Lincoln Electric (NASDAQ: LECO) reports 2026 director elections and say-on-pay outcomes

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

FAQ

Filing Exhibits & Attachments

8-K Event Classification

Key Figures

Key Terms

What did Lincoln Electric (LECO) shareholders approve at the April 17, 2026 meeting?

How did Lincoln Electric (LECO) shareholders vote on director elections in 2026?

Was Ernst & Young LLP ratified as Lincoln Electric’s (LECO) auditor for 2026?

How did Lincoln Electric (LECO) shareholders vote on executive compensation in 2026?

What are broker non-votes in Lincoln Electric’s (LECO) 2026 meeting results?

Filing Impact

(Moderate)

Filing Sentiment

(Neutral)

Form Type

8-K

Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. reported the results of its Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on April 17, 2026. Shareholders elected ten directors to serve until the 2027 Annual Meeting or until their successors are elected and qualified.

Director nominees received strong support, with votes for individual directors generally around 40.5 million to 41.0 million, and broker non-votes of 6,521,272 for each nominee.

Shareholders also ratified Ernst & Young LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2026, with 46,450,991 votes for, 1,402,077 against, and 24,590 abstentions. In addition, shareholders approved on an advisory basis the compensation of the company’s named executive officers, with 40,053,258 votes for, 1,166,337 against, 136,791 abstentions, and 6,521,272 broker non-votes.

Item 5.07 — Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

1 item

Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders Governance

Results of a shareholder vote on proposals at an annual or special meeting.

Director votes for (example): 41,025,379 votes Director votes withheld (example): 2,579,353 votes Broker non-votes on directors: 6,521,272 votes +4 more

7 metrics

Director votes for (example) 41,025,379 votes Votes for Bonnie J. Fetch as director at 2026 Annual Meeting

Director votes withheld (example) 2,579,353 votes Votes withheld for Marc A. Howze as director at 2026 Annual Meeting

Broker non-votes on directors 6,521,272 votes Broker non-votes reported for each director nominee

Auditor ratification votes for 46,450,991 votes Votes for ratifying Ernst & Young LLP for year ending December 31, 2026

Auditor ratification votes against 1,402,077 votes Votes against ratifying Ernst & Young LLP

Say-on-pay votes for 40,053,258 votes Votes for advisory approval of named executive officer compensation

Say-on-pay votes against 1,166,337 votes Votes against advisory approval of named executive officer compensation

Annual Meeting of Shareholders, broker non-votes, independent registered public accounting firm, advisory basis, +1 more

5 terms

Annual Meeting of Shareholders financial

"The Company held its Annual Meeting of Shareholders on April 17, 2026."

A yearly gathering where a company’s owners (shareholders) vote on key items like electing the board, approving executive pay, and ratifying auditors, and receive updates on performance and strategy. Think of it as an annual town hall for owners: it matters to investors because outcomes and disclosures can affect leadership, corporate direction, dividend and governance policies, and therefore the company’s risk and potential return.

broker non-votes financial

"Votes For ... Votes Withheld ... Broker Non-Votes"

Broker non-votes occur when a brokerage firm is unable to vote on a shareholder’s behalf during a company election or decision because the shareholder has not given specific voting instructions, and the broker is not allowed or chooses not to vote on certain matters. They are important because they can affect the outcome of votes, especially when the results are close, by effectively reducing the total number of votes cast.

independent registered public accounting firm financial

"Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2026"

An independent registered public accounting firm is an outside accounting company officially registered with the government regulator to examine and report on a public company's financial records and controls. Investors treat its reports like an impartial inspector’s certificate — they add credibility to financial statements, help spot errors or misleading claims, and reduce the risk that shareholders are relying on unchecked or biased numbers.

advisory basis financial

"Shareholders approved, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers"

named executive officers financial

"the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers, as set forth below"

Named executive officers are the senior company leaders whose names, roles and compensation are singled out in required regulatory filings; this typically includes the chief executive, chief financial officer and the next highest‑paid senior officers. Investors treat this list like a team roster — it shows who makes key decisions, how they are paid and whether incentives align with shareholder interests, so changes or pay patterns can signal governance quality, risk or strategic shifts.

Understanding 8-K Material Events →

04/21/2026 - 04:30 PM

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

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 17, 2026

LINCOLN ELECTRIC HOLDINGS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Ohio	0-1402	34-1860551
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

22801 St Clair Avenue

Cleveland, Ohio 44117

(Address of principal executive offices, with zip code)

(216) 481-8100

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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)

☐

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))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:


Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of exchange on which registered
Common Shares, without par value	LECO	The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

☐

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. ☐

Item 5.07.

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

The Company held its Annual Meeting of Shareholders on April 17, 2026. The final results for the proposals submitted for a vote of shareholders at the Annual Meeting are set forth below. The proposals below are described in more detail in the Company’s definitive proxy statement for the Annual Meeting, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 19, 2026.

Proposal 1 – Shareholders elected ten directors, each to hold office until the 2027 Annual Meeting of Shareholders or until their successors are duly elected and qualified, as set forth below.


Name	Votes For		Votes Withheld		Broker Non-Votes
Brian D. Chambers		40,968,589		387,797		6,521,272
Curtis E. Espeland		40,594,834		761,552		6,521,272
N. Joy Falotico		40,960,786		395,600		6,521,272
Bonnie J. Fetch		41,025,379		331,007		6,521,272
Patrick P. Goris		40,955,586		400,800		6,521,272
Steven B. Hedlund		40,515,996		840,390		6,521,272
Michael F. Hilton		40,515,212		841,174		6,521,272
Marc A. Howze		38,777,033		2,579,353		6,521,272
Kathryn Jo Lincoln		40,071,736		1,284,650		6,521,272
Ben P. Patel		40,964,984		391,402		6,521,272

Proposal 2 - Shareholders ratified the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2026, as set forth below.


Votes For	Votes Against	Abstentions	Broker Non-Votes
46,450,991	1,402,077	24,590	0

Proposal 3 - Shareholders approved, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers, as set forth below.


Votes For	Votes Against	Abstentions	Broker Non-Votes
40,053,258	1,166,337	136,791	6,521,272

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 hereunto duly authorized.

Source: View Original Filing on SEC EDGAR

Shareholders elected ten directors, ratified Ernst & Young LLP as auditor, and approved on an advisory basis the compensation of named executive officers. Each proposal received strong majority support based on the reported vote totals.

All ten director nominees were elected, each receiving around 38.8 million to 41.0 million votes for and between 331,007 and 2,579,353 votes withheld, along with 6,521,272 broker non-votes reported for each nominee.

Yes. Shareholders ratified Ernst & Young LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2026, with 46,450,991 votes for, 1,402,077 against, and 24,590 abstentions recorded.

Shareholders approved, on an advisory basis, the compensation of Lincoln Electric’s named executive officers, with 40,053,258 votes for, 1,166,337 against, 136,791 abstentions, and 6,521,272 broker non-votes reported on the say-on-pay proposal.

Broker non-votes are shares held by brokers that were not voted on certain proposals. Lincoln Electric reported 6,521,272 broker non-votes for each director election and for the advisory vote on named executive officer compensation at the 2026 Annual Meeting.

LINCOLN ELECTRIC HOLDINGS, INC.

Date: April 21, 2026

/s/ Jennifer I. Ansberry

Jennifer I. Ansberry, Executive Vice President,
General Counsel & Secretary

3 documents