Kinross Gold Corporation: Accounting for Stock-based Compensation

Kinross Gold is considering changing the stock-based compensation plans that it uses for medium to long-term executive incentives. A Human Resources consultant has been retained to make recommendations. The consultant must determine whether the current split between stock options and restricted share units should be altered. In addition, she must consider whether to recommend that Kinross Gold adopt restricted performance-vesting share units. If so, appropriate performance benchmarks must be established. Finally, the consultant must quantify the impact of her recommendations on stock-based compensation expense.