STOCK TITAN

ServiceNow (NYSE: NOW) investors approve equity plan, reject consent push

Filing Impact
(Moderate)
Filing Sentiment
(Neutral)
Form Type
8-K

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

ServiceNow, Inc. reported results of its 2026 Annual Shareholders Meeting. Shareholders approved amendments to the Amended and Restated 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, increasing the available share reserve by 38,000,000 shares, expanding the pool for future equity awards.

All director nominees were elected, each receiving several hundred million shares voted in favor. Shareholders gave a non-binding advisory approval of 2025 executive compensation and supported holding future say-on-pay votes every year. They also ratified PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2026.

Shareholders approved the equity plan amendments with 736,442,496 shares voted for and voted against a shareholder proposal seeking the right to act by written consent, with 486,029,473 shares against that proposal.

Positive

  • None.

Negative

  • None.

Insights

Shareholders backed management on all key proposals, including a larger equity pool.

The meeting outcomes show strong support for ServiceNow leadership. All director nominees were elected, and 2025 executive pay received advisory approval, while investors also endorsed holding say-on-pay votes annually, keeping regular oversight of compensation practices.

The increase of 38,000,000 shares in the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan meaningfully expands capacity for stock-based awards, which can support talent retention but may add dilution over time. The defeat of the written-consent proposal preserves the current framework for shareholder action between meetings.

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers Governance
Key personnel changes including departures, elections, or appointments of directors and executive officers.
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.
Equity plan share increase 38,000,000 shares Additional reserve under Amended and Restated 2021 Equity Incentive Plan
Say-on-pay support 654,688,799 shares for 2025 executive compensation advisory vote
Say-on-pay frequency 1 year 760,882,682 shares Shares favoring annual advisory vote on compensation
Equity plan amendment approval 736,442,496 shares for Vote on increasing shares reserved for issuance
Written consent proposal against 486,029,473 shares Vote opposing shareholder right to act by written consent
Auditor ratification support 862,140,873 shares for Ratification of PwC for year ending December 31, 2026
Director vote example 758,152,187 shares for Election of director nominee Paul E. Chamberlain
Amended and Restated 2021 Equity Incentive Plan financial
"amendments to the Amended and Restated 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Amended Plan”)"
non-binding, advisory vote financial
"The shareholders voted, by a non-binding, advisory vote, to approve the 2025 compensation"
broker non-votes financial
"Shares For | Shares Against | Shares Abstaining | 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
"ratified the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm"
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.
0001373715false00013737152026-05-212026-05-21

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): May 21, 2026
___________

SERVICENOW, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

___________
Delaware
001-35580
20-2056195
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
(Commission File Number)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)
2225 Lawson Lane
Santa Clara, California 95054
(Address of principal executive offices and Zip Code)
(408) 501-8550
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(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 (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 classTrading SymbolName of each exchange on which registered
Common stock, par value $0.001 per shareNOWThe New York Stock Exchange
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 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On May 21, 2026, ServiceNow, Inc. (“ServiceNow” or the “Company”) held its 2026 Annual Shareholders Meeting (the “Annual Meeting”) at which the shareholders approved, among other matters, amendments to the Amended and Restated 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Amended Plan”) to increase the available share reserve by 38,000,000 shares. The Amended Plan had been approved, subject to shareholder approval, by the Company’s Board of Directors.

The foregoing description of the Amended Plan does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of such amendments reflected in the Amended Plan, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein.

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

At the Annual Meeting, the shareholders were asked to vote on six proposals. A brief description of each proposal, along with the final voting results, is set forth below:

1.The shareholders elected the individuals listed below as directors to serve until the next annual shareholders meeting and until his or her successor has been duly elected and qualified or his or her earlier death, resignation or removal. The voting results for each such director are as follows:

NomineesShares ForShares AgainstShares AbstainingBroker Non-Votes
Susan L. Bostrom725,285,10142,285,7431,131,979108,027,421
Teresa Briggs749,448,61418,101,8691,152,340108,027,421
Paul E. Chamberlain758,152,1879,381,1331,169,503108,027,421
Lawrence J. Jackson, Jr.745,260,73521,744,4451,697,643108,027,421
Frederic B. Luddy750,265,10717,269,8101,167,906108,027,421
William R. McDermott689,481,25977,993,2571,228,307108,027,421
Joseph “Larry” Quinlan
737,145,85730,478,5311,078,435108,027,421
Anita M. Sands675,200,00692,227,3551,275,462108,027,421
Eric S. Yuan593,805,007173,762,9391,134,877108,027,421


2.The shareholders voted, by a non-binding, advisory vote, to approve the 2025 compensation of the Company’s named executive officers. The voting results are as follows:

Shares ForShares AgainstShares AbstainingBroker Non-Votes
654,688,799110,903,4573,110,567108,027,421


3.The shareholders voted, by a non-binding, advisory vote, to approve the frequency of future advisory votes on executive compensation. The voting results are as follows:

1 Year2 Years3 YearsShares AbstainingBroker Non-Votes
760,882,682620,1656,653,290546,686108,027,421

In light of the advisory vote of the Company’s shareholders to hold future advisory votes on executive compensation every year, the Company has determined that it will hold future advisory votes on executive compensation annually until the next shareholder advisory vote on the frequency of advisory votes on executive compensation.







4.The shareholders ratified the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2026. The voting results are as follows:

Shares ForShares AgainstShares Abstaining
862,140,87313,985,842603,529


5.The shareholders voted to approve amendments to the Company’s Amended and Restated 2021 Equity Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares reserved for issuance. The voting results are as follows:

Shares ForShares AgainstShares AbstainingBroker Non-Votes
736,442,49630,632,6221,627,705108,027,421

6.The shareholders voted against the shareholder proposal regarding shareholder right to act by written consent. The voting results are as follows:

Shares ForShares AgainstShares AbstainingBroker Non-Votes
280,696,983486,029,4731,976,367108,027,421

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d)Exhibits.
10.1
ServiceNow, Inc. Amended and Restated 2021 Equity Incentive Plan
104Cover Page Interactive Data File – the cover page XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document




SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

SERVICENOW, INC.
By:/s/ Hossein Nowbar
Hossein Nowbar
President and Chief Legal Officer
Date: May 22, 2026

FAQ

What did ServiceNow (NOW) shareholders decide about the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan?

Shareholders approved amendments to ServiceNow’s Amended and Restated 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, increasing the available share reserve by 38,000,000 shares. This larger pool allows the company to continue granting stock-based awards to employees and directors under the plan.

How did ServiceNow (NOW) shareholders vote on executive compensation for 2025?

ServiceNow shareholders gave a non-binding, advisory approval of 2025 executive compensation, with 654,688,799 shares voted for the proposal. This advisory support reflects investor acceptance of the company’s named executive officers’ pay program for that year.

What frequency of say-on-pay votes did ServiceNow (NOW) investors choose?

Shareholders favored holding advisory votes on executive compensation every one year, with 760,882,682 shares supporting the 1‑year option. ServiceNow has decided it will hold future say-on-pay votes annually until the next frequency vote occurs.

Which auditor did ServiceNow (NOW) shareholders ratify for 2026?

Investors ratified PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as ServiceNow’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2026, with 862,140,873 shares voted for the ratification. This confirms shareholder support for continuing with the same audit firm.

Were ServiceNow (NOW) director nominees elected at the 2026 Annual Meeting?

Yes. All nominated directors, including Susan L. Bostrom, William R. McDermott, and others, were elected. Each nominee received hundreds of millions of shares voted in favor, along with broker non-votes recorded on the director election proposals.

Filing Exhibits & Attachments

4 documents