Shareholders at Stepan (NYSE: SCL) back directors, executive pay and 2026 auditor
Filing Impact
Filing Sentiment
Form Type
8-K
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Stepan Company reported voting results from its April 28, 2026 annual stockholder meeting. A quorum was present, with 19,939,848 common shares represented in person or by proxy.
Stockholders elected three directors to terms expiring in 2029. Joaquin Delgado received 17,708,824 votes for and 574,142 against, Corning F. Painter received 18,083,634 for and 199,377 against, and F. Quinn Stepan, Jr. received 17,761,172 for and 528,911 against, with additional abstentions and broker non-votes on each nominee.
Stockholders approved, on an advisory basis, the compensation of Stepan’s named executive officers, with 17,000,565 votes for, 1,233,415 against, and 67,131 abstentions. They also ratified the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as Stepan’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2026, with 19,630,780 votes for, 289,370 against, and 19,698 abstentions.
Positive
- None.
Negative
- None.
8-K Event Classification
Item 5.07 — Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
1 item
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.
Key Figures
Shares represented: 19,939,848 shares
Votes for Delgado: 17,708,824 votes
Votes for Painter: 18,083,634 votes
+5 more
8 metrics
Shares represented
19,939,848 shares
Common stock present or by proxy at April 28, 2026 meeting
Votes for Delgado
17,708,824 votes
For election of director Joaquin Delgado
Votes for Painter
18,083,634 votes
For election of director Corning F. Painter
Votes for F. Quinn Stepan, Jr.
17,761,172 votes
For election of director F. Quinn Stepan, Jr.
Say-on-pay for votes
17,000,565 votes
For advisory approval of named executive officer compensation
Say-on-pay against votes
1,233,415 votes
Against advisory approval of executive compensation
Auditor ratification for votes
19,630,780 votes
For ratifying Deloitte & Touche LLP for 2026
Auditor ratification against votes
289,370 votes
Against ratifying Deloitte & Touche LLP for 2026
Key Terms
Annual Meeting of Stockholders, advisory vote, broker non-votes, independent registered public accounting firm, +1 more
5 terms
Annual Meeting of Stockholders financial
"Stepan Company (“Stepan”) held its Annual Meeting of Stockholders on April 28, 2026"
advisory vote financial
"an advisory vote to approve the compensation of Stepan’s named executive officers"
An advisory vote is a shareholder poll that expresses investors’ approval or concern about a company’s policy, executive pay, board decisions or other governance matters but does not legally force the company to act. Think of it like a customer survey: it signals investor sentiment and can pressure management to change course, so investors watch the result as a guide to future governance, risk and potential shifts in strategy.
broker non-votes financial
"NAME | FOR | AGAINST | ABSTAIN | 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
"ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as Stepan’s independent registered public accounting firm for 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.
quorum financial
"19,939,848 shares of Stepan’s common stock represented to vote either in person or by proxy, which represented a quorum"
A quorum is the minimum number of members needed to officially hold a meeting or make decisions. It ensures that decisions are made with enough participation to represent the group’s interests, much like a majority must be present for a vote to be valid. For investors, understanding quorum is important because it affects when and how important company or organization decisions can be legally made.
FAQ
What happened at Stepan (SCL) at the April 28, 2026 annual meeting?
At the annual meeting, Stepan stockholders elected three directors, approved executive compensation on an advisory basis, and ratified Deloitte & Touche LLP as independent auditor for 2026, with all three proposals receiving strong majority support in the reported vote totals.
Which directors were elected at Stepan’s 2026 annual meeting and how strong was support?
Shareholders elected Joaquin Delgado, Corning F. Painter, and F. Quinn Stepan, Jr. to serve until the 2029 annual meeting. Each nominee received over 17.7 million votes for, compared with several hundred thousand votes against, plus smaller abstentions and broker non-votes.
Was Deloitte & Touche LLP reappointed as Stepan (SCL) auditor for 2026?
Yes. Stockholders ratified Deloitte & Touche LLP as Stepan’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2026, with 19,630,780 votes for, 289,370 against, and 19,698 abstentions, reflecting very strong support for continuing the existing audit relationship.