UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 18, 2020
PACIFIC ETHANOL, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
| Delaware | 000-21467 | 41-2170618 | ||
| (State or Other Jurisdiction | (Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer | ||
| of Incorporation) | Identification No.) |
400 Capitol Mall, Suite 2060 Sacramento, California | 95814 | |
| (Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (916) 403-2123
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
| ☐ | Written communication pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| ☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| ☐ | Pre-commencement communication pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
| Common Stock, $0.001 par value | PEIX | The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (Nasdaq Capital Market) |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2). Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
The 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (“Annual Meeting”) of Pacific Ethanol, Inc. (the “Company”) was held on November 18, 2020. The following proposals were approved at the Annual Meeting by the votes indicated:
Proposal One: To elect seven directors to serve on the Company’s board of directors until the next annual meeting of stockholders and/or until their successors are duly elected and qualified. The nominees for election were William L. Jones, Michael D. Kandris, Terry L. Stone, John L. Prince, Douglas L. Kieta, Gilbert E. Nathan and Dianne S. Nury.
The following nominees were elected by the votes indicated to serve as directors until the next annual meeting of stockholders and/or until their successors are duly elected and qualified:
| Name | Total Votes for Director | Total Votes Withheld from Director | Total Broker Non-Votes | |||||||||
| William L. Jones | 17,715,670 | 3,380,173 | 23,827,070 | |||||||||
| Michael D. Kandris | 19,764,704 | 1,331,139 | 23,827,070 | |||||||||
| Terry L. Stone | 19,702,767 | 1,393,076 | 23,827,070 | |||||||||
| John L. Prince | 17,629,351 | 3,466,492 | 23,827,070 | |||||||||
| Douglas L. Kieta | 17,662,451 | 3,433,392 | 23,827,070 | |||||||||
| Gilbert E. Nathan | 19,654,855 | 1,440,988 | 23,827,070 | |||||||||
| Dianne S. Nury | 19,722,177 | 1,373,666 | 23,827,070 | |||||||||
Proposal Two: To approve the 2019 compensation of the Company’s named executive officers, as disclosed in the proxy statement pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“say-on-pay”).
| Total Votes | ||||
| For | 18,423,235 | |||
| Against | 1,167,265 | |||
| Abstain | 1,505,343 | |||
| Broker Non-Votes | 23,827,070 | |||
Proposal Three: To approve an amendment to the Company’s 2016 Stock Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the plan from 5,650,000 shares to 7,400,000 shares.
| Total Votes | ||||
| For | 17,835,267 | |||
| Against | 1,872,454 | |||
| Abstain | 1,388,122 | |||
| Broker Non-Votes | 23,827,070 | |||
Proposal Four: To ratify the appointment of RSM US LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2020.
| Total Votes | ||||
| For | 42,611,804 | |||
| Against | 530,420 | |||
| Abstain | 1,780,689 | |||
| Broker Non-Votes | N/A | |||
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| Date: November 18, 2020 | PACIFIC ETHANOL, INC. | |
| By: | /S/ CHRISTOPHER W. WRIGHT | |
| Christopher W. Wright, | ||
| Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary | ||
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