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SANDERSON FARMS INC FILES (8-K) Disclosing Change in Directors or Principal Officers, Amendments to Articles of Inc. or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year, Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders, Financial Statements and Exhibits(Edgar Glimpses Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangement of Certain Officers. On February 13, 2014, the Compensation Committee of the Registrant's Board of Directors took the following actions: (1) The Committee adopted a Bonus Award Program for the Registrant's salaried employees and accounting trainees effective November 1, 2013. If the Registrant meets net income per share and minimum return on average stockholders' equity goals for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2014, the program provides for the award of bonuses to eligible participants equal to a percentage of their base salary. For the Named Executive Officers and certain other key members of management, the total potential award has two components: a percentage based on the Registrant's earnings per share, and a percentage based on the Registrant's operational performance. The operational performance component of the fiscal 2014 program differs from past years in that it provides that component is paid if the Registrant's chickens finish in the top 30% of all chickens reported in the Agristats reporting service for the fiscal year based on bottom line profit per head. Previously, the operational component was paid if the Registrant placed in the top 30% of companies reporting in Agristats. The Compensation Committee also voted to increase the maximum percentage of salary that the Named Executive Officers can receive under the bonus program, as follows: Maximum Bonus Opportunity Named Executive Officer as Percentage of Salary Joe F. Sanderson, Jr. (Chief Executive Officer) 175 % Lampkin Butts (President and Chief Operating Officer) 140 % Mike Cockrell (Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer) 130 % Tim Rigney (Secretary and Controller) 65 % A copy of the Bonus Award Program is filed herewith as Exhibit 10 and is incorporated herein by reference. (2) The Committee ratified the payment of health plan benefits to the Named Executive Officers in 2013 in the amount of $8,354 per officer. Item 5.03. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year. On February 13, 2014, the Registrant's Board of Directors amended the Registrant's Bylaws to add a new Article XIV providing for an exclusive forum in which certain stockholder and intracorporate litigation must be brought. The amendment became effective upon its approval by the Board. A copy of the Registrant's Bylaws, as amended and restated, is filed herewith as Exhibit 3. Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders. The Registrant held its annual meeting of stockholders on February 13, 2014. At the meeting, the stockholders took the following actions: 1. The stockholders voted to re-elect the following Class A directors for a three-year term by the votes set forth below: Name For Withheld Broker Non-Votes Lampkin Butts 19,356,810 408,660 1,557,016 Beverly Hogan 19,670,502 94,937 1,557,016 Phil K. Livingston 19,736,980 28,451 1,557,016 Joe F. Sanderson, Jr. 19,575,715 189,724 1,557,016 Charles W. Ritter, Jr. 19,505,688 257,961 1,557,016 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. The stockholders voted to approve, in a non-binding advisory vote pursuant to Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), the compensation of the Company's Named Executive Officers, as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation S-K, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the compensation tables and narrative disclosures, in the Registrant's definitive proxy statement filed January 15, 2014, by the votes set forth below: For Against Abstain Broker Non-Votes 19,516,608 230,208 16,434 1,557,016 3. The stockholders voted to determine, in a non-binding advisory vote, the frequency with which the Registrant should hold future non-binding advisory votes on executive compensation pursuant to Section 14A of the Exchange Act, by the votes set forth below, with the option of a vote every year receiving a majority of the votes cast (or 50.1%). Following the annual meeting, on the recommendation of its Nominating and Governance Committee, the Registrant's Board of Directors voted to hold future advisory votes on executive compensation every year, in accordance with the selection receiving the highest number of votes at the annual meeting. Every Year Every Two Years Every Three Years Abstain Broker Non-Votes 9,886,974 288,986 9,546,857 42,569 1,557,016 4. The stockholders voted to ratify and approve the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as the Registrant's independent auditors for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2014, by the votes set forth below: For Against Abstain Broker Non-Votes 21,229,655 87,481 5,350 0 Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits. (d) The following exhibits are filed with this Current Report: Exhibit No. Description 3 Bylaws of the Registrant as amended and restated on February 13, 2014 10 Sanderson Farms, Inc., Bonus Award Program Effective November 1, 2013 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |