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: April 25, 2012 (Date of earliest event reported)

 

 

Sterling Financial Corporation

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

 

 

Washington   001-34696   91-1572822

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation or organization)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

111 North Wall Street, Spokane, Washington 99201

(Address of Principal Executive Offices and Zip Code)

(509) 458-3711

(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:

 

¨ 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))

 

 

 


Item 5.07. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

On April 25, 2012, Sterling held its 2012 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”). Sterling’s shareholders approved each of the four proposals detailed in Sterling’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 15, 2012.

The proposals voted on by the shareholders at the Annual Meeting were as follows:

FIRST: Sterling’s shareholders elected eleven Directors of Sterling for terms ending in the year 2013, as set forth below:

 

     For      Percent of
Voted
    Withheld      Percent of
Voted
Withheld
    Broker
Non-Votes
     Percent of
Voted
 

Howard P. Behar

     42,032,285         99.24     321,595         0.76     863,797         0.02

Leslie S. Biller

     38,093,844         89.94     4,260,036         10.06     863,797         0.02

Ellen R. M. Boyer

     42,038,354         99.26     315,526         0.74     863,797         0.02

David A. Coulter

     41,863,506         98.84     490,374         1.16     863,797         0.02

Robert C. Donegan

     42,040,170         99.26     313,710         0.74     863,797         0.02

C. Webb Edwards

     42,039,619         99.26     314,261         0.74     863,797         0.02

William L. Eisenhart

     42,032,295         99.24     321,585         0.76     863,797         0.02

Robert H. Hartheimer

     42,039,420         99.26     314,460         0.74     863,797         0.02

Scott L. Jaeckel

     41,928,472         99.00     425,408         1.00     863,797         0.02

Michael F. Reuling

     42,032,117         99.24     321,763         0.76     863,797         0.02

J. Gregory Seibly

     42,006,198         99.18     347,682         0.82     863,797         0.02

SECOND: Sterling’s shareholders approved an advisory (non-binding) resolution approving Sterling’s executive compensation, as set forth below:

 

     Shares Voted      Percent of Voted     Percent of
Outstanding
 

For

     39,523,611         93.32     63.72

Against

     2,739,103         6.47     4.42

Abstain

     91,167         0.22     0.15

Broker Non-votes

     836,797         0.02     0.01


THIRD: Sterling’s shareholders approved an advisory (non-binding) resolution approving on the frequency of voting to approve Sterling’s executive compensation, as set forth below:

 

     Shares Voted      Percent of Voted     Percent of
Outstanding
 

One Year

     40,485,399         95.60     65.27

Two Years

     91,799         0.22     0.15

Three Years

     1,766,117         4.17     2.85

Abstain

     6,552         0.02     0.01

FOURTH: Sterling’s shareholders approved a proposal to ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of Sterling for the year ending December 31, 2012, as set forth below:

 

     Shares Voted      Percent of Voted     Percent of
Outstanding
 

For

     43,184,702         99.92     69.63

Against

     25,449         0.06     0.04

Abstain

     7,526         0.02     0.01


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.

 

    STERLING FINANCIAL CORPORATION
   

(Registrant)

April 30, 2012     By:   /s/ Patrick J. Rusnak

Date

      Patrick J. Rusnak
      Chief Financial Officer