TYSON FOODS, INC. 10-K

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS Refer to the description of the Broiler Antitrust Civil Litigation, the Wage Rate Litigation and the Broiler Chicken Grower Litigation under the heading “Commitments and Contingencies” in Part II, Item 8, Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 21: Commitments and Contingencies, which discussion is incorporated herein by reference. On June 6, 2019, our poultry rendering facility in Hanceville, Alabama, acquired from American Proteins, Inc. in 2018, experienced a release of partially treated wastewater that reached a nearby river and resulted in a fish kill. We took remediation efforts following the release to mitigate the impact. The State of Alabama filed suit against Tyson Farms, Inc. on April 29, 2020 for the June 6, 2019 release, as well as a prior release. Related civil suits have also been filed, which include individual and collective claims for compensatory and punitive damages against us and other defendants for alleged contamination of the local water supply, personal injury, property damage, diminution in property values, loss of recreational waterway use, lost non-profit revenue and business damages. Certain plaintiffs also allege that the facility’s historical and ongoing operations constitute a nuisance under Alabama law and are also seeking injunctive relief. On August 13, 2021, the court approved a settlement of all claims with the State of Alabama related to this action on terms not material to the Company. While we do not admit any liability as part of the settlement, we believe that the settlement was in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders to avoid the uncertainty, risk, expense and distraction of protracted litigation. On December 19, 2019, a putative class of direct purchasers filed a class action against us, other turkey suppliers, and Agri Stats, Inc. in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The plaintiffs allege, among other things, that the defendants entered into an agreement to exchange competitively sensitive information regarding turkey supply, production and pricing plans, all with the intent to artificially inflate the price of turkey, in violation of the Sherman Act. Plaintiffs are seeking treble damages, pre- and post-judgment interest, costs and attorneys’ fees on behalf of the putative class. On April 13, 2020, a similar complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on behalf of a putative class of indirect purchasers of turkey alleging claims based on the Sherman Act and various state law causes of action. The plaintiffs are seeking treble damages, pre- and post-judgment interest, costs, and attorneys' fees on behalf of the putative class. Since the original filing, certain putative class members have opted out of the matter and are proceeding with individual direct actions making similar claims, and others may do so in the future. In April 2021, we reached agreement to settle all claims with the putative direct purchaser class for $4.625 million and with the putative commercial and institutional indirect purchaser class for $1.75 million. On May 25, 2021, the Court granted preliminary approval of the settlement with the putative direct purchaser class, and the final fairness hearing is scheduled for January 6, 2022. On July 26, 2021, the court granted preliminary approval of the settlement with the putative commercial and institutional indirect purchaser class, and the final approval hearing is expected to be held in early 2022. While we do not admit any liability as part of the settlements, we believe that the settlements were in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders to avoid the uncertainty, risk, expense and distraction of protracted litigation. On June 19, 2005, the Attorney General and the Secretary of the Environment of the State of Oklahoma filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma against Tyson Foods, Inc., three subsidiaries and six other poultry integrators. The complaint, which was subsequently amended, asserts a number of state and federal causes of action including, but not limited to, counts under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and state-law public nuisance theories. Oklahoma alleges that the defendants and certain contract growers who were not joined in the lawsuit polluted the surface waters, groundwater and associated drinking water supplies of the Illinois River Watershed through the land application of poultry litter. Oklahoma’s claims were narrowed through various rulings issued before and during trial and its claims for natural resource damages were dismissed by the district court in a ruling issued on July 22, 2009, which was subsequently affirmed on appeal by the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. A non-jury trial of the remaining claims including Oklahoma’s request for injunctive relief began on September 24, 2009. Closing arguments were held on February 11, 2010. The district court has not yet rendered its decision from the trial. Other Matters As of October 2, 2021, we had approximately 137,000 team members and, at any time, have various employment practices matters outstanding. In the aggregate, these matters are important to the Company, and we devote considerable resources to managing employment issues. Additionally, we are subject to other lawsuits, investigations and claims (some of which involve substantial amounts) arising out of the conduct of our business. While the ultimate results of these matters cannot be determined, they are not expected to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated results of operations or financial position. ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES Not applicable. 