer Group data or survey composite data applicable to his or her position. The Compensation Committee’s final determinations with respect to base salary, target annual incentive compensationour peer group for reference. Positioning varies by job, and target long-term incentive compensation reflect consideration of the Company’s and the NEO’s performance, internal comparisons and other factors the Compensation Committee deems appropriate. Asconsiders a resultnumber of these factors including market competitiveness, specific duties and responsibilities of the executive versus those of peers, experience and succession planning. The Compensation Committee believes it is appropriate to reward the executive management team with compensation above or below the competitive median if the financial targets associated with its variable pay programs are above or below target, total cash compensation and target total direct compensation of our NEOs in 2016 was generally set around the applicable median.

respectively.

During 2016,2018, the Compensation Committee received detailed tally sheets prepared by management. Each tally sheet captures comprehensive compensation, benefits and stock ownership data. The tally sheets provide the Compensation Committee with a complete picture of each executive’s current and projected compensation and the amount of each element of compensation or other benefit the executive would receive in the event of voluntary or involuntary termination, retirement, disability, death, or upon change in control. The Compensation Committee considers this information, as well as the benchmark information, when making compensation decisions.





Base Salary

Base salary is the largest fixed component of our executive compensation program andfor each NEO is determined by considering the relative importance of the position, the competitive marketplace and the individual’s performance, responsibilities and experience. Salary reviews are generally conducted annually at the beginning of the year. Each NEO’s base salary is compared to internal and external references. Base salary adjustments, if any, are made after considering market references, Company performance against financial goals and individual performance. CEO performance is evaluated by the Compensation Committee and independent members of the Board. The CEO evaluates the performance of hisher direct reports, including all NEOs, and reviews hisher recommendations for salary adjustments with the Compensation Committee prior to its approval of the base salary for each NEO. If a NEO has responsibility for a particular business unit, the business unit’s financial results also will be strongly considered.

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On the basis of the foregoing considerations, the Compensation Committee, and all independent directors in the case of our CEO, approved base salaries for 20162018 as follows:

Name

 

 

2016

Base Salary

($)

 

  

Increase

from 2015

(%)

 

  

Percent of Target Total

Direct Compensation

(%)

 

 

  Mr. Bilbrey

  1,236,000   3.0   13.8           

  Ms. Little

  627,000   4.5   26.7           

  Ms. Buck

  750,000(1)   14.9   23.9           

  Mr. O’Day

  587,800   3.0   29.9           

  Ms. Turner

  627,000   4.5   29.4           

(1)In addition to a merit increase at the beginning of the year to $672,400, Ms. Buck’s base salary was increased to $750,000 effective June 2, 2016 in connection with her promotion to Executive Vice President, COO. The percent of target total direct compensation for Ms. Buck is based on a base salary of $716,274, reflecting her target base salary both before and after the June increase.

Name 
2018
Base Salary
($) 
Increase
from 2017
(%) 
Ms. Buck1,133,000
3.0
Ms. Little658,730
2.0
Mr. O'Day627,300
2.0
Mr. Tillemans650,000
4.0
Ms. West679,250
4.5
Ms. Turner642,680
0.0
See Column (c) of the 20162018 Summary Compensation Table for information regarding the base salary earned by each of our NEOs during 2016.

2018.

Annual Incentives

Our NEOs are eligible to receive an annual cash incentive award under the One Hershey Incentive Program (“OHIP”), a program established under our EICP.

OHIP. The OHIP links the NEO’s annual payout opportunity to measures he or she can affect most directly. For 2016,2018, our CEO and all employees reporting directly to him,her, including the NEOs, had common financial objectives tied to total Company performance consistent with their responsibility to manage the entire Company. Total Company performance targets are established in the context of our announced expectations for financial performance, prior year results and market conditions.

For 2016,2018, our NEOs were eligible to earn individual OHIP awards as follows:

Name

 

 

2016 Target One Hershey

Incentive Program

(% of Base Salary)

 

  

Percent of Target

Total Direct

Compensation

(%)

 

 

Mr. Bilbrey

  150   20.7 

Ms. Little

  80   21.3 

Ms. Buck

  90(1)   21.0(1) 

Mr. O’Day

  65   19.4 

Ms. Turner

  70   20.6 

(1)
Name
2018 Target OHIP
(% of Base Salary)
Ms. Buck’s target was initially set at 85% in January 2016. Upon her promotion to Executive Vice President, COO, Buck150
Ms. Buck’s target increased to 90%. The percent of target total direct compensation for Little85
Mr. O'Day80
Mr. Tillemans80
Ms. Buck is based on a base salary of $716,274, reflecting her target base salary both before and after the June increase.West80
Ms. Turner70

In determining the target OHIP percentage for each of the NEOs, the Compensation Committee, and the independent directors in the case of our CEO, considered the value of target total cash compensation against market references. Target total cash compensation levels for each of the NEOs fall within an appropriate range relative to the median for comparable positions given each incumbent’s performance, responsibilities and tenure in the role.

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In general, the final OHIP award is determined by multiplying the NEO’s base salary, the applicable target percentage and performance scores ranging from 0% to 200% based on Company and individual performance. The Company performance goals are established at the beginning of each year by the Compensation Committee. Individual performance goals also are established at that time, or at the time of hire if later. If performance scores exceed the target objectives, a NEO may receive an OHIP payout greater than his or her target award value. If performance scores are below the target objectives, the NEO’s OHIP payout will be below his or her target award value, subject to no award if performance is below threshold levels.



For 2016,2018, Company financial performance metrics accounted for 65% of each NEO’s target award under the program. The remaining 35% was based upon individual performance toward achievement of up to sixa common goal as well as individual performance goals focused on strategic priorities applicable to the NEO’s position, but tied to the overall Company’s top priorities for the year.

2016

2018 OHIP Financial Performance Targets and Results

The Company (65% of Total OHIP)

Our 2018 OHIP financial performance targets, for the 2016 OHIP were as follows:

Consolidated net sales(1) of $7.571 billion, a 2.5% increase from 2015;

Adjusted earnings per share-diluted(2) of $4.37, a 6.0% increase from 2015; and

Operating cash flow(3) of $1.190 billion, an 8.0% increase from 2015.

Ourour financial performance during 2016results for 2018 and the resulting financial performance scores for OHIP were as follows:

Metric

 

 

2016
Target
($)

 

 

2016
Actual
($)

 

 

Target
Award
(%)

 

  

Performance
Score
(%)

 

 

Net Sales(1)

 7.571 billion 7.455 billion  45.00   43.50        

Adjusted Earnings per Share-Diluted(2)

 4.37 4.45  40.00   48.86        

Operating Cash Flow(3)

 1.190 billion 1.172 billion  15.00   14.73        

Total One Hershey Incentive Program Company Score

  100.00   107.09        

Metric 
2018 Target2018 Actual
Target
Award
(%) 
Performance
Score
(%) 
($) 
(% growth)($) (% growth)
Net Sales(1)
7.974 billion
6.17.892 billion
5.045.00
42.26
Adjusted Earnings per Share-Diluted(2)
5.37
14.55.39
14.940.00
40.95
Operating Cash Flow(3)
1.355 billion
9.01.381 billion
11.115.00
15.88
Total OHIP Company Score100.00
99.09
____________________
(1)Net SalesFor purposes of determining the Company performance score, net sales is measured on a constant currency basis, further adjusted to reflect the impact of divestitures and acquisitions, which is anon-GAAP performance measure. To calculate net sales on a constant currency basis, net sales for the current fiscal year period for entities reporting in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars at the average rates during the comparable period of the prior fiscal year. For more information regarding how we define constant currency net sales,on our use of non-GAAP performance measures, please see footnote (1) in the section entitled “Executive"Executive Summary.” The Net Sales results above differ from those disclosed in our fourth quarter 2016 earnings release as a result of acquisitions made during 2016."

(2)AdjustedFor purposes of determining the Company performance score, adjusted earnings per share-diluted as determined for financial reporting purposes, which is anon-GAAP performance measure.measure, is further adjusted to reflect the impact of divestitures and acquisitions. For more information regarding how we define adjusted earnings per share-diluted, please see footnote (2)(1) in the section entitled “Executive Summary.” Adjusted Earnings Per Share-Diluted results above differ from those disclosed in our fourth quarter 2016 earnings release as a result of acquisitions made during 2016.

(3)Operating cash flow is anon-GAAP performance measure. We define operating cash flow as the average of cash from operations less certainone-time items impacting comparability. For more information regarding our use ofnon-GAAP performance measures, please see footnote (1) in the section entitled “Executive Summary.”
2018 OHIP Individual Performance Results (35% of Total OHIP)
2018 Common Goal
The NEOs had a common goal to design and implement a new enterprise organizational model to deliver peer leading growth and margin by reallocating resources to commercial capabilities that accelerate growth and improve operational efficiency, our workplace experience and the overall quality of our talent.  The new model was installed ahead of schedule and over delivered on all financial and operational objectives.

We achieved below-target

Michele G. Buck, President and CEO
Ms. Buck delivered financial performance that solidly outperformed the Consumer Packaged Goods Food Sector peers while making strong progress towards creating an Innovative Snacking Powerhouse. Core brands were strengthened, and new media models were delivered (in house creative studio, new data and analytics for better targeting). Our International and Other Segment business delivered top-line organic growth(2) of 6.0% and over delivered operating income, with a record $74 million in profit.


(2)Organic growth, which is a non-GAAP performance measure, excludes the impact of divestitures and acquisitions. For more information on our use of non-GAAP performance measures, please see footnote (1) in the section entitled "Executive Summary."


Patricia A. Little, Senior Vice President, CFO
Ms. Little led, to a successful completion, the master data and central finance reporting streams of our Enterprise Resource Planning ("ERP") project. Ms. Little developed a 3-year profit and loss statement designed to deliver balanced revenue and margin growth in line with Hershey’s top quartile net sales and operating cash flowearnings before interest and above-target performance in adjusted earnings per share-diluted. As a result, 65% of the 2016 OHIP award for each NEO was based on the Company performance score of 107.09%. The remainder of the OHIP award was determined by individual performance ratings.taxes aspirations.

The individual performance goals for Mr. Bilbrey centered on delivery of the Company’s financial goals, strategic leadership and succession planning.

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At the beginning of 2016, Ms. Buck served as our President, North America. On June 2, 2016, Ms. Buck took on an expanded role of Executive Vice President, COO, while continuing to lead the Company’sday-to-day North American operations. Her goals and evaluation reflected both roles. Ms. Buck was responsible for strategic leadership and delivery of the Company’s financial objectives, establishing future growth pipelines, building critical capabilities and improving the Company’s operations.

Ms. Little, our CFO, had individual performance goals that included building the Company’s global financial capabilities, delivering continued process improvements and delivering on our strategic plan. The individual performance goals for Mr.

Terence L. O’Day, Senior Vice President, Chief Product Supply Chainand Technology Officer
Mr. O’Day led the design and implementation of Hershey’s next generation ERP model, providing oversight and governance, delivering the project on time, on budget, and on scope for each workstream.  He also activated initiatives to expand manufacturing, improve fulfillment and develop supply chain capabilities intended to further optimize manufacturing and distribution operations.

Todd W. Tillemans, President, U.S.
Mr. Tillemans designed and deployed growth enabling strategies focused on delivering a supply chain network that enablessustainable, profitable growth and deliveringmarket share gains. Progress was made in strengthening our digital commerce and U.S. commercial planning capabilities, and in sharpening our brand positioning with customers and consumers.

Mary Beth West, Senior Vice President, Chief Growth Officer
Ms. West designed the enterprise margin expansion. For Ms.growth strategy, defining the 2019-2021 strategic roadmap and key strategic growth initiatives that will deliver sustainable, profitable growth.  She led the successful integration of Amplify Brands, Inc. and the acquisition of Pirate Brands to capture more snacking occasions.

Leslie M. Turner, Former Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary the individual performance goals included enhancing our global ethics
Ms. Turner successfully executed and compliance culture as well as supporting our CEO and Board on a varietytransitioned all of legal matters.her general counsel accountabilities.



Following the close of 2016,2018, the Compensation Committee provided the independent directors with an assessment of Mr. Bilbrey’s 2016Ms. Buck’s 2018 performance and achievement relative to hisher individual performance goals. Our financial results were around target despite challenging industry conditions in the category. Mr. Bilbrey also delivered on his strategic leadership goals, including enabling continued growth through portfolio expansion, investing in key geographies, capturing significant cost savings, delivering above-target innovation, succession planning and diversity efforts. Based upon those assessments, the Compensation Committee recommended, and the Board approved, the individual performance award and total OHIP payout for Mr. BilbreyMs. Buck as shown in the table below.

Mr. Bilbrey

Ms. Buck provided the Compensation Committee with hisher assessment of each NEO’s 20162018 performance and achievement in relation to their performance goals. Based upon those assessments, Mr. BilbreyMs. Buck recommended, and the Compensation Committee approved, the individual performance awards and total OHIP payouts as shown in the table below.

Based upon a 65% weight for the Company financial score of 107.09%99.09% of target and a 35% weight for the individual performance, award, our NEOs earned the following 20162018 OHIP awards:

Name

 

 

Award

Target

(%)

 

  

Award

Target(1)

($)

 

  

Company

Financial

Performance

Award (65%

Weighting)

($)

 

  

Individual

Performance

Award (35%

Weighting)

($)

 

  

2016

OHIP

Award

($)

 

 

Mr. Bilbrey

  150   1,853,169   1,289,963   810,762   2,100,725 

Ms. Little

  80   501,268   348,925   210,532   559,457 

Ms. Buck

  90(2)   629,778(2)   438,379   275,528   713,907 

Mr. O’Day

  65   381,898   265,834   200,496   466,330 

Ms. Turner

  70   438,609   305,309   191,892   497,201 

Name 
Award
Target
(%) 
Award
Target(1)
($) 
Company
Financial
Performance
Award (65%
Weighting)
($) 
Individual
Performance
Award (35%
Weighting)
($) 
2018
OHIP
Award
($) 
Ms. Buck150
1,698,548
1,094,009
653,941
1,747,950
Ms. Little85
559,709
360,500
195,899
556,399
Mr. O'Day80
501,651
323,106
201,914
525,020
Mr. Tillemans80
519,615
334,676
145,493
480,169
Ms. West80
542,950
349,706
247,042
596,748
Ms. Turner(2)
70
449,876
403,776
42,392
446,168
____________________
(1)Target award is based upon actual salary received in 2016.2018.

(2)Per the terms of Ms. Buck’s targetTurner's Confidential Separation Agreement and General Release, her 2018 OHIP award was initially set at 85% in January 2016. Upon her promotion to Executive Vice President, COO, Ms. Buck’s target increased to 90%.calculated as follows:

• From January 1, 2018 through March 31, 2018, Ms. Turner's 2018 OHIP award was based 65% on Company financial performance results and 35% on individual performance.
• From April 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018, Ms. Turner's 2018 OHIP award was based 100% on Company financial performance, calculated as the lower of the Company financial performance score or target.
The 20162018 OHIP payments are included in Column (g) of the 20162018 Summary Compensation Table for each NEO.

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Long-Term Incentives

We provide long-term incentive opportunities to motivate, retain and reward our NEOs for their contributions to multi-year performance in achieving strategies and improving long-term share value. In February of each year, the Compensation Committee awards long-term incentive grants, including PSUs, stock options and RSUs, to our NEOs. Prior to 2016, long-term incentive grants were comprised of PSUs and stock options. In 2016, we updated our equity mix to include RSUs, increasing the retentive value of our long-term incentive program.

The Compensation Committee, and the independent directors in the case of our CEO, determines the value of long-term incentive awards made to each NEO by considering the NEO’s target total direct compensation against internal and external references. The target award percentages approved in February 2016,2018, expressed as a percentage of base salary, were:

Name

 

 

Target Long-
Term Incentive Award

(% of Salary)

 

  

Percent of

Target Total

Direct

Compensation

(%)

 

 

Mr. Bilbrey

  475                   65.5           

Ms. Little

  195                   52.0           

Ms. Buck

  230                   55.0(1) 

Mr. O’Day

  170                   50.8           

Ms. Turner

  170                   50.0           

Name
Target Long-
Term Incentive Award
(% of Salary)
Ms. Buck500
Ms. Little210
Mr. O'Day170
Mr. Tillemans180
Ms. West230
Ms. Turner(1)
170
____________________
(1)The percent of target total direct compensation for Ms. Buck is basedTurner retired on a base salary of $716,274, reflecting her target base salary both before and after the June increase.April 1, 2018.



The Compensation Committee values RSUs and PSUs using the closing stock price of the Company’s Common Stock on the NYSE on the date of grant. The Compensation Committee values stock options using the value of the stock options at the date of grant as determined for financial reporting purposes (the Black-Scholes value). Target total direct compensation levels for each of the NEOs fall within an appropriate range relative to the median for comparable positions given the each incumbent’s performance, responsibilities and tenure in the role.

Performance Stock Unit Targets and Results

(50% of long-term incentive mix)

PSUs are granted to NEOs and other executives in a position to affect the Company’s long-term results. At the start of each three-year cycle, a contingent target number of PSUs is established for each executive. This target is expressed as a percentage of the executive’s base salary and is determined as part of a total compensation package based on the peer group and survey composite benchmarks. The PSU award generally represents approximatelyone-half of the recipient’s long-term incentive compensation target award. Dividends are not paid on PSU awards during the three-year performance cycle.

2014-2016

2016-2018 PSU Cycle Award

The performance objectives for the 2014-20162016-2018 performance cycle awarded in 20142016 were based upon the following metrics:

Three-year relative TSR versus the Financial Peer Group2016 peer group described below;

Three-year compound annual growth rate (“CAGR”)CAGR in organictotal Company net sales outside the United Statessales; and Canada;

Three-year CAGR in adjusted earnings per share-diluted measured against an internal target; andtarget.

53


Annual (as opposed to three-year) growth in adjusted earnings per share-diluted measured against an internal target for each year of the three-year performance cycle.

The Compensation Committee selected these metrics to measure performance against internal targets aligned with our stockholders’ interests and investment returns offered by our peer companies. Although the Company decided to utilize one commonThe 2016 peer group beginning in 2015, PSU cycles prior to 2015 still utilize our Financial Peer Group. The Financial Peer Group is a high-performing group of companies with whom we compete for investors in the food and beverage industry. Initially the Compensation Committee approved a Financial Peer Group of 15originally included 16 companies with median revenues of $8.1$6.2 billion. AsMead Johnson Nutrition Company and Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. were subsequently removed from the 2016 peer group as a result of corporate transactions, Hillshire Brandswhich occurred in June 2017 and Kraft Foods Group were removed from the Financial Peer Group.July 2018, respectively. Therefore, 1314 companies remained in the 2014-20162016-2018 cycle for use in assessing our Company’s 2014-2016Company's 2016-2018 TSR.

Companies included in the Financial Peer Group2016 peer group for the 2014-20162016-2018 PSU cycle award were:

Brown-Forman Corporation

Hormel
Dean Foods Corporation

Campbell Soup Company

Kellogg Company

ConAgra Foods, Inc.

McCormick & Company, Inc.

Constellation Brands, Inc.

Molson Coors Brewing Company

Dean Foods

Campbell Soup Company

General Mills, Inc. Mondelez International

Dr Pepper Snapple Group,Colgate-Palmolive Company

Hormel Foods Corporation The Clorox Company 
ConAgra Foods, Inc.

Kellogg Company The J. M. Smucker Company

General Mills,

Constellation Brands, Inc.

McCormick & Company, Inc.  

The Compensation Committee approves the annual adjusted earnings per share-diluted target for each year of the three-year performance cycle at the beginning of the performance year. The annual component allows the Compensation Committee to establish performance thresholds, targets and maximums that reflect current business conditions, thus strengthening the link between pay and performance for each year of the three-year cycle.

Payment of any amounts earned including amounts based on the annual performance goals, will beis made in shares of our Common Stock at the conclusion of the three-year performance cycle. The maximum award for any participant in a performance cycle is 250% of the contingent target award.



