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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