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): January 27, 2017
SANDERSON FARMS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Mississippi | 1-14977 | 64-0615843 | ||
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
| 127 Flynt Road | ||
| Laurel, Mississippi | 39443 | |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
(601) 649-4030
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Not applicable.
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box 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 communications 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 communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Section 8 – Other Events
Item 8.01 Other Events.
Sanderson Farms, Inc. (the “Registrant”), along with the Registrant’s subsidiaries Sanderson Farms, Inc. (Foods Division), Sanderson Farms, Inc. (Production Division) and Sanderson Farms, Inc. (Processing Division), were named as defendants along with four other poultry producers and certain of their affiliated companies in a putative class action lawsuit filed on January 27, 2017 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The complaint alleges that the defendants unlawfully conspired by sharing data on compensation paid to broiler farmers, with the purpose and effect of suppressing the farmers’ compensation below competitive levels. The complaint also alleges that the defendants unlawfully conspired to not solicit or hire the broiler farmers who were providing services to other defendants. The complaint seeks treble damages, costs and attorneys’ fees. The lawsuit is in its early stages and the Registrant intends to defend it vigorously.
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.
SANDERSON FARMS, INC.
(Registrant)
| Date: February 2, 2017 | By: | /s/ D. Michael Cockrell | ||||||
| D. Michael Cockrell Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer | ||||||||