Tantech Holdings elects Yao L Xu board chairman

Yao L Xu's Class III director term expires at the 2027 annual meeting of shareholders or when his successor is duly elected and qualified.

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Tantech Holdings Ltd (TANH) announced that Yefang Zhang resigned as a director and chairman of the board, and Yao L Xu was elected director and chairman by the remaining board members, effective October 1, 2026. Xu was designated a Class III director. Tantech said Zhang’s resignation was not the result of disagreement with the company concerning its operations, policies or practices. Xu founded Hong Kong Anxue International Co., Ltd. and Zhuhai Anxue Technology Co., Ltd. in 2015. He has served as Asia-Pacific General Manager of Chatham International Group since 2005 and worked as China Investment Advisor of Charles Jerquin Co., Ltd. from 2000 to 2004. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Jinan University.

Key Figures

Board changes effective date: October 1, 2026 Director term endpoint: 2027 annual meeting of shareholders Companies founded: 2015 +2 more

5 metrics

Board changes effective date October 1, 2026 Yefang Zhang's resignation and Yao L Xu's election

Director term endpoint 2027 annual meeting of shareholders Yao L Xu's Class III director term

Companies founded 2015 Yao L Xu founded Hong Kong Anxue International Co., Ltd. and Zhuhai Anxue Technology Co., Ltd.

Asia-Pacific General Manager service began 2005 Yao L Xu's role at Chatham International Group

China Investment Advisor service 2000–2004 Yao L Xu's role at Charles Jerquin Co., Ltd.

Key Terms

Class III director, foreign private issuer, Form 20-F

3 terms

Class III director technical

"designated as a Class III director"

A Class III director is a board member placed in one of the numbered groups used by companies with a staggered (or “classified”) board; that director’s seat typically comes up for election in the third year of a three-year rotation. For investors this matters because staggered terms create continuity but also make it harder to replace the whole board quickly, affecting shareholder influence, takeover dynamics and how fast new strategy or accountability can be implemented — like replacing only some players on a sports team each season instead of the whole roster at once.

foreign private issuer regulatory

"REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER"

A foreign private issuer is a company organized outside the United States that meets tests showing it is primarily foreign-controlled and therefore qualifies for a different set of U.S. reporting rules. For investors, that means the company files less frequent or differently formatted disclosures with U.S. regulators and may follow home-country accounting and governance practices, so buying its stock is like dining at a well-reviewed restaurant that follows its home kitchen’s rules instead of the local menu — you get access but should check what standards apply.

Form 20-F regulatory

"annual reports under cover of Form 20-F"

Form 20-F is the standardized annual disclosure that non-U.S. companies must file with the U.S. securities regulator when their shares are traded in the U.S.; it contains audited financial statements, a plain-language description of the business, management discussion, governance details and key risk factors. It matters to investors because it provides a consistent, comparable company “report card” and rulebook, helping buyers assess financial health, governance and risks before investing.

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

How long will Yao L Xu serve as a TANH director?

Yao L Xu's Class III director term expires at the 2027 annual meeting of shareholders or until his successor is duly elected and qualified.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

Form 6-K: How Foreign Companies Report to the SEC →

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Available on EDGAR 10/02/2026 - 04:46 PM Accepted by SEC EDGAR 10/02/2026 - 04:45 PM Learn about SEC filing dates

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 6-K

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the month of October 2026

Commission File Number: 001-36885

TANTECH HOLDINGS LTD

(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

No. 10 Cen Shan Road, Shuige Industrial Zone

Lishui City, Zhejiang Province

People’s Republic of China 323000

(Address of principal executive offices)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F:

Form 20-F ☒ Form 40-F ☐

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Effective October 1, 2026, Ms. Yefang Zhang resigned as a director and the chairman (the “Chairman”) of the board of directors (the “Board”) of Tantech Holdings Ltd (the “Company”). Ms. Zhang’s resignation was not a result of any disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to the Company’s operations, policies, or practices.

Effective October 1, 2026, Mr. Yao L Xu was elected as a director and the Chairman by the remaining members of the Board. Mr. Xu was designated as a Class III director and will serve a term expiring at the 2027 annual meeting of shareholders or until his successor is duly elected and qualified.

Mr. Xu founded Hong Kong Anxue International Co., Ltd. in 2015. He also founded Zhuhai Anxue Technology Co., Ltd. in 2015. Mr. Xu has served as the Asia-Pacific General Manager of Chatham International Group since 2005 and worlked as the China Investment Advisor of Charles Jerquin Co., Ltd. from 2000 to 2004. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Jinan University. 

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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, thereunto duly authorized.

Date: October 2, 2026	Tantech Holdings Ltd.
	By:	/s/ Yongxin Su
		Yongxin Su
		Co- Chief Executive Officer

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