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): April 26, 2024
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
| (State or other jurisdiction | (Commission | (I.R.S. Employer | ||||||||||||
| of Incorporation) | File Number) | Identification No.) | ||||||||||||
(Address of principal executive offices)(Zip Code)
(833 ) 267-8382
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
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:
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||||||||||||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
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. o
Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year
As described under Item 5.07 of this Current Report on Form 8-K, at the 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Corteva, Inc. (the “Company”) held on April 26, 2024, the stockholders of the Company approved a proposed amendment (the “ Exculpation Amendment”) to the Company’s certificate of incorporation to permit the exculpation of officers, as is consistent with the Delaware General Corporation Law. The Exculpation Amendment is described in detail under “Agenda Item 4: Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation” commencing on page 66 of the Company’s definitive proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 15, 2024 (the “Proxy Statement”) in connection with the Annual Meeting. The foregoing description of the Exculpation Amendment does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the certificate of incorporation, as modified by the Exculpation Amendment (the “Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation”), which is filed as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference. The Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation became effective upon its filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on May 1, 2024.
Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
On April 26, 2024, the Company held its Annual Meeting. As of the close of business on March 1, 2024, the record date for the annual meeting, 698,880,420 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, were outstanding and entitled to vote. A total of 613,323,883 shares of common stock were voted in person or by proxy, representing 87.75 percent of the shares entitled to be voted. The following are the final voting results on proposals considered and voted upon at the meeting, all of which are described in the Company's Proxy Statement.
Proposal 1 - Election of Directors. The Company’s stockholders elected the following 13 nominees to serve on the Board of Directors until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors have been duly elected or appointed.
| Director | For | Against | Abstain | Broker Non-Votes | ||||||||||
| Lamberto Andreotti | 539,684,718 | 11,699,033 | 597,147 | 61,342,985 | ||||||||||
| Klaus A. Engel, Ph.D. | 545,240,186 | 6,133,830 | 606,882 | 61,342,985 | ||||||||||
| David C. Everitt | 542,708,188 | 8,665,360 | 607,350 | 61,342,985 | ||||||||||
| Janet P. Giesselman | 537,431,173 | 13,711,940 | 837,785 | 61,342,985 | ||||||||||
| Karen H. Grimes | 546,766,775 | 4,647,600 | 566,523 | 61,342,985 | ||||||||||
| Michael O. Johanns | 545,080,446 | 6,276,804 | 623,648 | 61,342,985 | ||||||||||
| Rebecca B. Liebert, Ph.D. | 546,753,562 | 4,665,971 | 561,365 | 61,342,985 | ||||||||||
| Marcos M. Lutz | 546,682,296 | 4,706,231 | 592,371 | 61,342,985 | ||||||||||
| Charles V. Magro | 549,782,583 | 1,587,262 | 611,053 | 61,342,985 | ||||||||||
| Nayaki R. Nayyar | 543,321,110 | 8,038,472 | 621,316 | 61,342,985 | ||||||||||
| Gregory R. Page | 533,752,327 | 17,643,444 | 585,127 | 61,342,985 | ||||||||||
| Kerry J. Preete | 546,798,879 | 4,588,068 | 593,951 | 61,342,985 | ||||||||||
| Patrick J. Ward | 546,486,625 | 4,890,084 | 604,189 | 61,342,985 | ||||||||||
Proposal 2 - Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation. The Company’s stockholders approved, by advisory vote, the compensation of its named executive officers.
| For | Against | Abstain | Broker Non-Votes | ||||||||
| 524,024,952 | 26,697,473 | 1,258,473 | 61,342,985 | ||||||||
Proposal 3 - Ratification of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company's Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. The Company’s stockholders ratified the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2024.
| For | Against | Abstain | ||||||
| 592,592,662 | 20,166,242 | 564,979 | ||||||
Proposal 4 - Approval of an Amendment to Corteva's Certificate of Incorporation. The Company’s stockholders approved an Amendment to Corteva's Certificate of Incorporation, described in Item 5.03.
| For | Against | Abstain | Broker Non-Votes | ||||||||
| 498,391,718 | 52,154,617 | 1,434,563 | 61,342,985 | ||||||||
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
| Exhibit Number | Description | |||||||
| Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Corteva, Inc., effective May 1, 2024 | ||||||||
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL) | |||||||
SIGNATURE
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.
| CORTEVA, INC. | |||||
| (Registrant) | |||||
| By: | /s/ Brian Titus | ||||
| Name: | Brian Titus | ||||
| Title: | Vice President and Controller | ||||
May 2, 2024
Exhibit 3.1
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
CORTEVA, INC.
