8-K Annual Meeting Results 4.29.2013


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 29, 2013
(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) 358-8097
(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 29, 2013, Sterling Financial Corporation (“Sterling”) held its 2013 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the "Annual Meeting"). Sterling's shareholders approved each of the three proposals detailed in Sterling's Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 15, 2013.

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

FIRST:    Shareholders elected ten directors for terms ending in the year 2014, as set forth below:

Name
For
Percent of
Voted
Withheld
Percent of
Voted
Broker
Non-Votes
Percent of
Voted
Howard P. Behar
53,450,487
99.22%
417,507

0.78%
1,394,408
2.52%
Leslie S. Biller
46,058,866
85.50%
7,809,128

14.5%
1,394,408
2.52%
Ellen R. M. Boyer
52,957,238
98.31%
910,756

1.69%
1,394,408
2.52%
David A. Coulter
53,066,695
98.51%
801,299

1.49%
1,394,408
2.52%
Robert C. Donegan
53,457,661
99.24%
410,333

0.76%
1,394,408
2.52%
C. Webb Edwards
53,422,112
99.17%
445,882

0.83%
1,394,408
2.52%
William L. Eisenhart
53,450,177
99.22%
417,817

0.78%
1,394,408
2.52%
Robert H. Hartheimer
53,457,372
99.24%
410,622

0.76%
1,394,408
2.52%
Michael F. Reuling
52,948,859
98.29%
919,135

1.71%
1,394,408
2.52%
J. Gregory Seibly
53,457,077
99.24%
410,917

0.76%
1,394,408
2.52%

SECOND: 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
52,734,446

97.89%
84.75%
Against
1,050,229

1.94%
1.68%
Abstain
83,319

0.15%
0.13%
Broker Non-votes
1,394,408

2.52%
2.24%

THIRD: Shareholders approved a proposal to ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2013, as set forth below:

 
Shares Voted
Percent of Voted
Percent of Outstanding
For
55,236,025

99.95%
88.77%
Against
21,504

0.03%
0.03%
Abstain
4,873

0.00%
0.00%






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)


May 1 , 2013
By: /s/ Patrick J. Rusnak    
Date
Patrick J. Rusnak
Chief Financial Officer