UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13G
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. __)*
Sanderson Farms, Inc.
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(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock
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(Title of Class of Securities)
800013104
------------------------------------
(CUSIP Number)
March 31, 2006
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(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)
Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule
is filed:
[X] Rule 13d-1(b)
[ ] Rule 13d-1(c)
[ ] Rule 13d-1(d)
* The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities,
and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be
deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of
the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see
the Notes).
Page 1 of 13
CUSIP No. 800013104 13G Page 2 of 13 Pages
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1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON /
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
Artisan Partners Limited Partnership
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
(see Instructions)
(a) [ ]
Not Applicable (b) [ ]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 SEC USE ONLY
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 SOLE VOTING POWER
None
NUMBER OF ------------------------------------------------------------------
SHARES 6 SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY 2,593,600
EACH ------------------------------------------------------------------
REPORTING 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
PERSON
WITH None
------------------------------------------------------------------
8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
2,593,600
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
2,593,600
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
(see Instructions)
Not Applicable
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
12.9%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
(see Instructions)
IA
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Page 2 of 13
CUSIP No. 800013104 13G Page 3 of 13 Pages
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1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. or I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
Artisan Investment Corporation
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
(see Instructions)
(a) [ ]
Not Applicable (b) [ ]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 SEC USE ONLY
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Wisconsin
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 SOLE VOTING POWER
None
NUMBER OF ------------------------------------------------------------------
SHARES 6 SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY 2,593,600
EACH ------------------------------------------------------------------
REPORTING 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
PERSON
WITH None
------------------------------------------------------------------
8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
2,593,600
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
2,593,600
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
(see Instructions)
Not Applicable
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
12.9%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
(see Instructions)
CO
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 3 of 13
CUSIP No. 800013104 13G Page 4 of 13 Pages
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. or I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
Andrew A. Ziegler
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
(see Instructions)
(a) [ ]
Not Applicable (b) [ ]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 SEC USE ONLY
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
U.S.A.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 SOLE VOTING POWER
None
NUMBER OF ------------------------------------------------------------------
SHARES 6 SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY 2,593,600
EACH ------------------------------------------------------------------
REPORTING 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
PERSON
WITH None
------------------------------------------------------------------
8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
2,593,600
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
2,593,600
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
(see Instructions)
Not Applicable
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
12.9%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
(see Instructions)
IN
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 4 of 13
CUSIP No. 800013104 13G Page 5 of 13 Pages
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. or I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
Carlene Murphy Ziegler
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
(see Instructions)
(a) [ ]
Not Applicable (b) [ ]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 SEC USE ONLY
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
U.S.A.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 SOLE VOTING POWER
None
NUMBER OF ------------------------------------------------------------------
SHARES 6 SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY 2,593,600
EACH ------------------------------------------------------------------
REPORTING 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
PERSON
WITH None
------------------------------------------------------------------
8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
2,593,600
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
2,593,600
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
(see Instructions)
Not Applicable
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
12.9%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
(see Instructions)
IN
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 5 of 13
CUSIP No. 800013104 13G Page 6 of 13 Pages
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. or I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
Artisan Funds, Inc.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
(see Instructions)
(a) [ ]
Not Applicable (b) [ ]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 SEC USE ONLY
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Wisconsin
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 SOLE VOTING POWER
None
NUMBER OF ------------------------------------------------------------------
SHARES 6 SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY 1,334,900
EACH ------------------------------------------------------------------
REPORTING 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
PERSON
WITH None
------------------------------------------------------------------
8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
1,334,900
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
1,334,900
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
(see Instructions)
Not Applicable
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
6.7%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
(see Instructions)
CO
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 6 of 13
Item 1(a) Name of Issuer:
Sanderson Farms, Inc.
Item 1(b) Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
225 N. 13th Avenue
Laurel, Mississippi 39440
Item 2(a) Name of Person Filing:
Artisan Partners Limited Partnership ("Artisan Partners")
Artisan Investment Corporation, the general partner of
Artisan Partners ("Artisan Corp.")
