Executive pay, board elections on agenda at Kewaunee Scientific (KEQU) 2026 meeting
Kewaunee Scientific Corporation will hold its 2026 Annual Meeting virtually on August 26, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Stockholders will vote on electing three Class I directors to serve until the 2029 meeting, ratifying Forvis Mazars, LLP as independent auditor for fiscal 2027, and approving on an advisory basis the compensation of named executive officers.
The Board is majority independent, with separate Chair and CEO roles and active Audit, Compensation, Financial/Planning, and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees. Non-employee directors received a $120,000 annual retainer in fiscal 2026, generally half in cash and half in fully vested stock, plus additional cash fees for committee and Board leadership roles.
Executive pay combines base salary, annual incentives tied mainly to EBITDA and non-financial objectives, and long-term incentives in time- and performance-based RSUs under the 2023 Omnibus Incentive Plan. For fiscal 2026, CEO Thomas D. Hull III had base salary of $526,190 and total compensation of $1,965,495, including a $394,967 cash bonus. The company reports net income of $9.618 million in 2026 and a Company Total Shareholder Return value of $227.75 on an initial $100 investment over the three-year measurement period.
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Key Figures
Key Terms
say-on-pay financial
restricted stock units financial
audit committee financial expert regulatory
change of control financial
Total Shareholder Return financial
universal proxy rules regulatory
Compensation Summary
| Name | Title | Total Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Thomas D. Hull III | ||
| Donald T. Gardner III | ||
| Douglas Batdorff |
- Election of three Class I directors to serve until the 2029 annual meeting
- Ratification of Forvis Mazars, LLP as independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2027
- Advisory vote on the compensation of named executive officers
FAQ
What key items will Kewaunee Scientific (KEQU) stockholders vote on at the 2026 Annual Meeting?
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What were the 2026 compensation figures for Kewaunee Scientific’s (KEQU) CEO?
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☐ | Preliminary proxy statement. | ☐ | Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) | ||||||
☒ | Definitive proxy statement. | ||||||||
☐ | Definitive additional materials. | ||||||||
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(1) | To elect three Class I directors; |
(2) | To ratify the appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm of Forvis Mazars, LLP as the Company’s independent auditors for fiscal year 2027; |
(3) | To approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers; |
(4) | To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting. |
Name | Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($)(1) | Stock Awards (RSUs)(2) | Total ($) | ||||||
J. Jette Campbell(3) | 38,249 | 38,354 | 76,603 | ||||||
Keith M. Gehl | 74,992 | 60,008 | 135,000 | ||||||
Margaret B. Pyle | 69,992 | 60,008 | 130,000 | ||||||
David S. Rhind | 155,000 | — | 155,000 | ||||||
John D. Russell | 69,992 | 60,008 | 130,000 | ||||||
Donald F. Shaw | 130,000 | — | 130,000 | ||||||
(1) | Under the Company’s director compensation program, directors who have satisfied the Company’s stock ownership guidelines may elect to receive cash in lieu of director fees otherwise payable in fully vested shares of Company common stock. For fiscal year 2026, two non-employee directors made such election. |
(2) | The amount shown reflects the aggregate grant date fair value of the stock award computed in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Codification Topic 718 (“FASB ASC 718”). See Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s 2026 Annual Report on Form 10-K for discussion of the assumptions underlying the value of stock awards. |
(3) | Mr. Campbell was appointed as a Class II director on September 10, 2025. In accordance with Company policy, his compensation was pro-rated to reflect this. |
2026 | 2025 | |||||
Audit of Financial Statements | $675,000 | $756,039 | ||||
Audit-Related Fees | 401,830 | 482,250 | ||||
Tax Fees | — | — | ||||
All Other Fees | 5,250 | — | ||||
Total | $1,082,080 | $1,238,289 | ||||
Audit Committee Members | |||
Keith M. Gehl, Chairman | |||
J. Jette Campbell | |||
John D. Russell | |||
Donald F. Shaw | |||
• | Reflect modern compensation practices, in order to enhance our ability to attract and retain talented management; |
• | Reward both short-term and long-term performance consistent with the Company’s strategy to drive both revenue growth and margin expansion; |