Targets and results for the 2014-20162016-2018 performance cycle and the Company’s TSR and financial performance during the three-year cycle were as follows:

Metric

 

 

Target

 

  

Actual
Performance

 

  

Target
Award
Weighting
(%)

 

  

Final
Performance
Score

(%)

 

 

Total Shareholder Return

  50th Percentile   0th Percentile   50.00   0.00 

Three-year CAGR in Organic Net Sales Outside the United States and Canada

  18.3% CAGR(1)   1.9% CAGR(1)   15.00   0.00 

Three-year CAGR in Adjusted Earnings per Share-Diluted(3)

  10.1% CAGR(1),(2)   8.1% CAGR(1),(2)   15.00   4.64 

2014 Adjusted Earnings  per
Share-Diluted(3)

  

$4.10

(10.2% increase)

(1) 

 

  

$3.98

(7.0% increase)

(1) 

 

  6.66   3.10 

2015 Adjusted Earnings  per
Share-Diluted(3)

  

$4.34

(9.0% increase)

 

 

  

$4.12

(3.5% increase)

 

 

  6.67   4.03 

2016 Adjusted Earnings per
Share-Diluted(3)

  

$4.37

(6.1% increase)

(1) 

 

  

$4.45

(8.0% increase)

(1) 

 

  6.67   8.89 

Total

          100.00   20.66 

54


Metric
Target 
Actual
Performance 
 
Target
Award
Weighting
(%) 
Final
Performance
Score
(%)
Total Shareholder Return50th Percentile89th Percentile34.00
83.87
Three-year CAGR in Net Sales
Growth(1)(2)
3.0% CAGR0.6% CAGR33.00

Three-year CAGR in Adjusted Earnings
per Share-Diluted(1)(3)
6.0% CAGR7.1% CAGR33.00
47.21
Total  100.00
131.08
____________________
(1)Results for our Shanghai Golden Monkey business, our Allan Candy business, our KRAVE businessbarkTHINS, Amplify and our barkTHINS businessPirate Brands businesses were excluded from the following metrics, as applicable, as these acquisitions were made in September 2014, December 2014, March 2015 and April 2016, January 2018 and October 2018, respectively:

Three-year CAGR in organic net sales outside the United Statesgrowth; and Canada;

Three-year CAGR in adjusted earnings per share-diluted;

2014 adjusted earnings per share-diluted; and

2016 adjusted earnings per share-diluted.

(2)ResultsNet Sales is measured on a constant currency basis, which is a non-GAAP performance measure. To calculate net sales on a constant currency basis, net sales for our Mauna Loa business were excluded from the three-year CAGRcurrent fiscal year period for entities reporting in adjusted earnings per share-diluted ascurrencies other than the divestiture was completed in February 2015.U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars at the average rates during the comparable period of the base fiscal year.

(3)Adjusted earnings per share-diluted is anon-GAAP performance measure. For more information regarding how we define adjusted earnings per share-diluted, please see footnote (2)(1) in the section entitled “Executive Summary.”

At the conclusion of each three-year, and annual performance period, the Compensation Committee reviews the level of performance achieved and the percentage, if any, of the applicable portion of the target number of PSUs earned. In determining the final performance cycle score, negative adjustments may be made by the Compensation Committee to the Company’s performance score to take into account extraordinary or unusual items occurring during the period. No adjustments were made in determining the 20.66%131.08% performance score or the number of PSUs earned by our NEOs for the 2014-20162016-2018 performance cycle.

2015-2017

2017-2019 and 2018-2020 PSU Award

Awards

The performance metrics and weightings for the 2015-20172017-2019 and the 2018-2020 performance cyclecycles are the same as the 2014-20162016-2018 performance cycle. In 2015,The three-year relative TSR metric for the Company decided to utilize one common2017-2019 performance cycle is based on our 2017 peer group, for benchmarking compensationwhich was unchanged from the 2016 peer group. As describe above, Mead Johnson Nutrition Company and for measuring financial performance in PSU cycles. The 2015Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. were subsequently removed from the 2017 peer group originally included 15 companies, allas a result of corporate transactions. The three-year relative TSR metric for the 2018-2020 performance cycle is based on our 2018 Peer Group, which were includedis further described in the Financialsection entitled “Setting Compensation.” Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. was subsequently removed from the 2018 Peer Group used for the 2014-2016 PSU cycle, except that Hillshire Brands was removed as a result of a corporate transaction and was replaced by the Clorox Company. Kraft Foods Group was subsequently removed from the 2015 peer group as a result of a corporate transaction so that the 2015 peer group currently includes 14 companies. Actual Company results of $4.45 for the 2016 adjusted earnings per share-diluted metric reflected an 8% increase from 2015 exceeding the 2016 target of $4.37. As a result, 8.89% of the final award was earned for this metric in the 2015-2017 performance cycle. These PSUs will be paid at the end of the three-year performance cycle to participating executives who are entitled to payouts under the terms of the program.

2016-2018 PSU Award

In December 2016, the Committee approved changes to the performance metrics and weightings for the 2016-2018 performance cycle to simplify our program, reduce complexity and improve focus on our current long-term growth strategies.

The performance objectives for the 2016-2018 performance cycle are based upon the following metrics:

transaction.
Three-year relative TSR versus the 2016 Peer Group described above;

Three-year CAGR in Total Company net sales; and

Three-year CAGR in adjusted earnings per share-diluted measured against an internal target.

These metrics are weighted 34%, 33% and 33%, respectively.

See Column (e) of the 20162018 Summary Compensation Table, Columns (f) through (h) of the 20162018 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table, Columns (i) and (j) of the Outstanding Equity Awards at 20162018 Fiscal-Year End Table and Columns (d) and (e) of the 20162018 Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table for more information about PSUs awarded to the NEOs.

55


Stock Options

Stock options are an important element (25% of our long-term incentive program, enabling us to align the interests of NEOs with those of stockholders. mix)

In general, stock options are awarded annually to the Company’s executives as well as to other key managerial employees. Stock options entitle the holder to purchase a fixed number of shares of Common Stock at a set price during a specified period of time. The right to exercise the options is subject to a vesting schedule. Because stock options vest over time and only have value if the price of our Common Stock increases, they encourage efforts to enhance long-term stockholder value.

The Compensation Committee sets guidelines for the value of stock options to be awarded based on competitive compensation data. The stock option award represents approximatelyone-quarter of the NEO’s long-term incentive compensation target award. In 2016,2018, the target number of stock options awarded to each NEO was determined by multiplying the NEO’s base salary byone-quarter of his or her target long-term incentive award percentage divided by the Black-Scholes value of each option on the grant date. The Black-Scholes option-pricing model is described in Note 1011 to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in the 20162018 Annual Report on Form10-K that accompanies this Proxy Statement. The actual number of options awarded may vary from the target level based on each NEO’s individual performance evaluation.



Stock options vest in equal increments over four years and have a10-year term. As required by the EICP, the options have an exercise price equal to the closing market price of the Common Stock on the NYSE on the date of the award.

See Column (f) of the 20162018 Summary Compensation Table, Columns (j) through (l) of the 20162018 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table, Columns (b) through (f) of the Outstanding Equity Awards at 20162018 Fiscal-Year End Table and Columns (b) and (c) of the 20162018 Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table for more information on stock options awarded to the NEOs.

Restricted Stock Units

In 2016, we updated our (25% of long-term incentive program to include RSUs in our annual equity mix. mix)

The Compensation Committee sets guidelines for the value of the annual RSUs to be awarded based on competitive compensation data. These RSU awards represent approximatelyone-quarter of the NEO’s long-term incentive compensation target award. In 2016,2018, the target number of RSUs awarded to each NEO was determined by multiplying the NEO’s base salary byone-quarter of his or her target long-term incentive award percentage divided by the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on the NYSE on the grant date. The actual number of RSUs awarded may vary from the target level based on each NEO’s individual performance evaluation. Annual RSUs vest in equal increments over three years.

The Compensation Committee also awards RSUs to NEOs and other executives from time to time as special incentives. RSUs also are awarded by the Compensation Committee to replace compensation forfeited by newly-hired executive officers and by the CEO to employees other than executive officers from the RSU pool described below. In February 2016, retention RSUs were granted to Mmes. Little, Buck and Turner, which vest in the event the recipient remains employed by the Company and/or its subsidiaries as of the third-anniversary of the grant date. In June 2016, retention RSUs were granted to Mr. O’Day, which vest in the event the recipient remains employed by the Company and/or its subsidiaries as of theone-year anniversary of the grant date.

officers.

See Column (e) of the 20162018 Summary Compensation Table, Column (i) of the 20162018 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table, Columns (g) and (h) of the Outstanding Equity Awards at 20162018 Fiscal-Year End Table and Columns (d) and (e) of the 20162018 Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table for more information about RSUs awarded to the NEOs.

56


Equity Pools

To ensure flexibility in providing awards for recruitment, retention, performance recognition or in conjunction with a promotion, the Compensation Committee is authorized under the EICP to establish a stock option pool, a PSU pool, a RSU pool and a separate CEO discretionary equity pool for use by our CEO for such purposes. The pools are available for approximately 12 months from the date created. The Compensation Committee determines whether to establish any or all of these pools annually. Options, PSUs and RSUs remaining in any pool at the end of the period do not carry over to pools established for a subsequent period. The CEO may not make discretionary awards from any pool to the NEOs. Awards from the CEO pools and the CEO discretionary equity pool are made monthly according to an annuallypre-determined schedule. The exercise price for the options is based on the closing price of our Common Stock on the date of the award.

Perquisites

Executive perquisites are kept to a minimal level relative to a NEO’s total compensation and do not play a significant role in our executive compensation program. The perquisites that we provide include personal use of Company aircraft security services for our CEO, and financial counseling and tax preparation reimbursement. See the footnotes to Column (i) of the 20162018 Summary Compensation Table for information regarding the perquisites received by our NEOs.

Our CEO and the other NEOs are eligible to participate in our Gift Matching Program on the same basis as other employees, retirees or their spouses. Through the Gift Matching Program, we match contributions made to one or morenon-profit organizations on adollar-for-dollar basis up to a maximum aggregate contribution of $5,000 per employee annually. These matching contributions are not considered compensation and are not included in Column (i) of the 20162018 Summary Compensation Table.

Retirement Plans

NEOs are eligible to participate in ourtax-qualified defined benefit pension plan (“pension plan”) andtax-qualified defined contribution 401(k) plan (“401(k) plan”) on the same basis as other salaried employees of the Company. IRC regulations do not permit the Company to use base salary and other compensation paid above certain limits to determine the benefits earned by the NEOs undertax-qualified plans. The Company maintains a defined benefit Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“DB SERP”), a defined contribution Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“DC SERP”) and a Deferred Compensation Plan to provide these and additional benefits that are comparable to those offered by our peers. Under the provisions of the Deferred Compensation Plan, our NEOs may elect to defer payments from the DB SERP, DC SERP, OHIP, PSU and RSU awards, but not stock options or base salary.

The DB SERP was closed to new participants in 2006. No new participants have been or will be added to the DB SERP. NEOs and other senior executives reporting to the CEO not eligible for the DB SERP are considered by the Compensation Committee for participation in the DC SERP. In comparison, the DC SERP typically yields a lower benefit than the DB SERP upon retirement. The Company believes that the DB SERP, DC SERP and Deferred Compensation Plan help, in the aggregate, to attract and retain executive talent, as similar plans are often components of the executive compensation programs within our Peer Group.peer group. The DC SERP was established as part of our Deferred Compensation Plan and is not a separate plan.

See the 20162018 Pension Benefits Table and accompanying narrative and the 20162018 Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Table and accompanying narrative for more information regarding the DB SERP, DC SERP and other retirement benefits.

57





Employment Agreements

The Company entered into an employment agreement with Mr. BilbreyMs. Buck in August 2012,February 2017, which providedprovides for Mr. Bilbrey’sMs. Buck’s continued employment as President and CEO and continued nomination as a member of the Board of Directors. In November 2015, the Company and Mr. Bilbrey entered into an amendment to this employment agreement to reflect revisions to Mr. Bilbrey’s compensation and other benefits as a result of his election as Chairman of the Board. The employment agreement diddoes not have a specified term. Under the terms of the employment agreement, in the event Mr. Bilbrey’sMs. Buck’s employment wasis terminated by the Company without Cause or he resignedshe resigns for Good Reason (in each case as defined in the employment agreement), Mr. Bilbrey would have beenMs. Buck will be entitled to certain severance benefits. In the event of hisher termination after a change in control, Mr. Bilbrey would have beenMs. Buck will be eligible to receive benefits under the Executive Benefits Protection Plan (Group 3A) (“EBPP 3A”). He wasShe is not entitled to an excise taxgross-up. The employment agreement subjected Mr. Bilbreysubjects Ms. Buck to certainnon-competition andnon-solicitation covenants under the ECRCA and to compensation recovery (clawback) to the extent required by applicable law and regulations.

Mr. Bilbrey retired as our President and CEO effective March 1, 2017. In connection with his retirement, the Company and Mr. Bilbrey entered into a retirement agreement in February 2017 in order to set forth the benefits Mr. Bilbrey will receive in connection with his retirement. The retirement agreement supersedes and replaces Mr. Bilbrey’s employment agreement.

In February 2017, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Ms. Buck to reflect the terms and conditions of her employment as President and CEO, effective March 1, 2017. The terms of Ms. Buck’s employment agreement are substantially similar to the terms of Mr. Bilbrey’s employment agreement prior to the November 2015 amendment.

See the section entitled “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control” for information regarding the payments Mr. Bilbrey and Ms. Buck would have receivedreceive in the event of an applicable termination or change in control occurring on December 31, 2016.

2018.

Other than as set forth above, we have not entered into employment agreements with any NEO.

Severance and Change in Control Plans

All of the NEOs are covered by our EBPP 3A. The EBPP 3A is intended to help us attract and retain executive talent and maintain a stable work environment in the event of activity that could potentially result in a Change in Control. The severance protection provided under the EBPP 3A upon a Change in Control is based upon a “double trigger.” The terms of the plan generally provide that a covered NEO whose employment with the Company terminates in qualifying circumstances within two years after a Change in Control of the Company is entitled to certain severance payments and benefits. The EBPP 3A also provides severance benefits in the event of involuntary termination without Cause unrelated to a Change in Control or voluntary termination for Good Reason within two years after election of a new CEO. Change in Control, Cause and Good Reason are defined in the EBPP 3A.

See the discussion in the section entitled “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control” for information regarding the payments that would be due to our NEOs under the EBPP 3A in the event of an applicable termination of employment or a Change in Control.

58




Stock Ownership Guidelines                                            
The Compensation Committee believes that requiring NEOs and other executive officers to hold significant amounts of our Common Stock strengthens their alignment with the interest of our stockholders and promotes achievement of long-term business objectives. Our executive stock ownership policy has been in place for more than 20 years. The Compensation Committee reviews ownership requirements annually to ensure they are aligned with external market comparisons. As a result of its review in May 2018, the Compensation Committee increased the CEO's stock ownership guideline level from 5 times base salary to 6 times base salary.
Executives with stock ownership requirements have five years from their initial election to their position to accumulate and hold the minimum number of shares required. For purposes of this requirement, “shares” include shares of our Common Stock that are owned by the executive, unvested time-based RSUs and vested RSUs and PSUs that have been deferred by the executive as Common Stock units under our Deferred Compensation Plan. It is anticipated that executives will hold a significant number of the shares earned from PSU and RSU awards and the exercise of stock options to satisfy their obligations. Minimum stockholding requirements for the CEO and the other executives are as follows:
Position
Stock Ownership Level
CEO
6 times base salary
CFO and Senior Vice Presidents
3 times base salary
Other executives subject to stockholding requirements
1 times base salary
The dollar value of shares which must be acquired and held equals a multiple of the individual executive’s base salary. Stockholding requirements are updated whenever a change in base salary occurs. Failure to reach the minimum holding requirement within the five-year period results in a notification letter to the executive, with a copy to the CEO, and a requirement that future stock option exercises, RSU distributions and PSU payments be settled by retaining at least 50% of the shares of Common Stock received until the minimum ownership level is attained. The Compensation Committee receives an annual summary of each individual executive’s ownership status to monitor compliance.
Other Compensation Policies and Practices

Clawbacks

Under the EICP, when an individual’s actions result in the filing of financial documents not in compliance with financial reporting requirements, the Company has the right to recoup or require repayment of an award earned or accrued during the twelve-month period following the first public issuance or filing with the SEC of the non compliant financial document not in compliance with such financial reporting requirement.document. Repayment or clawback occurs where the material noncompliance results from misconduct, the participant’s knowledge or gross negligence in engaging in the misconduct or failing to prevent the misconduct, or if the participant is one of the individuals subject to automatic forfeiture under Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley ActionAct of 2002.

In 2008, the Company initiated the execution of the ECRCA by executive officers as a condition for the receipt of long-term incentive awards and, for new executive officers, also as a condition of employment. The purpose of the ECRCA is to protect the Company and further align the interests of the executive officer with those of the Company. The terms of the ECRCA prohibit the executive from misusing or disclosing the Company’s confidential information, competing with the Company in specific categories for a period of 12 months following separation from employment, recruiting or soliciting the Company’s employees, or disparaging the Company’s reputation in any way. For those officers or employees based outside the U.S., the restrictive covenants and terms may be modified to comply with local laws.

Failure to comply with the provisions of the ECRCA may result in cancellation of the unvested portion of PSU and RSU awards, cancellation of any unexercised stock options and a requirement for repayment of amounts received from equity awards during the last year of employment, as well as any amounts received from the DB SERP or DC SERP.



Tax Considerations

The anticipated cost of the various components of executive compensation is also a factor

As in the Compensation Committee’s deliberations.effect through December 31, 2017, Section 162(m) of the IRC may limitgenerally disallowed the Company’s ability to deduct certain compensation in excess of $1$1.0 million paid to our CEO or to our other NEOs who arewere employed on the last day of the fiscal year (other than officers who served as CFO during the year). This limitation does, but did not apply todisallow a deduction for compensation that qualifies as “performance-based” under applicable Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) regulations or that iswas paid after termination of employment. As a result of changes to Section 162(m) of the IRC resulting from federal legislation referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the $1.0 million deduction limitation described above has been expanded to disallow the deduction for compensation payable to a larger group of employees, effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017. Performance-based compensation, including equity awards, is no longer exempt from the Section 162(m) deduction limitation, subject to a transition rule. The employees (referred to as “covered employees”) to whom the deduction limitation applies include the CEO and CFO (in each case, whether or not serving as executive officers as of the end of the fiscal year) and the three other most highly compensated executive officers. In addition, once considered a “covered employee” for a given year, the individual will be treated as a “covered employee” for all subsequent years.
The Compensation Committee has considered the effect of Section 162(m) of the IRC on the Company’s executive compensation program. The Compensation Committee exercises discretion in setting base salaries, structuring incentive compensation awards and in determining payments in relation to levels of achievement of performance goals. The Compensation Committee believes that the total compensation program for NEOs should be managed in accordance with the objectives outlined in the Company’s compensation philosophy and in the best overall interests of the Company’s stockholders. Accordingly, compensation paid by the Company may not be deductible because such compensation exceeds the limitations or does not meet the “performance-based” or other requirements, for deductibility under Section 162(m) of the IRC.

Section 409A of the IRC specifies certain rules and limitations regarding the operation of our Deferred Compensation Plan and other retirement programs. Failure to comply with these rules could subject participants in those plans and programs to additional income tax and interest penalties. We believe our plans and programs comply with Section 409A of the IRC.

59



Stock Ownership Guidelines

The Compensation Committee believes that requiring NEOs and other executive officers to hold significant amounts of our Common Stock strengthens their alignment with the interest of our stockholders and promotes achievement of long-term business objectives. Our executive stock ownership policy has been in place for more than 20 years. The Compensation Committee reviews ownership requirements annually to ensure they are aligned with external market comparisons.

Executives with stock ownership requirements have five years from their initial election to their position to accumulate and hold the minimum number of shares required. For purposes of this requirement, “shares” include shares of our Common Stock that are owned by the executive, unvested time-based RSUs, PSUs earned for the annual segments of open performance cycles and vested RSUs and PSUs that have been deferred by the executive as Common Stock units under our Deferred Compensation Plan. It is anticipated that executives will hold a significant number of the shares earned from PSU and RSU awards and the exercise of stock options to satisfy their obligations. Minimum stockholding requirements for the CEO and the other NEOs are as follows:

Position

Stock Ownership Level

CEO

5 times base salary

COO

4 times base salary

CFO and Senior Vice Presidents

3 times base salary

Other executives subject to stockholding requirements

1 times base salary

The dollar value of shares which must be acquired and held equals a multiple of the individual executive’s base salary. Stockholding requirements are updated whenever a change in base salary occurs. Failure to reach the minimum within the five-year period results in a notification letter to the executive, with a copy to the CEO, and a requirement that future stock option exercises and PSU payments be settled by retaining at least 50% of the shares of Common Stock received until the minimum ownership level is attained. The Compensation Committee receives an annual summary of each individual executive’s ownership status to monitor compliance.

60




COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

To Our Stockholders:

We have reviewed and discussed with management the Compensation Discussion & Analysis. Based on that review and discussion, we have recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion & Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement.

Submitted by the Compensation and Executive Organization Committee of the Board of Directors:

James

Anthony J. Palmer, Chair
Pamela M. Mead, Chair

Arway

Mary Kay Haben

Robert

M. Malcolm

Anthony J. Palmer

David L. Shedlarz

Diane Koken


The independent members of the Board of Directors who are not members of the Compensation and Executive Organization Committee join in the Compensation Committee Report with respect to the approval of Mr. Bilbrey’sMs. Buck’s compensation.

Pamela M. Arway

Robert F. Cavanaugh

James W. Brown
Charles A. Davis

James E. Nevels

Thomas J. Ridge

61


C. Katzman

Robert M. Malcolm
Wendy L. Schoppert
David L. Shedlarz


2016


2018 Summary Compensation Table

The following table and explanatory footnotes provide information regarding compensation earned by, held by, or paid to, individuals holding the positions of Chief (Principal) Executive Officer and Chief (Principal) Financial Officer during 2016 and2018, the three most highly compensated of our other executive officers whichand one additional executive officer who separated from service during the year, but whose compensation would have been among the highest of those who served as executive officers during 2018. These individuals collectively comprise our NEOs. The following table provides information with respect to 2016,2018, as well as 20152017 and 20142016 compensation where required. 20142016 information is not provided for Mmes. LittleMr. Tillemans and Ms. West and 2017 information is not provided for Ms. Turner because they were not NEOs in 2014.