20 INFORMATION ABOUT OUR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS Each of our executive officers serve one-year terms from the date of their election, or until their successors are appointed and qualified. Chairman of the Board of Directors John Tyson is the father of Chief Sustainability Officer John R. Tyson and nephew of Director Barbara A. Tyson. No other family relationships exist among these officers. The name, title, age (as of October 2, 2021) and calendar year of initial election to executive office of our executive officers are listed below: Name Title Age Year Elected Executive Officer John H. Tyson Chairman of the Board of Directors 68 2011 David Bray Group President Poultry 52 2021 Stewart Glendinning Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer 56 2017 Donnie King President and Chief Executive Officer 59 2019 Chris Langholz Group President International 58 2020 Shane Miller Group President Fresh Meats 52 2021 Jason Nichol Chief Customer Officer 49 2021 Noelle O'Mara Group President Prepared Foods 42 2019 Johanna Söderström Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer 50 2020 Scott Spradley Executive Vice President and Chief Technology and Automation Officer 56 2017 Phillip Thomas Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer 46 2020 Amy Tu Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary, Global Governance and Corporate Affairs 54 2017 John R. Tyson Executive Vice President, Strategy and Chief Sustainability Officer 31 2019 John H. Tyson has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors since 1998 and was previously Chief Executive Officer of the Company from 2000 until 2006. Mr. Tyson was initially employed by the Company in 1973. David Bray was appointed Group President Poultry in June 2021 after serving as Senior Vice President, Retail Poultry and Case Ready Meats since August 2020 and as Senior Vice President, Grocery from April 2017 to July 2020. Mr. Bray previously served as Vice President, Grocery Sales from September 2014 to April 2017 and as Vice President, Consumer Product Customer Development from March 2011 to September 2014. Mr. Bray was employed at Kraft Foods Group prior to joining the Company. Stewart Glendinning was appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in February 2018 after serving as Executive Vice President since his initial employment by the Company in December 2017. Mr. Glendinning was employed at Molson Coors Brewing Company prior to joining the Company. Donnie King was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer in June 2021 after serving as Chief Operating Officer since February 2021 and Group President Poultry since September 2020. Mr. King served as Group President, International and Chief Administration Officer from February 2019 to September 2020 in addition to the role of Group President, International from January 2019 to February 2020. Mr. King previously served as President, North American Operations from 2015 to 2016 and President, North American Operations and Foodservice in 2014. Mr. King was initially employed by Valmac Industries in 1982. Valmac Industries was acquired by the Company in 1984. Mr. King was self-employed from 2016 to February 2019 before returning to the Company. Chris Langholz was appointed Group President, International in October 2021 after serving as President, International since February 2020. Mr. Langholz was President of Cargill Asia Pacific and President of International Protein prior to joining the Company. Shane Miller was appointed Group President, Fresh Meats in February 2021 after serving as Chief Operating Officer, Fresh Meats since October 2020. Mr. Miller previously served as Senior Vice President and General Manager, Beef Enterprise from January 2019 to October 2020, Senior Vice President, General Manager, Value Added & Case Ready from February 2018 to January 2019, Senior Vice President, Pork from July 2015 to February 2018 and Senior Vice President, Pork Margin Management from May 2013 to July 2015. Mr. Miller has held numerous other management and leadership roles since joining the Company in 2002. Jason Nichol was appointed Chief Customer Officer in February 2021 after serving as Senior Vice President, Walmart since March 2016 and as Vice President, Walmart from his initial employment by the Company in April 2015 to February 2016. Mr. Nichol was employed by Nabisco, Cott Beverages and Scotts Miracle-Gro prior to joining the Company. Noelle O'Mara was appointed Group President, Prepared Foods in August 2019 after serving as Chief Marketing Officer since April 2019, having previously served as General Manager and Senior Vice President, Tyson Brands Deli and Innovation since 2018, Senior Vice President and General Manager Jimmy Dean Brands since 2017 and Vice President, Emerging Brands Innovation since joining the company in 2016. Ms. O'Mara was employed at Kraft Foods Group prior to joining the Company. Johanna Söderström was appointed Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer in October 2021 after serving as Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer since July 2020. Ms. Söderström was employed by Dow Chemical Company prior to joining the Company. 21 Scott Spradley was appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Technology and Automation Officer in October 2021 after serving as Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer since 2017. Mr. Spradley was employed by Hewlett Packard Enterprise prior to joining the Company. Phillip Thomas was appointed Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer in July 2020 after serving as Vice President and Assistant Controller since March 2014, prior to which he served as Senior Director Financial Reporting since his initial employment with the Company in July 2008. Amy Tu was appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer and Secretary, Global Governance and Corporate Affairs in October 2021 after serving as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary since November 2020 and Executive Vice President and General Counsel since December 2017. Ms. Tu was employed by The Boeing Company prior to joining the Company. John R. Tyson was appointed Executive Vice President, Strategy and Chief Sustainability Officer in October 2021 after serving as Chief Sustainability Officer since September 2019, and Director, Office of the Chief Executive Officer since May 2019. Mr. Tyson has been an observer at the Company’s board of directors’ meetings since 2014. He was employed by J.P. Morgan as a private equity and venture capital investor prior to joining the Company. PART II