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

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

(RULE 14A-101)

Schedule 14A INFORMATION

 

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

 

Filed by the Registrant  x

 

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant  o

 

Check the appropriate box:

ox

Preliminary Proxy Statement

o

Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

xo

Definitive Proxy Statement

o

Definitive Additional Materials

o

Soliciting Material Pursuant to 240.14a-12

 

S&W SEED 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.

o

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:

 

 

 

o

Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

o

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:

 

 

 


PRELIMINARY PROXY STATEMENT, SUBJECT TO COMPLETION

October 28, 2016

To our stockholders:

We are pleased to invite you to attend the 2016 annual meeting of stockholders of S&W Seed Company to be held on Friday, December 9, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Standard Time at The Westin San Francisco Airport, 1 Old Bayshore Highway, Millbrae, California.

Details regarding the business to be conducted are described in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and the Proxy Statement.

Your vote is very important. Whether or not you attend the annual meeting we hope you will vote as soon as possible. There are three ways that you can cast your ballot - by telephone, by Internet or by mailing the proxy card (if you request one). Please review the instructions included in the Proxy Statement.

Thank you for your ongoing support and continued interest in S&W Seed Company. We look forward to seeing you at the annual meeting.

Sincerely,

Mark J. Harvey
Chairman of the Board


7108 North Fresno106 K Street, Suite 380300
Fresno,Sacramento, CA 93720

95814

NOTICE OF ANNUALSPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON                                 DECEMBER 9, 2016,2018

                , 2018

To the Stockholdersstockholders of S&W Seed Company:

The 2016 annual meetingYou are cordially invited to attend the Special Meeting of stockholdersStockholders (the "Annual"Special Meeting") of S&W Seed Company, a Nevada corporation (the "Company"). The Special Meeting will be held on                                 Friday, December 9, 2016, 2018, at 10:00 a.m.am local time, at The Westinthe offices of Cooley LLP, located at 4401 Eastgate Mall, San Francisco Airport, 1 Old Bayshore Highway, Millbrae, California,Diego, CA 92121 for the following purposes:

1.

to elect the following eight nominees to the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board"): Glen D. Bornt, David A. Fischhoff, Mark S. Grewal, Mark J. Harvey, Alexander B. Matina, Charles (Chip) B. Seidler, Grover T. Wickersham and Mark W. Wong, each to serve until 2017 annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualified;

2.

to ratify the selection of Crowe Horwath LLPpurposes, as independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for its fiscal year ending June 30, 2017;

3.

to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Company's named executive officers, as disclosed in the Proxy Statement; and

4.

to conduct such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof.

These items of business are more fully described in the Proxy Statement accompanying this Notice.proxy statement (the "Proxy Statement"):

(1) To approve the issuance of Common Stock upon the conversion of a newly designated Series A Convertible Preferred Stock in connection with a financing transaction; and

Any action on(2) To transact other business that may properly come before the itemsSpecial Meeting and any postponement(s) or adjournment(s) thereof.

Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as amended, the Board of Directors of the Company has fixed the close of business described above may be consideredon                                 , 2018 as the record date (the "Record Date") for determining the stockholders entitled to notice and to vote at the timeSpecial Meeting and onany adjournment thereof.

In accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the date specified above or at any other timeU.S. Securities and dateExchange Commission (the "SEC"), we have elected to which the Annual Meeting may be property adjourned or postponed.

The record date for the Annual Meeting is October 19, 2016. Onlyprovide our beneficial owners and stockholders of record access to our proxy materials over the Internet. Beneficial owners are stockholders whose shares are held in the name of a broker, bank or other agent (i.e., in "street name"). Accordingly, a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the "Notice") will be mailed on or about                                 , 2018 to our beneficial owners and stockholders of record who owned our Common Stock at the close of business on                                 that date may vote at, 2018. Beneficial owners and stockholders of record will have the meetingability to access the proxy materials on a website referred to in the Notice or any adjournment thereof.


Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to Be Held on December 9, 2016 at The Westin San Francisco Airport, 1 Old Bayshore Highway, Millbrae, California.

The Proxy Statement and Annual Report to Stockholders (including the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016) are available free of charge at: wwwproxyvote.com.

By Orderrequest a printed set of the Boardproxy materials be sent to them by following the instructions in the Notice. Beneficial owners and stockholders of Directorsrecord who have previously requested to receive paper copies of our proxy materials will receive paper copies of the proxy materials instead of a Notice.