(a Delaware corporation)
May 1, 2024
Corteva, Inc. (hereinafter called the “Company”), a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, does hereby certify as follows:
FIRST: The original Certificate of Incorporation of the Company was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on March 16, 2018 and amended first on May 31, 2019.
SECOND: This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been duly adopted by the Company in accordance with the provisions of Sections 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and has been approved by the requisite vote of the stockholders of the Company in accordance with the provisions of Section 228 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
THIRD: The text of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company is hereby amended and restated to read in its entirety as follows:
ARTICLE I
NAME
The name of the Company is Corteva, Inc.
ARTICLE II
REGISTERED OFFICE AND AGENT
The address of the registered office of the Company in the State of Delaware is Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle 19801. The name of its registered agent at that address is The Corporation Trust Company.
ARTICLE III
PURPOSE AND POWERS
The purpose of the Company is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which a corporation may now or hereafter be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. The Company shall have all powers that may now or hereafter be lawful for a corporation to exercise under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
Exhibit 3.1
ARTICLE IV
CAPITAL STOCK
A.Classes of Stock. The total number of shares of stock of all classes of capital stock that the Company is authorized to issue is 1,916,666,667 shares. The authorized capital stock is divided into: (i) 1,666,666,667 shares of common stock having a par value of $0.01 per share (hereinafter, the “Common Stock”) and (ii) 250,000,000 shares of preferred stock having a par value of $0.01 per share (hereinafter, the “Preferred Stock”).
B.Common Stock. All shares of Common Stock of the Company shall be of one and the same class, shall be identical in all respects and shall have equal rights, powers and privileges.
1.Except as otherwise provided for by resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors pursuant to this Article IV with respect to the issuance of any series of Preferred Stock or by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the holders of outstanding shares of Common Stock shall have the exclusive right to vote on all matters requiring stockholder action. On each matter on which holders of Common Stock are entitled to vote, each outstanding share of such Common Stock will be entitled to one vote.
2.Subject to the rights of holders of any series of outstanding Preferred Stock, holders of shares of Common Stock shall have equal rights of participation in the dividends and other distributions in cash, stock or property of the Company when, as and if declared thereon by the Board of Directors from time to time out of assets or funds of the Company legally available therefor and shall have equal rights to receive the assets and funds of the Company available for distribution to stockholders in the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary.
C.Preferred Stock
1.Shares of Preferred Stock of the Company may be issued from time to time in one or more series, the shares of each series to have such voting powers, full or limited, if any, and such designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, as are stated and expressed herein or in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of such series, adopted by the Board of Directors as hereinafter provided.
2.Authority is hereby expressly granted to the Board of Directors of the Company, subject to the provisions of this Article IV and to the limitations prescribed by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, to authorize by resolution or resolutions from time to time the issuance of one or more series of Preferred Stock out of the authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock and with respect to each such series to fix, by filing a certificate of designation pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware setting forth such resolution or resolutions
Exhibit 3.1
and providing for the issuance of such series, the voting powers, full or limited, if any, of the shares of such series and the designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof. The authority of the Board of Directors with respect to each series shall include, but not be limited to, the determination or fixing of the following:
i.the designation of such series;
ii.the number of shares of such series, which number the Board of Directors may thereafter (except where otherwise provided in the certificate of designation for such series) increase or decrease (but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding);
iii.the dividend rate, if any, payable to holders of shares of such series, any conditions and dates upon which such dividends shall be payable, the relation which such dividends shall bear to the dividends payable on any other class or classes of stock or any other series of any class of stock of the Company, and whether such dividends shall be cumulative or non-cumulative;
iv.whether the shares of such series shall be subject to redemption by the Company, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company or of the holder thereof, and, if made subject to such redemption, the times, prices, form of payment and other terms and conditions of such redemption;
v.the terms and amount of any sinking fund provided for the purchase or redemption of the shares of such series;
vi.whether or not the shares of such series shall be convertible into or exchangeable for shares of any other class or classes of any stock or any other series of any class of stock of the Company or any other security, and, if provision is made for conversion or exchange, the times, prices, rates, adjustments, and other terms and conditions of such conversion or exchanges;
vii.the extent, if any, to which the holders of shares of such series shall be entitled to vote generally, with respect to the election of directors, upon specified events or otherwise;
viii.the restrictions, if any, on the issue or reissue of any additional Preferred Stock; and
ix.the rights and preferences of the holders of the shares of such series upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or dissolution of, or upon the distribution of assets of, the Company.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the resolutions providing for issuance of any series of Preferred Stock may provide that such series shall be superior to, rank equally with or be junior to any other series of Preferred Stock to the extent permitted by law and the terms of any other series of Preferred Stock.
