STOCK TITAN

Lifeway Foods (LWAY) director awarded 857 phantom stock units and holds 2,512 RSUs

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

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Lifeway Foods director Kirk Chartier reported a compensation-related equity award. He acquired 857 shares of phantom stock by deferring his cash fees for service on the board for the quarter ended March 31, 2026. Each phantom share represents a right to receive one share of common stock when he no longer serves as a director.

The filing also shows Chartier holding 2,512 restricted stock units, each representing a contingent right to one share of common stock that vests on December 30, 2026, if he continues serving as a director through that date.

Positive

  • None.

Negative

  • None.
Insider Chartier Kirk
Role Director
Type Security Shares Price Value
Grant/Award Phantom Stock 857 $0.00 --
holding Restricted Stock Units -- -- --
Holdings After Transaction: Phantom Stock — 857 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 857 units Deferral of board cash compensation for quarter ended March 31, 2026
Phantom stock holdings after grant 857 units Each unit equals one share of common stock, payable upon end of board service
RSU underlying shares 2,512 shares Restricted stock units tied to Lifeway common stock, direct ownership
RSU vesting date December 30, 2026 Vesting contingent on continued service as director
RSU exercise price $0.0000 No cash exercise price for RSUs and phantom 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 to receive 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
"pursuant to the Company's Non-Employee Director Equity and Deferred Compensation Plan."
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*
Chartier Kirk

(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)03/31/2026A857 (3) (3)Common Stock857(4)857D
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 Kirk Chartier report in this Form 4?

Kirk Chartier reported receiving 857 phantom stock units as part of his board compensation. These units were granted in lieu of cash fees for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, and each represents the right to one share of Lifeway common stock in the future.

How many phantom stock units did Kirk Chartier receive from Lifeway Foods (LWAY)?

He received 857 phantom stock units credited for deferring his quarterly board fees. Each phantom share corresponds to one share of Lifeway common stock, payable when he no longer serves as a director under the company’s non-employee director equity and deferred compensation plan.

When do Kirk Chartier’s Lifeway (LWAY) phantom stock units become payable?

Each phantom stock unit becomes payable when Kirk Chartier no longer serves as a director. At that time, he is entitled to receive one share of Lifeway common stock for each unit, as described in the company’s non-employee director equity and deferred compensation plan.

What restricted stock units does Kirk Chartier hold at Lifeway Foods (LWAY)?

Chartier holds restricted stock units covering 2,512 underlying shares of common stock. Each RSU represents a contingent right to one share and will vest on December 30, 2026, provided he continues to serve as a director through that vesting date.

When do Kirk Chartier’s Lifeway (LWAY) restricted stock units vest?

His restricted stock units vest on December 30, 2026, if he remains a director through that date. Upon vesting, each RSU converts into one share of Lifeway common stock, turning this contingent right into actual share ownership, subject to the plan’s terms.

Is Kirk Chartier’s Lifeway (LWAY) Form 4 transaction an open-market buy or sell?

No, the transaction reflects a grant of 857 phantom stock units tied to deferred board fees, not an open-market trade. It is a compensation-related equity award rather than a purchase or sale of Lifeway common stock in the open market.