• | Provide that a significant portion of each executive officer’s compensation is at risk, subject to the achievement of specifically identified short-term and long-term goals; and |
• | Further align the interests of management with the interests of stockholders. |
Name | FY 2025 Salary $ | FY 2026 Salary $ | Percentage Change | ||||||
Thomas D. Hull III | 494,560 | 525,223 | 6.20% | ||||||
Donald T. Gardner III | 363,350 | 396,052 | 9.00% | ||||||
Douglas Batdorff | 258,583 | 297,367 | 15.00% | ||||||
Name and Principal Position | Year | Salary ($) | Bonus ($)(1) | Stock Awards ($)(2) | Nonequity Incentive Plan Compensation ($)(3) | All Other Compensation ($)(4) | Total ($) | ||||||||||||||
Thomas D. Hull III President and Chief Executive Officer | 2026 | 526,190 | — | 997,930 | 394,967 | 46,408 | 1,965,495 | ||||||||||||||
2025 | 485,467 | — | 741,940(5) | 546,206 | 37,746 | 1,811,359 | |||||||||||||||
Donald T. Gardner III Vice President Finance and Chief Financial Officer | 2026 | 393,578 | — | 356,405 | 186,144 | 34,243 | 970,370 | ||||||||||||||
2025 | 356,958 | 150,000 | 290,680(5) | 267,529 | 16,516 | 1,081,683 | |||||||||||||||
Douglas Batdorff Vice President of Manufacturing Operations | 2026 | 290,906 | — | 178,394 | 122,844 | 27,684 | 619,828 | ||||||||||||||
2025 | 257,328 | — | 155,150(5) | 154,311 | 23,021 | 589,810 | |||||||||||||||
(1) | The amount listed for Mr. Gardner represents a retention bonus paid by the Company. On June 26, 2024, the Company and Mr. Gardner entered into a Retention Bonus Agreement, pursuant to which he was paid the retention bonus. The bonus is subject to forfeiture if Mr. Gardner voluntarily resigns from employment with the Company other than for “good reason” or if the Company terminates Mr. Gardner’s employment for “cause” before June 26, 2027. “Good reason” and “cause” have the meanings set forth in Mr. Gardner’s Change of Control Agreement with the Company. |
(2) | For 2026 as well as 2025 this reflects the aggregate grant date fair value of RSUs computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, excluding the effect of estimated forfeitures. The fair value is determined based on the average of the high and low trading prices of our stock on the grant date. See Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s 2026 Annual Report on Form 10-K for a discussion of the assumptions underlying the value of the RSUs. See “Annual Incentive Compensation” and “Long-Term Incentive Plan” beginning on page 12 for a discussion of the vesting conditions applicable to RSUs. For performance-based RSUs, the grant date fair value is calculated based on the probable outcome of the performance measures for the applicable performance period as of the date on which the RSUs are granted for accounting purposes. The grant date fair value of the fiscal 2026 performance-based RSUs, assuming the highest level of performance is achieved under the applicable performance measures, is $703,042, $251,113 and $125,686 for Messrs. Hull, Gardner and Batdorff, respectively. |
(3) | The amounts represent bonuses paid under the Company’s annual incentive plan. |
(4) | The amounts listed for each named executive officer consist of matching contributions made or accrued by the Company on behalf of that executive officer to the Company’s 401(k) Incentive Savings Plan and 401 Plus Executive Deferred Compensation Plan. The 2026 matching contributions made by the Company for the 401(k) Incentive Savings Plan were $14,236, $14,410 and $14,328 for Messrs. Hull, Gardner and Batdorff, respectively. The 2026 matching contributions made by the Company to the 401 Plus Executive Deferred Compensation Plan were $32,172, $19,833 and $13,357 for Messrs. Hull, Gardner and Batdorff, respectively. |
(5) | The amounts have been revised to correct an inadvertent error in the prior year’s proxy statement. |
Stock Awards | ||||||||||||
Name | Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (#)(1) | Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested ($) | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested (#)(2) | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested ($)(3) | ||||||||
Thomas D. Hull III | 4,132(4) | 152,925 | 43,393 | 1,605,975 | ||||||||
5,282(5) | 195,457 | 11,884 | 439,827 | |||||||||
12,664(6) | 468,695 | 12,664(6) | 468,695 | |||||||||
Donald T. Gardner III | 1,628(4) | 60,252 | 17,095 | 632,686 | ||||||||
2,070(5) | 76,611 | 4,657 | 172,356 | |||||||||
4,524(6) | 167,433 | 4,523(6) | 167,396 | |||||||||
Douglas Batdorff | 535(4) | 19,800 | 5,609 | 207,589 | ||||||||
1,105(5) | 40,896 | 2,485 | 91,970 | |||||||||
2,264(6) | 83,791 | 2,264(6) | 83,791 | |||||||||
(1) | Represents unvested time-based RSUs. Time-based RSUs will vest in equal installments on each anniversary of the grant date over a three-year period. |