Andrew A. Ziegler
Carlene Murphy Ziegler
Artisan Funds, Inc. ("Artisan Funds")
Item 2(b) Address of Principal Business Office:
Artisan Partners, Artisan Corp., Mr. Ziegler, Ms. Ziegler and
Artisan Funds are all located at:
875 East Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 800
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Item 2(c) Citizenship:
Artisan Partners is a Delaware limited partnership
Artisan Corp. is a Wisconsin corporation
Mr. Ziegler and Ms. Ziegler are U.S. citizens
Artisan Funds is a Wisconsin corporation
Item 2(d) Title of Class of Securities:
Common Stock
Item 2(e) CUSIP Number:
800013104
Item 3 Type of Person:
(d) Artisan Funds is an Investment Company under section 8 of
the Investment Company Act.
(e) Artisan Partners is an investment adviser registered
under section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940;
Artisan Corp. is the General Partner of Artisan Partners;
Mr. Ziegler and Ms. Ziegler are the principal stockholders of
Artisan Corp.
Page 7 of 13
Item 4 Ownership (at March 31, 2006):
(a) Amount owned "beneficially" within the meaning of
rule 13d-3:
2,593,600
(b) Percent of class:
12.9% (based on 20,067,380 shares outstanding as of
January 31, 2006)
(c) Number of shares as to which such person has:
(i) sole power to vote or to direct the vote: None
(ii) shared power to vote or to direct the vote:
2,593,600
(iii) sole power to dispose or to direct the
disposition of: None
(iv) shared power to dispose or to direct disposition
of: 2,593,600
Item 5 Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class:
Not Applicable
Item 6 Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person:
The shares reported herein have been acquired on behalf of
discretionary clients of Artisan Partners; as reported
herein; Artisan Partners holds 2,593,600 shares, including
1,334,900 shares on behalf of Artisan Funds. Persons other
than Artisan Partners are entitled to receive all dividends
from, and proceeds from the sale of, those shares.
Item 7 Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired
the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company or
Control Person:
Not Applicable
Item 8 Identification and Classification of Members of the Group:
Not Applicable
Item 9 Notice of Dissolution of Group:
Not Applicable
Item 10 Certification:
By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge
and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired
and are held in the ordinary course of business and were not
acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the
effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer
of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in
connection with or as a participant in any transaction having
that purpose or effect.
Page 8 of 13
Signature
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I
certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and
correct.
Date: April 7, 2006
ARTISAN INVESTMENT CORPORATION
for itself and as general partner of
ARTISAN PARTNERS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
By: Lawrence A. Totsky*
--------------------------------
ANDREW A. ZIEGLER
Andrew A. Ziegler*
-------------------------------------
CARLENE MURPHY ZIEGLER
Carlene Murphy Ziegler*
-------------------------------------
ARTISAN FUNDS, INC.
By: Lawrence A. Totsky*
--------------------------------
*By: /s/ Lawrence A. Totsky
--------------------------------
Lawrence A. Totsky
Chief Financial Officer of
Artisan Investment Corporation
Attorney-in-Fact for Andrew A.
Ziegler
Attorney-in-Fact for Carlene
Murphy Ziegler
Chief Financial Officer and
Treasurer of Artisan Funds, Inc.
Page 9 of 13
Exhibit Index
Exhibit 1 Joint Filing Agreement dated as of April 7, 2006 by and among
Artisan Partners Limited Partnership, Artisan Investment
Corporation, Andrew A. Ziegler, Carlene Murphy Ziegler, and Artisan
Funds, Inc.
Exhibit 2 Power of Attorney of Andrew A. Ziegler dated as of April 2, 2002
Exhibit 3 Power of Attorney of Carlene M. Ziegler dated as of April 2, 2002
Page 10 of 13
EXHIBIT 1
JOINT FILING AGREEMENT
The undersigned hereby agree to the joint filing of the Schedule 13G to
which this Agreement is attached.
