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): March 9, 2012

 

WHOLE FOODS MARKET, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Texas

(State of
incorporation)

 

0-19797

(Commission File
Number)

 

74-1989366

(IRS employment
identification no.)

 

550 Bowie Street

Austin, Texas  78703

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code

512-477-4455

 

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 (see General Instruction A.2.):

 

o            Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

o            Soliciting materials 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))

 

 

 



 

Item 5.07       Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

 

The Company convened its annual meeting of shareholders on March 9, 2012 pursuant to notice duly given.  The matters voted upon at the meeting and the results of such voting are set forth below:

 

1.                     To elect eleven directors to the Board of Directors of the Company to serve one-year terms expiring at the later of the Annual Meeting of Shareholders in 2013 or upon a successor being elected and qualified. All director nominees were duly elected.

 

 

 

FOR

 

WITHHELD

 

BROKER
NON-VOTES

 

APPLICABLE
PERCENTAGES

 

Dr. John Elstrott

 

129,201,238

 

3,838,661

 

20,636,805

 

97% FOR

 

Gabrielle Greene

 

129,068,122

 

3,971,777

 

20,636,805

 

97% FOR

 

Shahid (Hass) Hassan

 

131,045,391

 

1,994,508

 

20,636,805

 

99% FOR

 

Stephanie Kugelman

 

121,657,494

 

11,382,405

 

20,636,805

 

91% FOR

 

John Mackey

 

124,018,708

 

9,021,191

 

20,636,805

 

93% FOR

 

Walter Robb

 

124,024,449

 

9,015,450

 

20,636,805

 

93% FOR

 

Jonathan Seiffer

 

113,605,417

 

19,434,482

 

20,636,805

 

85% FOR

 

Morris (Mo) Siegel

 

129,048,282

 

3,991,617

 

20,636,805

 

97% FOR

 

Jonathan Sokoloff

 

123,511,920

 

9,527,979

 

20,636,805

 

93% FOR

 

Dr. Ralph Sorenson

 

116,713,395

 

16,326,504

 

20,636,805

 

88% FOR

 

W. (Kip) Tindell, III

 

121,632,128

 

11,407,771

 

20,636,805

 

91% FOR

 

 

2.                     To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young, LLP as independent auditor for the Company for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2012. This proposal was approved.

 

FOR

 

AGAINST

 

ABSTAIN

 

APPLICABLE
PERCENTAGE

 

151,317,166

 

2,228,652

 

130,886

 

99% FOR

 

 

3.                     To ratify compensation packages granted to named executive officers. This proposal was approved.

 

FOR

 

AGAINST

 

ABSTAIN

 

BROKER
NON-VOTES

 

APPLICABLE
PERCENTAGE

 

123,142,721

 

9,307,287

 

589,891

 

20,636,805

 

93% FOR

 

 

4.                     To approve an amendment to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of the Company’s common stock from 300 million to 600 million. This proposal was approved.

 

FOR

 

AGAINST

 

ABSTAIN

 

APPLICABLE
PERCENTAGE

 

131,957,187

 

21,502,093

 

217,424

 

73% FOR

 

 

5.                     To adopt the shareholder proposal amending the bylaws to permit removal of a director either with or without cause. This proposal was approved.

 

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FOR

 

AGAINST

 

ABSTAIN

 

BROKER
NON-VOTES

 

APPLICABLE
PERCENTAGE

 

77,166,963

 

46,061,704

 

9,811,232

 

20,636,805

 

63% FOR

 

 

6.                     To adopt the shareholder proposal requiring the Chairman of the Board of Directors to be an independent director, whenever possible. This proposal was not approved.

 

FOR

 

AGAINST

 

ABSTAIN

 

BROKER
NON-VOTES

 

APPLICABLE
PERCENTAGE

 

49,754,049

 

83,028,466

 

257,384

 

20,636,805

 

63% AGAINST

 

 

Item 8.01       Other Events

 

On March 9, 2012 the Company’s Board of Directors declared a dividend of $0.14 per share, payable April 17, 2012 to shareholders of record at the close of business on April 5, 2012.

 

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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.

 

 

 

WHOLE FOODS MARKET, INC.

 

 

 

 

Date:

March 12, 2012

 

By:

/s/ Glenda Flanagan

 

 

Glenda Flanagan,

 

 

Executive Vice President

 

 

and Chief Financial Officer

 

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