President and Chief Executive Officer

Fresno, California
October 28, 2016

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

___________________

Chairman of the Board

You are cordially invited to attend the meeting in person. Whether or not you expect to attend the meeting, please complete, date, sign and return the proxy mailed to you, or vote over the telephone or the internet as describedinstructed in these materials, as promptly as possible in order to ensure your representation at the meeting. A return envelope (which is postage prepaid if mailed in the United States) has been provided for your convenience. Even if you have voted by proxy, you may still vote in person if you attend the meeting. Please note, however, that if your shares are held of record by a broker, bank or other nominee and you wish to vote at the meeting, you must obtain a proxy issued in your name from that record holder.

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S&W SEED COMPANYSeed Company
106 K Street, Suite 300
Sacramento, CA 95814

PROXY STATEMENT
FOR
THE 2016 ANNUALSPECIAL MEETING
OF STOCKHOLDERS OF S&W SEED COMPANY

                , 2018

The enclosed proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors (the "Board"("Board of Directors") of S&W Seed Company a Nevada corporation (the "Company,""Company" or "S&W," "we" or "our"&W"), for use in voting atconnection with the 2016 AnnualSpecial Meeting of Stockholders (the "Annual"Special Meeting") to be held at The Westin San Francisco Airport, on December 9, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. and at any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof, forof the purposes set forth in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Questions and Answers about the Annual Meeting1
Directors, Corporate Governance and Executive Officers10
Executive Officers25
Executive Compensation30
Proposals37
Proposal No. 1 - Election of Directors37
Proposal No. 2 - Ratification of the selection of Crowe Horwath LLP as the Company's Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm38
Proposal No. 3 - Approval, on an advisory basis, of Executive Compensation40
Audit Committee Report42
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management43
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance45
Transactions with Related Persons46
Other Business47
Householding47

i


QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING

Why am I receiving these materials?

We have prepared these materials for our 2016 annual meeting of stockholders (the "Annual Meeting")Company, to be held on                 Friday, December 9, 2016, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Standard Time. S&W is soliciting proxiesam local time, at4401 Eastgate Mall, San Diego, CA 92121.

At the Special Meeting, you will be asked to consider and vote upon the following matters:

(1)

To approve the issuance of Common Stock upon the conversion of a newly designated Series A Convertible Preferred Stock in connection with a financing transaction; and

(2)

To transact other business that may properly come before the Special Meeting and any postponement(s) or adjournment(s) thereof.

The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on                                 , 2018 as the record date (the "Record Date") for usedetermining the stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting, including any postponements or adjournments.

The Annual Meeting will be held at The Westin San Francisco Airport, located at 1 Old Bayshore Highway, Millbrae, California. You are invited to attend the AnnualSpecial Meeting and requested to vote on the proposals described in this Proxy Statement (the "Proxy Statement").any adjournment thereof.

These materials were first sent or made available to stockholders on October 28, 2016.

What is included in these proxy materials?

If you requested printed versions by mail, these proxy materials also include the proxy card or voting instruction form for the Annual Meeting.

Why did I receive a notice in the mail regarding the Internet availability of proxy materials instead of a full set of proxy materials?

Beginning with this Annual Meeting, inIn accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), S&W haswe have elected to use the Internet as the primary meansprovide our beneficial owners and stockholders of furnishingrecord access to our proxy materials to stockholders.over the Internet. Beneficial owners are stockholders whose shares are held in the name of a broker, bank or other agent (i.e., in "street name"). Accordingly, we have sent a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the "Notice") will be mailed on or about                                 , 2018 to our beneficial owners and stockholders pursuant to which the Board is soliciting your proxy to voteof record who owned our Common Stock at the Annual Meeting, including any adjournmentsclose of business on                                                , 2018. Beneficial owners and stockholders of record will have the ability to access the proxy materials on a website referred to in the Notice or postponements thereof.request a printed set of the proxy materials be sent to them by following the instructions in the Notice. Beneficial owners and stockholders of record who have previously requested to receive paper copies of our proxy materials will receive paper copies of the proxy materials instead of a Notice.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING TO BE HELD ON                                 , 2018: THE NOTICE, PROXY STATEMENT, PROXY CARD AND THE ANNUAL REPORT ARE AVAILABLE ATWWW.SWSEEDCO.COM, INVESTOR RELATIONS SECTION. 


QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THIS PROXY MATERIAL AND VOTING

Why did I receive in the mail a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials instead of a full set of Proxy Materials?

We are pleased to take advantage of the SEC rule that allows companies to furnish their proxy materials over the Internet. Accordingly, we have sent to our beneficial owners and stockholders of record a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials. Instructions on how to access the proxy materials over the Internet or to request a printedpaper copy of the materials canmay be found in the Notice.

Stockholders Our stockholders may follow the instructions in the Noticerequest to elect to receive future proxy materials in printprinted form by mail or electronically on an ongoing basis. A stockholder's election to receive proxy materials by mail or electronically by email. We encourage stockholders to take advantage ofemail will remain in effect until the availability of the proxy materials on the Internet to help reduce the environmental impact of our annual meetings, and reduce the cost to S&W associated with the printing and mailing of materials.