Name and
Principal
Position
(1)

 

 

Year

 

  

Salary(2)
($)

 

 

  

Bonus(3)
($)

 

  

Stock
Awards
(4)
($)

 

  

Option
Awards
(5)
($)

 

  

Non-
Equity
Incentive
Plan
Compen-
sation
(6)

($)

 

  

Change in

Pension
Value

and

Non-Qualified

Deferred

Compensation

Earnings(7)

($)

 

  

All
Other
Compen-
sation
(8)

($)

 

  

Total

($)

 

 

(a)

 

 

(b)

 

  

(c)

 

  

(d)

 

  

(e)

 

  

(f)

 

  

(g)

 

  

(h)

 

  

(i)

 

  

(j)

 

 

Mr. Bilbrey

  2016   1,240,753      5,031,976   1,470,896   2,100,725   2,700,403   134,823   12,679,576 

Chairman of the Board,
President and CEO

  2015   1,204,616      3,146,305   2,844,073   1,005,930   2,438,084   170,991   10,809,999 
  2014   1,164,462      3,947,534   4,123,889   1,018,395   7,293,845   229,276   17,777,401 

Ms. Little

  2016   629,412      2,067,059   368,695   559,457      194,425   3,819,048 

Senior Vice President, CFO

  2015   482,308      2,172,076   510,003   288,805      246,579   3,699,771 

Ms. Buck

  2016   720,352      6,208,007   356,418   713,907   832,570   67,490   8,898,744 

Executive Vice President, COO

  2015   655,310      746,418   685,505   403,015   587,394   73,220   3,150,862 
  2014   642,461      944,845   1,008,038   307,046   1,312,980   69,596   4,284,966 

Mr. O’Day

  2016   590,061      1,354,674   252,782   466,330      188,577   2,852,424 

Senior Vice President,
Chief Supply Chain Officer

  2015   572,845      538,594   485,067   269,435      168,052   2,033,993 
  2014   567,172      695,571   576,407   222,292      231,604   2,293,046 

Ms. Turner

  2016   629,412      3,959,690   323,586   497,201      210,647   5,620,536 

Senior Vice President,
General Counsel and Secretary

  2015   602,308      550,394   765,062   341,376      196,234   2,455,374 

those years.
Name and
Principal
Position
Year 
Salary(2)
($) 
Bonus(3)
($) 
Stock
     Awards(4)
($) 
Option
     Awards(5)
($) 
Non-
Equity
Incentive
Plan
Compen-
sation(6)
($) 
 
Change in
Pension
Value
and
Non-Qualified
Deferred
Compen-
sation
Earnings(7)
($) 
All
Other
Compen-
sation(8)
($) 
Total
($) 
 
(a)
 
 
(b)
 
 
(c)
 
 
(d)
 
 
(e)
 
 
(f)
 
 
(g)
 
 
(h)
 
 
(i)
 
 
(j)
 
Ms. Buck20181,137,357

4,112,889
1,416,300
1,747,950
2,988,474
315,402
11,718,372
President and CEO20171,043,462

3,986,306
1,243,048
1,307,941
2,491,271
202,573
10,274,601
2016720,352

6,208,007
356,418
713,907
832,570
67,490
8,898,744
Ms. Little2018661,264

1,004,362
345,876
556,399

248,961
2,816,862
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer2017645,809

1,114,210
342,326
531,541

251,353
2,885,239
2016629,412

2,067,059
368,695
559,457

194,425
3,819,048
Mr. O'Day2018629,712

774,315
266,652
525,020

228,413
2,424,112
Senior Vice President, Chief Product Supply and Technology Officer2017606,003

2,326,600
379,181
463,975

218,867
3,994,626
2016590,061

1,354,674
252,782
466,330

188,577
2,852,424
         
Mr. Tillemans2018652,500

849,427
292,515
480,169

613,549
2,888,160
President, U.S.2017468,750
438,000
1,197,508
218,822
373,163

593,371
3,289,614
Ms. West2018681,863

1,329,645
585,886
596,748

977,954
4,172,096
Senior Vice President, Chief Growth Officer2017437,500
1,350,000
5,068,455
377,026
394,840

277,918
7,905,739
         
Ms. Turner(1)
2018160,670

793,362
273,195
446,168

6,028,885
7,702,280
Former Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary2016629,412

3,959,690
323,586
497,201

210,647
5,620,536
         
____________________
(1)Mr. Bilbrey was Chairman of the Board, President and CEO for the entirety of 2016, retiring from the position of President and CEOMs. Turner retired on MarchApril 1, 2017. Mr. Bilbrey continues to serve asnon-executive Chairman of the Board. Ms. Buck was promoted to Executive Vice President, COO in June 2016 and served in that position at the end of fiscal 2016. On March 1, 2017, Ms. Buck was promoted to President and CEO.2018.

(2)Column (c) reflects base salary earned, on an accrual basis, for the years indicated and includes IRC Section 125 deductions pursuant to The Hershey Company Flexible Benefits Plan and amounts deferred by the NEOs in accordance with the provisions of the 401(k) plan.

(3)With the exception of Mr. Tillemans and Ms. West, Column (d) indicates that no discretionary bonuses were paid to the NEOs in 2016, 20152018, 2017 or 2014.2016. Mr. Tillemans and Ms. West, who joined the Company in April 2017 and May 2017, respectively, each received a cash sign-on bonus in 2017 to replace awards forfeited at their prior employers.

(4)Column (e) shows the aggregate grant date fair value of RSUs and contingent target PSU awards granted to the NEOs in the years indicated. The assumptions used to determine the grant date fair value of awards listed in Column (e) are set forth in Note 1011 to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements included in our 20162018 Annual Report on Form10-K that accompanies this Proxy Statement. The amounts in Column (e) do not reflect the value of shares actually received or which may be received in the future with respect to such awards.




The number of contingent target PSUs awarded in 2018 to each NEO is shown on the 2018 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table in Column (g). Assuming the highest level of performance is achieved for each of the PSU awards included in Column (e), the value of the awards at grant date for each of the NEOs would be as follows:
Name
 
Year
 
 
Maximum Value at
Grant Date
($)
 
Ms. Buck20187,081,412
 20176,305,597
 20161,968,242
Ms. Little20181,729,269
 20171,786,573
 20161,612,558
Mr. O’Day20181,333,166
 20172,831,634
 20161,393,633
Mr. Tillemans20181,462,536
 20171,093,884
Ms. West20181,953,045
 20171,868,879
Ms. Turner20181,365,933
 20161,475,165
The unvested portion of RSU awards is included in the amounts presented in Columns (g) and (h) of the Outstanding Equity Awards at 2018 Fiscal-Year End Table. The number of shares acquired and value received by the NEOs with respect to PSU and RSU awards that vested in 2018 is included in Columns (d) and (e) of the 2018 Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table.
As a result of her retirement on April 1, 2018, Ms. Turner forfeited a prorated portion of her outstanding PSU awards, including those shown in Column (e) of the 2018 Summary Compensation Table. She also forfeited a prorated portion of her 2018 RSU grant, the value of which is included in Column (e) of the 2018 Summary Compensation Table.  
For 2016, the amount shown in Column (e) includes the aggregate grant date fair value of contingent target PSU awards for the 2016-2018 performance cycle, the 2016 adjusted earnings per share-diluted component of the 2015-2017 performance cycle and, with the exception of Ms. Little, the 2016 adjusted earnings per share-diluted component of the 2014-2016 performance cycle.

62


The number of contingent target PSUs awarded in 2016 to each NEO is shown on the 2016 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table in Column (g). Assuming the highest level of performance is achieved for each of the PSU awards included in Column (e), the value of the awards at grant date for each of the NEOs would be as follows:

Name

 

  

Year

 

   

Maximum Value at

Grant Date

($)

 

 

Mr. Bilbrey

   2016    8,194,305 
    2015    7,308,849 
    2014    7,858,523 

Ms. Little

   2016    1,612,558 
    2015    1,105,137 

Ms. Buck

   2016    1,968,242 
    2015    1,732,476 
    2014    1,872,631 

Mr. O’Day

   2016    1,393,633 
    2015    1,251,856 
    2014    1,389,453 

Ms. Turner

   2016    1,475,165 
    2015    1,276,533 

The unvested portion of RSU awards is included in the amounts presented in Columns (g) and (h) of the Outstanding Equity Awards at 2016 Fiscal-Year End Table. The number of shares acquired and value received by the NEOs with respect to PSU and RSU awards that vested in 2016 is included in Columns (d) and (e) of the 2016 Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table.

(5)Column (f) presents the grant date fair value of stock options awarded to the NEOs for the years indicated and does not reflect the value of shares actually received or which may be received in the future with respect to such stock options. The assumptions we made to determine the value of these awards are set forth in Note 1011 to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements included in our 20162018 Annual Report on Form10-K that accompanies this Proxy Statement. The number of stock options awarded to each NEO during 20162018 appears in Column (j) of the 20162018 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table. As a result of her retirement on April 1, 2018, Ms. Turner forfeited a prorated portion of her 2018 stock option grant, the value of which is included in Column (e) of the 2018 Summary Compensation Table.

(6)Column (g) reflects the OHIP payments made to each NEO based upon actual salary received in 2016.2018.

(7)
Column (h) reflects the aggregate change in the actuarial present value of the NEO’s retirement benefit under the Company’s pension plan and the DB SERP. The change in value calculation uses the same discount rate and mortality rate assumptions as the 20152018 and 20162017 audited financial statements, as applicable, and measures the change in value between the pension plan measurement date in the 20152018 and 20162017 audited financial statements. The change in value during a year is primarily driven by three factors: 1) changes in valuation assumptions; 2) changes in the NEO’s pensionable earnings; and 3) an additional year of service and age. During 2014, each2018, changes in valuation assumptions caused a minor decrease in pension value, while changes in the NEO's pensionable earnings and an additional year of these factors contributed significantly to theservice and age caused a relatively larger increase in the pension value. During 2015, the primary driver of the increase in pension value was the additional year of age and service. The impact of changes in valuation assumptions and pensionable earnings during 2015 were relatively smaller and mostly offsetting. During 2016,2017, each of the three factors driving change caused a minor increase to the pension value. The impact when combining each of the three minor increases resulted in a relatively largeran increase to the pension value. The amounts in Column (h) do not reflect amounts paid or that might be paid to the NEO.

Mmes. Little, Turner and West and Messrs. O’Day and Tillemans participate in the DC SERP rather than the DB SERP. The DC SERP is established under the Company’s Deferred Compensation Plan. DC SERP contributions for Mmes. Little, Turner and West and Messrs. O’Day and Tillemans are included in Column (i) as explained in more detail in footnote (8) below.
The NEOs also participate in our non-qualified, non-funded Deferred Compensation Plan under which deferred amounts are credited with notional earnings based on the performance of one or more third-party investment options available to all participants in our 401(k) plan. No portion of the notional earnings credited during 2018 was “above market” or “preferential.” Consequently, no Deferred Compensation Plan earnings are included in amounts reported in Column (h) above. See the 2018 Pension Benefits Table and the 2018 Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Table for more information on the benefits payable to the NEOs under the pension plan, DB SERP and Deferred Compensation Plan.


Mmes. Little and Turner and Mr. O’Day participate in the DC SERP rather than the DB SERP. The DC SERP is established under the Company’s Deferred Compensation Plan. DC SERP contributions for Mmes. Little and Turner and Mr. O’Day are included in Column (i) as explained in more detail in footnote (8) below.

The NEOs also participate in ournon-qualified,non-funded Deferred Compensation Plan under which deferred amounts are credited with notional earnings based on the performance of one or more third-party investment options available to all participants in our 401(k) plan. No portion of the notional earnings credited during 2016 was “above market” or “preferential.” Consequently, no Deferred Compensation Plan earnings are included in amounts reported in Column (h) above. See the 2016 Pension Benefits Table and the 2016Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Table for more information on the benefits payable to the NEOs under the pension plan, DB SERP and Deferred Compensation Plan.

63


(8)All other compensation includes amounts as described below:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
     

Retirement Income

 

  

Perquisites and Other Benefits

 

    
Name

 

Year

 

  

401(k)

Match

($)

 

  

Supple-
mental

401(k)

Match(a)

($)

 

  

Supple-
mental
Retirement

Contri-
bution

($)

 

  

DC SERP
Contribution

($)

 

  

Core

Retirement
Contri-
bution
(b)

($)

 

  

Supple-

mental

Core

Retirement
Contri-
bution
(b)

($)

 

  

Personal
Use  of
Company
Aircraft
(c)

($)

 

  

Security
Services
(d)

($)

 

  

Company-
Paid
Financial
Counseling

($)

 

  

Reimburse-
ment of
Personal
Tax

Return
Preparation
Fee

($)

 

  

Relocation
Expenses

and

Related
Taxes
(e)

($)

 

  

Attorney
Fees
(f)

($)

 

 
Year 
 

 
Retirement Income 
 Perquisites and Other Benefits

Mr. Bilbrey

  2016   11,925   89,176   1,034               8,680   8,400   1,500      14,108 
Name
Year 
 

401(k)
Match
($)

Supple-
mental
401(k)

Match(a)
($) 
 

Supple-
mental
Retirement
Contri-
bution
($)
DC SERP
Contribution
($) 
 

Core
Retirement
Contri-

bution(b)
($) 
 

Supple-
mental
Core
Retirement
Contri-

bution(b)
($) 
 

Personal
Use of
Company

Aircraft(c)
($) 
 

Company-
Paid
Financial
Counseling
($) 
 

 
Reimburse-
ment of
Personal
Tax
Return
Preparation
Fee
($) 
 

Relocation
Expenses
and
Related

Taxes(d)
($) 
 

Separation

Benefits(e)
($) 
 

12,375
97,663
1,021



192,443
10,400
1,500


  2015   11,925   87,882   980            52,825   7,479   8,400   1,500       2017
12,150
66,932
967



100,455
10,300
1,500


  2014   11,700   154,189   926               52,561   8,400   1,500       201611,925
38,627
913



4,325
10,200
1,500


Ms. Little

  2016   11,925   29,395      114,777   7,950   19,596         10,782          2018
12,375
41,301

149,101
8,250
27,534

10,400



  2015   11,925   9,363      59,135   7,950   6,242         12,379      139,585    

Ms. Buck

  2016   11,925   38,627   913            4,325      10,200   1,500       
  2015   11,925   31,261   859            18,975      10,200          2017
12,150
42,087

150,658
8,100
28,058

10,300



  2014   11,700   46,692   805                  8,914   1,485       201611,925
29,395

114,777
7,950
19,596

10,782



Mr. O’Day

  2016   11,925   26,752      107,437   7,950   17,835         8,400      8,278    2018
12,375
36,841

136,711
8,250
24,561

8,400
1,275


  2015   11,925   23,754      99,110   7,950   15,836         8,400   1,077       2017
12,150
35,205

131,542
8,100
23,470

8,400



  2014   11,700   38,285      138,847   7,800   25,523         8,400   1,049       201611,925
26,752

107,437
7,950
17,835

8,400

8,278

Mr. Tillemans2018
12,375
33,780

128,208
8,250
22,520

10,760

397,656

2017
12,150
8,944

58,594
8,100
5,963

5,027

494,593

Ms. West2018
12,375
36,077

134,588
8,250
24,051

10,400

752,213

2017
12,150
7,538

54,688
8,100
5,025

6,914

183,503

Ms. Turner

  2016   11,925   31,760      121,348   7,950   21,174         15,000   1,490       2018
7,786
14,814

75,525
8,250
9,876

15,000
1,500

5,896,134
  2015   11,925   28,515      112,334   7,950   19,010         15,000   1,500       2016
11,925
31,760

121,348
7,950
21,174

15,000
1,490
 

(a)Employees who earn over the IRS compensation limit and/or defer any portion of their OHIP award are eligible for the Supplemental 401(k) Match, contingent on the employee contributing an amount to the 401(k) plan equal to the annualpre-tax limit established by the IRS. Mmes. Buck, Little, Turner and West and Messrs. Bilbrey and O’Day and Mmes. Little, Buck, and TurnerTillemans are eligible to receive a Supplemental 401(k) Match Contribution equal to 4.5% of the amount by which their eligible earnings (salary and OHIP) exceeds the IRS compensation limit.

(b)As are all new hires of the Company since January 1, 2007, Mmes. Little, and Turner and Mr.West and Messrs. O’Day and Tillemans are eligible to receive a contribution to their 401(k) plan account equal to 3% of base salary and OHIP up to the maximum amount permitted by the IRS. We call this contribution the Core Retirement Contribution (“CRC”). They also are eligible to receive a Supplemental Core Retirement Contribution (“Supplemental CRC”) equal to 3% of the amount by which their eligible earnings (salary and OHIP) exceeds the IRS compensation limit.

(c)The value of any personal use of Company aircraft by the NEOs is based on the Company’s aggregate incrementalper-flight hour cost for the aircraft used and flight time of the applicable flight. The incrementalper-flight hour cost is calculated by reference to fuel, maintenance (labor and parts), crew, landing and parking expenses.

(d)From timeMr. Tillemans and Ms. West received Company relocation benefits totaling $384,773 and $702,093, respectively, for shipment of household goods and assistance in selling a former residence. Mr. Tillemans and Ms. West also each received a net tax gross up totaling $12,883 and $50,120, respectively, to timeoffset the Company provides security services for Mr. Bilbrey when the Company determines that conditions warrant such services for the safety and protectionamounts imputed to their income as a result of Mr. Bilbrey and his family. The amount reported is the Company’s incremental cost for such services.these benefits.

(e)For Mr. O’Day, reflects payment for relocation expenses and related taxes incurred in years prior to 2016, but not billed until 2016.

(f)Reflects attorney feesIncludes the following benefits paid or incurredunder the terms of EBPP 3A in connection with the negotiationMs. Turner's retirement on April 1, 2018: cash separation payment of Mr. Bilbrey’s retirement agreement.$964,020, pro-rated vesting of 2016-2018 PSUs ($635,943), pro-rated vesting of 2018 Annual RSUs ($75,269), full vesting of 2017 and 2016 Annual RSUs ($359,886), health and welfare benefit continuation ($4,054) and outplacement services ($35,000). In addition, Ms. Turner received full vesting of her retention RSUs granted in February 2016 ($3,821,961).

64



2016



2018 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table

The following table and explanatory footnotes provide information with regard to the potential cash award that each NEO had the opportunity to earn during 20162018 under the OHIP, and with regard to PSUs, RSUs and stock options awarded to each NEO during 2016,2018, as applicable. The amounts that were actually earned under the OHIP during 20162018 by the NEOs are set forth in Column (g) of the 20162018 Summary Compensation Table.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
Name 

Grant

Date(1)

  

Estimated Possible

Payouts Under

Non-Equity Incentive

Plan Awards(2)

  

Estimated

Possible

Payouts Under

Equity Incentive

Plan Awards(3)

  

All Other

Stock

Awards:

Number of

Shares of

Stock or

Units(4)

(#)

  

All Other

Option

Awards:

Number of

Securities

Under-

lying

Options(5)

(#)

  

Exercise

or

Base

Price

of Option

Awards(6)

($/Sh)

  

Grant Date

Fair

Value

of Stock

and

Option

Awards(7)

($)

 
  

Thresh-

old

($)

  

Target

($)

  

Maximum

($)

  

Thresh-

old

(#)

  

Target

(#)

  

Maxi-

mum

(#)

     
(a) (b)  (c)  (d)  (e)  (f)  (g)  (h)  (i)  (j)  (k)  (l) 

Mr. Bilbrey

  02/16/2016   6,486   1,853,169   3,706,338   51   36,262   90,655   16,136   128,800   90.39   6,502,872 

Ms. Little

  02/16/2016   1,754   501,268   1,002,535   10   7,136   17,840   15,060   32,285   90.39   2,435,754 

Ms. Buck

  02/16/2016   2,204   629,778   1,259,557   12   8,710   21,775   59,185   31,210   90.39   6,564,425 

Mr. O’Day

  02/16/2016   1,337   381,898   763,797   9   6,167   15,418   2,732   22,135   90.39   1,107,420 
   06/15/2016                     5,206      96.05   500,036 

Ms. Turner

  02/16/2016   1,535   438,609   877,218   9   6,528   16,320   36,687   28,335   90.39   4,283,276 

Name 
Grant
 Date(1) 
Estimated Future
Payouts Under
Non-Equity Incentive
Plan Awards(2)
 
Estimated Future
Payouts Under
Equity Incentive
Plan Awards(3)
All Other
Stock
Awards:
Number of
Shares of
Stock or
Units(4)
(#) 
 
All Other
Option
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Under-
lying
Options(5)
(#) 
Exercise
or
Base
Price
of Option
Awards(6)
($) 
 
Grant Date
Fair
Value
of Stock
and
Option
Awards(7)
($) 
Thresh-
old
($) 
Target
($) 
Maximum
($) 
Thresh-
old
(#) 
Target
(#) 
Maxi-
mum
(#) 
 
(a) 
 
(b) 
 
(c) 
 
(d) 
 
(e) 
 
(f) 
 
(g) 
 
(h) 
 
(i) 
 
(j) 
 
(k) 
 
(l) 
Ms. Buck2/20/20185,945
1,698,548
3,397,096
28
28,354
70,885
14,177
90,905
99.90
5,529,189
Ms. Little2/20/20181,959
559,709
1,119,418
7
6,924
17,310
3,462
22,200
99.90
1,350,238
Mr. O'Day2/20/20181,756
501,651
1,003,302
5
5,338
13,345
2,669
17,115
99.90
1,040,967
Mr. Tillemans2/20/20181,819
519,615
1,039,230
6
5,856
14,640
2,928
18,775
99.90
1,141,942
Ms. West2/20/20181,900
542,950
1,085,900
8
7,820
19,550
5,865
37,605
99.90
1,915,531
Ms. Turner2/20/20181,575
449,876
899,752
5
5,469
13,673
2,735
17,535
99.90
1,066,557
____________________
(1)Column (b) represents the grant date for the PSUs reflected in Columns (f), (g) and (h), the RSUs reflected in Column (i) and the stock options reflected in Column (j). All awards were made under the EICP.

