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<TITLE>8-K</TITLE>
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 <P STYLE="line-height:1.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P>
<P STYLE="line-height:3.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:4pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>UNITED STATES </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Washington, D.C. </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center>
<P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>FORM 8-K
</B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center> <P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>CURRENT REPORT </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Pursuant
to Section&nbsp;13 or 15(d) </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): September&nbsp;19, 2013 </B></P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center> <P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:24pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>DOLE FOOD COMPANY, INC. </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter) </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center>
<P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>Delaware</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>1-4455</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>99-0035300</B></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(State or Other Jurisdiction</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>of Incorporation)</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(Commission</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>File Number)</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(IRS Employer</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Identification No.)</B></P></TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>One Dole Drive </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Westlake Village, California 91362 </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(Address of Principal Executive Offices and Zip Code) </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Registrant&#146;s telephone number, including area code: (818)&nbsp;879-6600 </B></P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center> <P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">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): </P> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="FONT-FAMILY:WINGDINGS">&#168;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) </TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="FONT-FAMILY:WINGDINGS">&#120;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) </TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="FONT-FAMILY:WINGDINGS">&#168;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) </TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="FONT-FAMILY:WINGDINGS">&#168;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) </TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:10pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<P STYLE="line-height:3.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="line-height:3.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P>

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<TD WIDTH="9%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><B>Item&nbsp;1.01</B></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><B>Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement. </B></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">On September&nbsp;19, 2013, Dole Food
Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the &#147;<B>Company</B>&#148;), David H. Murdock, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company, Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the beneficial owner of approximately 40% of the outstanding
common stock, par value $.001 per share, of the Company, DFC Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (&#147;<B>Parent</B>&#148;), and DFC Merger Corp., a Delaware corporation (&#147;<B>Purchaser</B>&#148;), whose sole stockholder is
Parent, entered into Amendment No.&nbsp;2 (the &#147;<B>Amendment</B>&#148;) to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger (the &#147;<B>Merger Agreement</B>&#148;) among the Company, Mr.&nbsp;Murdock, Parent and Purchaser. The Amendment amends the
Merger Agreement so that any shares held by the Company&#146;s directors and executive officers will be excluded in determining whether a majority of the Disinterested Stockholders (as defined therein) have approved the Merger Agreement. A copy of
the Amendment is attached as Exhibit 2.1 to this current report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Additional Information </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The Company has filed a preliminary proxy statement and related materials with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
&#147;<B>SEC</B>&#148;) and, when completed, it intends to file a definitive proxy statement with the SEC and mail a notice and proxy statement with respect to the Merger Agreement to the Company&#146;s stockholders.&nbsp;This proxy statement will
contain important information about the Company, Mr.&nbsp;Murdock, Parent, Purchaser, the merger and related matters. Stockholders are urged to read carefully when they become available the proxy statement and any other relevant documents filed or
to be filed with the SEC in connection with the merger or incorporated by reference in the proxy statement, because they will contain important information about the Company and the merger. Stockholders will also be able to obtain the proxy
statement, as well as other relevant documents, without charge, from the SEC by going to the SEC&#146;s website at www.sec.gov or, without charge, from the Company by going to the Company&#146;s Investor Relations website at
http://investors.dole.com. This announcement is neither a solicitation of proxy, an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell shares of the Company. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The Company and its executive officers, directors and certain other members of management and employees may be deemed to be
&#147;participants&#148; in the solicitation of proxies from the Company&#146;s stockholders with respect to the merger. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be considered participants in the solicitation of the
stockholders of the Company in connection with the merger will be set forth in the proxy statement and the other relevant documents to be filed with the SEC. You can find information about the Company&#146;s executive officers and directors in its
Annual Report on Form 10&#150;K for the fiscal year ended December&nbsp;29, 2012, and in its definitive annual stockholder meeting proxy statement filed with the SEC on Schedule 14A on April&nbsp;12, 2013. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Item&nbsp;9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits. </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(d)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Exhibits: </TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>2.1</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-size:8pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Amendment No. 2 to Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of September&nbsp;19, 2013, among DFC Holdings, LLC, DFC Merger Corp., David H. Murdock and Dole Food Company, Inc.</TD></TR>
</TABLE>

