ITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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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. ☐
Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.
As described in Item 5.07, below, on September 18, 2024, at the 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Conagra Brands, Inc. (the “Company”), upon the recommendation of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”), the shareholders of the Company approved a proposal to amend and restate the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Amended and Restated Charter”) to provide for the exculpation of certain of the Company’s officers in specific
circumstances, as permitted by Delaware law, to remove obsolete provisions relating to the Company’s former staggered board and to address miscellaneous drafting inconsistencies.
The Amended and Restated Charter was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on September 18, 2024 and was effective as of such date. The foregoing description of the Amended and Restated Charter is qualified in its entirety by the complete text of the Amended and Restated Charter, which is filed as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and is incorporated by reference in its entirety into this Item 5.03.
Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
On September 18, 2024, the Company held its Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The final voting results for the matters brought before that meeting are set forth below:
1.Election of Directors
The Company’s shareholders voted to elect the following eleven (11) nominees to serve as directors of the Company until their term expires at the Company’s 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and until their respective successors are elected and qualified. The voting results were as follows:
For | Against | Abstain | Broker Non-Votes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Anil Arora | 356,931,009 | 16,542,190 | 574,527 | 49,066,884 | |||
Thomas “Tony” K. Brown | 364,181,712 | 9,293,632 | 572,382 | 49,066,884 | |||
Emanuel “Manny” Chirico | 369,400,918 | 3,959,179 | 687,629 | 49,066,884 | |||
Sean M. Connolly | 370,085,033 | 3,393,022 | 569,671 | 49,066,884 | |||
George Dowdie | 369,312,531 | 4,157,640 | 577,555 | 49,066,884 | |||
Francisco Fraga | 371,561,610 | 1,910,116 | 576,000 | 49,066,884 | |||
Fran Horowitz | 359,657,104 | 13,840,783 | 549,839 | 49,066,884 | |||
Richard H. Lenny | 341,582,881 | 31,895,109 | 569,736 | 49,066,884 | |||
Melissa Lora | 366,800,353 | 6,719,366 | 528,007 | 49,066,884 | |||
Ruth Ann Marshall | 340,388,261 | 33,096,112 | 563,353 | 49,066,884 | |||
Denise A. Paulonis | 369,375,487 | 4,131,480 | 540,759 | 49,066,884 |
2. Approval of an amendment to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation to provide for officer exculpation
The Company’s shareholders voted to approve the amendment to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation to provide for officer exculpation. The voting results were as follows:
For | Against | Abstain | Broker Non-Votes | |||
333,756,365 | 38,966,380 | 1,324,981 | 49,066,884 |
3.Advisory Vote to Approve Named Executive Officer Compensation
The Company’s shareholders did not approve, on a non-binding, advisory basis, the Company’s named executive officer compensation. The voting results were as follows:
For | Against | Abstain | Broker Non-Votes | |||
166,656,287 | 206,154,506 | 1,236,933 | 49,066,884 |
4.Ratification of the Appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s Independent Auditor for Fiscal 2025
The Company’s shareholders voted to ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent auditor for fiscal 2025. The voting results were as follows:
For | Against | Abstain | ||
415,670,261 | 6,799,550 | 664,799 |
Item 9.01Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
Exhibit
NumberDescription
3.1 Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Conagra Brands, Inc.
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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.
CONAGRA BRANDS, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Carey Bartell | |
Name: | Carey Bartell | |
Title: | Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary | |
Date: September 23, 2024
Exhibit 3.1
AMENDED and RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF
CONAGRA BRANDS, INC.
(Effective September 18, 2024)
The name of the Corporation shall be “Conagra Brands, Inc.”
The address of the registered office of the Corporation 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 the Corporation’s registered agent at such address is The Corporation Trust Company.