(2)Columns (c), (d) and (e) represent the threshold, target and maximum potential amounts that each NEO had the opportunity to earn based on the OHIP targets approved for the NEOs in February 2016 and adjusted for Ms. Buck’s target change in June 2016.2018. All amounts shown in Columns (c), (d) and (e) are based upon actual salary received in 2016.2018.

The threshold amount is the amount that would have been payable had the minimum individual performance score been achieved and the Company performance score been zero. The target amount is the amount that would have been payable had the Company and individual performance scores been 100% on all metrics. The maximum amount is the amount that would have been payable had the maximum score been achieved on all metrics. 
The threshold amount is the amount that would have been payable had the minimum individual performance score been achieved and the Company performance score been zero. The target amount is the amount that would have been payable had the business and individual performance scores been 100% on all metrics. The maximum amount is the amount that would have been payable had the maximum score been achieved on all metrics.

(3)Columns (f), (g) and (h) represent the number of threshold, target and maximum potential PSUs that can be earned for the 2016-2018 performance cycle and for the 2016 adjusted earnings per share-diluted component of the 2015-2017 performance cycle and, with the exception of Ms. Little, the 2016 adjusted earnings per share-diluted component of the 2014-20162018-2020 performance cycle.

Each PSU represents the value of one share of our Common Stock. The number of PSUs earned for the 2018-2020 performance cycle will depend upon achievement against the metrics explained in the Compensation Discussion & Analysis in the section entitled “Performance Stock Unit Targets and Results.”
Payment, if any, will be made in shares of the Company’s Common Stock at the conclusion of the three-year performance cycle. The minimum award as shown in Column (f) is the number of shares payable for achievement of the threshold level of performance on one of the metrics and the maximum award as shown in Column (h) is the number of shares payable for achievement of the maximum level of performance on all metrics.
More information regarding PSUs and the 2018 awards can be found in the Compensation Discussion & Analysis and the Outstanding Equity Awards at 2018 Fiscal-Year End Table.
Each PSU represents the value of one share of our Common Stock. The number of PSUs earned for the 2016-2018 performance cycle and for the 2016 adjusted earnings per share-diluted component of the 2015-2017 and 2014-2016 performance cycles will depend upon achievement against the metrics explained in the Compensation Discussion & Analysis in the section entitled “Performance Stock Unit Targets and Results.”

Payment, if any, will be made in shares of the Company’s Common Stock at the conclusion of the three-year performance cycle. The Compensation Committee will approve the targets for the annual adjusted earnings per share-diluted metrics at the beginning of each of the three years in the performance cycle. The minimum award as shown in Column (f) is the number of shares payable for achievement of the threshold level of performance on one of the metrics and the maximum award as shown in Column (h) is the number of shares payable for achievement of the maximum level of performance on all metrics.

More information regarding PSUs and the 2016 awards can be found in the Compensation Discussion & Analysis and the Outstanding Equity Awards at 2016 Fiscal-Year End Table.

(4)For each NEO, Column (i) represents the number of annual RSUs granted to Messrs. Bilbrey and O’Day and Mmes. Little, Buck and Turner on February 16, 2016.20, 2018. Target RSU awards were determined by multiplyingone-quarter of the executive’s long-term incentive target percentage times his or her 20162018 base salary, divided by the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on the NYSE on the award date ($90.39) for each NEO.as shown in Column (k). The actual number of RSUs awarded varied from the target level based on the executive’s performance evaluation for the year ended December 31, 2015.2017. Annual RSU awards vest in thirds over three years.

Information on the treatment of RSUs upon retirement, death, disability, termination, or Change in Control can be found in the section entitled “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control.” 
For Mmes. Little, Buck and Turner, Column (i) also represents the number of retention RSUs granted to each NEO on February 16, 2016. These retention RSU awards will vest in the event the recipient remains employed by the Company and/or its subsidiaries as of February 16, 2019, the third-anniversary of the grant date.

For Mr. O’Day, the second number in Column (i) represents the number of retention RSUs granted to Mr. O’Day on June 15, 2016. These retention RSU awards will vest in the event the recipient remains employed by the Company and/or its subsidiaries as of June 15, 2017, theone-year anniversary of the grant date.

Information on the treatment of RSUs upon retirement, death, disability, termination, or Change in Control can be found in the section entitled “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control.”

65


(5)Column (j) represents the number of options awarded to each NEO. Target option awards were determined by multiplyingone-quarter of the executive’s long-term incentive target percentage times his or her 20162018 base salary, divided by the Black-Scholes value of (i) $11.42$15.58 per option for each NEO.option. The Black-Scholes value is based on the option exercise price, which is equal to the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on the NYSE on the award date. The actual number of options awarded varied from the target level based on the executive’s performance evaluation for the year ended December 31, 2016.2017.

Stock option awards vest in 25% increments over four years and have a 10-year term. Information on the treatment of stock options upon retirement, death, disability, termination, or Change in Control can be found in the section entitled “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control.” 
Stock option awards vest in 25% increments over four years and have a10-year term. Information on the treatment of stock options upon retirement, death, disability, termination, or Change in Control can be found in the section entitled “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control.”

(6)Column (k) presents the exercise price for each option award based upon the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on the NYSE on the award date shown in Column (b).

(7)Column (l) presents the aggregate grant date fair value of (1) the target number of PSUs reported in Column (g), (2) the number of RSUs reported in Column (i) and (3) the number of stock options reported in Column (j), in each case as determined in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718. The assumptions used in determining these amounts are set forth in Note 1011 to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements included in our 20162018 Annual Report on Form10-K that accompanies this Proxy Statement.

66





Outstanding Equity Awards at 20162018 Fiscal-Year End Table

The following table and explanatory footnotes provide information regarding unexercised stock options and unvested stock awards held by our NEOs as of December 31, 2016:

Name

 

 Option Awards(1)  Stock Awards 
 

Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options-
Exercisable
(2)

(#)

 

  

Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options-

Unexercisable(3)

(#)

 

  

Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying

Unexercised
Unearned
Options

(#)

 

  

Option
Exercise
Price

($)

 

  

Option
Expiration
Date

 

  

Number
of
Shares
or Units
of Stock
That
Have
Not
Vested
(4)

(#)

 

  

Market
Value

of
Shares
or Units
of Stock
That
Have
Not
Vested
(4)

($)

  

Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Number
of
Unearned
Shares,
Units or
Other

Rights
That
Have Not
Vested
(5)

(#)

 

  

Equity
Incentive

Plan
Awards:
Market

or Payout
Value of
Unearned
Shares,
Units or
Other
Rights

That

Have Not
Vested
(5)

($)

 

 

(a)

 

 

(b)

 

  

(c)

 

  

(d)

 

  

(e)

 

  

(f)

 

  

(g)

 

  

(h)

 

  

(i)

 

  

(j)

 

 

Mr. Bilbrey

     128,800      90.39   02/15/2026   16,136   1,707,705   81,363   8,415,375 
   36,821   110,464      105.91   02/16/2025         26,967   2,789,197 
   95,637   95,638      105.96   02/17/2024             
   157,983   52,662      81.73   02/18/2023             
   207,370         60.68   02/20/2022             
   71,275         55.48   05/17/2021             
   25,328         51.42   02/21/2021             

Total

  594,414   387,564            16,136   1,707,705   108,330   11,204,572 

Ms. Little

     32,285      90.39   02/15/2026   27,468   2,928,099   16,995   1,757,793 
   7,207   21,623      100.65   04/14/2025         5,068   524,183 

Total

  7,207   53,908            27,468   2,928,099   22,063   2,281,976 

Ms. Buck

     31,210      90.39   02/15/2026   59,185   6,263,667   19,528   2,019,781 
   8,875   26,625      105.91   02/16/2025         6,472   669,399 
   23,377   23,378      105.96   02/17/2024             
   31,740   10,580      81.73   02/18/2023             
   17,007         60.68   02/20/2022             

Total

  80,999   91,793            59,185   6,263,667   26,000   2,689,180 

Mr. O’Day

     22,135      90.39   02/15/2026   7,938   834,024   13,820   1,429,403 
   6,280   18,840      105.91   02/16/2025         4,580   473,709 
   13,367   13,368      105.96   02/17/2024             
   28,702   9,568      81.73   02/18/2023             
   49,890         60.68   02/20/2022             
   37,875         51.42   02/21/2021             

Total

  136,114   63,911            7,938   834,024   18,400   1,903,112 

Ms. Turner

     28,335      90.39   02/15/2026   36,687   3,882,658   14,743   1,524,868 
   9,905   29,715      105.91   02/16/2025         4,816   498,119 
   12,420   12,420      105.96   02/17/2024             
      6,373      81.73   02/18/2023             

Total

  22,325   76,843            36,687   3,882,658   19,559   2,022,987 

2018:
Name
 
Option Awards(1) 
 
Stock Awards 
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options-
Exercisable(2)
(#) 
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options-
Unexercisable(3)
(#) 
Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Unearned
Options
(#) 
Option
Exercise
Price
($) 
Option
Expiration
Date 
Number
of
Shares
or Units
of Stock
That
Have
Not
Vested(4)
(#) 
Market
Value
of
Shares
or Units
of Stock
That
Have
Not
Vested(4)
($) 
Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Number
of
Unearned
Shares,
Units or
Other
Rights
That
Have Not
Vested(5)
(#)
 
Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Market
or Payout
Value of
Unearned
Shares,
Units or
Other
Rights
That
Have Not
Vested(5)
($) 
 
(a) 
 
(b) 
 
(c) 
 
(d) 
 
(e) 
 
(f) 
 
(g) 
 
(h) 
 
(i) 
 
(j) 
Ms. Buck
90,905

99.90
2/19/2028
78,291
8,901,689
70,885
7,597,454
 19,290
57,870

109.40
2/28/2027


56,560
6,062,101
 15,605
15,605

90.39
2/15/2026




 26,625
8,875

105.91
2/16/2025




 46,755


105.96
2/17/2024




 42,320


81.73
2/18/2023




 2,000


60.68
2/20/2022




Total152,595
173,255



78,291
8,901,689
127,445
13,659,555
Ms. Little
22,200

99.90
2/19/2028
22,068
2,520,219
17,310
1,855,286
 5,433
16,302

107.95
2/21/2027


15,705
1,683,262
 
16,143

90.39
2/15/2026




 
7,208

100.65
4/14/2025




Total5,433
61,853



22,068
2,520,219
33,015
3,538,548
Mr. O'Day
17,115

99.90
2/19/2028
5,868
655,444
13,345
1,430,317
 6,018
18,057

107.95
2/21/2027


11,573
1,240,394
 11,067
11,068

90.39
2/15/2026


14,012
1,501,806
 18,840
6,280

105.91
2/16/2025




 26,735


105.96
2/17/2024




 38,270


81.73
2/18/2023




 49,890


60.68
2/20/2022




Total150,820
52,520



5,868
655,444
38,930
4,172,517
Mr. Tillemans
18,775

99.90
2/19/2028
7,329
814,215
14,640
1,569,115
 3,480
10,440

108.92
4/2/2027


10,043
1,076,409
Total3,480
29,215



7,329
814,215
24,683
2,645,524
Ms. West
37,605

99.90
2/19/2028
32,338
3,606,203
19,550
2,095,369
 6,132
18,398

107.05
4/30/2027


17,458
1,871,148
Total6,132
56,003



32,338
3,606,203
37,008
3,966,517
Ms. Turner4,383


99.90
2/19/2028


1,135
121,649
 21,060


107.95
2/21/2027


5,268
564,624
 28,335


90.39
2/15/2026




 39,620


105.91
2/16/2025




 24,840


105.96
2/17/2024




Total118,238






6,403
686,273
____________________
(1)Columns (b) through (f) represent information about stock options awarded to each NEO under the EICP. Stock option awards vest in 25% increments over four years and have aten-year term. Information on the treatment of stock options upon retirement, death, disability, termination, or Change in Control can be found in the section entitled “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control.”

(2)Options listed in Column (b) are vested and may be exercised by the NEO at any time subject to the terms of the stock option.

67





(3)Options listed in Column (c) were not vested as of December 31, 2016.2018. The following table provides information with respect to the dates on which these options vested or are scheduled to vest, subject to continued employment (or retirement, death or disability), proratingand subject further to proration in the event of severance and possible acceleration in the event of a Change in Control:

Grant

Date

 

 

Future

Vesting

Dates

 

  

Number of Options Vesting

 

 
  

Mr. Bilbrey

 

  

Ms. Little

 

  

Ms. Buck

 

  

Mr. O’Day

 

  

Ms. Turner

 

 

02/16/2016

  02/16/2017   32,200   8,071   7,802   5,533   7,083 
   02/16/2018   32,200   8,071   7,803   5,534   7,084 
   02/16/2019   32,200   8,071   7,802   5,534   7,084 
   02/16/2020   32,200   8,072   7,803   5,534   7,084 

04/15/2015

  04/15/2017      7,208          
   04/15/2018      7,207          
   04/15/2019      7,208          

02/17/2015

  02/17/2017   36,821      8,875   6,280   9,905 
   02/17/2018   36,821      8,875   6,280   9,905 
   02/17/2019   36,822      8,875   6,280   9,905 

02/18/2014

  02/18/2017   47,819      11,689   6,684   6,210 
   02/18/2018   47,819      11,689   6,684   6,210 

02/19/2013

  02/19/2017   52,662      10,580   9,568   6,373 

Total per NEO

      387,564   53,908   91,793   63,911   76,843 

Grant
Date 
 
Future
Vesting
Dates 
 
Number of Options Vesting
 Ms. Buck 
Ms. Little 
Mr. O’Day 
Mr. Tillemans 
 
Ms. West 
Ms. Turner
2/20/20182/20/201922,726
5,550
4,278
4,693
9,401

 2/20/202022,726
5,550
4,279
4,694
9,401

 2/20/202122,726
5,550
4,279
4,694
9,401

 2/20/202222,727
5,550
4,279
4,694
9,402

5/1/20175/1/2019



6,133

 5/1/2020



6,132

 5/1/2021



6,133

4/3/20174/3/2019


3,480


 4/3/2020


3,480


 4/3/2021


3,480


3/1/20173/1/201919,290





 3/1/202019,290





 3/1/202119,290





2/22/20172/22/2019
5,434
6,019



 2/22/2020
5,434
6,019



 2/22/2021
5,434
6,019



2/16/20162/16/20197,802
8,071
5,534



 2/16/20207,803
8,072
5,534



4/15/20154/15/2019
7,208




2/17/20152/17/20198,875

6,280



Total per NEO 173,255
61,853
52,520
29,215
56,003

(4)For Ms. Buck, Column (g) includes unvested annual RSUs awarded to each NEOin February 2016, March 2017 and February 2018, which vest ratably over 3 years and unvested retention RSUs granted in February 2016, which cliff vest ratably overafter 3 years. For Ms. Little, Column (g) also includes unvested annual RSUs awarded in February 2016, February 2017 and February 2018, which vest ratably over 3 years, unvested retention RSUs granted in February 2016, which cliff vest after 3 years and unvested new hire RSUs granted in April 2015, which vest ratably over 3 years. For Mmes. Buck and Turner, Column (g) also includes unvested retention RSUs granted in February 2016, which cliff vest after 34 years. For Mr. O’Day, Column (g) also includes unvested retentionannual RSUs awarded in February 2016, February 2017 and February 2018, which vest ratably over 3 years. For Mr. Tillemans and Ms. West, Column (g) includes unvested new hire and replacement RSUs granted in June 2016,April 2017 and May 2017, respectively, which vest after 1 year.ratably over 3 years and unvested annual RSUs awarded in February 2018, which vest ratably over 3 years. Column (h) sets forth the value of the RSUs reported in Column (g) using the $103.43$107.18 closing price per share of our Common Stock on the NYSE on December 30, 2016,31, 2018, the last trading day of 2016.2018. Column (h) also includes the value of dividend equivalents accrued through December 31, 2016,2018, on the RSUs included in Column (g).

(5)Based on progress to date against the performance metrics established for open PSU performance cycles, the first number in Column (i) for each NEO is the maximum number of PSUs potentially payable for the 2016-20182018-2020 performance cycle ending on December 31, 20182020 and the second number in Column (i) for each NEO is the maximum number of PSUs potentially payable for the 2017-2019 performance cycle ending on December 31, 2019. For Mr. O’Day only, the third number in Column (i) is the target number of PSUs potentially payable for the 2015-2017special PSU award granted to him on May 2, 2017, with a performance cycle ending on December 31, 2017.May 2, 2019. The actual number of PSUs earned, if any, will be determined at the end of each performance cycle and may be fewer or more than the number reflected in Column (i). Column (j) sets forth the value of PSUs reported in Column (i) using the $103.43$107.18 closing price per share of our Common Stock on the NYSE on December 30, 2016,31, 2018, the last trading day of 2016.2018.

68



2016



2018 Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table

The following table and explanatory footnotes provide information with regard to amounts paid to or received by our NEOs during 20162018 as a result of the exercise of stock options or the vesting of stock awards:

Name

 

 

Option Awards(1)

 

  

Stock Awards(2)

 

 
 

Number of
Shares
Acquired on
Exercise

(#)

 

  

Value
Realized on
Exercise

($)

 

  

Number of
Shares
Acquired on

Vesting

(#)

 

  

Value
Realized on
Vesting

($)

 

 

(a)

 

 

(b)

 

  

(c)

 

  

(d)

 

  

(e)

 

 

Mr. Bilbrey

        5,940   641,223 

Ms. Little

        4,135(3)   392,717(3) 

Ms. Buck

  34,369   1,549,963   1,446   156,096 

Mr. O’Day

        1,034   111,620 

Ms. Turner

  40,128   1,017,311   960   103,632 
           7,000(4)   823,263(4) 

Name 
 
Option Awards(1) 
 
Stock Awards(2) (3) 
 
Number of
Shares
Acquired on
Exercise
(#) 
Value
Realized on
Exercise
($) 
 
Number of
Shares
Acquired on
Vesting
(#) 
Value
Realized on
Vesting
($) 
(a) 
(b) 
(c) 
(d) 
(e) 
Ms. Buck

10,237
1,123,408
 

5,044
510,297
Ms. Little(4)
37,764
318,366
8,912
978,003
 

6,505
675,289
Mr. O'Day

7,247
795,286
 

2,054
210,847
Mr. Tillemans(5)


2,199
202,937
Ms. West(6)


13,234
1,234,097
Ms. Turner(7)


5,795
635,943
 

39,206
4,480,571
____________________
(1)Column (b) represents the number of stock options exercised by eachthe NEO during 2016,2018, and Column (c) represents the market value at the time of exercise of the shares purchased less the exercise price paid.

(2)For Messrs. BilbreyMmes. Buck, Little and O’DayTurner and Ms. Buck, the number in Column (d), and for Ms. Turner,Mr. O’Day, the first number in Column (d), includes the number of PSUs earned from the 2014-20162016-2018 performance cycle that ended on December 31, 2016,2018, as determined by the Compensation Committee, or, in the case of Mr. Bilbrey,Ms. Buck, by the independent members of our Board. The aggregate results of the 2014-2016 performance cycle exceeded the financial thresholds, but did not meet the financial targets, established at the start of the performance cycle; therefore, the number of PSUs included in Column (d) reflects payment of the 2016-2018 PSU cycle at 20.66%131.08% of target. All of the applicable NEOs received payment of the award in Common Stock in February 2017.2019. In accordance with the terms of the PSU award agreement, each PSU represents one share of our Common Stock valued in Column (e) at $107.95$109.74, the closing price of our Common Stock on the NYSE on February 22, 2017,26, 2019, the date the Compensation Committee approved the PSU payment.