(2) | Represents unvested performance-based RSUs. Performance-based RSUs will vest on the third anniversary of the grant date following a three-year performance period based on the achievement of performance targets over such period. The performance targets for these performance-based awards relate to financial improvements over the three year performance period. Attainment of the financial component of the plan is contingent upon achieving specific EBITDA targets. |
(3) | The closing trading price for the Company’s common stock was $37.01 on April 30, 2026. |
(4) | RSUs awarded on June 28, 2023. Amounts shown assume achievement of performance goals at maximum achievement. |
(5) | RSUs awarded on June 26, 2024. Amounts shown assume achievement of performance goals at target achievement. |
(6) | RSUs awarded on June 25, 2025. Amounts shown assume achievement of performance goals at target achievement. |
Fiscal Year | Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO1 | Compensation Actually Paid to PEO2 | Average Summary Compensation Table Total for Non-PEO NEOs3 | Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-PEO NEOs4 | Value of Initial Fixed $100 Investment Based On Company Total Shareholder Return5 | Net Income (thousands)6 | ||||||||||||
(a) | (b) | (c) | (d) | (e) | (f) | (g) | ||||||||||||
2026 | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
2025 | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
2024 | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
1 | This column represents the amount of total compensation reported for |
2 | This column represents the amount of “compensation actually paid” to Mr. Hull, as computed in accordance with Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K. The amounts do not reflect the actual amount of compensation earned by or paid to Mr. Hull during the applicable fiscal year. In accordance with the requirements of Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K, the following adjustments were made to Mr. Hull’s total compensation for fiscal year 2026 to determine the compensation actually paid: |
Fiscal Year | Reported Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO(a) | Reported Summary Compensation Table Value of PEO Equity Awards(b) | Adjusted Value of Equity Awards(c) | Compensation Actually Paid to PEO | ||||||||
2026 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
a. | This column represents the amount of total compensation reported for Mr. Hull for fiscal year 2026 in the “Total” column of the Summary Compensation Table. For further information concerning Mr. Hull’s total compensation, please refer to the Summary Compensation Table in the proxy statement. |
b. | This column represents the grant date fair value of equity awards reported in the “Stock Awards” column in the Summary Compensation Table for the applicable fiscal year. For further information concerning Mr. Hull’s equity awards, please refer to the Summary Compensation Table in this Proxy Statement. The amount in this column is replaced with the amount reported under the “Adjusted Value of Equity Awards” column in order to arrive at compensation actually paid for fiscal year 2026. |
c. | This column represents an adjustment to the amounts in the “Stock Awards” column in the Summary Compensation Table for fiscal year 2026 (the “Subject Year”). For a Subject Year, the adjusted amount in the “Adjusted Value of Equity Awards” column replaces the “Stock Awards” column in the Summary Compensation Table for Mr. Hull to arrive at compensation actually paid to Mr. Hull for the Subject Year. The adjusted amount is determined by adding (or subtracting, as applicable) the following for the Subject Year: (i) the fiscal year-end fair value of any equity awards granted in the Subject Year that are outstanding and unvested as of the end of the Subject Year; (ii) the amount of change as of the end of the Subject Year (from the end of the prior fiscal year) in the fair value of any awards granted in prior fiscal years that are outstanding and unvested as of the end of the Subject Year; (iii) for awards that are granted and vest in the Subject Year, the fair value as of the vesting date; (iv) for awards granted in prior fiscal years that vest in the Subject Year, the amount equal to the change as of the vesting date (from the end of the prior fiscal year) in the fair value; (v) for awards granted in prior fiscal years that are determined to fail to meet the applicable vesting conditions during the Subject Year, a deduction for the amount equal to the fair value at the end of the prior fiscal year; and (vi) the dollar value of any dividends or other earnings paid on stock awards in the Subject Year prior to the vesting date that are not otherwise reflected in the fair value of such award or included in any other component of total compensation for the Subject Year. The amounts added or subtracted to determine the adjusted amount are as follows: |
