STOCK TITAN

Lifeway Foods (LWAY) director defers board pay into phantom stock

Filing Impact
(Neutral)
Filing Sentiment
(Neutral)
Form Type
4

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Harris Andee reported acquisition or exercise transactions in this Form 4 filing.

Lifeway Foods, Inc. director Andee Harris received 873 shares of phantom stock as a non-cash grant tied to deferred board compensation for the quarter ended March 31, 2026. Each phantom share represents a right to one common share, payable when she no longer serves as a director.

Harris also holds 2,512 restricted stock units, each representing a contingent right to one common share. These RSUs are scheduled to vest on December 30, 2026, contingent on her continued service on the board through that vesting date.

Positive

  • None.

Negative

  • None.
Insider Harris Andee
Role Director
Type Security Shares Price Value
Grant/Award Phantom Stock 873 $0.00 --
holding Restricted Stock Units -- -- --
Holdings After Transaction: Phantom Stock — 873 shares (Direct); Restricted Stock Units — 2,512 shares (Direct)
Footnotes (1)
  1. Each restricted stock unit ("RSU") represents a contingent right to receive one share of common stock. The RSUs vest on December 30, 2026 contingent on the Reporting Person's continued service as a Director on such vesting date. Each share of phantom stock represents a right to receive one share of common stock. The phantom stock becomes payable on the date that the Reporting Person no longer serves as a director of the Company. The acquired shares of phantom stock were acquired upon deferral of the Reporting Person's cash compensation for service on the Board of Directors in the quarter ended March 31, 2026 pursuant to the Company's Non-Employee Director Equity and Deferred Compensation Plan.
Phantom stock grant 873 units Quarter ended March 31, 2026; each unit equals one common share
RSU holdings 2,512 RSUs Each RSU equals one common share; director position after transaction
RSU vesting date December 30, 2026 Vesting contingent on continued board service through vesting date
Phantom stock price $0.0000 per unit Grant reported as non-cash compensation with zero exercise price
Underlying common shares (phantom) 873 shares Underlying common stock for phantom stock units
Underlying common shares (RSUs) 2,512 shares Underlying common stock for restricted stock units
Phantom Stock financial
"Each share of phantom stock represents a right to receive one share of common stock."
A phantom stock is a form of compensation that gives employees or executives the benefits of stock ownership, such as the increase in stock value, without actually giving them real shares. It acts like a promise to pay the employee the equivalent value of company stock later, often as a bonus or incentive. This allows companies to motivate and reward staff without diluting ownership or transferring actual shares.
Restricted Stock Units financial
"Each restricted stock unit ("RSU") represents a contingent right to receive one share of common stock."
Restricted stock units are a type of company reward where employees are promised shares of stock, but they only fully own these shares after meeting certain conditions, like staying with the company for a set time. They matter because they can become valuable assets and are often used to motivate employees to help the company succeed.
contingent right financial
"Each restricted stock unit ("RSU") represents a contingent right to receive one share of common stock."
Non-Employee Director Equity and Deferred Compensation Plan financial
"The acquired shares of phantom stock were acquired upon deferral of the Reporting Person's cash compensation for service on the Board of Directors in the quarter ended March 31, 2026 pursuant to the Company's Non-Employee Director Equity and Deferred Compensation Plan."
vest financial
"The RSUs vest on December 30, 2026 contingent on the Reporting Person's continued service as a Director on such vesting date."
A vest is the process by which an employee earns the right to receive certain benefits or ownership interests, such as stock or retirement funds, over time. It’s similar to earning a reward gradually, ensuring that the benefit becomes fully yours only after a set period or meeting specific conditions. This makes it important for investors because it determines when they can actually claim or use those benefits.
SEC Form 4
FORM 4UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
OMB APPROVAL
OMB Number:3235-0287
Estimated average burden
hours per response:0.5
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of equity securities of the issuer that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person*
Harris Andee

(Last)(First)(Middle)
C/O LIFEWAY FOODS, INC.
6431 OAKTON STREET

(Street)
MORTON GROVE ILLINOIS 60053

(City)(State)(Zip)

UNITED STATES

(Country)
2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
Lifeway Foods, Inc. [ LWAY ]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
XDirector10% Owner
Officer (give title below)Other (specify below)
2a. Foreign Trading Symbol
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
03/31/2026
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)
XForm filed by One Reporting Person
Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
CodeVAmount(A) or (D)Price
Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
CodeV(A)(D)Date ExercisableExpiration DateTitleAmount or Number of Shares
Restricted Stock Units(1) (2) (2)Common Stock2,5122,512D
Phantom Stock(3)03/31/2026A873 (3) (3)Common Stock873(4)873D
Explanation of Responses:
1. Each restricted stock unit ("RSU") represents a contingent right to receive one share of common stock.
2. The RSUs vest on December 30, 2026 contingent on the Reporting Person's continued service as a Director on such vesting date.
3. Each share of phantom stock represents a right to receive one share of common stock. The phantom stock becomes payable on the date that the Reporting Person no longer serves as a director of the Company.
4. The acquired shares of phantom stock were acquired upon deferral of the Reporting Person's cash compensation for service on the Board of Directors in the quarter ended March 31, 2026 pursuant to the Company's Non-Employee Director Equity and Deferred Compensation Plan.
/s/ Eric Hanson, as attorney-in-fact04/02/2026
** Signature of Reporting PersonDate
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.
* Form 4: SEC 1474 (03-26)

FAQ

What did Lifeway Foods (LWAY) director Andee Harris report in this Form 4?

Director Andee Harris reported receiving 873 shares of phantom stock as a non-cash grant for deferred board compensation. She also reported holding 2,512 restricted stock units, each tied to one share of Lifeway Foods common stock under existing equity arrangements.

How many phantom stock units did Andee Harris receive from Lifeway Foods (LWAY)?

Andee Harris received 873 phantom stock units, each representing a right to one share of Lifeway Foods common stock. These units were granted in lieu of cash board fees for the quarter ended March 31, 2026 under the company’s non-employee director compensation plan.

What are the vesting terms for Andee Harris’s Lifeway Foods (LWAY) restricted stock units?

Her restricted stock units are scheduled to vest on December 30, 2026, if she continues serving as a director through that date. Upon vesting, each RSU entitles her to receive one share of Lifeway Foods common stock, subject to the plan’s standard conditions.

What does the phantom stock in Lifeway Foods (LWAY) represent for Andee Harris?

Each phantom stock unit represents a right to receive one share of Lifeway Foods common stock. The phantom stock becomes payable when Andee Harris no longer serves as a director, effectively deferring part of her board compensation into equity-linked units.

How many restricted stock units tied to Lifeway Foods (LWAY) does Andee Harris hold?

Following the reported transactions, Andee Harris holds 2,512 restricted stock units. Each unit is linked to one share of Lifeway Foods common stock and is structured as a contingent right that vests based on her continued board service through December 30, 2026.

Is Andee Harris buying or selling open-market shares of Lifeway Foods (LWAY)?

The filing shows no open-market buying or selling by Andee Harris. Instead, it reflects a compensation-related grant of 873 phantom stock units and an updated position of 2,512 restricted stock units, both representing rights to receive Lifeway Foods common shares.