8-K/A

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K/A

CURRENTREPORT

Pursuantto Section 13 or 15(d) of theSecurities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 7, 2019

PACIFICETHANOL, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (916) 403-2123

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

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. ☐

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EXPLANATORY NOTE

Pacific Ethanol, Inc. (the “Company”) is filing this Form 8-K/A as an amendment to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on November 7, 2019 (“Original Filing”). The Original Filing reported the voting of results the Company’s 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on November 7, 2019 (the “Annual Meeting”). The sole purpose of this Form 8K/A is to disclose the Company’s decision as to how frequently it will conduct future stockholder advisory votes on named executive officer compensation (“say-on-pay”). No other changes have been made to the Original Filing.

Item 5.07 Submission of Matters toa Vote of Security Holders.

At the Annual Meeting, stockholders cast approximately 58% of votes, not including abstentions, and representing a majority of votes, in favor of holding future say-on-pay votes on an annual basis. The Board of Directors of the Company had recommended a vote for frequency of say-on-pay votes every three years. In light of this result and other factors it considered, the Board of Directors has determined that the Company will hold future say-on-pay votes on an annual basis until the next advisory vote on the frequency of say-on-pay votes occurs. The next advisory vote regarding the frequency of say-on-pay votes is required to occur no later than the Company’s 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

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SIGNATURE

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 hereunto duly authorized.

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