Lakeland Financial (NASDAQ: LKFN) investors approve directors, pay and Crowe LLP

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Lakeland Financial Corporation held its annual shareholder meeting on April 14, 2026. Shareholders elected 13 directors, including A. Faraz Abbasi, Blake W. Augsburger, Robert E. Bartels, Jr., and others, each to serve terms expiring in 2027.

Shareholders also approved the advisory proposal on executive compensation, with 14,741,820 votes for, 4,859,374 against, and 111,686 abstain/withhold, plus 2,872,162 broker non-votes. In addition, they ratified the selection of Crowe LLP as independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2026, with 22,283,808 votes for, 298,203 against, and 3,031 abstain/withhold.

8-K Event Classification

2 items: 5.07, 9.01

2 items

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.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits Exhibits

Financial statements, pro forma financial information, and exhibit attachments filed with this report.

Key Figures

Executive compensation advisory vote - For: 14,741,820 votes Executive compensation advisory vote - Against: 4,859,374 votes Executive compensation advisory vote - Broker non-votes: 2,872,162 votes +3 more

6 metrics

Executive compensation advisory vote - For 14,741,820 votes Advisory vote on executive compensation at April 14, 2026 annual meeting

Executive compensation advisory vote - Against 4,859,374 votes Advisory vote on executive compensation at April 14, 2026 annual meeting

Executive compensation advisory vote - Broker non-votes 2,872,162 votes Advisory vote on executive compensation at April 14, 2026 annual meeting

Auditor ratification - For 22,283,808 votes Ratification of Crowe LLP as independent registered public accounting firm for year ended December 31, 2026

Auditor ratification - Against 298,203 votes Ratification of Crowe LLP as independent registered public accounting firm for year ended December 31, 2026

Auditor ratification - Abstain 3,031 votes Ratification of Crowe LLP as independent registered public accounting firm for year ended December 31, 2026

Key Terms

advisory vote on executive compensation, independent registered public accounting firm, broker non-votes, emerging growth company

4 terms

advisory vote on executive compensation financial

"Additionally, the Company’s shareholders approved the advisory vote on executive compensation"

independent registered public accounting firm financial

"ratified the selection of Crowe LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ended 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.

broker non-votes financial

"For | Against | Abstain/Withhold | Broker Non-votes 14,741,820 | 4,859,374 | 111,686 | 2,872,162"

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.

emerging growth company regulatory

"Emerging growth company Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders"

An emerging growth company is a recently public or smaller public firm that qualifies for temporary, lighter regulatory and disclosure rules to reduce the cost and effort of being public. For investors, it means the company may provide less historical financial detail and face fewer reporting requirements than larger firms, so it can grow more quickly but also carries higher uncertainty—like buying a promising early-stage product with fewer user reviews.

Understanding 8-K Material Events →

0000721994FALSE00007219942022-04-122022-04-12

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 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 14, 2026  

LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORPORATION

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter) 

Indiana

0-11487

35-1559596

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

(Commission File Number)

(IRS Employer Identification No.)

 

202 East Center Street,
Warsaw			,			Indiana			46580
(Address of principal executive offices)									(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (574) 267-6144

(Former name or former address if changed since last report.)

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:

☐			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 each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, no par value

LKFN

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 (s230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (s240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company  ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the Registrant has elected not to use 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

On April 14, 2026, the Company’s annual meeting of shareholders was held. At the meeting, the shareholders elected A. Faraz Abbasi, Blake W. Augsburger, Robert E. Bartels, Jr., Darrianne P. Christian, Melinda J. Creighton Truex, David M. Findlay, Emily E. Pichon, Kristin L. Pruitt, Steven D. Ross, Brian J. Smith, Daniel B. Starr, Bradley J. Toothaker, and M. Scott Welch, each with terms expiring in 2027. Additionally, the Company’s shareholders approved the advisory vote on executive compensation and ratified the selection of Crowe LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ended December 31, 2026.

The final results of voting on each of the matters submitted to a vote of security holders during the annual meeting are as follows:

			For						Abstain/Withhold						Broker Non-votes
A. Faraz Abbasi			15,444,897						4,267,983						2,872,162
Blake W. Augsburger			18,673,142						1,039,738						2,872,162
Robert E. Bartels, Jr.			19,098,273						614,607						2,872,162
Darrianne P. Christian			19,425,366						287,514						2,872,162
Melinda J. Creighton Truex			19,503,483						209,397						2,872,162
David M. Findlay			19,376,143						336,737						2,872,162
Emily E. Pichon			19,142,893						569,987						2,872,162
Kristin L. Pruitt			19,161,025						551,855						2,872,162
Steven D. Ross			19,122,229						590,651						2,872,162
Brian J. Smith			19,241,058						471,822						2,872,162
Daniel B. Starr			19,523,628						189,252						2,872,162
Bradley J. Toothaker			15,560,306						4,152,574						2,872,162
M. Scott Welch			19,149,946						562,934						2,872,162

Approval of Advisory Proposal on Executive Compensation:

For						Against						Abstain/Withhold						Broker Non-votes
14,741,820						4,859,374						111,686						2,872,162

Ratification of Crowe LLP as Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm:

For						Against						Abstain/Withhold						Broker Non-votes
22,283,808						298,203						3,031						0

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d)    Exhibits

104    Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

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.

LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORPORATION

Dated:  April 15, 2026			By:			/s/ Lisa M. O’Neill
						Lisa M. O’Neill
						Executive Vice President
						and Chief Financial Officer

Filing Exhibits & Attachments

3 documents

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