The general nature of the business and the objects and purposes proposed to be transacted, promoted and carried on by the Corporation are to do any and all of the things herein mentioned as fully and to the same extent as natural persons might or could do and in any part of the world, including:
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It is the intention that the objects and purposes specified in the foregoing clauses of this ARTICLE III shall not be in any wise limited or restricted by reference to or inference from the terms of any other clause of this or any other ARTICLES in this Certificate of Incorporation, but that the objects and purposes specified in each of the clauses of this ARTICLE III shall be regarded as independent objects and purposes. It is also the intention that said clauses be constructed both as purposes and powers; and generally, that the Corporation shall be authorized to exercise and enjoy all other powers, rights, and privileges granted to or conferred upon a corporation of this character by the laws of the State of Delaware, and the enumeration of certain powers as herein specified is not intended as exclusive of or as waiver of any of the powers, rights or privileges granted or conferred by the laws of said State, now or hereinafter in force.
The total number of shares which this Corporation shall have authority to issue is One Billion Two Hundred Eighteen Million Fifty Thousand (1,218,050,000) shares, divided into One Billion Two Hundred Million (1,200,000,000) shares of Common Stock of a par value of Five Dollars ($5.00) per share; One Hundred Fifty Thousand (150,000) shares of Class B Preferred Stock of a par value of Fifty Dollars ($50.00) per share; Two Hundred Fifty Thousand (250,000) shares of Class C Preferred Stock of a par value of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) per share; One Million One Hundred Thousand (1,100,000) shares of Class D Preferred Stock without par value; and Sixteen Million Five Hundred Fifty Thousand (16,550,000) shares of Class E Preferred Stock without par value.
The Class B Preferred Stock of this Corporation may be divided into and issued in series, and each series shall be so designated as to distinguish the shares thereof from the shares of all other series and classes. All shares of this Class shall be identical except as to the following relative rights and preferences as to which there may be variations between different series within Class B as determined by the Board of Directors: (a) the rate of dividend; (b) whether the shares may be redeemed and, if so, the redemption price and the terms and conditions of redemption; (c) the amount payable upon shares in event of voluntary or involuntary liquidation; (d) sinking fund provisions, if any, for the redemption or purchase of shares; and (e) the terms and conditions, if any, on which shares may be converted.
The Class C Preferred Stock of this Corporation may be divided into and issued in series, and each series shall be so designated as to distinguish the shares thereof from the shares of all other series and classes. The shares of this Class shall not have any priority over Class B Preferred Stock as to payment of dividends or as to distribution of assets upon liquidation, distribution or winding up of the Corporation. All shares of this Class shall be identical except as to the following relative rights and preferences as to which there may be variations between different series within Class C as determined by the Board of Directors: (a) whether such shares shall be granted voting rights and, if so, to what extent and upon what terms and conditions; (b) the rates and times at which, and the terms and conditions on which, dividends on such shares shall be paid and any dividend rights of cumulation; (c) whether such shares shall be granted conversion rights and, if so, upon what terms and conditions; whether the Corporation shall have the right to redeem such shares and, if so, upon what terms and conditions; (d) the liquidation rights (if any) of such shares, including whether such shares shall enjoy any liquidation
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preference over the common stock; and (e) such other designations, preferences, relative rights and limitations (if any) attaching to such shares.
The Class D Preferred Stock of this Corporation may be divided into and issued in series, and each series shall be so designated as to distinguish the shares thereof from the shares of all other series and classes. The shares of this Class shall not have any priority over Class B Preferred Stock or Class C Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends or as to the distribution of assets upon liquidation, distribution or winding up of the Corporation. All shares of this Class shall be identical except as to the following relative right and preferences as to which there may be variations between different series within Class D as determined by the Board of Directors: (a) whether such shares shall be granted voting rights and, if so, to what extent and upon what terms and conditions; (b) the rates and times at which, and the terms and conditions on which, dividends on such shares shall be paid and any dividend rights of cumulation; (c) whether such shares shall be granted conversion rights and, if so, upon what terms and conditions; (d) whether the Corporation shall have the right to redeem such shares and, if so, upon what terms and conditions; (e) the liquidation rights (if any) of such shares, including whether such shares shall enjoy any liquidation preference over the common stock; and (f) such other designations, preferences, relative rights and limitations (if any) attaching to such shares.