Ms. Turner elected to defer 100% of the PSUs earned from the 2016-2018 performance cycle. As a result, on the award payment date, 266 shares were liquidated to cover the associated tax liability and the remaining 5,529 shares were credited to Ms. Turner's Deferred Compensation account.
(3)For Mmes. Buck, Little and Turner and Mr. O’Day, the second number in Column (d) reflects annual RSUs that were distributed in 2018 from the 2016 and 2017 awards and the number in Column (e) sets forth the value of such RSUs at vesting on February 16, 2018 and March 22, 2018, respectively, and cash credits equivalent to dividends accrued during the vesting period.
Ms. Little elected to defer 100% of her 2016 annual award. As a result, on the vesting date of these RSUs, because the cash credits earned for the shares deferred exceeded the tax liability associated with those shares, all of the 1,332 shares were credited to Ms. Little’s Deferred Compensation account and she received a cash payment for the remaining dividend value (less cash withheld to meet tax obligations).
Ms. Turner elected to defer 100% of her 2016 and 2017 annual awards. As a result, on the vesting date of these RSUs, because the cash credits earned for the 1,166 and 1,000 shares deferred, respectively, exceeded the tax liability associated with those shares, a total of 2,166 shares were credited to Ms. Turner’s Deferred Compensation account and she received a cash payment for the remaining dividend value (less cash withheld to meet tax obligations).
(4)For Ms. Little, the second number in Column (d) also reflects RSUs that were distributed in 20162018 from a 2015 award and the number in Column (e) sets forth the value of such RSUs at vesting on MayApril 15, 20162018 and cash credits equivalent to dividends accrued during the vesting period. Ms. Little elected to defer 100% of this award. As a result, on the vesting date of these RSUs, becauseBecause the cash credits earned for the 4,135 shares deferred did not exceedexceeded the tax liability associated with those shares, 43 shares were liquidated to coverall of the tax liability. The remaining 4,0924,136 shares were credited to Ms. Little’s Deferred Compensation account and she received a cash payment for the remaining liquidated sharedividend value (less cash withheld to meet tax obligations).

(4)
(5)For Ms. Turner,Mr. Tillemans, the second number in Column (d) reflects RSUs that were distributed in 20162018 from a 2012 award2017 awards and the second number in Column (e) sets forth the value of such RSUs at vesting on July 9, 2016May 3, 2018 and cash credits equivalent to dividends accrued during the vesting period.
(6)For Ms. West, the number in Column (d) reflects RSUs that were distributed in 2018 from 2017 awards and the number in Column (e) sets forth the value of such RSUs at vesting on June 1, 2018 and cash credits equivalent to dividends accrued during the vesting period.



(7)For Ms. Turner, the second number in Column (d) also reflects RSUs that were distributed in 2018 in connection with her retirement and the number in Column (e) sets forth the value of such RSUs at vesting on October 24, 2018 and cash credits equivalent to dividends accrued during the vesting period. These amounts are further described in the section entitled “Separation Payments under Confidential Separation Agreement and Release.” Ms. Turner elected to defer 80%100% of this awardher 2016 and to receive immediate payment in shares of the Company’s Common Stock for 20% of this award.2017 annual awards. As a result, on the vesting date of the portion of these RSUs,RSU awards that received accelerated vesting treatment in connection with Ms. Turner received immediate payment of 1,400 RSUs and their respective dividends (less cash and shares withheld to meet tax obligations). BecauseTurner's retirement, because the cash credits earned for the 5,6001,166 and 2,001 shares deferred, respectively, exceeded the tax liability associated with those shares, the 5,600a total of 3,167 shares were credited to Ms. Turner’s Deferred Compensation account and she received a cash payment for the remaining dividend value (less cash withheld to meet tax obligations).

2016
2018 Pension Benefits Table

Mr. Bilbrey and

Ms. Buck are participantsis a participant in our pension plan and areis fully vested in benefits under that plan. Mr. Bilbrey and Ms. Buck areis also eligible to participate in ournon-qualified DB SERP. No benefit is payable under the DB SERP if the executive officer terminates employment prior to age 55 or if he or she does not have five years of service with the Company. As of December 31, 2016, Mr. Bilbrey and2018, Ms. Buck had attained age 55 with five years of service and therefore werewas fully vested in their respectiveher DB SERP benefits.

69


benefit.

The combination of the pension and DB SERP plans was designed to provide a benefit upon retirement at or after reaching age 60 based on a joint and survivor annuity equal to 55% of final average compensation for an executive with 15 or more years of service (reduced pro rata for each year of service under 15). Effective January 1, 2007, the benefit payable under the DB SERP to an executive who was age 50 or over as of January 1, 2007, was reduced by 10%, and the benefit payable to an executive who had not attained age 50 as of January 1, 2007, was reduced by 20%. As a result, the benefit payable to Mr. Bilbrey was reduced by 10% and the benefit payable to Ms. Buck was reduced by 20%.

Under the terms of the DB SERP, final average compensation is calculated as the sum of (i) the average of the highest three calendar years of base salary paid over the last five years of employment with the Company and (ii) the average of the highest three OHIP awards, paid or deferred, for the last five years of employment with the Company. The benefit accrued under the DB SERP is payable upon retirement (subject to the provisions of Section 409A of the IRC) as a lump sum or a life annuity with 50% benefit continuation to the participant’s surviving spouse, or payment may be deferred in accordance with the provisions of the Company’s Deferred Compensation Plan. The lump sum is equal to the actuarial present value of the joint and survivor pension earned, reduced by the lump sum value of the benefits to be paid under the pension plan and the value of the executive’s Social Security benefits. If the executive terminates employment after age 55 but before age 60, the benefit is reduced for early retirement at a rate of 5% per year for the period until the executive would have turned 60.

On November 16, 2015, the Company and Mr. Bilbrey entered into an amendment to his existing employment agreement, the effect of which was to increase, from five to ten years, the duration of the look-back period for selecting the highest three years of base salary and annual incentive payment used to calculate Mr. Bilbrey’s final average compensation for determining his benefit under the DB SERP. The amendment also established the interest rate to be applied to the calculation of amounts payable to Mr. Bilbrey under the DB SERP as the rate equal to the Lump Sum Interest Rate (as defined in the DB SERP) as of October 31, 2015.



The following table and explanatory footnote provide information regarding the present value of benefits accrued under the pension plan and the DB SERP, as applicable, for each NEO as of December 31, 2016.2018. The amounts shown for the DB SERP reflect the reduction for the present value of the benefits under the pension plan and Social Security benefits.

NamePlan Name
 
Number of Years          
Credited          
Service          
(#)
 Present Value of
Accumulated
Benefit(1)
($) 
 
Payments During
Last Fiscal
Year
($) 
 
(a)
 
 (b)
 
(c)          
 
 (d) 
 
(e)
 
Ms. Buck
Pension Plan

14169,528—      
 
 DB SERP1410,859,612—     
Ms. Little—          —      —      
Mr. O’Day—          —      —      
Mr. Tillemans—          —      —      
Ms. West—          —      —      
Ms. Turner—          —      —      
____________________
(1)These amounts have been calculated using discount rate, mortality and other assumptions consistent with those used for financial reporting purposes as set forth in Note 10 to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements included in our 2018 Annual Report on Form 10-K which accompanies this Proxy Statement. The actual payments would differ due to plan assumptions. The estimated vested DB SERP benefit, as of December 31, 2018, for Ms. Buck was $11,002,231. The amount is based on Ms. Buck’s final average compensation under the terms of the DB SERP, as of December 31, 2018, as shown below:
NamePlan Name     

Number of Years 

Credited

Service

(#)

Present Value of 

Accumulated

Benefit(1)

Final Average Compensation            
($)

Payments During 

Last Fiscal

Year

($)

(a)

Ms. Buck
1,857,532

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)


Mr. Bilbrey

Pension Plan

DB SERP

13

13


184,718

24,683,231



Ms. Little


Mr. O’Day
Mr. Tillemans

Ms. Buck

Pension Plan

DB SERP

12

12


137,564

5,411,831



Mr. O’Day

West
Ms. Turner

Ms. Turner

70


(1)These amounts have been calculated using discount rate, mortality and other assumptions consistent with those used for financial reporting purposes as set forth in Note 9 to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements included in our 2016 Annual Report on Form10-K which accompanies this Proxy Statement. The actual payments would differ due to plan assumptions. The estimated vested DB SERP benefit, as of December 31, 2016, for Mr. Bilbrey was $24,410,704. The estimated vested DB SERP benefit, as of December 31, 2016, for Ms. Buck was $5,898,259. The amounts are based on the final average compensation of each eligible executive officer under the terms of the DB SERP (as modified by Mr. Bilbrey’s amended employment agreement), as of December 31, 2016, as shown below:

Name

Final Average Compensation

($)

Mr. Bilbrey

3,284,087                  

Ms. Little

—                  

Ms. Buck

1,216,194                  

Mr. O’Day

—                  

Ms. Turner

—                  

2016
2018 Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Table

Our NEOs are eligible to participate in the Company’s Deferred Compensation Plan. The Deferred Compensation Plan is anon-qualified,non-funded plan that permits participants to defer compensation that would otherwise be paid to them currently. The Deferred Compensation Plan is intended to secure the goodwill and loyalty of participants by enabling them to defer compensation when the participants deem it beneficial to do so and by providing a vehicle for the Company to make, on anon-qualified basis, contributions that could not be made on the participants’ behalf to the 401(k) plan. The Company credits the Deferred Compensation Plan with a specified percentage of compensation for NEOs participating in thenon-qualified DC SERP.

Our NEOs may elect to defer payments to be received from the DB SERP, DC SERP, OHIP, PSU and RSU awards, but not stock options or base salary. Amounts deferred under the DB SERP, DC SERP, OHIP, PSU and RSU awards are fully vested and are credited to the individual’s account under the Deferred Compensation Plan. Participants elect to receive payment at termination of employment or some other future date. DB SERP payments designated for deferral into the Deferred Compensation Plan are not credited as earned but are credited in full upon the participant’s retirement.

Payments are distributed in a lump sum or in annual installments for up to 15 years. All amounts are payable in a lump sum following a Change in Control (as such terms is defined in the EICP). All elections and payments under the Deferred Compensation Plan are subject to compliance with Section 409A of the IRC, which may limit elections and require a delay in payment of benefits in certain circumstances.



While deferred, amounts are credited with notional earnings as if they were invested by the participant in one or more investment options offered by the Deferred Compensation Plan. The investment options under the Deferred Compensation Plan consist of investment in a deferred common stock unit account that we value according to the performance of our Common Stock (for awards paid in stock) or in mutual funds or other investments available to participants in our 401(k) plan (for awards paid in cash). The participants’ accounts under the Deferred Compensation Plan fluctuate daily, depending upon performance of the investment options elected.

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Effective January 1, 2007, we began crediting the deferred compensation accounts of all employees, including the NEOs, with the amount of employer matching contributions that exceed the limits established by the IRS for contribution to the 401(k) plan. These amounts are credited in the first quarter of the year after they are earned. As shown in the footnotes to the 20162018 Summary Compensation Table, these amounts are designated as “Supplemental 401(k) Match” and are included as “All Other Compensation” in the year earned. These amounts also are included in Column (c) of the 20162018 Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Table in the year earned. All of our NEOs are eligible for a Supplemental 401(k) Match credit for 2018. With the exception of Mr. Tillemans and Ms. Little,West, all of the NEOs are fully vested in the Supplemental 401(k) Match credits presented and will be paid at a future date or at termination of employment, as elected by the executive subject to the provisions of Section 409A of the IRC. Mr. Tillemans and Ms. LittleWest will vest in this benefit upon completion of two years of employment. If vested, shethey will receive payment for this benefit at termination of employment subject to the provisions of Section 409A of the IRC.

Effective January 1, 2007, we began crediting the deferred compensation accounts of all employees hired on or after January 1, 2007, including eligible NEOs, with the amount of Core Retirement Contributions that exceed the limits established by the IRS for contribution to the 401(k) plan. These amounts are credited in the first quarter of the year after they are earned. As shown in the footnotes to the 20162018 Summary Compensation Table, these amounts are designated as “Supplemental Core Retirement Contribution” and are included as “All Other Compensation” in the year earned. These amounts also are included in Column (c) of the 20162018 Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Table in the year earned. Mmes. Little, and Turner and Mr.West and Messrs. O’Day and Tillemans are eligible for a Supplemental CRC credit for 2016.2018. Ms. TurnerLittle and Mr. O’Day are fully vested in this benefit and will receive payment at termination of employment subject to the provisions of Section 409A of the IRC. Mr. Tillemans and Ms. LittleWest will vest in this benefit upon completion of two years of employment. If vested, shethey will receive payment for this benefit at termination of employment subject to the provisions of Section 409A of the IRC.

Ms. Turner was fully vested in this benefit upon her retirement.

Mmes. Little and TurnerWest and Mr.Messrs. O’Day and Tillemans are also eligible to participate in our DC SERP, a part of the Deferred Compensation Plan. The DC SERP provides annual allocations to the Deferred Compensation Plan equal to a percentage of compensation determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion. In order to receive the annual DC SERP allocation, an executive must (i) defer into the 401(k) plan the maximum amount allowed by the Company or the IRS and (ii) be employed on the last day of the plan year, unless the executive terminates employment after age 55 and completion of five years of continuous employment preceding termination, dies or becomes disabled. After completing five years of service with the Company, an executive is vested in 10% increments based on his or her age. An executive age 46 with five years of service is 10% vested and an executive age 55 with five years of service is 100% vested. The annual DC SERP allocation for Mmes. Little and TurnerWest and Mr.Messrs. O’Day and Tillemans is equal to 12.5% of base salary and OHIP award for the calendar year, whether paid or deferred. Mr. O’Day is 100% vested in his DC SERP benefit, while Mmes. Little and TurnerWest and Mr. Tillemans are 0% vested because they have not yet completed five years of continuous employment with the Company.

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Ms. Turner was eligible to participate in our DC SERP benefit prior to her retirement and she was fully vested at retirement.



The following table and explanatory footnotes provide information relating to the activity in the Deferred Compensation Plan accounts of the NEOs during 20162018 and the aggregate balance of the accounts as of December 31, 2016:

Name

 

 

Executive

Contributions in

Last Fiscal

Year(1)

($)

 

  

Registrant

Contributions in

Last Fiscal

Year(2)

($)

 

  

Aggregate

Earnings in

Last Fiscal

Year(3)

($)

 

  

Aggregate 

Withdrawals/ 

Distributions 

($) 

 

 

Aggregate

Balance at

Last Fiscal

Year-End(4)

($)

 

 

(a)

 

 

(b)

 

  

(c)

 

  

(d)

 

  

(e) 

 

 

(f)

 

 

Mr. Bilbrey

     88,937   1,313,390    9,394,484 

Ms. Little

  379,287   163,204   58,186    675,417 

Ms. Buck

     38,429   1,302,335    9,201,259 

Mr. O’Day

     151,519   83,810    1,566,387 

Ms. Turner

  801,632   173,717   442,316    4,154,530 

2018:
Name 
 
Executive
Contributions in
Last Fiscal
Year(1)
($) 
 
Registrant
Contributions in
Last Fiscal
Year(2)
($) 
 
Aggregate
Earnings in
Last Fiscal
Year(3)
($) 
 
Aggregate
Withdrawals/
Distributions(4)
($) 
 
Aggregate
Balance at
Last Fiscal
Year-End(5)
($) 
 
(a)
 
 
(b)
 
 
(c)
 
 
(d)
 
 
(e)
 
 
(f)
 
Ms. Buck
97,439
(241,511)
10,126,110
Ms. Little534,511
217,380
2,927

2,365,723
Mr. O'Day
197,583
(58,435)
2,076,715
Mr. Tillemans
183,911
(4,458)
250,549
Ms. West
194,081
(7,060)
251,771
Ms. Turner861,496
102,687
(157,767)1,867,601
4,316,421
____________________
(1)Column (b) reflects the value of RSU awards that otherwise would have been received by Mmes. Little and Turner during 20162018 and the value of PSU awards that otherwise would have been received by Ms. Turner during 2018 had they not been deferred under the Deferred Compensation Plan.

(2)For Mr. Bilbrey and Ms. Buck, Column (c) reflects the Supplemental 401(k) Match contributions earned for 2016.2018. For Mmes. Little, and Turner and Mr.West and Messrs. O’Day and Tillemans, Column (c) reflects the DC SERP, the Supplemental 401(k) Match contributions and the Supplemental CRC earned for 2016.2018. These contributions are included in Column (i) of the 20162018 Summary Compensation Table.

(3)Column (d) reflects the adjustment made to each NEO’s account during 20162018 to reflect the performance of the investment options chosen by the executive. Amounts reported in Column (d) were not required to be reported as compensation in the 20162018 Summary Compensation Table.

(4)Column (f)(e) reflects the aggregate balance creditedvalue of vested amounts under the Deferred Compensation Plan paid to each NEO as of December 31, 2016, including the 2016 amounts reflectedMs. Turner in Columns (b), (c) and (d). The following table indicates the portionconnection with her retirement in 2018. In accordance with section 409A of the Column (f) balance that reflects amounts disclosed in a Summary Compensation Table included in proxy statementsIRC, these payments were delayed for years prior to 2016:six months following Ms. Turner’s separation from service.

(5)Column (f) reflects the aggregate balance credited to each NEO as of December 31, 2018, including the 2018 amounts reflected in Columns (b), (c) and (d). The following table indicates the portion of the Column (f) balance that reflects amounts disclosed in a Summary Compensation Table included in proxy statements for years prior to 2018:

Name

Amounts Reported in 
Previous Years(1)(a)

($)

Mr. Bilbrey

Ms. Buck
3,852,8057,027,379

Ms. Little

2,148,342   512,214

Ms. Buck

Mr. O'Day
1,870,9403,463,701

Mr. O’Day

Tillemans
66,6381,407,297

Ms. West

57,690
Ms. Turner

4,187,2863,794,064

(1)
(a)This amount reflects the fair market value as of December 31, 2016,2018, of vested PSU, RSU and OHIP awards as well as DC SERP, Supplemental 401(k) Match and Supplemental CRC credits. The amounts disclosed in the Summary Compensation Table included in proxy statements for years prior to 20162018 reflect the grant date value of such awards, rather than the fair market value as of December 31, 2016.2018.

Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control

We maintain plans covering our NEOs that will require us to provide incremental compensation in the event of termination of employment or a Change in Control (as such term is defined in the applicable governing document), provided certain conditions are met.

The following narrative takes each hypothetical termination of employment situation – voluntary resignation, termination for Cause, death, disability, retirement, termination without Cause, and resignation for Good Reason – and a Change in Control of the Company, and describes the additional amounts, if any, that the Company would pay or provide to the NEOs, or their beneficiaries, as a result.

73


This narrative regarding hypothetical termination events does not include information on benefits the Company would pay or provide to Ms. Turner upon the occurrence of such events as she was no longer an employee of the Company on December 31, 2018. Instead, the actual payments made to Ms. Turner upon her retirement are described below under the section entitled “Separation Payments under Confidential Separation Agreement and General Release.”



The narrative below and the amounts shown reflect certain assumptions we have made in accordance with SEC rules. We have assumed that the termination of employment or Change in Control occurred on December 31, 2016,2018, and that the value of a share of our Common Stock on that day was $103.43,$107.18, the closing price on the NYSE on December 30, 2016,31, 2018, the last trading day of 2016.

2018.

In addition, in keeping with SEC rules, the following narrative and amounts do not include payments and benefits which are not enhanced by a qualifying termination of employment or Change in Control. These payments and benefits are referred to as “vested benefits” and include:

Vested benefits accrued under the 401(k) and pension plans;

Accrued vacation pay, health plan continuation and other similar amounts payable when employment terminates under programs generally applicable to the Company’s salaried employees;

Vested Supplemental 401(k) Match and Supplemental CRC provided to the NEOs on the same basis as all other employees eligible for Supplemental 401(k) Match and Supplemental CRC;

Vested benefits accrued under the DB SERP and account balances held under the Deferred Compensation Plan as previously described in the sections entitled “2016“2018 Pension Benefits Table” and “2016“2018 Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Table”; and

Stock options which have vested and become exercisable prior to termination of employment or Change in Control.

Voluntary Resignation (other than a Resignation for Good Reason)

We are not obligated to pay amounts over and above vested benefits to a NEO who voluntarily resigns. Vested stock options may not be exercised after the NEO’s resignation date unless the executive meets retirement eligibility requirements (separation after attainment of age 55 with at least five years of continuous service).

Termination for Cause

If we terminate a NEO’s employment for Cause, we are not obligated to pay the executive any amounts over and above vested benefits. The NEO’s right to exercise vested stock options expires upon termination for Cause, and amounts otherwise payable under the DB SERP are subject to forfeiture at the Company’s discretion. In general, a termination will be for Cause if the executive has been convicted of a felony or has engaged in gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of duties, material dishonesty or a material violation of Company policies, including our Code of Ethical Business Conduct, or bad faith actions in the performance of duties not in the best interests of the Company.

