DEERE & CO — Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement 2016

Jan 13, 2016

DEFA14A 1 deere_defa14a.htm DEFINITIVE ADDITIONAL PROXY SOLICITING MATERIALS

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )

| Filed by the Registrant
[X] | |
| --- | --- |
| Filed by a Party other than
the Registrant [ ] | |
| Check the appropriate
box: | |
| [ ] | Preliminary Proxy
Statement |
| [ ] | Confidential, for Use of the
Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
| [ ] | Definitive Proxy
Statement |
| [X] | Definitive Additional
Materials |
| [ ] | Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |

| DEERE AND COMPANY |
| --- |
| (Name of Registrant as
Specified In Its Charter) |
| (Name
of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the
Registrant) |

| Payment of Filing Fee (Check
the appropriate box): — [X] | No fee required. | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [
] | Fee computed on
table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. | |
| | 1) | Title of each class of
securities to which transaction applies: |
| | 2) | Aggregate number of securities to
which transaction applies: |
| | 3) | Per unit price or other underlying
value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set
forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it
was determined): |
| | 4) | Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: |
| | 5) | Total fee paid: |
| [
] | Fee paid previously
with preliminary materials. | |
| [
] | Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for
which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or
Schedule and the date of its filing. | |
| | 1) | Amount Previously
Paid: |
| | 2) | Form, Schedule or Registration
Statement No.: |
| | 3) | Filing Party: |
| | 4) | Date Filed: |

* Exercise Your Right to Vote *Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Stockholder Meeting to Be Held on February 24, 2016.

DEERE & COMPANY

DEERE & COMPANY STOCKHOLDER RELATIONS ONE JOHN DEERE PLACE MOLINE, IL 61265

| Meeting
Information | |
| --- | --- |
| Meeting
Type: Annual | |
| For holders as
of: December 31, 2015 | |
| Date: February 24, 2016 Time: 10:00 a.m. CST | |
| Location: | Deere & Company World Headquarters |
| | One John Deere Place |
| | Moline, IL 61265 |

You are receiving this communication because you hold shares in the company named above.

This is not a ballot. You cannot use this notice to vote these shares. This communication presents only an overview of the more complete proxy materials that are available to you on the Internet. You may view the proxy materials online at www.proxyvote.com or easily request a paper copy (see reverse side).

We encourage you to access and review all of the important information contained in the proxy materials before voting.

See the reverse side of this notice to obtain proxy materials and voting instructions.

— Before You Vote — How to Access the Proxy Materials

| Proxy Materials
Available to VIEW or
RECEIVE: | |
| --- | --- |
| Notice of the 2016 Annual Meeting, the Fiscal 2015 Proxy Statement,
Form of Proxy, and the Fiscal 2015 Annual Report | |
| How to View Online: | |
| Have the information that is printed in the box marked by the arrow
→ XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX (located on the following page) and visit: www.proxyvote.com. | |
| How to Request and Receive a
PAPER or E-MAIL Copy: | |
| If
you want to receive a paper or e-mail copy of these documents, you must
request one. There is NO charge for requesting a copy. Please choose one
of the following methods to make your request: | |
| 1) BY INTERNET : | www.proxyvote.com |
| 2) BY TELEPHONE : | 1-800-579-1639 |
| 3) BY E-MAIL* : | sendmaterial@proxyvote.com |
| * If requesting materials by e-mail, please send a blank
e-mail with the information that is printed in the box marked by the arrow
→ XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX (located on the following page) in the subject line. Requests,
instructions and other inquiries sent to this e-mail address will NOT be
forwarded to your investment advisor. Please make the request as
instructed above on or before February 10, 2016 to facilitate timely
delivery. | |

— How To Vote — Please Choose One of the Following Voting Methods

| Vote By Telephone: Follow the instructions on the proxy card to submit your
voting instructions telephonically. |
| --- |
| Vote By Internet: To vote now by
Internet, go to www.proxyvote.com. Have the information that is printed in
the box marked by the arrow → XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX (located on the following page) available and follow the
instructions. |
| Vote By Mail: You can vote by
mail by requesting a paper copy of the materials, which will include a
proxy card. |
| Vote In Person: Submit your voting instructions at the
meeting by filling out a ballot which, upon request, will be provided to
you during the meeting. |

Voting Items

| The Board of Directors
recommends a vote FOR all Nominees. | |
| --- | --- |
| 1a. | Election of Director: Samuel R. Allen |
| 1b. | Election of Director: Crandall C. Bowles |
| 1c. | Election of Director: Vance D. Coffman |
| 1d. | Election of Director: Dipak C. Jain |
| 1e. | Election of Director: Michael O. Johanns |
| 1f. | Election of Director: Clayton M. Jones |
| 1g. | Election of Director: Brian M. Krzanich |
| 1h. | Election of Director: Gregory R. Page |
| 1i. | Election of Director: Sherry M. Smith |
| 1j. | Election of Director: Dmitri L. Stockton |
| 1k. | Election of Director: Sheila G.
Talton |

| The Board of Directors
recommends a vote FOR the following Proposals: | |
| --- | --- |
| 2. | Advisory vote on executive
compensation |
| 3. | Ratification of the appointment of
Deloitte & Touche LLP as Deere's independent registered public
accounting firm for fiscal 2016 |
| The Board of Directors
recommends a vote AGAINST the following Proposals: | |
| 4a. | Stockholder Proposal #1 - Proxy
Access |
| 4b. | Stockholder Proposal #2 - Greenhouse
Gas Emissions |
| 4c. | Stockholder Proposal #3 - Political
Spending Congruency Analysis |