UNIFIRST CORP SEC Filings

UniFirst Corporation director reports stock awards. A UniFirst Corp. director reported receiving an award of 575 shares of unrestricted common stock on 12/16/2025 under the UniFirst Corporation 2023 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, described as part of annual grants for fiscal 2026. The stock was acquired at a stated price of $0, bringing the director’s directly held common stock to 2,213 shares after the transaction.

The director was also granted a stock appreciation right covering 987 shares of common stock at a conversion or exercise price of $174.2 per share on 12/16/2025. This right is exercisable in full on the grant date, must be settled in stock upon exercise, and expires on December 16, 2033 or earlier if the director leaves the Board and two years pass.

UniFirst Corporation executive reports new equity awards. An Executive VP of Sales/Marketing received 1,866 shares of UniFirst common stock on 12/16/2025 as restricted stock units at a price of $0 per share, increasing the executive’s directly held common stock and restricted stock units to 7,925 shares. These restricted stock units were granted under the UniFirst Corporation 2023 Stock Option and Incentive Plan as annual grants for fiscal 2026 and vest in three equal installments on October 31, 2026, October 31, 2027 and October 31, 2028.

The executive was also granted a stock appreciation right covering 2,676 shares of common stock with a conversion or exercise price of $174.2 per share, expiring on December 16, 2035. This stock appreciation right, also granted under the 2023 Plan, vests in three equal annual installments on October 31, 2026, October 31, 2027 and October 31, 2028 and must be settled in stock when exercised.

UniFirst Corporation’s Executive VP and CFO reported new equity awards in the form of restricted stock units and a stock appreciation right. On 12/16/2025, the officer acquired 2,440 restricted stock units of common stock at $0, bringing total beneficial ownership of common stock and restricted stock units to 10,267 shares after the transaction.

The filing also reports a grant of a stock appreciation right on 3,500 shares of common stock with a conversion or exercise price of $174.2 per share and an expiration date of 12/16/2035. Both the restricted stock units and the stock appreciation right were granted under UniFirst’s 2023 Stock Option and Incentive Plan and vest in three equal annual installments on October 31, 2026, 2027 and 2028. The stock appreciation right must be settled in stock when exercised.

UniFirst Corp Executive Vice President (UNF) reported new equity awards and updated share holdings. On 12/16/2025, the officer received 1,292 restricted stock units under the UniFirst Corporation 2023 Stock Option and Incentive Plan as annual grants for fiscal 2026, at a price of $0. These units vest in three equal annual installments on October 31, 2026, October 31, 2027, and October 31, 2028.

The filing also reports a grant of 1,235 stock appreciation rights with an exercise price of $174.2 per share, vesting in three equal annual installments on the same October 31 dates from 2026 through 2028 and required to be settled in stock. After these transactions, the officer beneficially owns 4,977 shares of common stock directly and 65 shares indirectly through an IRA.

UniFirst Corporation reported the results of its Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on December 15, 2025. Shareholders elected Joseph M. Nowicki and Steven S. Sintros as Class II directors for three-year terms ending at the 2029 Annual Meeting, continuing until their successors are elected and qualified.

On an advisory basis, shareholders approved the compensation of the company’s named executive officers as described in the November 24, 2025 proxy statement, with 44,878,038 votes for, 2,912,043 against, and 258,609 abstentions, plus 244,560 broker non-votes. Shareholders also ratified the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending August 29, 2026, with 48,014,536 votes for, 163,047 against, and 115,667 abstentions.

On December 16, 2025, the board of directors appointed Mr. Nowicki as Chairman of the Board, effective immediately.

Engine Capital LP, which owns about 3.2% of UniFirst Corporation’s common stock, is urging changes at the company after the 2026 annual meeting. Based on preliminary results, Engine says a majority of the common stock outstanding (14,530,548 shares) voted for its director nominees, Michael A. Croatti and Arnaud Ajdler, with support levels of 61.5% and 59.1% of common shares voting “for,” respectively, versus 18.5% for incoming chairman Joseph Nowicki and 23.5% for director Steven Sintros.

Engine argues that if every share had one vote, its nominees would have been elected, but the Croatti family’s Class B shares hold ten votes per share and Croatti trustees control 71.0% of voting rights with 19.6% of economic ownership. Engine is calling on the independent directors and Croatti trustees to conduct a strategic review, consider a sale of the company, and address UniFirst’s dual-class share structure by forming a special committee of independent directors.

UniFirst Corporation filed a current report to disclose that it issued a press release about its 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The press release is included as Exhibit 99.1 to the report and is incorporated by reference. The filing is signed by Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Shane O’Connor.

Engine Capital LP, which owns approximately 3.2% of UniFirst Corporation common stock, is running a proxy contest for the 2026 annual meeting and has nominated Arnaud Ajdler and Michael Croatti for election to the board using a BLUE universal proxy card. Engine reports that all three major proxy advisory firms – ISS, Glass Lewis, and Egan-Jones – have recommended that UniFirst shareholders vote for Engine’s nominees at the annual meeting scheduled for December 15, 2025. Engine is urging shareholders to oppose certain incumbent directors and is calling for a strategic review that could include a potential sale of the Company. It is also inviting former employees and other stakeholders to share anonymous feedback about their experiences through the website SaveUniFirst.com as part of its broader campaign for governance and cultural change at UniFirst.

Engine Capital, which owns about 3.2% of UniFirst’s common stock, is running a proxy contest for the 2026 annual meeting and urging shareholders to elect its director nominees, Arnaud Ajdler and Michael Croatti, on the BLUE proxy card. The firm highlights that proxy advisory firm ISS has recommended shareholders vote for Engine’s candidates over incumbent directors Joseph Nowicki and Steven Sintros, signaling support for changes to UniFirst’s board and governance.

Engine criticizes UniFirst’s dual-class share structure, board decisions, and operating performance, and refers to previously rejected premium acquisition offers from Cintas. It argues that an independent special committee should be formed to re-engage potential acquirers and pursue a potential sale of the company, and raises concerns about reported succession plans that could elevate COO Kelly Rooney to CEO. Engine provides voting instructions and directs investors to its campaign site, SaveUniFirst.com.