Dated: April 7, 2006
ARTISAN INVESTMENT CORPORATION
for itself and as general partner of
ARTISAN PARTNERS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
By: Lawrence A. Totsky*
--------------------------------
ANDREW A. ZIEGLER
Andrew A. Ziegler*
-------------------------------------
CARLENE MURPHY ZIEGLER
Carlene Murphy Ziegler*
-------------------------------------
ARTISAN FUNDS, INC.
By: Lawrence A. Totsky*
--------------------------------
*By: /s/ Lawrence A. Totsky
--------------------------------
Lawrence A. Totsky
Chief Financial Officer of
Artisan Investment Corporation
Attorney-in-Fact for Andrew A.
Ziegler
Attorney-in-Fact for Carlene
Murphy Ziegler
Chief Financial Officer and
Treasurer of Artisan Funds, Inc.
Page 11 of 13
EXHIBIT 2
POWER OF ATTORNEY
The undersigned, Andrew A. Ziegler, hereby appoints Lawrence A. Totsky,
Janet D. Olsen, and Gregory K. Ramirez, and each of them individually, his true
and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power to execute and file with
the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and any stock exchange or
similar authority, for and on his behalf in any and all capacities, any and all
reports required to be filed pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 and the rules thereunder, including but not limited to reports on
Schedule 13D or 13G, any and all amendments to such reports, with all exhibits,
and any other forms or documents as may be necessary in connection with the
filing of such reports with the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission and any stock exchange or similar authority, granting unto said
attorney full power and authority to do and perform any and all acts for and on
behalf of the undersigned which may be necessary or desirable to complete, as
fully as the undersigned might or could do in person.
This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until revoked
by the undersigned in a signed writing delivered to the foregoing
attorneys-in-fact and agents.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned has caused this Power of Attorney to be
executed this 2nd day of April, 2002.
/s/ Andrew A. Ziegler
-----------------------------
Andrew A. Ziegler
STATE OF WISCONSIN )
) SS.
COUNTY OF MILWAUKEE )
I, Marie V. Glowacki, a Notary Public in and for the County of Milwaukee,
State of Wisconsin, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that Andrew A. Ziegler, who is personally
known to me to be the same person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing
instrument, appeared before me this day in person and acknowledged that he
signed and delivered the said instrument as his own free and voluntary act, for
the uses and purposes therein set forth.
Given under my hand and notarial seal, this 2 day of April, 2002.
/s/ Marie V. Glowacki
-----------------------------
Notary Public
Page 12 of 13
EXHIBIT 3
POWER OF ATTORNEY
The undersigned, Carlene Murphy Ziegler, hereby appoints Lawrence A. Totsky,
Janet D. Olsen, and Gregory K. Ramirez, and each of them individually, her true
and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power to execute and file with
the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and any stock exchange or
similar authority, for and on her behalf in any and all capacities, any and all
reports required to be filed pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 and the rules thereunder, including but not limited to reports on
Schedule 13D or 13G, any and all amendments to such reports, with all exhibits,
and any other forms or documents as may be necessary in connection with the
filing of such reports with the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission and any stock exchange or similar authority, granting unto said
attorney full power and authority to do and perform any and all acts for and on
behalf of the undersigned which may be necessary or desirable to complete, as
fully as the undersigned might or could do in person.
This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until revoked
by the undersigned in a signed writing delivered to the foregoing
attorneys-in-fact and agents.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned has caused this Power of Attorney to be
executed this 2 day of April, 2002.
/s/ Carlene Murphy Ziegler
-----------------------------
Carlene Murphy Ziegler
STATE OF WISCONSIN )
) SS.
COUNTY OF MILWAUKEE )
I, Kim R. Ruffert, a Notary Public in and for the County of Milwaukee, State
of Wisconsin, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that Carlene Murphy Ziegler, who is personally
known to me to be the same person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing
instrument, appeared before me this day in person and acknowledged that she
signed and delivered the said instrument as her own free and voluntary act, for
the uses and purposes therein set forth.
Given under my hand and notarial seal, this 2 day of April, 2002.
/s/ Kim R. Ruffert
-----------------------------
Notary Public
Page 13 of 13