Death or Disability

If a NEO dies prior to meeting the vesting requirements under the DB SERP, no benefits are paid. As of December 31, 2016, Mr. Bilbrey and2018, Ms. Buck werewas fully vested in their respectiveher DB SERP benefitsbenefit and their respective estatesher estate would therefore be entitled to a payout of such benefits in the event of theirher death.

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If a NEO dies or becomes disabled prior to meeting the vesting requirements under the 401(k) plan or for the Supplemental 401(k) Match, Supplemental CRC or DC SERP benefits, the accrued amounts under those plans become vested. Mr. Tillemans and Ms. West are not fully vested in these benefits. In the event of death or disability, Mr. Tillemans and Ms. West would have received $290,375 and $289,656, respectively, as a result of vesting. Ms. Little is not fully vested in her DC SERP benefit. In the event of death or disability, Ms. Little would have received $482,697 as a result of vesting.


In the event of termination due to disability, long-term disability (“LTD”) benefits are generally payable until age 65, but may extend for longer if disability benefits begin after age 60, and are offset by other benefits such as Social Security. The maximum amount of the monthly LTD payments from all sources, assuming LTD began on December 31, 2016,2018, is set forth in the table below:

   

Long-Term Disability Benefit

 

 

Name

 

 

Maximum
Monthly
Amount

($)

 

  

Years and

Months Until End
of LTD Benefits

(#)

 

  

Total of Payments

($)

 

  

Lump Sum

Benefit(1)

($)

 

 

Mr. Bilbrey

  35,000   5 years 0 months   2,100,000           (2) 

Ms. Little

  25,000   8 years 5 months   2,525,000           446,900 

Ms. Buck

  35,000(3)   9 years 9 months   4,095,000           718,892 

Mr. O’Day

  25,000   1 year 6 months   450,000           187,383 

Ms. Turner

  25,000   5 years 10 months   1,750,000           787,586 

Name
Long-Term Disability Benefit 
Maximum
Monthly
Amount
($) 
Years and
Months Until End
of LTD Benefits
(#) 
Total of Payments
($) 
Lump Sum
Benefit(1)
($) 
Ms. Buck35,000
7 years 9 months3,255,000
317,566
Ms. Little25,000
6 years 5 months1,925,000
851,681
Mr. O'Day25,000
1 year300,000
169,148
Mr. Tillemans25,000
7 years 3 months2,175,000
607,556
Ms. West25,000
8 years 9 months2,625,000
622,624
____________________
(1)For Ms. Buck, amounts reflectthe amount reflects additional DB SERP and pension plan benefits payable at age 65 that are attributable to vesting and benefit service credited during the disability period.period, along with additional SRC contributions through the year prior to which she reaches age 65. For Mr. O’Day, the amount reflects 1812 additional months of CRC, Supplemental CRC and DC SERP credit upon disability. For Ms. Turner,Little, the amount reflects two additional years of Supplemental CRC, credit and two additional years of DC SERP credit and vesting upon disability. For Ms. Little, the amount reflects reflect two additional years of Supplemental CRC and DC SERP credit and vesting in the DC SERP upon disability. In addition to theFor Mr. Tillemans and Ms. West, amounts shown, Ms. Little would become vestedreflect an additional two years of CRC, Supplemental CRC and DC SERP credits and vesting in hertheir respective 401(k) Match, CRC, Supplemental 401(k) Match, Supplemental CRC and Supplemental CRC.

(2)Mr. Bilbrey would not be entitled to any additional DBDC SERP or pension plan benefits in the event of termination due toupon disability.

(3)Ms. Buck’s maximum monthly amount increased from $25,000 to $35,000 effective June 2, 2016 in connection with her promotion to Executive Vice President, COO.

Treatment of Stock Options upon Retirement, Death or Disability

In the event of retirement, death or disability, vested stock options remain exercisable for a period of three or five years, not to exceed the option expiration date. The exercise period is based upon the terms and conditions of the individual grant. Retirement is defined as separation after attainment of age 55 with at least five years of continuous service.

Options that are not vested at the time of retirement, death or disability will generally vest in full (subject to the exception described in the following sentence) and the options will remain exercisable for three or five years following termination, depending on the terms and conditions of the grant. Options granted in the year of retirement are prorated based upon the number of full calendar months worked in that year.

75


The following table provides the number of unvested stock options as of December 31, 2016, that would have become vested and remained exercisable during the three-year or five-year periods following death or disability, or retirement if applicable, on December 31, 2016,2018, and the value of those options based on the excess of the fair market value of our Common Stock on December 30, 2016,31, 2018, the last trading day of 2016,2018, over the applicable option exercise price. As of December 31, 2016, Messrs. Bilbrey, O’Day and2018, Ms. Buck and Mr. O’Day were considered retirement eligible based on the provisions of all outstanding option awards. Because Mmes. Little and TurnerWest and Mr. Tillemans were not considered retirement eligible as of December 31, 2016,2018, they would forfeit 53,908have forfeited 61,853 stock options, 56,003 stock options and 76,84329,215 stock options, respectively, upon voluntary separation.

   

Stock Options

 

 

Name

 

 

Number(1)

(#)

 

  

Value(2)

($)

 

 

Mr. Bilbrey

  387,564   2,822,317 

Ms. Little

  53,908   481,108 

Ms. Buck

  91,793   636,564 

Mr. O’Day

  63,911   496,266 

Ms. Turner

  76,843   507,783 

NameStock Options
Number(1)
(#) 
Value(2)
($) 
Ms. Buck173,255
935,068
Ms. Little61,853
479,725
Mr. O'Day52,520
318,405
Mr. Tillemans29,215
136,682
Ms. West56,003
276,156
____________________
(1)Represents the total number of unvested options as of December 31, 2016.2018.

(2)Reflects the difference between $103.43$107.18, the closing price for our Common Stock on the NYSE on December 30, 2016,31, 2018, the last trading day of 2016,2018, and the exercise price for each option. Options for which the exercise price exceeds $103.43$107.18 are not included in the calculations.



Treatment of RSUs upon Retirement, Death or Disability

Upon

In the event of retirement, any unvesteddeath or disability, RSUs that are forfeited. Unvested RSUsnot vested will generally vest in full (subject to the exception described in the following sentence). RSUs granted in the year of retirement are prorated based upon death or disability.

the number of full calendar months worked in that year. The retention RSU awards granted to Ms. Buck and Ms. Little in 2016 were subject to forfeiture in the event of retirement.

The following table provides the number of unvested RSUs that would have vested on December 31, 2016,2018, if the executive’s employment terminated that day due to death or disability:

   

Restricted Stock Units

 

 

Name

 

 

Number(1)

(#)

  

Value(2)

($)

 

 

Mr. Bilbrey

  16,136   1,707,705 

Ms. Little

  27,468   2,928,099 

Ms. Buck

  59,185   6,263,667 

Mr. O’Day

  7,938   834,024 

Ms. Turner

  36,687   3,882,658 

disability. Mmes. Little and West and Mr. Tillemans were not considered retirement eligible as of December 31, 2018 and they would have forfeited 22,068 RSUs, 32,338 RSUs and 7,329 RSUs, respectively, upon voluntary separation. Ms. Buck's retention RSU award was subject to forfeiture in the event of retirement and she would have forfeited 55,316 RSUs upon a voluntary separation.
Name  Restricted Stock Units 
Number(1)
(#) 
Value(2)
($) 
Ms. Buck78,291
8,901,689
Ms. Little22,068
2,520,219
Mr. O'Day5,868
655,444
Mr. Tillemans7,329
814,215
Ms. West32,338
3,606,203
____________________

(1)Represents the total number of unvested RSUs as of December 31, 2016.2018.

(2)Based on the closing price of $103.43$107.18 for our Common Stock on the NYSE on December 30, 2016,31, 2018, the last trading day of 2016,2018, plus accrued dividend equivalents.

76


Treatment of PSUs upon Retirement, Death or Disability

In general, in the event of retirement, death or disability, any unvested contingent PSUs are prorated based on the number of full or partial months worked in each of the open PSU cycles. Any remaining unvested contingent PSUs not prorated are forfeited. The special PSU award granted to Mr. O’Day in 2017 is subject to forfeiture in the event of his retirement.
The following table provides the total number of contingent PSUs each NEO would be entitled to if the executive’s employment ended on December 31, 20162018 due to death or disability, or retirement if applicable. As of December 31, 2016, Messrs. Bilbrey2018, Ms. Buck and Mr. O’Day and Ms. Buck were considered retirement eligible based on the provisions of all open PSU cycles. Becausecycles, with the exception of Mr. O’Day’s special PSU award. Mmes. Little and TurnerWest and Mr. Tillemans were not considered retirement eligible as of December 31, 2016,2018 and they would forfeithave forfeited all of their contingent PSUs upon voluntary separation.

   

Performance Stock Units

 

 

Name

 

 

Number(1)

(#)

 

  

Value(2)

($)

 

 

Mr. Bilbrey

  34,766   3,595,847 

Ms. Little

  5,645   583,862 

Ms. Buck

  8,365   865,192 

Mr. O’Day

  5,930   613,340 

Ms. Turner

  6,137   634,750 

Mr. O’Day would have forfeited 9,341 contingent PSUs upon voluntary separation per the provisions of his special PSU award agreement.
Name  Performance Stock Units
Number(1)
(#)
Value(2)
($) 
Ms. Buck34,771
3,726,756
Ms. Little15,408
1,651,429
Mr. O'Day19,896
2,132,453
Mr. Tillemans4,630
496,243
Ms. West7,262
778,341
____________________
(1)For the 2014-20162016-2018 PSU cycle, amount reflects the total number of contingent PSUs calculated by multiplying the number of contingent target PSUs by 20.66%131.08%, the final performance score for that cycle. For the 2015-20172017-2019 and 2016-20182018-2020 PSU cycles and Mr. O’Day’s special PSU award, amount reflects the total number of contingent PSUs at target.

(2)Based on the closing price of $103.43$107.18 for our Common Stock on the NYSE on December 30, 2016,31, 2018, the last trading day of 2016.2018.



Termination without Cause; Resignation for Good Reason

Under Mr. Bilbrey’sMs. Buck’s employment agreement and the EBPP 3A, as applicable, we have agreed to pay severance benefits if we terminate a NEO’s active employment without Cause or if the NEO resigns from active employment for Good Reason, in each case as defined in the applicable document. Severance benefits consist of a lump sum payment calculated as a multiple of base salary and target OHIP as well as continuationcontinued OHIP eligibility, calculated as the lower of health and welfare benefitstarget or actual Company performance, for a set period of time, as shown in the table below. Additionally, all NEOs would be entitled to receive a pro rata payment of the OHIP award, if any, earned for the year in which termination occurs.

occurs, continuation of health and welfare benefits and financial planning and tax preparation benefits for a set period of time, as shown in the table below as well as outplacement services up to $35,000.
Plan

Benefit Entitlement

Severance
PlanMultiple

OHIP Continuation

Severance
Multiple

Health and
Welfare Benefits

Financial Planning and
Tax Preparation Benefits

Mr. Bilbrey’sMs. Buck’s employment agreement and participants
in EBPP 3A on or before February 22, 2011

2 times24 months     24 months24 months     

Participants in EBPP 3A after February 22, 2011

1.5 times18 months     18 months18 months     

77


If a NEO has not met retirement eligibility requirements and his or her employment is terminated for reasons other than for Cause, or if the NEO terminates for Good Reason, he or she will be eligible to exercise all vested stock options and a prorated portion of his or her unvested stock options held on the date of separation from service for a period of 120 days following separation. If the NEO is age 55 or older with five or more years of continuous service and his or her employment is terminated for reasons other than for Cause, or if the NEO terminates for Good Reason, the NEO will be entitled to exercise any vested stock options until the earlier of three or five years (based on the provisions of the individual grant) from the date of termination or the expiration of the options.
In addition, if a NEO’sNEO has not met retirement eligibility requirements and his or her employment is terminated for reasons other than for Cause, or if the NEO terminates for Good Reason, the NEO will vest in a prorated portion of any unvested RSUs held on the date of separation from service.

The following table provides the incremental amounts that would have beenvested and become payable to each NEO had his or her employment terminated on December 31, 2016,2018, under circumstances entitling the NEO to severance benefits as described above:

Name

 

 

Salary

($)

 

  

One Hershey

Incentive Program

at Target

($)

  

Value of Benefits

Continuation(1)

($)

  

Total

($)

 

 

Mr. Bilbrey

  2,472,000   3,708,000           29,424           6,209,424 

Ms. Little

  940,500   752,400           26,341           1,719,241 

Ms. Buck

  1,500,000   1,350,000           38,242           2,888,242 

Mr. O’Day

  1,175,600   764,140           25,558           1,965,298 

Ms. Turner

  940,500   658,350           9,783           1,608,633 

Name 
Salary
($) 
OHIP
at Target
($)
PSU
Related
Payments
(1)
($)
Vesting
of
Stock
Options
(1)
($)
Vesting
of
Restricted
Stock
Units
(1)
($)
Value of Benefits
Continuation(2)
($)
Value of
Financial
Planning
and
Outplacement(3)
($)
Total
($)
Ms. Buck2,266,000
3,399,000


6,082,409
41,444
68,000
11,856,853
Ms. Little988,095
839,881

343,048
2,199,100
28,006
59,750
4,457,880
Mr. O'Day1,254,600
1,003,680



27,124
68,000
2,353,404
Mr. Tillemans975,000
780,000

61,210
520,011
2,796
59,750
2,398,767
Ms. West1,018,875
815,100

122,617
2,383,293
28,105
59,750
4,427,740
____________________

(1)Reflects the value of equity awards that would have vested and become payable to each NEO over and above amounts they would have received upon a voluntary termination.
(2)Reflects projected medical, dental, vision and life insurance continuation premiums paid by the Company during the applicable time period following termination.

(3)Value of maximum payment for financial planning and tax preparation continuation during the applicable time period following termination plus outplacement services of $35,000.

For information with respect to stock options, RSUs and RSUsPSUs held by each NEO as of December 31, 2016,2018, refer to the Outstanding Equity Awards at 20162018 Fiscal-Year End Table.



Change in Control

The EBPP 3A providesand the terms of the applicable award agreements provide for the vesting and payment of the following benefits to each of the NEOs upon a Change in Control:

An OHIP payment for the year in which the Change in Control occurs, calculated as the greater of target or the estimated payment based on actual performance through the date of the Change in Control;

To the extent not vested, full vesting of benefits accrued under the DB SERP and the Deferred Compensation Plan; and

To the extent not vested, full vesting of benefits under the 401(k) and pension plans.plans;

If not replaced with awards that qualify as Replacement Awards (as defined in the EICP), full vesting of all outstanding RSUs and stock options;
If not replaced with awards that qualify as Replacement Awards (as defined in the EICP), a vested and non-forfeitable right to receive a lump sum cash payment equal to the target PSU grant for the performance cycle ending in the year of the Change in Control, determined based upon the greater of target or actual performance through the date of the Change in Control, with each PSU valued at the higher of (a) the highest closing price for our Common Stock during the 60 days prior to (and including the date of) the Change in Control and (b) the price at which an offer is made to purchase shares of our Common Stock from the Company’s stockholders, if applicable (the higher of (a) and (b), the “Transaction Value”); and
If not replaced with awards that qualify as Replacement Awards (as defined in the EICP), a vested and non-forfeitable right to receive a lump sum cash payment equal to the target PSU grant for the second year of the performance cycle and a prorated portion of the target PSU grant for the first year of the performance cycle at the time of the Change in Control, with each PSU valued at the higher of the Transaction Value and the highest closing price of our Common Stock from the date of the Change of Control until the earlier of the end of the applicable grant cycle or the NEO’s separation from service.
Under our EICP and the terms of the applicable award agreements, awards that are continued as qualifying replacement awardsReplacement Awards after a Change in Control and therefore, noare not subject to accelerated vesting or payment will occur for such awards because ofupon the Change in Control. In the event of termination of employment within two years following the Change in Control for any reason other than termination for Cause or resignation without Good Reason, the replacement awards will vest and become payable as described below.

78


The following table and explanatory footnotes provide information with respect to the incremental amounts that would have vested and become payable on December 31, 2016,2018, if a Change in Control occurred on that date. All unvested awards would continue as qualifying replacement awards, and therefore are not included in the table below:

Name

 

 

One Hershey
Incentive
Program
Related
Payment
(1)

($)

 

  

PSU

Related

Payments

($)

 

  

Vesting
of

Stock

Options

($)

 

  

Vesting

of

Restricted

Stock

Units

($)

 

  

Retirement
and Deferred
Compensation
Benefits
(2)

($)

 

  

Total(3)

($)

 

 

Mr. Bilbrey

                  

Ms. Little

              285,153   285,153 

Ms. Buck

              1,795,122   1,795,122 

Mr. O’Day

                  

Ms. Turner

              503,289   503,289 

Name 
OHIP
Related
Payment(1)
($) 
PSU
Related
Payments(2)
($) 
Vesting
of
Stock
Options(3)
($)
Vesting
of
Restricted
Stock
Units(3)
($)
Retirement
and Deferred
Compensation
Benefits(4)
($) 
Total(5)
($) 
Ms. Buck
927,986

6,355,034

7,283,020
Ms. Little3,310
970,207
479,725
2,520,219
482,697
4,456,158
Mr. O'Day
1,231,625



1,231,625
Mr. Tillemans39,446
656,650
136,682
814,215
290,375
1,937,368
Ms. West
1,054,996
276,156
3,606,203
289,656
5,227,011
____________________
(1)TheWith the exception of Ms. Little and Mr. Tillemans, the amount of the OHIP award earned for 20162018 was greater than target. Therefore, no incremental amount attributable to that program would have been payable upon a Change in Control. For Ms. Little and Mr. Tillemans, reflects the difference between the target amount and the actual amount earned.

(2)Amounts reflect vesting of PSUs awarded, as follows:
For the performance cycle which ended on December 31, 2018, the difference between a value per PSU of $110.01, the highest closing price for our Common Stock on the NYSE during the last 60 days of 2018, and a value per PSU of $107.18, the closing price of our Common Stock on the NYSE on December 31, 2018, the last trading day of 2018;
For the performance cycle ending December 31, 2019, and for Mr. O’Day’s special PSU award, at target performance, with a value per PSU of $110.01, the highest closing price for our Common Stock on the NYSE during the last 60 days of 2018; and
For the performance cycle ending December 31, 2020, one-third of the contingent target units awarded, at target performance, with a value per PSU of $110.01, the highest closing price for our Common Stock on the NYSE during the last 60 days of 2018.


Because Mr. O’Day and Ms. Buck were retirement eligible as of December 31, 2018, as of that date they had already vested in a portion of the PSU awards for the performance cycles ending December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2020. Accordingly, with respect to these NEOs, the amount for the performance cycle ending December 31, 2019, reflects only (i) an incremental payment of the portion of the PSU award that would vest upon ta Change in Control if the awards were not continued as Replacement Awards (i.e., 1/3 of the total award) and (ii) an incremental benefit equal to the difference between a value per PSU of $110.01, the highest closing price of our Common Stock on the NYSE during the last 60 days of 2018, and a value per PSU of $107.18, the closing price of our Common Stock on the NYSE on December 31, 2018, the last trading day of 2018, while the amount for the performance cycle ending December 31, 2020, reflects only an incremental benefit equal to the difference between a value per PSU of $110.01 and a value per PSU of $107.18.
(3)Reflects the value of equity awards that would have vested and become payable to each NEO over and above amounts that would have already vested.
(4)Reflects the full vesting value of DB SERP benefits and more favorable early retirement discount factors as provided under the EBPP 3A. Mr. Bilbrey is fully vested in his unreduced DB SERP benefit so no additional benefit is applicable. Ms. Buck is fully vested in her DB SERP benefit and the more favorable early retirement factors do not apply to the CEO, so no additional benefit is applicable. For Ms. West and Mr. Tillemans, the amount includes the valuevesting of more favorable early retirement discount factors.their respective DC SERP benefit, 401(k), Supplemental 401(k) Match, CRC and Supplemental CRC. For Ms. Little, the amount includes the vesting of her DC SERP benefit, 401(k), Supplemental Match, CRC and Supplemental CRC.benefit. Mr. O’Day is fully vested in his DC SERP benefit so no additional benefit is applicable. For Ms. Turner, the amount includes the vesting of her DC SERP benefit.

(3)
(5)For any given executive, the total payments made in the event of termination after a Change in Control would be reduced to the “safe harbor” limit under IRC Section 280G if such reduction would result in a greaterafter-tax benefit for the executive.

