8-K

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: February 24, 2021

(Date of earliest event reported)

DEERE & COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	1-4121	36-2382580
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

One John Deere Place

Moline, Illinois 61265

(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

(309) 765-8000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

___________________________________________________

(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))

SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT:

Title of each class	Trading symbol	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common stock, $1 par value	DE	New York Stock Exchange
8½% Debentures Due 2022	DE22	New York Stock Exchange
6.55% Debentures Due 2028	DE28	New York Stock Exchange

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 ☐

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. ☐

Item 8.01Other Events.

On February 24, 2021, Deere & Company issued a press release regarding an increase to the dividend on common stock (Exhibit 99.1).

Safe Harbor Statement

Certain statements in this current report regarding future events and future financial performance are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those contemplated (expressed or implied) by such forward-looking statements, because of, among other things, the risks and uncertainties related to COVID and the risk factors identified under the heading “Risk Factors” and under the heading “Safe Harbor Statement” in the Company’s “Management’s Discussion and Analysis” section of the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Item 9.01Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)Exhibits

Number	Description of Exhibit
99.1	Press Release
104	Cover Page Interactive Data File (the cover page XBRL tags are imbedded in the Inline XBRL document)

2

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.

	DEERE & COMPANY
	By:	/s/ Todd E. Davies
		Todd E. Davies
		Secretary
Dated: February 24, 2021

3

EX-99.1

News Release

Contact:
Jen Hartmann
Director, Public Relations
HartmannJenniferA@JohnDeere.com

Deere & Company Raises Dividend

MOLINE, IL (February 24, 2021) – The Deere & Company (NYSE: DE) Board of Directors today increased the company’s quarterly dividend to $.90 per share on common stock. The dividend is payable May 10, 2021, to stockholders of record on March 31, 2021.

The new quarterly rate represents an additional 14 cents per share over the previous level – an increase of approximately 18 percent.

“The dividend increase is a reflection of Deere’s recent strong performance and it shows our confidence in the company’s future direction,” said John C. May, chairman and chief executive officer.

Safe Harbor Statement

Certain statements in this release regarding future events and future financial performance are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those contemplated (expressed or implied) by such forward-looking statements, because of, among other things, the risks and uncertainties related to COVID and the risk factors identified under the heading “Risk Factors” and under the heading “Safe Harbor Statement” in the Company’s “Management’s Discussion and Analysis” section of the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.

XML

Document and Entity Information	Feb. 24, 2021
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	8-K
Document Period End Date	Feb. 24, 2021
Entity File Number	1-4121
Entity Registrant Name	DEERE & CO
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	36-2382580
Entity Address, Address Line One	One John Deere Place
Entity Address, City or Town	Moline
Entity Address, State or Province	IL
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	61265
City Area Code	309
Local Phone Number	765-8000
Written Communications	false
Soliciting Material	false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer	false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Central Index Key	0000315189
Amendment Flag	false
Common Stock
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Common stock, $1 par value
Trading Symbol	DE
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
8-1/2% Debentures Due 2022
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	8½% Debentures Due 2022
Trading Symbol	DE22
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
6.55% Debentures Due 2028
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	6.55% Debentures Due 2028
Trading Symbol	DE28
Security Exchange Name	NYSE