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) November 29, 2012
Whole Foods Market, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Texas |
000-19797 |
74-1989366 |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
550 Bowie Street Austin, Texas |
78703 |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (512) 477-4455
________________________________________________________________________________
(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 8.01. Other Events.
On November 29, 2012, the Company's Board of Directors declared a special dividend of $2.00 per share, payable December 21, 2012 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 10, 2012. This special dividend is in addition to the previously disclosed dividend of $0.20 per share, payable January 29, 2013 to shareholders of record at the close of business on January 18, 2013.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
99.1 Press release dated November 29, 2012.
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.
| Whole Foods Market, Inc.
(Registrant) |
||
| November 29, 2012
(Date) |
/s/ GLENDA FLANAGAN
Glenda Flanagan Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
EXHIBIT 99.1
AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 29, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Whole Foods Market, Inc. (Nasdaq:WFM) announced that its Board of Directors has declared a special cash dividend on Whole Foods Market common stock of $2.00 per share payable December 21, 2012, to shareholders of record on the close of business on December 10, 2012. The aggregate amount of payment to be made in connection with this special dividend will be approximately $370 million.
"Today's announcement of a $2.00 special dividend, payable prior to the end of the calendar year, provides us with another opportunity to return capital to our shareholders," said John Mackey, co-founder and co-chief executive officer of Whole Foods Market. "We believe we will continue to generate strong cash flows and are confident in our ability to maintain a healthy cash reserve, internally fund our accelerated growth plans, and continue our quarterly dividend and stock repurchase programs."
The special dividend is in addition to the Company's regular quarterly cash dividend of $.20 per share that was declared on November 7, 2012. This regular quarterly dividend will be paid January 29, 2013, to shareholders of record at the close of business on January 18, 2013.
About Whole Foods Market
Founded in 1980 in Austin, Texas, Whole Foods Market (www.wholefoodsmarket.com) is the leading retailer of natural and organic foods and America's first national "Certified Organic" grocer. In fiscal year 2012, the Company had sales of approximately $12 billion and currently has over 340 stores in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Whole Foods Market employs over 70,000 Team Members and has been ranked for 15 consecutive years as one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" in America by Fortune magazine.
The Whole Foods Market, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=6063
Forward-looking statements
The following constitutes a "Safe Harbor" statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause our actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These risks include general business conditions, changes in overall economic conditions that impact consumer spending, including fuel prices and housing market trends, the impact of competition and other risks detailed from time to time in the SEC reports of Whole Foods Market, including Whole Foods Market's report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2012. Whole Foods Market undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements.
CONTACT: Cindy McCann
VP of Investor Relations
512.542.0204