S&W's proxy materials are also available atwww.swseedco.com/investors/annual-meeting-and-proxy/. This website address is included for reference only. The information contained on S&W's website is not incorporated by reference into this Proxy Statement.stockholder terminates its election.

We intend to mail the Notice on or about                 October 28, 2016, 2018 to all stockholders of record entitled to vote at the AnnualSpecial Meeting.

WillHow do I receive any other proxy materialsattend the Special Meeting?

The meeting will be held on                                 , 2018 at 10:00 am local time at the offices of Cooley LLP, located at 4401 Eastgate Mall, San Diego, CA 92121. Directions to the Special Meeting may be found at www.swseedco.com.Information on how to vote in person at the Special Meeting is discussed below. 

Who can vote at the Special Meeting?

Only stockholders of record at the close of business on                                                , 2018 will be entitled to vote at the Special Meeting. On this record date, there were                                 shares of Common Stock outstanding and entitled to vote.

Stockholders of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name

If on                                 , 2018 your shares were registered directly in your name with the Company's transfer agent, Transfer Online, Inc., then you are a stockholder of record. As a stockholder of record, you may vote in person at the meeting or vote by mail?

We may sendproxy. Whether or not you aplan to attend the meeting, we urge you to fill out and return the enclosed proxy card along withto ensure your vote is counted.

Beneficial Owner: Shares Registered in the Name of a secondBroker or Bank

If on                                 , 2018 your shares were held, not in your name, but rather in an account at a brokerage firm, bank, dealer or other similar organization, then you are the beneficial owner of shares held in "street name" and the Notice onis being forwarded to you by that organization. The organization holding your account is considered to be the stockholder of record for purposes of voting at the Special Meeting. As a beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker or after November 7, 2016.

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other agent regarding how to vote the shares in your account. You are also invited to attend the Special Meeting. However, since you are not the stockholder of record, you may not vote your shares in person at the meeting unless you request and obtain a valid proxy from your broker or other agent.

What items will be voted on at the Annual Meeting?am I voting on?

There are three itemsis one matter scheduled for a vote at the Annual Meeting:vote:

What if another matter is properly brought before the Special Meeting?

The election to the Board of the eight nominees named in this Proxy Statement (Proposal No. 1);

  • Ratification of the selection of Crowe Horwath LLP as S&W's independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2017 (Proposal No. 2); and
  • Approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of the Company's named executive officers, as disclosed in the Proxy Statement (Proposal No. 3).
  • Will any other business be conducted at the meeting?

    Other than the proposals referred to in this Proxy Statement, S&WDirectors knows of no other matters tothat will be submitted to the stockholderspresented for consideration at the AnnualSpecial Meeting. If any other matters are properly comebrought before the stockholders at the Annual Meeting,meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying proxy to vote upon suchon those matters in accordance with their best judgment.

    What are the Board's voting recommendations?

    The Board recommends that you vote your shares:

    May the Annual Meeting be adjourned or postponed?

    Any action on the items of business described above may be considered at the Annual Meeting at the time and on the date specified above or at any time and date to which the Annual Meeting may be properly adjourned or postponed. Under Nevada law, we are not required to give any notice of an adjourned meeting or of the business to be transacted at an adjourned meeting, other than by announcement at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken, unless the Board fixes a new record date for the adjourned meeting or the meeting date is adjourned to a date more than 60 days later than the date set for the original meeting, in which case a new record date must be fixed and notice given.

    Are any of S&W's officers and directors interested in matters to be acted upon?

    Other than the nominees' interest in the election of directors and the potential impact of the advisory vote on executive compensation, our officers and directors do not have any interest in the matters to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting.

    3


    Who may vote atattend the AnnualSpecial Meeting?

    Each share of S&W's common stock has one vote on each matter. Only stockholders of record as of the close of business on October 19, 2016 (the "Record Date") are entitled to receive notice of, to attend,Record holders and to vote at the Annual Meeting. As of the Record Date, there were 17,680,828 shares of S&W's common stock issued and outstanding, held by 23 holders of record. In addition to stockholders of record of S&W's common stock, beneficial owners of shares held in street name as ofmay attend the Record Date can vote using the methods described below.

    What is the difference between a stockholder of record and a beneficial owner of shares held in street name?

    If I am a stockholder of record of S&W's shares, howHow do I vote?

    You may vote "For" or "Against" the proposal, or abstain from voting.

    The procedures for voting are fairly simple:

    Stockholder of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name

    If you are a stockholder of record, there are four ways to vote: