Valero Energy 8-K 2024-05-15

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): May 15, 2024

VALERO ENERGY CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (210) 345-2000

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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2). 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. ☐

As previously announced, effective May 15, 2024, director Donald L. Nickles retired from the Board in accordance with the terms of Valero Energy Corporation’s (“Valero”) director retirement policy.

The 2024 annual meeting of the stockholders of Valero was held May 15, 2024. Matters voted on at the annual meeting and the results thereof were as follows:

Required votes. For Proposal 1, as required by Valero’s bylaws, each director is to be elected by a majority of votes cast with respect to that director’s election. Proposals 2 and 3 required approval by the affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power of the shares present in person or by proxy at the annual meeting and entitled to vote.

Effect of abstentions. Shares voted to abstain are treated as “present” for purposes of determining a quorum. In the election of directors (Proposal 1), pursuant to Valero’s bylaws, shares voted to abstain are not deemed to be “votes cast,” and are accordingly disregarded. When, however, approval for a proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power of the shares present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote (Proposals 2 and 3), then shares voted to abstain have the effect of a negative vote.

Effect of broker non-votes. Brokers holding shares for the beneficial owners of such shares must vote according to specific instructions received from the beneficial owners. If instructions are not received, in some instances (e.g., for Proposal 3), a broker may nevertheless vote the shares in the broker’s discretion. Under New York Stock Exchange rules, brokers are precluded from exercising voting discretion on certain proposals without specific instructions from the beneficial owner (Proposals 1 and 2). This results in a “broker non-vote” on the proposal. A broker non-vote is treated as “present” for purposes of determining a quorum, has the effect of a negative vote when approval for a particular proposal requires the affirmative vote of the voting power of the issued and outstanding shares of Valero, and has no effect when approval for a proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power of the shares present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote or a plurality or majority of the votes cast.

Effective on May 15, 2024, Valero entered into a Stock Unit Award Agreement with each of its non-employee directors who was re-elected at the annual meeting of the stockholders. The grant of stock units, valued at $200,000, represents the equity portion of Valero’s non-employee director compensation program. Each stock unit represents the right to receive one share of Valero common stock, and is scheduled to become nonforfeitable on the date of Valero’s 2025 annual meeting of stockholders. The foregoing description of the stock units is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the agreement governing the awards, which is attached as Exhibit 10.01 to this Current Report and is incorporated herein by reference.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.