Fiscal Year | Fiscal Year End Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted in the Fiscal Year | Fiscal Year over Fiscal Year Change in Fair Value of Outstanding and Unvested Equity Awards at FYE Granted in Prior Fiscal Years | Fair Value as of Vesting Date of Equity Awards Granted and Vested in the Fiscal Year | Change in Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted in Prior Fiscal Years that Vested in the Fiscal Year | Fair Value at the End of the Prior Fiscal Year of Equity Awards that Failed to Meet Vesting Conditions in the Fiscal Year | Value of Dividends or other Earnings Paid on Stock Awards not Otherwise Reflected in Fair Value or Total Compensation in the Summary Compensation Table for the Fiscal Year | Adjusted Value of Equity Awards | ||||||||||||||
2026 | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||
3 | This column represents the average of the amounts reported for the Company’s named executive officers as determined in accordance with Item 402(m)(2) of Regulation S-K (NEOs) as a group (excluding Mr. Hull), as reported in the “Total” column of the Summary Compensation Table in each applicable fiscal year. For further information concerning our NEOs’ (excluding Mr. Hull) total compensation, please refer to the Summary Compensation Table in the applicable proxy statement for the applicable fiscal year. The names of each of the NEOs (excluding Mr. Hull) included for purposes of calculating the average amounts in each applicable fiscal year are as follows: (i) for 2026, Messrs. Gardner and Batdorff, (ii) for 2025, Messrs. Gardner and Batdorff, and (iii) for 2024, Messrs. Gardner and Batdorff. |
4 | This column represents the average amount of “compensation actually paid” to the NEOs as a group (excluding Mr. Hull), as computed in accordance with Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K. The dollar amounts do not reflect the actual average amount of compensation earned by or paid to the NEOs as a group (excluding Mr. Hull) during the applicable fiscal year. In accordance with the requirements of Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K, the following adjustments were made to average total compensation for the NEOs as a group (excluding Mr. Hull) for fiscal year 2026 to determine the compensation actually paid, using the same adjustment methodology described above in Note 2(c): |
Fiscal Year | Average Reported Summary Compensation Table Total for Non-PEO NEOs(a) | Average Reported Summary Compensation Table Value of Non-PEO NEO Equity Awards(b) | Average Non- PEO NEO Adjusted Value of Equity Awards(c) | Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-PEO NEOs | ||||||||
2026 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
a. | This column represents the average of the amounts reported for the Company’s NEOs as a group (excluding Mr. Hull) in the “Total” column of the Summary Compensation Table in the applicable fiscal year. For further information concerning our NEOs’ (excluding Mr. Hull) total compensation, please refer to the Summary Compensation Table in this Proxy Statement for the applicable fiscal year. |
b. | This column represents the average of the total amounts reported for the NEOs as a group (excluding Mr. Hull) in the “Stock Awards” column in the Summary Compensation Table in the applicable fiscal year. For further information concerning our NEOs’ (excluding Mr. Hull) equity awards, please refer to the Summary Compensation Table in the proxy statement for the applicable fiscal year. The amount in this column is replaced with the amount reported under the “Average Non-PEO NEO Adjusted Value of Equity Awards” column in order to arrive at compensation actually paid for fiscal year 2026. |
c. | This column represents an adjustment to the average of the amounts reported for the NEOs as a group (excluding Mr. Hull) in the “Stock Awards” column in the Summary Compensation Table in the applicable fiscal year determined using the same methodology described above in Note 2(c). For each fiscal year, the adjusted amount in the “Average Non-PEO NEO Adjusted Value of Equity Awards” column replaces the “Stock Awards” column in the Summary Compensation Table for each NEO (excluding Mr. Hull) to arrive at compensation actually paid to each NEO (excluding Mr. Hull) for that fiscal year, which is then averaged to determine the average compensation actually paid to the NEOs (excluding Mr. Hull) for that fiscal year. The amounts added or subtracted to determine the adjusted average amount for fiscal year 2026 are as follows: |