Exhibit 3.1
ARTICLE V
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
A.Power of the Board of Directors. The business and affairs of the Company shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors. In furtherance, and not in limitation, of the powers conferred by the laws of the State of Delaware, the Board of Directors shall be expressly authorized to:
1.determine the rights, powers, duties, rules and procedures that affect the power of the Board of Directors to manage and direct the business and affairs of the Company;
2.establish one or more committees of the Board of Directors, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire Board of Directors, to which may be delegated any or all of the powers and duties of the Board of Directors to the fullest extent permitted by law; and
3.exercise all such powers and do all such acts as may be exercised by the Company, subject to the provisions of the laws of the State of Delaware, this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, and the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (as the same may be amended and/or restated from time to time, the “Bylaws”).
B.Number of Directors. The number of directors constituting the entire Board of Directors shall be fixed from time to time exclusively by a vote of a majority of the entire Board of Directors in the manner provided in the Bylaws. As used in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the term “entire Board of Directors” means the total authorized number of directors that the Company would have if there were no vacancies.
C.Vacancies. Except as otherwise required by law and subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, any vacancies on the Board of Directors for any reason, including from the death, resignation, disqualification or removal of any director, and any newly created directorships resulting by reason of any increase in the number of directors shall be filled exclusively by the Board of Directors, acting by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, and shall not be filled by stockholders. Any directors elected to fill a vacancy shall hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders or until their successors are duly elected and qualified.
D.Removal of Directors. Except as otherwise required by law and subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of Preferred Stock, any director, or the entire Board of Directors, may be removed from office at any time, with or without cause only by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all of the shares of capital stock of the Company then entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting as a single class.
Exhibit 3.1
ARTICLE IV
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION
A.Limitation of Liability of Directors. A Director of the Company shall not be personally liable to the Company or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a Director to the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of Delaware as the same now exists or hereafter may be amended. No repeal or modification of this Article VI shall apply or have any adverse effect on any right or protection of, or any limitation of the liability of, any person entitled to any right or protection under this Article VI existing at the time of such repeal or modification with respect to acts or omissions occurring prior to such repeal or modification.
B.Indemnification. Directors, officers, employees and agents of the Company may be indemnified by the Company to the fullest extent as is permitted by the laws of the State of Delaware as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended and as the Bylaws may from time to time provide.
C.Limitation of Liability of Officers. To the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of Delaware, as the same exists or as may hereafter be amended, an officer of the Company shall not be personally liable to the Company or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as an officer except for liability (a) for any breach of the officer’s duty of loyalty to the Company or its stockholders; (b) for acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; (c) under Section 174 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware; or (d) for any transaction from which the director or officer derived any improper personal benefit. If the General Corporation Law of Delaware is hereafter amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors or officers, then the liability of a director or officer of the Company shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of Delaware, as so amended. For purposes of this Article VI, “officer” shall have the meaning provided in Section 102(b)(7) of the General Corporation Law of Delaware, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended.
ARTICLE VII
STOCKHOLDER ACTION
Any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Company must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Company and may not be effected by any written consent of the stockholders of the Company; provided, however, that any action required or permitted to be taken by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, voting separately as a series or separately as a class with one or more other such series, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, to the extent expressly so provided by the applicable certificate of designation for such series of Preferred Stock.
Exhibit 3.1
ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS
A.Amendment by the Board of Directors. In furtherance, and not in limitation, of the powers conferred upon it by law, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized and empowered to amend, alter, change, adopt or repeal the Bylaws of the Company; provided, however, that no Bylaws hereafter adopted shall invalidate any prior act of the directors that would have been valid if such Bylaws had not been adopted.
B.Amendment by Stockholders. In addition to any requirements of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (and notwithstanding the fact that a lesser percentage may be specified by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware), unless otherwise specified in the Bylaws, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all the shares of capital stock of the Company then entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required for the stockholders of the Company to amend, alter, change or repeal or to adopt any provision of the Bylaws of the Company.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENT OF CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
The Company hereby reserves the right at any time and from time to time to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, and any other provisions authorized by the General Corporation Law of Delaware may be added or inserted, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by the General Corporation Law of Delaware, and all rights, preferences and privileges of whatsoever nature conferred on stockholders, directors or any other persons whomsoever therein granted are subject to this reservation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has duly executed this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation as of this 1st day of May, 2024.
| By: | /s/ Dana M. Eddis | |||||||
| Name: | Dana M. Eddis | |||||||
| Title: | Assistant Secretary | |||||||