Termination without Cause or Resignation for Good Reason after Change in Control

If a NEO’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or by the NEO for Good Reason within two years after a Change in Control, we pay severance benefits under the EBPP 3A to assist the NEO in transitioning to new employment. These severance benefits as of December 31, 2016,2018, consist of:

A lump sum cash payment equal to two (or, if less, the number of full and fractional years from the date of termination to the executive’s 65th birthday, but not less than one) times:

¡The executive’s base salary; and

¡The highest OHIP award payment paid or payable during the three years preceding the year of the Change in Control (but not less than the OHIP target award for the year of the termination);

A lump sum cash payment equal to two (or, if less, the number of full and fractional years from the date of termination to the executive’s 65th birthday, but not less than one) times:
The executive’s base salary; and
The highest OHIP award payment paid or payable during the three years preceding the year of the Change in Control (but not less than the OHIP target award for the year of the termination) ("Highest OHIP");
For replacement PSU awards, full vesting of PSUsa lump sum cash payment equal to the target PSU grant for the performance cycle ending in the year of the Change in Control. The cash payment will beControl, determined based upon the greater of target or actual performance through the date of the Change in Control, with each PSU valued at the highest closing price for our Common Stock during the 60 days prior to the Change in Control;Transaction Value;

For replacement PSU awards, full vesting of outstanding PSUs ata lump sum cash payment equal to the target that are inPSU grant for the second year of the performance cycle and a prorated vestingportion of outstanding PSUs atthe target that are inPSU grant for the first year of the performance cycle at the time of the Change in Control;Control, with each PSU valued at the higher of the Transaction Value and the highest closing price of our Common Stock from the date of the Change of Control until the NEO’s separation from service;

For replacement stock options and RSU awards (including accrued cash credits equivalent to dividends that would have been earned had the executive held Common Stock instead of RSUs), full vesting of all unvested stock options and RSUs;

79


Continuation of medical, dental, vision and life benefits for 24 months (or, if less, the number of months until the executive attains age 65, but not less than 12 months), or payment of the value of such benefits if continuation is not permitted under the terms of the applicable plan;

For executives who do not participate in the pension plan, a lump sum equal to the CRC rate times the sum of their base salary and OHIP earnings times the number of years in their severance period (two, or, if less, the number of full and fractional years from the date of termination to the executive’s 65th birthday, but not less than one). IRS limitations imposed on the 401(k) and pension plans will not apply for this purpose;

For executives who do not participate in the pension plan, a lump sum equal to the CRC rate times the sum of their base salary and Highest OHIP times the number of years in their severance period (two, or, if less, the number of full and fractional years from the date of termination to the executive’s 65th birthday, but not less than one). IRS limitations imposed on the 401(k) and pension plans will not apply for this purpose;
Outplacement services up to $35,000 and reimbursement for financial counseling and tax preparation services for two years;

An enhanced matching contribution cash payment equal to the 401(k) matching contribution rate of 4.5% multiplied by the executive’s base salary and lastHighest OHIP payment calculated as if such amounts were paid during the years in the executive’s severance period. For this purpose, the IRS limitations imposed on the 401(k) plan do not apply;

For executives who participate in the DB SERP, an enhanced benefit reflecting an additional two years of credit; and

For executives who participate in the DC SERP, an enhanced benefit reflecting a cash payment equal to the applicable percentage rate multiplied by his or her base salary and lastHighest OHIP payment calculated as if such amounts were paid during the years in the executive’s severance period.



The following table provides the severance payments and all other amounts that would have vested and become payable ifto each NEO over and above amounts they would have received upon a termination by the Company without Cause or by the NEO for Good Reason, assuming a Change in Control occurred and the executive’s employment terminated on December 31, 2016:

Name

 

 

Lump Sum
Cash
Severance
Payment

($)

 

  

PSU Related
Payments
(1)

($)

 

  

Vesting
of Stock
Options
(2)

($)

 

  

Vesting of
RSUs

($)

 

  

Value of
Medical and
Other Benefits
Continuation

($)

 

  

Value of
Financial
Planning
and
Outplace-
ment
(3)

($)

 

  

Value of
Enhanced
DB SERP/

DC SERP
and
401(k)
Benefit
(4)

($)

 

  

Total(5)

($)

 

 

Mr. Bilbrey

  7,525,372   3,356,202   2,822,317   1,707,705   29,424   68,000   4,419,735   19,928,755 

Ms. Little

  2,257,200   765,963   481,108   2,928,099   35,444   68,000   451,440   6,987,254 

Ms. Buck

  2,850,000   813,819   636,564   6,263,667   38,242   68,000   2,957,388   13,627,680 

Mr. O’Day

  1,133,757   579,643   496,266   834,024   12,438   68,000   226,752   3,350,880 

Ms. Turner

  2,166,965   1,094,630   507,783   3,882,658   13,149   68,000   433,393   8,166,578 

2018:
Name
Lump Sum
Cash
Severance
Payment
($) 
PSU Related
Payments(1)
($) 
Vesting
of Stock
Options
($) 
Vesting of
RSUs
($) 
Value of
Medical and
Other Benefits
Continuation
($) 
Value of
Financial
Planning
and
Outplace-
ment
($) 
Value of
Enhanced
DB SERP/
DC SERP
and
401(k)
Benefit(2)
($) 
Total(3)
($) 
Ms. Buck
927,986

272,625


6,756,963
7,957,574
Ms. Little609,325
970,207
136,677
321,119
9,678
8,250
487,460
2,542,716
Mr. O'Day
1,231,625




225,828
1,457,453
Mr. Tillemans585,000
656,650
75,472
294,204
946
8,250
468,000
2,088,522
Ms. West611,325
1,054,996
153,539
1,222,910
9,712
8,250
489,060
3,549,792
____________________
(1)Amounts reflect vesting of PSUs awarded as follows:

For the performance cycle which ended on December 31, 2016, the difference between target and actual performance as of December 31, 2016, and the difference between a value per PSU of $104.44 the highest closing price for our Common Stock on the NYSE during the last 60 days of 2016, and a value per PSU of $103.43 the closing price of our Common Stock on the NYSE on December 30, 2016, the last trading day of 2016;

For the performance cycle ending December 31, 2017, at target performance, with a value per PSU of $104.44 the highest closing price for our Common Stock on the NYSE during the last 60 days of 2016; and

For the performance cycle ending December 31, 2018,one-third of the contingent target units awarded, at target performance, with a value per PSU of $104.44 the highest closing price for our Common Stock on the NYSE during the last 60 days of 2016.

80


Because Messrs. Bilbrey and O’Day and Ms. Buck were retirement eligible as of December 31, 2016, as of that date they had already vested in a portion of the PSU awards for the performance cycles ending December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2018. Accordingly, with respect to these NEOs, the amount for the performance cycle ending December 31, 2017, reflects only (i) an incremental payment of the portion of the PSU award that would vest upon termination following a Change in Control (i.e. 1/3 of the total award) and (ii) an incremental benefit equaldescribed in footnote (2) to the difference between a value per PSU of $104.44 the highest closing price of our Common Stock on the NYSE during the last 60 days of 2016, and a value per PSU of $103.43 the closing price of our Common Stock on the NYSE on December 30, 2016, the last trading day of 2016, while the amount for the performance cycle ending December 31, 2018, reflects only an incremental benefit equal to the difference between a value per PSU of $104.44 and a value per PSU of $103.43.

(2)Reflects the value of unvested options that would vest upon the executive’s employment termination following a Change in Control based on the excess, if any, of the value of our Common Stock of $103.43 on December 30, 2016, the last trading day of 2016, over the exercise price for the options. Information regarding unvested options as of December 31, 2016 can be found in the Outstanding Equity Awards at 2016 Fiscal-Year End Table.table.

(3)Value of maximum payment for financial planning and tax preparation continuation for two years following termination of employment plus outplacement services of $35,000.

(4)(2)For Mr. Bilbrey and Ms. Buck, this value reflects the amounts of enhanced DB SERP, 401(k) Match and Supplemental 401(k) Match over a 24 month24-month period. For Mmes. Little and Turner the value reflects the amounts of DC SERP, CRC, Supplemental CRC, 401(k) Match and Supplemental 401(k) Match that would have been paid had they remained employees for 24 months after their termination. For Mr. O’Day, the value reflects the amounts of DC SERP, CRC, Supplemental CRC, 401(k) Match and Supplemental 401(k) Match that would have been paid had he remained an employee for 12 months after his termination.

Mmes. Little and West and Mr. Tillemans, the value reflects the amounts of DC SERP, CRC, Supplemental CRC, 401(k) Match and Supplemental 401(k) Match that would have been paid had they remained employees for 24 months after their termination. For Mr. O’Day, the value reflects the amounts of DC SERP, CRC, Supplemental CRC, 401(k) Match and Supplemental 401(k) Match that would have been paid had he remained an employee for 12 months after his termination.
(5)
(3)For any given executive the total payments made in the event of termination after a Change in Control would be reduced to the “safe harbor” limit under IRC Section 280G if such reduction would result in a greaterafter-tax benefit for the executive.

81



Separation Payments under Confidential Separation Agreement and General Release            
On January 18, 2018, we announced that Ms. Turner, then Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, had informed the Company of her intention to retire effective March 31, 2018. In connection with her retirement, Ms. Turner entered into a Confidential Separation Agreement and General Release pursuant to which she received or will receive certain payments and benefits, including the following:
A lump sum cash separation payment equal to $964,020;
Payment of her 2018 OHIP award ($446,168) and eligibility to receive a pro rata 2019 OHIP award, depending on Company performance;
Retirement treatment for stock options, RSUs and PSUs, which resulted in accelerated vesting of 44,251 stock options, accelerated vesting and distribution of 3,850 RSUs and a non-forfeitable right to receive 6,982 contingent target PSUs;
Accelerated vesting and distribution of 33,190 retention RSUs granted in February 2016;
Health and welfare benefit continuation for 18 months;
A lump sum distribution of vested amounts under the Deferred Compensation Plan, including the DC SERP, equal to $1,867,601;
Reimbursement for financial counseling and tax preparation for a maximum of 24 months following her retirement (maximum reimbursement of $15,000 for financial counseling and $1,500 for tax preparation in 2018 and 2019, and $3,750 for financial counseling and $375 for tax preparation in 2020); and
Outplacement services equal to $35,000.
Under the terms of the Confidential Separation Agreement and General Release, Ms. Turner remains subject to all of the terms and conditions of her ECRCA with the Company, dated as of June 8, 2012, that survive the termination of her employment with the Company. In consideration of the payments and benefits provided to Ms. Turner under the Confidential Separation Agreement and General Release, she executed a release of all claims against the Company.



CEO Pay Ratio Disclosure                                            
The annual total compensation of our CEO for fiscal year 2018 was $11,718,372. The median of the annual total compensation for all employees, excluding the CEO, for fiscal year 2018 was $29,270. As a result, we estimate that the ratio of the annual total compensation of our CEO to the annual total compensation of the median employee for fiscal year 2018 was 400 to 1.
We identified the median employee using base salary, including overtime, earned in the first nine months of 2018 for all employees, excluding our CEO, as of October 9, 2018, the second Tuesday in October in 2018. After identifying the median employee, we calculated annual total compensation for such employee using the same methodology used for calculating the total compensation of our NEOs as set forth in the Summary Compensation Table.
Equity Compensation Plan Information                                        
The following table provides information about all of the Company's equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2018:
Plan Category
Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights
(#)
Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights
($)
Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a))
(#)
(a)(b)(c)
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders(1)
   
Stock Options5,394,382
94.28
 
Performance Stock Units and Restricted Stock Units999,018
N/A
 
  Subtotal6,393,400
94.28
9,949,523
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holdersN/A
N/A
N/A
Total6,393,400
94.28(2)

9,949,523
____________________
(1) Includes amounts earned or paid in cash or shares of Common Stock at the election of the director or deferred by the director under the Directors' Compensation Plan. Column (a) includes stock options, PSUs and RSUs granted under the EICP. Of the securities available for future issuances under the EICP in column (c), 5,201,978 were available for awards of stock options and 4,747,545 were available for full-value awards such as PSUs, performance stock, RSUs, restricted stock and other stock-based awards. Securities available for future issuance of full-value awards may also be used for stock option awards.
(2) Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding stock options only.



PROPOSAL NO. 3 – ADVISE ON NAMED EXECUTIVE

OFFICER COMPENSATION

ü

The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that stockholders

voteFOR approval, on anon-binding advisory basis, of the compensation

of the Company’sCompany's named executive officers

In accordance with the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and related SEC rules, and as required under Section 14A of the Exchange Act, we are providing stockholders an opportunity to conduct an advisory vote regarding the compensation of our NEOs as disclosed in this Proxy Statement.

Prior to submitting your vote, we encourage you to read our Compensation Discussion & Analysis and the accompanying executive compensation tables for details about our executive compensation program, including information about the 20162018 compensation of our NEOs.

As discussed in more detail in the Compensation Discussion & Analysis, we believe our executive compensation program is competitive and governed bypay-for-performance principles. We emphasize compensation opportunities that reward results. Our stock ownership requirements and use of stock-based incentives reinforce the alignment of the interests of our executives with those of our long-term stockholders. In doing so, our executive compensation program supports our strategic objectives and mission.

Accordingly, we ask you to approve the following resolution at the Annual Meeting:

“RESOLVED, that the stockholders of The Hershey Company approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers, as disclosed in the Proxy Statement for the 20172019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders pursuant to the SEC’s compensation disclosure rules, including the Compensation Discussion & Analysis, the Executive Compensation Tables and the related narrative discussion.”

Because your vote is advisory, it will not be binding upon the Board. However, as noted in the Compensation Discussion & Analysis, the Compensation Committee and the Board will, as deemed appropriate, take into account the outcome of the vote when considering future decisions affecting executive compensation.

The affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the shares of Common Stock and Class B Common Stock (voting together as a class) represented at the Annual Meeting, in person or by proxy, is required to approve this proposal.

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PROPOSAL NO. 4 – ADVISE ON FREQUENCY OF FUTURE ADVISORY VOTES ON NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION

The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that stockholders

vote to hold future advisory votes on named executive officer compensation

every1 YEAR

In accordance with the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and related SEC rules, and as required under Section 14A of the Exchange Act, we are providing stockholders an opportunity to conduct an advisory vote regarding the frequency with which future advisory votes on the compensation of our NEOs should be held.

At our 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, a majority of stockholders indicated a preference for holding advisory votes on NEO compensation every year, and we have conducted such an annual vote since that time. Under Section 14A of the Exchange Act, every six years we are required to provide stockholders an opportunity to again advise on the frequency with which future votes on NEO compensation should be held.

After careful consideration, the Board has determined that continuing to conduct an advisory vote on NEO compensation each year remains the most appropriate policy at this time. The Board believes such an annual vote best enables stockholders to timely express their views on the Company’s executive compensation program and policies and assists the Board and the Compensation Committee in determining current stockholder sentiment. Additionally, conducting an annual advisory vote on NEO compensation is consistent with our practice of regularly seeking input from stockholders on corporate governance matters.

You are not being asked to vote “for” or “against” this proposal. Instead, this proposal asks stockholders to inform us how often we should conduct an advisory vote on the compensation of our NEOs. You may cast your vote by choosing the option of every 1, 2 or 3 years, or abstaining, in response to the following resolution:

“RESOLVED, that the option of every 1 year, 2 years or 3 years that receives the highest number of votes cast for this resolution will be determined to be the preferred frequency with which the Company is to hold future advisory votes on named executive officer compensation, as disclosed in the Company’s annual proxy statement pursuant to the SEC’s compensation disclosure rules, including the Compensation Discussion & Analysis, the Executive Compensation Tables and the related narrative discussion.”

The frequency that receives the greatest number of votes from the holders of our Common Stock and Class B Common Stock voting together will be deemed to be stockholders’ preferred frequency for conducting future advisory votes on NEO compensation. Because your vote is advisory, it will not be binding upon the Board. However, the Board will, as it deems appropriate, take into account the outcome of the vote when determining how often the Company will conduct advisory votes on NEO compensation in future years.

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SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

REPORTING COMPLIANCE

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our directors and executive officers, as well as any person who is the beneficial owner of more than 10% of our outstanding Common Stock, to file reports with the SEC and NYSE showing their ownership and changes in ownership of the Company’s securities. Copies of these reports also must be furnished to us. Based on an examination of these reports and on written representations provided to us, it is our opinion that all reports for 20162018 were timely filed, except for a Form 4 filed by Thomas J. Ridge on April 21, 2016 reporting the disposition of shares on March  9, 2016.

filed.

CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS

Item 404 of SEC RegulationS-K requires that we disclose any transaction or series of similar transactions, or any currently proposed transaction(s), in which (i) the Company was or is to be a participant, (ii) the amount involved exceeds $120,000 and (iii) any of the following persons had or will have a direct or indirect material interest:

Our directors or nominees for director;

Our executive officers;

Persons owning more than 5% of any class of our outstanding voting securities; or

The immediate family members of any of the persons identified in the preceding three bullets.

Policies and Procedures Regarding Transactions with Related Persons

The Board has adopted a written Related Person Transaction Policy that governs the review, approval or ratification of related person transactions. The Related Person Transaction Policy may be viewed on the Investors section of our website atwww.thehersheycompany.com.

Under the Related Person Transaction Policy, each related person transaction, and any significant amendment or modification to a related person transaction, must be reviewed and approved or ratified by a committee of our Board composed solely of independent directors who have no interest in the transaction. We refer to each such committee as a Reviewing Committee. The Related Person Transaction Policy also permits the disinterested members of the full Board to act as a Reviewing Committee.

The Board has designated the Governance Committee as the Reviewing Committee primarily responsible for the administration of the Related Person Transaction Policy. In addition, the Board has designated a special Reviewing CommitteesCommittee to oversee certain transactions involving the Company and Hershey Trust Company, Milton Hershey School, the Milton Hershey School Trust and companies owned by or affiliated with any of the foregoing. Finally, the Related Person Transaction Policy provides that the Compensation Committee will review and approve, or review and recommend to the Board for approval, any employment relationship or transaction involving an executive officer of the Company and any related compensation.

When reviewing, approving or ratifying a related person transaction, the Reviewing Committee will examine all material facts about the related person’s interest in, or relationship to, the transaction, including the approximate dollar value of the transaction. If the related person transaction involves an outside director or nominee for director, the Reviewing Committee also may consider whether the transaction would compromise the director’s status as an “independent director,” “outside director” or“non-employee “non-employee director” under the Board’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, the NYSE Rules, the CodeIRC or the Exchange Act.

84


Transactions with Hershey Trust Company, Milton Hershey School and the
Milton Hershey School Trust

During 2016,2018, there were no transactions with the Company in which any executive officer, director or nominee for director, or any of their immediate family members, had a direct or indirect material interest that would need to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 of SEC RegulationS-K, nor were any such transactions planned.



In any given year, we may engage in certain transactions with Hershey Trust Company, Milton Hershey School, the Milton Hershey School Trust and companies owned by or affiliated with any of the foregoing. These transactions are typically immaterial, ordinary-course transactions that do not constitute related person transactions. However, from time to time we may also engage in related person transactions with Hershey Trust Company, Milton Hershey School, the Milton Hershey School Trust and/or their subsidiaries and affiliates. Under the Board’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, a special Reviewing Committee normally composed of the directors electedindependent, disinterested members of the Executive Committee must approve these transactions.
Effective November 7, 2018, the Company entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement with Hershey Trust Company, as trustee for the Milton Hershey School Trust, pursuant to which the Company agreed to purchase 450,000 shares of the Company’s common stock from Milton Hershey School Trust at a price equal to $106.30 per share, for a total purchase price of $47,835,000. The transaction was approved by the holdersindependent directors of the Common Stock voting separately as a class reviews and makes recommendations to theCompany’s Board regarding these transactions. The Corporate Governance Guidelines also authorize the independent directors having no affiliation with Hershey Trust Company, Milton Hershey School, the Milton Hershey School Trust or their affiliates to designate a different special Reviewing Committee to review these transactions.

affiliates.

The Company was not a participant in any other transactions in 2016,2018, and does not currently contemplate being a participant in any transactions in 2017, involving Hershey Trust Company, as trustee for the Milton Hershey School Trust, or2019, with any other stockholder owning more than 5% of any class of the Company’s outstanding voting securities that would need to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 of SEC RegulationS-K.

During 2016,2018, we engaged in transactions in the ordinary course of our business with Hershey Trust Company, Milton Hershey School and companies affiliated with Hershey Trust Company, Milton Hershey School and the Milton Hershey School Trust. These transactions involved the sale and purchase of goods and services as well as the leasing of real estate at market rates. The transactions were primarily with Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company, a company that is owned by the Milton Hershey School Trust. All sales and purchases were made on terms and at prices we believe were generally available in the marketplace and were in amounts that were not material to us or to Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company. Therefore, these transactions did not require approval under our Related Person Transaction Policy.

Although our transactions with Hershey Trust Company, Milton Hershey School and the companies affiliated with each of the foregoing and with the Milton Hershey School Trust (including Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company) are either immaterial or otherwise not required to be disclosed under Item 404 of SEC RegulationS-K, because of our relationship with these entities, we have elected to disclose the aggregate amounts of our purchase and sale transactions with these entities for your information. In this regard:

Our total sales to these entities in 20162018 were approximately $1.5 million; and

Our total purchases from these entities in 20162018 were approximately $3.2$1.7 million.

We do not expect the types of transactions or the amount of payments to change materially in 2017.

85


The2019.

