8-KOther Events

DEERE & CO 8-K Report (Sep 10, 2002)

Filed September 10, 2002For Securities:DE

Summary

Deere & Company (DE) filed an 8-K on September 10, 2002, primarily to disclose that its CEO, Robert W. Lane, and CFO, Nathan J. Jones, had officially signed and submitted sworn statements to the SEC. These statements certified the accuracy of Deere's financial filings made since December 21, 2001, including its 2001 Form 10-K, subsequent quarterly (10-Q) and current (8-K) reports, and proxy materials. The company completed these certifications ahead of the SEC's September 16, 2002 deadline, which was part of the broader regulatory response following accounting scandals, notably the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. These certifications represent a formal attestation by the company's top executives that, to their knowledge, no material misstatements or omissions were present in the covered financial reports. This action was intended to reassure investors and the public about the integrity of Deere's financial reporting and to bolster confidence in publicly traded corporations. The filing also includes certifications specifically related to the third quarter 10-Qs for both Deere & Company and John Deere Capital Corporation, addressing disclosure controls and internal controls, also in advance of regulatory deadlines.

Key Highlights

  • 1CEO and CFO have certified the accuracy of Deere & Company's SEC filings made since December 21, 2001.
  • 2Certifications cover the 2001 Form 10-K, subsequent 10-Qs, 8-Ks, and proxy statements.
  • 3Deere completed these certifications ahead of the September 16, 2002 SEC deadline.
  • 4The sworn statements attest that no material misstatements or omissions were present in the covered reports.
  • 5The company also certified aspects of its disclosure and internal controls for the third quarter 10-Qs.
  • 6This action is in response to SEC requirements and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
  • 7Deere aims to enhance public confidence in corporate financial reporting through these certifications.

Frequently Asked Questions

The main purpose of this 8-K filing is to report that Deere & Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have submitted sworn statements certifying the accuracy of the company's financial filings with the SEC since December 21, 2001. This was a regulatory requirement enacted in response to corporate accounting scandals and advanced by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

The certifications cover Deere & Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2001, all subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, all current reports on Form 8-K, and definitive proxy materials filed after the aforementioned 10-K. Additionally, specific certifications were made regarding the third quarter 10-Qs for both Deere & Company and John Deere Capital Corporation.

Deere & Company is filing these certifications to comply with new SEC regulations and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, which mandate that senior executives personally attest to the accuracy and completeness of their company's financial disclosures. The company is doing this ahead of the mandated deadline to demonstrate its commitment to financial integrity and to help restore investor confidence.

By certifying the financial statements, the CEO and CFO are formally stating, under oath and penalty of perjury, that to the best of their knowledge, the company's filed financial reports do not contain any untrue statements of material fact and do not omit any material facts necessary to make the statements not misleading. They are taking personal responsibility for the accuracy of these filings.