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

 

April 26, 2019

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

 

ABBOTT LABORATORIES

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

 

 

 

100 Abbott Park Road

Abbott Park, Illinois 60064-6400

(Address of principal executive offices)(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (224) 667-6100

 

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))

 

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   o

 

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.   o

 

 

 

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

 

Abbott held its Annual Meeting of Shareholders on April 26, 2019.  The following is a summary of the matters voted on at that meeting.

 

(1)         The shareholders elected Abbott’s entire Board of Directors.  The persons elected to Abbott’s Board of Directors and the number of shares cast for, the number of shares withheld, and the number of broker non-votes, with respect to each of these persons, were as follows:

 

Name		Votes For		Votes Withheld		Broker Non-Votes
Robert J. Alpern, M.D.		1,362,626,534		8,937,377		226,477,994
Roxanne S. Austin		1,311,276,289		60,287,623		226,477,994
Sally E. Blount, Ph.D.		1,364,910,278		6,653,633		226,477,994
Michelle A. Kumbier		1,365,370,316		6,193,595		226,477,994
Edward M. Liddy		1,345,995,386		25,568,525		226,477,994
Nancy McKinstry		1,341,747,422		29,816,489		226,477,994
Phebe N. Novakovic		1,354,663,609		16,900,302		226,477,994
William A. Osborn		1,331,280,573		40,283,338		226,477,994
Samuel C. Scott III		1,336,757,852		34,806,059		226,477,994
Daniel J. Starks		1,359,372,353		12,191,558		226,477,994
John G. Stratton		1,365,072,138		6,491,773		226,477,994
Glenn F. Tilton		1,312,742,571		58,821,340		226,477,994
Miles D. White		1,304,663,575		66,900,336		226,477,994

 

(2)         The shareholders ratified the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as Abbott’s auditors.  The number of shares cast in favor of the ratification of Ernst & Young LLP, the number against, the number abstaining, and the number of broker non-votes were as follows:

 

For		Against		Abstain		Broker Non-Votes
1,558,328,371		36,811,567		2,901,968		0

 

(3)         The shareholders voted to approve the compensation of Abbott’s named executive officers listed in the proxy statement for the 2019 annual meeting, with 93.90 percent of the votes cast voting “For” the proposal.  The shareholder vote is advisory and non-binding. The number of shares cast in favor of approval, the number against, the number abstaining, and the number of broker non-votes were as follows:

 

For		Against		Abstain		Broker Non-Votes
1,288,000,766		73,743,985		9,819,161		226,477,994

 

2

 

(4)         The shareholders rejected a shareholder proposal requesting that Abbott’s Board of Directors adopt a policy that the Board Chairman be an independent director, with 19.86 percent of the votes cast voting “For” the proposal.  The number of shares cast in favor of the shareholder proposal, the number against, the number abstaining, and the number of broker non-votes were as follows:

 

For		Against		Abstain		Broker Non-Votes
272,347,329		1,091,782,303		7,434,280		226,477,994

 

3

 

SIGNATURE

 

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.

 

	ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Date: April 30, 2019	By:	/s/ Brian B. Yoor
		Brian B. Yoor
		Executive Vice President, Finance
		and Chief Financial Officer

 

4