UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

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 communication pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐       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 communication pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

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. ☐

The board of directors of Pacific Ethanol, Inc. (the “Company”) has established November 7, 2019 as the date of the Company’s 2019 annual meeting of stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”). The Annual Meeting date represents a change of more than 30 days from the anniversary of the Company’s 2018 annual meeting of stockholders. Accordingly, pursuant to Rule 14a-5(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), the Company is hereby informing stockholders of such change.

The deadline for the receipt of any stockholder proposals to be properly brought before the Annual Meeting is September 23, 2019. Proposals submitted pursuant to Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act must comply with the requirements set forth in Rule 14a-8 and must be received by the Corporate Secretary at the Company’s headquarters located at 400 Capitol Mall, Suite 2060, Sacramento, California 95814 on or prior to July 19, 2019. Any proposal submitted after the above deadlines will not be considered timely and will be excluded from consideration at the Annual Meeting.

The time and location of the Annual Meeting will be as set forth in the Company’s proxy statement for the Annual Meeting.

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.