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): May 22, 2012
SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
1-08246 | 71-0205415 | |
(Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
2350 N. Sam Houston Pkwy. E., Suite 125, Houston, Texas |
77032 | |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
(281) 618-4700
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
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:
o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Section 5 - Corporate Governance and Management
Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
(e) Effective April 2, 2012, the Companys Board of Directors approved the promotion of Mark K. Boling from Executive Vice President to the position of President of the Companys V+ Development Solutions corporate division. In light of Mr. Bolings promotion and his new responsibilities in addition to his continuing responsibilities as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, the Board of Directors requested that the Compensation Committee re-evaluate Mr. Bolings 2012 total compensation package. Based upon certain peer data provided by the Compensation Committees outside compensation consultants, and upon the recommendation of the Companys President & Chief Executive Officer and the Committees assessment of Mr. Bolings overall responsibilities, on May 22, 2012, the Compensation Committee approved certain revisions to Mr. Bolings 2012 compensation. Effective June 1, 2012, Mr. Bolings 2012 base salary will increase from $420,000 to $450,000 and his target 2012 annual cash incentive award and maximum 2012 annual cash incentive award under the Company's Incentive Compensation Plan, as a percentage of 2012 base salary, will increase from 125% and 187.5%, respectively, to 130% and 195%, respectively. In all other respects, Mr. Bolings 2012 compensation remains the same as previously disclosed.
Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.
On May 22, 2012, the Board of Directors of the Company approved the amendment of Section 3.1 of the Companys Amended and Restated Bylaws (the Bylaws) to add a reference to the Companys stock ownership guidelines for directors. The Bylaws as amended and restated (the Amended and Restated Bylaws) are filed as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing description of the Amended and Restated Bylaws does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Amended and Restated Bylaws.
Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company was held on May 22, 2012. At the annual meeting, the stockholders elected each of the following individuals to serve on the Board of Directors for a term of one year, or until his successor is duly elected and qualified, with the votes, rounded to the nearest whole share, cast as follows:
LEWIS E. EPLEY JR. |
For: |
284,213,818 |
|
Against: |
2,653,877 |
|
Abstain: |
6,685,410 |
|
Nonvotes: |
21,611,067 |
|
Uncast: |
0 |
ROBERT L. HOWARD |
For: |
281,692,503 |
|
Against: |
5,165,657 |
|
Abstain: |
6,694,859 |
|
Nonvotes: |
21,611,067 |
|
Uncast: |
87 |
CATHERINE A. KEHR |
For: |
288,176,032 |
|
Against: |
1,184,651 |
|
Abstain: |
4,192,423 |
|
Nonvotes: |
21,611,067 |
|
Uncast: |
0 |
GREG D. KERLEY |
For: |
273,091,206 |
|
Against: |
16,265,959 |
|
Abstain: |
4,195,941 |
|
Nonvotes: |
21,611,067 |
|
Uncast: |
0 |
HAROLD M. KORELL |
For: |
283,009,427 |
|
Against: |
3,856,921 |
|
Abstain: |
6,686,671 |
|
Nonvotes: |
21,611,067 |
|
Uncast: |
87 |
VELLO A. KUUSKRAA |
For: |
283,249,974 |
|
Against: |
3,622,051 |
|
Abstain: |
6,681,081 |
|
Nonvotes: |
21,611,067 |
|
Uncast: |
0 |
KENNETH R. MOURTON |
For: |
281,896,897 |
|
Against: |
4,978,729 |
|
Abstain: |
6,677,481 |
|
Nonvotes: |
21,611,067 |
|
Uncast: |
0 |
STEVEN L. MUELLER |
For: |
286,407,170 |
|
Against: |
2,945,904 |
|
Abstain: |
4,199,945 |
|
Nonvotes: |
21,611,067 |
|
Uncast: |
87 |
CHARLES E. SCHARLAU |
For: |
283,305,825 |
|
Against: |
3,560,901 |
|
Abstain: |
6,686,379 |
|
Nonvotes: |
21,611,067 |
|
Uncast: |
0 |
ALAN H. STEVENS |
For: |
283,040,839 |
|
Against: |
3,830,707 |
|
Abstain: |
6,681,560 |
|
Nonvotes: |
21,611,067 |
|
Uncast: |
0 |
In addition, the following proposals were voted at the Annual Meeting:
The ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to serve as the Companys independent registered public accounting firm for 2012 was approved by the stockholders, with the votes, rounded to the nearest whole share, cast as follows:
For: |
309,759,787 |
Against: |
1,032,214 |
Abstain: |
4,372,172 |
Nonvotes: |
0 |
Uncast: |
0 |
With respect to the advisory vote regarding the compensation of our Named Executive Officers disclosed in the proxy statement in accordance with SEC rules, which vote is referred to as the say-on-pay vote and occurs each year in accordance with the frequency determined by the Board of Directors, the stockholders have approved the compensation of our Named Executive Officers, with the votes, rounded to the nearest whole share, cast as follows:
For: |
284,120,808 |
Against: |
4,941,491 |
Abstain: |
4,490,167 |
Nonvotes: |
21,611,706 |
Uncast: |
0 |
The stockholder proposal as set forth in the proxy statement requesting that the Company adopt an executive stock retention policy was not approved by the stockholders, with the votes, rounded to the nearest whole share, cast as follows:
For: |
58,565,427 |
Against: |
227,381,116 |
Abstain: |
7,605,924 |
Nonvotes: |
21,611,706 |
Uncast: |
0 |
Section 9 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
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Amended and Restated Bylaws of Southwestern Energy Company Effective as of May 22, 2012 |
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.
SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY COMPANY | ||||
Dated: May 29, 2012 |
By: |
/s/ GREG D. KERLEY | ||
Name: |
Greg D. Kerley | |||
Title: |
Executive Vice President and | |||
Chief Financial Officer |
EXHIBIT INDEX
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Description |
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Amended and Restated Bylaws of Southwestern Energy Company Effective as of May 22, 2012 | |
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