Fiscal Year | Average Fiscal Year End Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted in the Fiscal Year | Average Fiscal Year over Fiscal Year Change in Fair Value of Outstanding and Unvested Equity Awards at FYE Granted in Prior Fiscal Years | Average Fair Value as of Vesting Date of Equity Awards Granted in the Fiscal Year and Vested in the Fiscal Year | Average Change in Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted in Prior Fiscal Years that Vested in the Fiscal Year | Average Fair Value at the End of the Prior Fiscal Year of Equity Awards that Failed to Meet Vesting Conditions in the Fiscal Year | Average Value of Dividends or other Earnings Paid on Stock Awards not Otherwise Reflected in Fair Value or Total Compensation in the Summary Compensation Table for the Fiscal Year | Adjusted Average Value of Equity Awards | ||||||||||||||
2026 | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Company total shareholder return (TSR) is calculated by assuming that a $100 investment was made on the day prior to the first fiscal year reported and reinvesting all dividends until the last day of each reported fiscal year. |
6 | This column represents the amount of net income reflected in the Company’s audited financial statements for the applicable fiscal year. |
Name | Shares beneficially owned(1) | Percent of class | ||||
Margaret B. Pyle(2) | 41,891 | 1.5% | ||||
Keith M. Gehl | 22,409 | * | ||||
Thomas D. Hull III | 70,389 | 2.5% | ||||
David S. Rhind(3) | 132,992 | 4.6% | ||||
John D. Russell | 34,396 | 1.2% | ||||
Donald F. Shaw | 25,000 | * | ||||
J. Jette Campbell | 2,703 | * | ||||
Donald T. Gardner III | 18,830 | * | ||||
Douglas Batdorff | 9,021 | * | ||||
Directors and executive officers as a group (13 persons) | 403,681 | 14.1% | ||||
* | Percentage of class is less than 1%. |
(1) | Includes shares which may be acquired within 60 days from May 22, 2026 upon vesting of restricted stock units by: Mr. Hull - 37,389, Mr. Gardner - 9,266, Mr. Batdorff - 1,842; and all officers and directors as a group - 59,791. |
(2) | Includes 36,891 shares owned by Ms. Pyle as trustee of a trust and 5,000 shares held by Ms. Pyle’s spouse, as to which shares she disclaims beneficial ownership. |
(3) | Includes 106,480 shares which are held in trusts of which Mr. Rhind is a co-trustee and a beneficiary, and 10,512 shares held in trusts of which Mr. Rhind is a co-trustee but not a beneficiary. Mr. Rhind disclaims beneficial ownership of all of the shares held in trusts of which Mr. Rhind is a co-trustee but not a beneficiary. Mr. Rhind has sole voting power and shares investment power with respect to all shares held in the aforementioned trusts. |
Name | Shares beneficially owned | Percent of class | ||||
Northern Trust Corporation | 252,328(1) | 8.8% | ||||
The Article 6 Marital Trust | 193,876(2) | 6.8% | ||||
Dimensional Fund Advisors LP | 171,601(3) | 6.0% | ||||
Peter H. Kamin | 176,674(4) | 6.2% | ||||
Minerva Advisors LLC | 143,582(5) | 5.0% | ||||
(1) | The shares owned by Northern Trust Corporation listed in the table are shown as being owned as of December 31, 2025 according to a Schedule 13G/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 17, 2026, which reported sole voting power over 15,967 shares, shared voting power over 236,361 shares, sole dispositive power over 15,967 shares and shared dispositive power over 236,361 shares. Northern Trust Corporation’s address is 50 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, IL 60603. |
(2) | The shares owned by The Article 6 Marital Trust listed in the table are shown as being owned as of February 3, 2025 according to a Schedule 13D/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 5, 2025. The Article 6 Marital Trust’s address is 4838 Jenkins Avenue, North Charleston, SC 29405. |
(3) | The shares owned by Dimensional Fund Advisors LP listed in the table are shown as being owned as of December 29, 2023 according to a Schedule 13G/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 9, 2024. Dimensional Fund Advisors’ address is Building One, 6300 Bee Cave Road, Austin, TX 78746. |
(4) | The shares owned by Peter H. Kamin listed in the table are shown being owned as of May 12, 2022 according to a Schedule 13D/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 16, 2022. Peter H. Kamin’s address is 2720 Donald Ross Road, Unit #311, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410. |
(5) | The shares owned by Minerva Advisors LLC listed in the table are shown as being owned as of October 31, 2024 according to a Schedule 13G/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 1, 2024, which reported sole voting and dispositive power over 107,104 shares and shared voting and dispositive power over 36,478 shares. Minerva Advisors’ address is 50 Monument Road, Suite 201, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004. |
By Order of the Board of Directors | |||
DONALD T. GARDNER III | |||
Secretary | |||
July 7, 2026 | |||