The Class E Preferred Stock of this Corporation may be divided into and issued in series, and each series shall be so designated as to distinguish the shares thereof from the shares of all other series and classes. The shares of this Class shall not have any priority over Class B Preferred Stock, Class C Preferred Stock or Class D Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends or as to the distribution of assets upon liquidation, distribution or winding up of the Corporation. All shares of this Class shall be identical except as to the following relative rights and preferences as to which there may be variations between different series within Class E as determined by the Board of Directors: (a) whether such shares shall be granted voting rights and, if so, to what extent and upon what terms and conditions; (b) the rates and times at which, and the terms and conditions on which, dividends on such shares shall be paid and any dividend rights of cumulation; (c) whether such shares shall be granted conversion rights and, if so, upon what terms and conditions; (d) whether the Corporation shall have the right to redeem such shares and, if so, upon what terms and conditions; (e) the liquidation rights (if any) of such shares, including whether such shares shall enjoy any liquidation preference over the common stock; and (f) such other designations, preferences, relative rights and limitations (if any) attaching to such shares.
No transfer of stock of this Corporation shall be operative until entered upon the books of the Corporation.
To the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) and any other applicable laws, no director or officer of the Corporation will be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer with respect to any acts or omissions in the performance of his or her duties as a director or officer of the Corporation. No amendment to or repeal of this
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ARTICLE V will apply to or have any effect on the liability or alleged liability of any director or officer of the Corporation for or with respect to any acts or omissions of such director or officer occurring prior to the effectiveness of such amendment or repeal. If the DGCL is amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors or officers, then the liability of directors or officers shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as so amended.
The Corporation shall, to the extent required, and may, to the extent permitted, by Section 102 and Section 145 of the DGCL as amended from time to time, indemnify and reimburse all persons whom it may indemnify and reimburse pursuant thereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the indemnification provided for in this ARTICLE V shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those entitled to receive indemnification or reimbursement hereunder may be entitled under any by-law of this Corporation, agreement, vote or consent of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
The Corporation shall have perpetual existence.
The following provisions are inserted for the management of the business and for the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation, and it is expressly provided that they are intended to be in furtherance and not in limitation or exclusion of the powers conferred by the statutes of the State of Delaware.
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The time for holding meetings of stockholders for the election of a Board of Directors and for holding any special meetings of the stockholders shall be as provided for by the Bylaws adopted by the Board of Directors.
The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by statute, and all rights conferred upon stockholders herein are granted subject to this reservation.
No contract or transaction between a corporation and one or more of its directors or officers, or between a corporation and any other corporation, partnership, association, or other organization in which one or more of its directors or officers are directors or officers, or have a financial interest, shall be void or voidable solely for this reason, or solely because the director or officer is present at or participates in the meeting of the board or committee thereof which authorizes the contract or transaction, or solely because his or their votes are counted for such purpose, if: (a) the material facts as to his relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the Board of Directors or the committee, and the board or committee in good faith authorizes the contract or transaction by the affirmative vote of a majority of the disinterested directors, even though the disinterested directors be less than a quorum; or (b) the contract or transaction is fair as to the Corporation as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified, by the Board of Directors, a committee thereof, or the Shareholders. Common or interested directors may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the Board of Directors or of a committee which authorizes the contract or transaction.
The private property of the stockholders shall not be subject to the payment of corporate debts to any extent whatsoever.
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The Board of Directors of the Corporation, when evaluating any offer of another party to (a) make a tender or exchange offer for any equity security of the Corporation, (b) merge or consolidate the Corporation with another corporation, or (c) purchase or otherwise acquire all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Corporation, shall, in connection with the exercise of its judgment in determining what is in the best interests of the Corporation and its stockholders, give due consideration to all relevant factors, including without limitation the social and economic effects on the employees, customers, suppliers and other constituents of the Corporation and its subsidiaries and on the communities in which the Corporation and its subsidiaries operate or are located.
All actions required or permitted to be taken by stockholders at an annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation may be taken without a meeting by the written consent of the holders of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote; provided that no such action may be taken except in accordance with the provisions of this ARTICLE XIII, the Bylaws and applicable law.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Conagra Brands, Inc. to be signed by an authorized officer as of this 18th day of September, 2024.
CONAGRA BRANDS, INC.
a Delaware corporation
By: | /s/ Carey L. Bartell | |
| Carey L. Bartell | |
| Executive Vice President, General | |
| Counsel and Corporate Secretary | |
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