What were the key voting outcomes at the Deere & Company annual meeting?

The key outcomes included the election of all director nominees, the approval of the "say on pay" advisory resolution for executive compensation, the approval of the Nonemployee Director Stock Ownership Plan, and the ratification of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent auditor for fiscal year 2012.

What does the "say on pay" vote mean for investors?

The "say on pay" vote is an advisory (non-binding) resolution where shareholders express their opinion on the company's executive compensation policies. The strong approval in this filing indicates that shareholders were generally satisfied with the compensation packages awarded to the Named Executive Officers during the reported period.

What is the purpose of the Nonemployee Director Stock Ownership Plan?

The Nonemployee Director Stock Ownership Plan is designed to provide annual awards of company stock or units to nonemployee directors. These awards are subject to restrictions until the director's retirement, death, or disability. The plan aims to align director interests with those of shareholders.

Has Deere & Company committed to annual "say on pay" votes?

Yes, following the shareholder vote in 2011 to hold advisory votes annually, the Board of Directors has committed to including an advisory vote on executive compensation in its proxy materials each year until at least 2017.

DE 8-K: Shareholder Matters

Summary

This 8-K filing by Deere & Company, dated March 2, 2012, reports on the outcomes of the company's annual meeting of stockholders held on February 29, 2012. The primary focus for investors is the approval of key corporate governance and executive compensation matters. All director nominees were elected with strong support, indicating shareholder confidence in the current board leadership. Furthermore, the "say on pay" proposal, an advisory vote on executive compensation, received a favorable majority vote, reflecting shareholder approval of the compensation awarded to the company's Named Executive Officers.

Key Highlights

1All nine director nominees were overwhelmingly elected to serve until the 2013 annual meeting.
2Shareholders approved the "say on pay" proposal, an advisory vote on executive compensation, with a significant majority of votes in favor.
3The Deere & Company Nonemployee Director Stock Ownership Plan was approved by shareholders.
4Deloitte & Touche LLP was ratified as the independent registered public accounting firm for the 2012 fiscal year.
5The company confirmed its commitment to holding an annual advisory vote on executive compensation, following shareholder guidance from the previous year.

DEERE & CO 8-K Report, Shareholder Vote Results (Mar 2, 2012)

Summary

Key Highlights

Frequently Asked Questions