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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>SIGNATURES </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">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, thereunto duly authorized. </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD VALIGN="top">Dated: September&nbsp;20, 2013</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="3"><B>D<SMALL>OLE</SMALL> F<SMALL>OOD</SMALL> C<SMALL>OMPANY</SMALL>, I<SMALL>NC</SMALL>.</B></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
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<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="3">R<SMALL>EGISTRANT</SMALL></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">By:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;/s/ C. Michael
Carter&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</P></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center">C. Michael Carter</TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
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<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center"><I>President and Chief Operating Officer</I></TD></TR>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Exhibit Index </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000; width:26.20pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B></B>Exhibit<B><BR></B>Number<B></B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP> <P STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000; width:37.25pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B></B>Description<B></B></P></TD></TR>


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<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>2.1</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Amendment No. 2 to Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of September&nbsp;19, 2013, among DFC Holdings, LLC, DFC Merger Corp., David H. Murdock and Dole Food Company, Inc.</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
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8-K
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.
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): September 19, 2013
DOLE FOOD COMPANY, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
Delaware
1-4455
99-0035300
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)
(Commission
File Number)
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
One Dole Drive
Westlake Village, California 91362
(Address of Principal Executive Offices and Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (818) 879-6600
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):
¨
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
x
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 1.01
Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
On September 19, 2013, Dole Food
Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "
Company
"), David H. Murdock, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company, Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the beneficial owner of approximately 40% of the outstanding
common stock, par value $.001 per share, of the Company, DFC Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("
Parent
"), and DFC Merger Corp., a Delaware corporation ("
Purchaser
"), whose sole stockholder is
Parent, entered into Amendment No. 2 (the "
Amendment
") to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "
Merger Agreement
") among the Company, Mr. Murdock, Parent and Purchaser. The Amendment amends the
Merger Agreement so that any shares held by the Company's directors and executive officers will be excluded in determining whether a majority of the Disinterested Stockholders (as defined therein) have approved the Merger Agreement. A copy of
the Amendment is attached as Exhibit 2.1 to this current report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.
Additional Information
The Company has filed a preliminary proxy statement and related materials with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"
SEC
") and, when completed, it intends to file a definitive proxy statement with the SEC and mail a notice and proxy statement with respect to the Merger Agreement to the Company's stockholders. This proxy statement will
contain important information about the Company, Mr. Murdock, Parent, Purchaser, the merger and related matters. Stockholders are urged to read carefully when they become available the proxy statement and any other relevant documents filed or
to be filed with the SEC in connection with the merger or incorporated by reference in the proxy statement, because they will contain important information about the Company and the merger. Stockholders will also be able to obtain the proxy
statement, as well as other relevant documents, without charge, from the SEC by going to the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or, without charge, from the Company by going to the Company's Investor Relations website at
http://investors.dole.com. This announcement is neither a solicitation of proxy, an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell shares of the Company.
The Company and its executive officers, directors and certain other members of management and employees may be deemed to be
"participants" in the solicitation of proxies from the Company's stockholders with respect to the merger. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be considered participants in the solicitation of the
stockholders of the Company in connection with the merger will be set forth in the proxy statement and the other relevant documents to be filed with the SEC. You can find information about the Company's executive officers and directors in its
Annual Report on Form 10–K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2012, and in its definitive annual stockholder meeting proxy statement filed with the SEC on Schedule 14A on April 12, 2013.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d)
Exhibits:
2.1
Amendment No. 2 to Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of September 19, 2013, among DFC Holdings, LLC, DFC Merger Corp., David H. Murdock and Dole Food Company, Inc.
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, thereunto duly authorized.
Dated: September 20, 2013
D
OLE
F
OOD
C
OMPANY
, I
NC
.
R
EGISTRANT
By:
/s/ C. Michael
Carter
C. Michael Carter
President and Chief Operating Officer
Exhibit Index
Exhibit
Number
Description
2.1
Amendment No. 2 to Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of September 19, 2013, among DFC Holdings, LLC, DFC Merger Corp., David H. Murdock and Dole Food Company, Inc.