Effective June 1, 2017, the Company also leases toentered into a lease with Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company for a portion of a building owned and occupied by the Company in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The leased area consists of approximately 67,50017,660 square feet of storage space in the building that is not being utilized currently by the Company. The lease was first entered into on January 1, 2011, and had a term of one year. The lease permits Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company to renew the lease for subsequentone-year terms and, if space is available, to request an increase in the area occupied. Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company has renewed the lease for additionalone-year terms each year since 2012. The lease is on terms we believe are generally available in the marketplace and is not material to us or Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company. Rent during 20162018 was $288,900 and for 2017 is expected to be $297,000,$66,850, which amounts includeincluded a pro rata allocation of utilities, insurance, maintenance and other operating costs.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS

AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION

Ms.

Mmes. Arway, Haben and Koken and Messrs. Malcolm, Mead, Palmer and ShedlarzRidge served as members of our Compensation Committee at various times during 2016.2018. None of the members of our Compensation Committee served as one of our officers or employees during 20162018 or at any time in the past, and neither they nor any other director served as an executive officer of any entity for which any of our executive officers served as a director or member of its compensation committee.

None of the members of our Compensation Committee has a relationship with us that is required to be disclosed under Item 404 of SEC RegulationS-K.




OTHER MATTERS

Householding of Proxy Materials

The SEC has adopted rules that allow us to send in a single envelope our Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or a single copy of our proxy solicitation and other required annual meeting materials to two or more stockholders sharing the same address. We may do this only if the stockholders at that address share the same last name or if we reasonably believe that the stockholders are members of the same family. If we are sending a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, the envelope must contain a separate notice for each stockholder at the shared address. Each Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials must contain a unique control number that each stockholder will use to gain access to our proxy materials and vote online. If we are mailing a paper copy of our proxy materials, the rules require us to send each stockholder at the shared address a separate proxy card.

We believe this rule is beneficial both to our stockholders and to the Company. Our printing and postage costs are lowered anytime we eliminate duplicate mailings to the same household. However, stockholders at a shared address may revoke their consent to the householding program and receive their Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials in a separate envelope, or, if they have elected to receive a full copy of our proxy materials in the mail, receive a separate copy of these materials. If you have elected to receive paper copies of our proxy materials and want to receive a separate copy of these materials for our 20172019 Annual Meeting, please call our Investor Relations Department, toll free, at(800) 539-0261. If you consented to the householding program and wish to revoke your consent for future years, simply call, toll free,(866) 540-7095, or write to Broadridge, Householding Department, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, New York 11717.

86


Information Regarding the 20182020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

The 20182020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is expected to be held on May 2, 2018.12, 2020. To be eligible for inclusion in the proxy materials for the 20182020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, a stockholder proposal must be received by our Corporate Secretary by no later than November 23, 2017,December 13, 2019, and must comply in all respects with applicable rules of the SEC. Stockholder proposals should be addressed to The Hershey Company, c/o Corporate Secretary, 100 Crystal A Drive,19 East Chocolate Avenue, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033-0810.

17033.

A stockholder may present a proposal not included in our proxy materials from the floor of the 20182020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders only if our Corporate Secretary receives notice of the proposal, along with additional information required by ourby-laws, between January 3, 201822, 2020 and February 2, 2018.21, 2020. Notice should be addressed to The Hershey Company, c/o Corporate Secretary, 100 Crystal A Drive,19 East Chocolate Avenue, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033-0810.

17033.

The notice must contain the following additional information:

The stockholder’s name and address;

The stockholder’s shareholdings;

A brief description of the proposal;

A brief description of any financial or other interest the stockholder has in the proposal; and

Any additional information that the SEC would require if the proposal were presented in a proxy statement.



A stockholder may nominate a director from the floor of the 20182020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders only if our Corporate Secretary receives notice of the nomination, along with additional information required by ourby-laws, between January 3, 201822, 2020 and February 2, 2018.21, 2020. The notice must contain the following additional information:

The stockholder’s name and address;

A representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of any class of our equity securities;

A representation that the stockholder intends to make the nomination in person or by proxy at the meeting;

A description of any arrangement the stockholder has with the individual the stockholder plans to nominate and the reason for making the nomination;

The nominee’s name, address and biographical information;

The written consent of the nominee to serve as a director if elected; and

Any additional information regarding the nominee that the SEC would require if the nomination were included in a proxy statement regardless of whether the nomination may be included in such proxy statement.statement; and

Any stockholder holding 25% or more of the votes entitled to be cast at the 20182020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is not required to comply with these pre-notification requirements.
pre-notification requirements.

By order of the Board of Directors,

LOGO

Leslie M. Turner

dasignaturea01.jpg
Damien Atkins
Senior Vice President,

General Counsel and Secretary

March 23, 2017

87


LOGO


HERSHEY THE HERSHEY COMPANY P.O. BOX 810 HERSHEY, PA 17033-0810 VOTE BY INTERNET - www.proxyvote.com Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions until 11:59 p.m. EDT on May 2, 2017. Have your proxy and voting instruction card in hand when you access the website and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form. VOTE BY PHON E-(800)690-6903 Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions until 11:59 p.m. EDT on May 2, 2017. Have your proxy and voting instruction card in hand when you call and follow the instructions from the telephone voting site. VOTE BY MAIL Mark, sign and date your proxy and voting instruction card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to The Hershey Company, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717. 401(k) PLAN AND PR 401(k) PLAN PARTICIPANTS Your voting instructions must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. EDT on April 28, 2017. Use any of the voting methods above to submit your voting instructions. TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS: E20239-P85907-Z69291 KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS THIS PROXY AND VOTING INSTRUCTION CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED. DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY THE HERSHEY COMPANY For Withhold For All To withhold authority to vote for any individual All All Except nominee(s), mark “For All Except” and write the The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR number(s) of the nominee(s) on the line below. each of the following nominees: ! ! ! 1. Election of Directors Nominees: 01) P. M. Arway 07) M. D. Koken 02) J. P. Bilbrey 08) R. M. Malcolm 03) J. W. Brown 09) J. M. Mead 04) M. G. Buck 10) A. J. Palmer 05) C. A. Davis 11) T. J. Ridge 06) M. K. Haben 12) D. L. Shedlarz The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR Proposals 2 and 3: For Against Abstain 2. Ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as independent auditors for 2017. ! ! ! 3. Approve named executive officer compensation on anon-binding11, 2019 advisory basis. ! ! ! The Board of Directors recommends you vote for a frequency of 1 YEAR on Proposal 4: 1 Year 2 Years 3 Years Abstain 4. The frequency of future advisory votes on named executive officer compensation. ! ! ! ! The proxies are authorized to vote, in their discretion, for a substitute should any nominee become unavailable for election and upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting. NOTE: Please follow the instructions above to vote by Internet or telephone, or mark, sign (exactly as name(s) appear(s) above) and date this card and mail promptly in the postage-paid, return envelope provided. Executors, administrators, trustees, attorneys, guardians, etc., should so indicate when signing. Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX] Date Signature (Joint Owners) Date V.1.1


LOGO

HERSHEY Admission Ticket THE HERSHEY COMPANY 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders Wednesday, May 3, 2017 10:00 a.m. EDT GIANT Center 550 West Hersheypark Drive Hershey, PA 17033 Presenting this Admission Ticket at HERSHEY’S CHOCOLATE WORLD Attraction entitles you to 25% off selected items from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. EDT on May 3, 2017. Offer good on May 3, 2017, only. Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 3, 2017: The Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement, 2016 Annual Report to Stockholders and proxy card are available at www.proxyvote.com. FOLD AND DETACH HERE FOLD AND DETACH HERE E20240-P85907-Z69291 THE HERSHEY COMPANY STOCKHOLDER’S PROXY AND VOTING INSTRUCTION CARD The undersigned hereby appoints M. G. Buck and L. M. Turner, and each of them, as proxies, with full power of substitution, to attend The Hershey Company (the “Company”) Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at 10:00 a.m. EDT, May 3, 2017, at GIANT Center, 550 West Hersheypark Drive, Hershey, Pennsylvania, or at any adjournment thereof (“Annual Meeting”), and to vote all of the undersigned’s shares of the Company’s Common Stock in the manner directed on the reverse side of this card. The shares represented by this proxy, when executed properly, will be voted in the manner directed. If direction is not given but the card is signed, this proxy will be voted FOR the election of all nominees under Proposal 1, FOR Proposal 2, FOR Proposal 3 and for a frequency of 1 YEAR on Proposal 4 as set forth on the reverse side, and in the discretion of the proxies with respect to such other business as may properly come before the meeting. SPECIAL INFORMATION for participants in The Hershey Company 401(k) Plan (“401(k) Plan”) and The Hershey Company Puerto Rico 401(k) Plan (“PR 401(k) Plan”): This proxy also provides voting instructions for shares held on the record date for the Annual Meeting by Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company (“Vanguard”),* as trustee of the 401(k) Plan or as custodian appointed by Banco Popular de Puerto Rico, trustee of the PR 401(k) Plan, as applicable. If you are a participant in either plan, this paragraph (and not the paragraph above) applies with respect to voting these plan shares. By marking and returning this card, you will direct Vanguard (i) how to vote the shares of Common Stock allocated to your account in that plan and (ii) how to vote a portion of the shares of Common Stock allocated to the accounts of other participants in that plan who have not submitted voting instructions by the voting deadline. If Vanguard receives your properly marked and executed card on or before April 28, 2017, Vanguard will vote these shares in the manner directed by you. If direction is not given or is received after April 28, 2017, Vanguard will vote these shares in the 401(k) Plan or PR 401(k) Plan, as applicable, in the same proportion, respectively, as the final aggregate vote of the 401(k) Plan or PR 401(k) Plan participants who submitted timely votes on the matter. This proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors pursuant to a separate Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement dated March 23, 2017, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged. The shares of Common Stock represented by this proxy shall be entitled to one vote for each such share held. Except with regard to voting separately as a class on the election of M. K. Haben and R. M. Malcolm, shares of Common Stock will vote together with shares of Class B Common Stock without regard to class. THIS PROXY AND VOTING INSTRUCTION CARD IS CONTINUED ON THE REVERSE SIDE. *Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company, in its capacity as trustee or custodian, has appointed Broadridge as agent to tally the vote.


LOGO

HERSHEY THE HERSHEY COMPANY P.O. BOX 810 HERSHEY, PA 17033-0810 VOTE BY INTERNET - www.proxyvote.com Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions until 11:59 p.m. EDT on May 2, 2017. Have your proxy and voting instruction card in hand when you access the website and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form. VOTE BY PHONE - (800)690-6903 Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions until 11:59 p.m. EDT on May 2, 2017. Have your proxy and voting instruction card in hand when you call and follow the instructions from the telephone voting site. VOTE BY MAIL Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to The Hershey Company, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717. TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS: E20241-P85907-Z69291 KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED. DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY THE HERSHEY COMPANY For Withhold For All To withhold authority to vote for any individual All All Except nominee(s), mark “For All Except” and write the The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR number(s) of the nominee(s) on the line below. each of the following nominees: ! ! ! 1. Election of Directors Nominees: 01) P. M. Arway 06) M. D. Koken 02) J. P. Bilbrey 07) J. M. Mead 03) J. W. Brown 08) A. J. Palmer 04) M. G. Buck 09) T. J. Ridge 05) C. A. Davis 10) D. L. Shedlarz The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR Proposals 2 and 3: For Against Abstain 2. Ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as independent auditors for 2017. ! ! ! 3. Approve named executive officer compensation on anon-binding advisory basis. ! ! ! The Board of Directors recommends you vote for a frequency of 1 YEAR on Proposal 4: 1 Year 2 Years 3 Years Abstain 4. The frequency of future advisory votes on named executive officer compensation. ! ! ! ! The proxies are authorized to vote, in their discretion, for a substitute should any nominee become unavailable for election and upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting. NOTE: Please follow the instructions above to vote by Internet or telephone, or mark, sign (exactly as name(s) appear(s) above) and date this card and mail promptly in the postage-paid, return envelope provided. Executors, administrators, trustees, attorneys, guardians, etc., should so indicate when signing. Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX] Date Signature (Joint Owners) Date V.1.1


LOGO

HERSHEY Admission Ticket THE HERSHEY COMPANY 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders Wednesday, May 3, 2017 10:00 a.m. EDT GIANT Center 550 West Hersheypark Drive Hershey, PA 17033 Presenting this Admission Ticket at HERSHEY’S CHOCOLATE WORLD Attraction entitles you to 25% off selected items from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. EDT on May 3, 2017. Offer good on May 3, 2017, only. Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 3, 2017: The Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement, 2016 Annual Report to Stockholders and proxy card are available at www.proxyvote.com. FOLD AND DETACH HERE FOLD AND DETACH HERE E20242-P85907-Z69291 THE HERSHEY COMPANY CLASS B COMMON STOCK This Proxy is Solicited on Behalf of the Board of Directors The undersigned, having received the Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement of The Hershey Company (the “Company”) dated March 23, 2017, appoints M. G. Buck and L. M. Turner, and each of them, as proxies, with full power of substitution, to represent and vote all of the undersigned’s shares of the Company’s Class B Common Stock at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at 10:00 a.m. EDT, May 3, 2017, at GIANT Center, 550 West Hersheypark Drive, Hershey, Pennsylvania, or at any adjournment thereof. The shares represented by this proxy will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned stockholder(s), who shall be entitled to cast ten votes for each such share held. If direction is not given but the card is signed, this proxy will be voted FOR the election of all nominees under Proposal 1, FOR Proposal 2, FOR Proposal 3 and for a frequency of 1 YEAR on Proposal 4 as set forth on the reverse side, and in the discretion of the proxies with respect to such other business as may properly come before the meeting. This proxy is continued on the reverse side. V.1.1



proxycardsfinalpage1.jpg
VOTE BY INTERNET - www.proxyvote.com

Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions until
11:59 p.m. EDT on May 20, 2019. Have your proxy and
voting instruction card in hand when you access the website
and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to
create an electronic voting instruction form.

VOTE BY PHONE - (800) 690-6903

Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting
instructions until 11:59 p.m. EDT on May 20, 2019. Have
your proxy and voting instruction card in hand when you call
and follow the instructions from the telephone voting site.

VOTE BY MAIL

Mark, sign and date your proxy and voting instruction card
and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided
or return it to The Hershey Company, c/o Broadridge,
51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717.

THE HERSHEY COMPANY

P.O. BOX 819

HERSHEY, PA 17033-0819


E70542-P16939-Z73811

THIS PROXY AND VOTING INSTRUCTION CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED.

For
All

Withhold
All

For All
Except

To withhold authority to vote for any individual
nominee(s), mark "For All Except" and write the
number(s) of the nominee(s) on the line below.

THE HERSHEY COMPANY

The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR
each of the following nominees:
1. Election of Directors

 Nominees:

07) M. D. Koken

08) R. M. Malcolm

09) A. J. Palmer

10) J. R. Perez

11) W. L. Schoppert

12) D. L. Shedlarz

 01) P. M. Arway

 02) J. W. Brown

 03) M. G. Buck

 04) C. A. Davis

 05) M. K. Haben

 06) J. C. Katzman

For

Against

Abstain

The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR Proposals 2 and 3:

!

!

!

2. Ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as independent auditors for 2019.

!

!

!

3. Approve named executive officer compensation on a non-binding advisory basis.

The proxies are authorized to vote, in their discretion, for a substitute should any
nominee become unavailable for election and upon such other business as may
properly come before the meeting.

NOTE: Please follow the instructions above to vote by Internet or telephone,
or mark, sign (exactly as name(s) appear(s) above) and date this card and mail
promptly in the postage-paid, return envelope provided. Executors, administrators,
trustees, attorneys, guardians, etc., should so indicate when signing.




proxycardsfinalpage2.jpg
Admission Ticket

THE HERSHEY COMPANY

2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

Tuesday, May 21, 2019

10:00 a.m. EDT

GIANT Center

550 West Hersheypark Drive

Hershey, PA 17033


Presenting this Admission Ticket at

HERSHEY'S CHOCOLATE WORLD Attraction

entitles you to 25% off selected items

 from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. EDT

on May 21, 2019.

Offer good on May 21, 2019, only.

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the

2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 21, 2019:

The Notice of 2019 Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement, 2018 Annual Report to Stockholders

and proxy card are available at www.proxyvote.com.

FOLD AND DETACH HERE

FOLD AND DETACH HERE

E70543-P16939-Z73811

THE HERSHEY COMPANY

STOCKHOLDER'S PROXY AND VOTING INSTRUCTION CARD
The undersigned hereby appoints M. G. Buck and D. Atkins, and each of them, as proxies, with full power of substitution, to attend
The Hershey Company (the “Company”) Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at 10:00 a.m. EDT, May 21, 2019, at GIANT Center,
550 West Hersheypark Drive, Hershey, Pennsylvania, or at any adjournment thereof (“Annual Meeting”), and to vote all of the undersigned’s
shares of the Company’s Common Stock in the manner directed on the reverse side of this card. The shares represented by this proxy, when
executed properly, will be voted in the manner directed. If direction is not given but the card is signed, this proxy will be voted FOR the
election of all nominees under Proposal 1, FOR Proposal 2 and FOR Proposal 3 as set forth on the reverse side, and in the discretion
of the proxies with respect to such other business as may properly come before the meeting.

This proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors pursuant to a separate Notice of 2019 Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement
dated April 11, 2019, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged. The shares of Common Stock represented by this proxy shall be
entitled to one vote for each such share held. Except with regard to voting separately as a class on the election of J. R. Perez
and W. L. Schoppert, shares of Common Stock will vote together with shares of Class B Common Stock without regard to class.

THIS PROXY AND VOTING INSTRUCTION CARD IS CONTINUED ON THE REVERSE SIDE.



proxycardsfinalpage3.jpg
VOTE BY INTERNET - www.proxyvote.com

Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions until
11:59 p.m. EDT on May 20, 2019. Have your proxy card
in hand when you access the website and follow the
instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic
voting instruction form.

VOTE BY PHONE - (800) 690-6903

Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting
instructions until 11:59 p.m. EDT on May 20, 2019. Have
your proxy card in hand when you call and follow the
instructions from the telephone voting site.

VOTE BY MAIL

Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the
postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to
The Hershey Company, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way,
Edgewood, NY 11717.


THE HERSHEY COMPANY

P.O. BOX 819

HERSHEY, PA 17033-0819


E70544-P16939-Z73811

THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED.

For
All

Withhold
All

For All
Except
To withhold authority to vote for any individual
nominee(s), mark "For All Except" and write the
number(s) of the nominee(s) on the line below.

THE HERSHEY COMPANY

The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR
each of the following nominees:

!

!

!

1. Election of Directors

 Nominees:

 01) P. M. Arway

 02) J. W. Brown

 03) M. G. Buck

 04) C. A. Davis

 05) M. K. Haben


06) J. C. Katzman

07) M. D. Koken

08) R. M. Malcolm

09) A. J. Palmer

10) D. L. Shedlarz

For

Against

Abstain

The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR Proposals 2 and 3:

!

!

!

2. Ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as independent auditors for 2019.

!

!

!

3. Approve named executive officer compensation on a non-binding advisory basis.

The proxies are authorized to vote, in their discretion, for a substitute should any
nominee become unavailable for election and upon such other business as may
properly come before the meeting.

NOTE: Please follow the instructions above to vote by Internet or telephone,
or mark, sign (exactly as name(s) appear(s) above) and date this card and mail
promptly in the postage-paid, return envelope provided. Executors, administrators,
trustees, attorneys, guardians, etc., should so indicate when signing.



proxycardsfinalpage4.jpg
Admission Ticket

THE HERSHEY COMPANY

2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

Tuesday, May 21, 2019

10:00 a.m. EDT

GIANT Center

550 West Hersheypark Drive

Hershey, PA 17033


Presenting this Admission Ticket at

HERSHEY'S CHOCOLATE WORLD Attraction

entitles you to 25% off selected items

 from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. EDT

on May 21, 2019.

Offer good on May 21, 2019, only.

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the

2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 21, 2019:

The Notice of 2019 Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement, 2018 Annual Report to Stockholders

and proxy card are available at www.proxyvote.com.
FOLD AND DETACH HERE

FOLD AND DETACH HERE

E70545-P16939-Z73811

THE HERSHEY COMPANY

CLASS B COMMON STOCK

This Proxy is Solicited on Behalf of the Board of Directors

The undersigned, having received the Notice of 2019 Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement of The Hershey Company (the “Company”) dated
April 11, 2019, appoints M. G. Buck and D. Atkins, and each of them, as proxies, with full power of substitution, to represent and vote all
of the undersigned’s shares of the Company’s Class B Common Stock at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at 10:00 a.m. EDT,
May 21, 2019, at GIANT Center, 550 West Hersheypark Drive, Hershey, Pennsylvania, or at any adjournment thereof.

The shares represented by this proxy will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned stockholder(s), who shall be entitled to
cast ten votes for each such share held. If direction is not given but the card is signed, this proxy will be voted FOR the election of
all nominees under Proposal 1, FOR Proposal 2 and FOR Proposal 3 as set forth on the reverse side, and in the discretion of the
proxies with respect to such other business as may properly come before the meeting.

This proxy is continued on the reverse side.


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