Form 8-K

 

 

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): September 2, 2016

 

 

SANDERSON FARMS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Mississippi   1-14977   64-0615843

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

  

(Commission

File Number)

  

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

127 Flynt Road  
Laurel, Mississippi   39443
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(601) 649-4030

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not applicable.

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box 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 communications 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 communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 

Section 8 – Other Events

Item 8.01 Other Events.

Sanderson Farms, Inc. and our subsidiaries Sanderson Farms, Inc. (Foods Division), Sanderson Farms, Inc. (Production Division) and Sanderson Farms, Inc. (Processing Division) were named as defendants, along with 13 other poultry producers and certain of their affiliated companies, in a putative class action lawsuit filed on September 2, 2016 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The complaint alleges that the defendants conspired to unlawfully fix, raise, maintain and stabilize the price of broiler chickens by coordinating and limiting their production capacity. The lawsuit also alleges that the defendants fraudulently concealed such anticompetitive conduct in furtherance of the conspiracy. The complaint seeks treble damages, injunctive relief, costs and attorneys’ fees. The lawsuit is in its earliest stage and we intend to defend it vigorously.

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.

SANDERSON FARMS, INC.

(Registrant)

 

Date: September 6, 2016     By:  

/s/ D. Michael Cockrell

      D. Michael Cockrell
      Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer