Waystar (NASDAQ: WAY) investors re-elect board, ratify KPMG and choose annual say-on-pay
Filing Impact
Filing Sentiment
Form Type
8-K
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Waystar Holding Corp. reported the results of its 2026 annual meeting of stockholders. Four Class II directors — Robert A. Demichiei, John Driscoll, Paul G. Moskowitz, and Lauren Young — were re-elected to the board to serve until the 2029 annual meeting.
Stockholders also approved the ratification of KPMG LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026. In a non-binding advisory vote on how often to hold future say-on-pay votes, stockholders selected a frequency of one year, and the company will hold these compensation votes annually until at least the 2032 meeting.
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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 entitled to vote: 191,685,290 shares
Shares voted: 180,908,036 shares
Votes for Demichiei: 175,709,113 votes
+4 more
7 metrics
Shares entitled to vote
191,685,290 shares
Common stock entitled to vote at 2026 annual meeting
Shares voted
180,908,036 shares
Shares present in person or by proxy at 2026 meeting
Votes for Demichiei
175,709,113 votes
For votes to re-elect Robert A. Demichiei as Class II director
Votes for Driscoll
153,505,736 votes
For votes to re-elect John Driscoll as Class II director
Auditor ratification for votes
180,884,990 votes
Votes for ratifying KPMG LLP as 2026 independent auditor
One-year say-on-pay votes
176,047,038 votes
Support for annual advisory vote on executive compensation
Say-on-pay broker non-votes
3,488,788 votes
Broker non-votes on say-on-pay frequency item
Key Terms
broker non-votes, independent registered public accounting firm, non-binding advisory basis, emerging growth company, +1 more
5 terms
broker non-votes financial
"Each director received the number of votes set forth below. Name | For | Withheld | 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
"The ratification of the appointment of KPMG 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.
non-binding advisory basis financial
"A frequency of "one year" was selected, on a non-binding advisory basis, as the recommended frequency"
A non-binding advisory basis is guidance or a recommendation offered for informational purposes that does not create legal obligations or guarantees; recipients can accept, modify, or ignore it without contractual consequences. Investors should treat it like a weather forecast for planning—useful for forming expectations and assessing risk, but not a firm promise—so they should verify assumptions, seek confirming information, and avoid relying on it as the sole basis for investment decisions.
emerging growth company regulatory
"405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter). Emerging growth company"
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.
Annual Meeting of Stockholders financial
"held its 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Annual Meeting")"
FAQ
What did Waystar (WAY) stockholders decide about the board of directors at the 2026 annual meeting?
Stockholders re-elected four Class II directors to the board, each to serve until the 2029 annual meeting. The directors are Robert A. Demichiei, John Driscoll, Paul G. Moskowitz, and Lauren Young, all receiving strong majority support in the vote results.
Did Waystar (WAY) stockholders ratify KPMG as the independent auditor for 2026?
Yes. Stockholders ratified KPMG LLP as Waystar’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, with 180,884,990 votes for, 7,071 votes against, and 15,975 abstentions, and no broker non-votes reported for this item.
What say-on-pay vote frequency did Waystar (WAY) stockholders prefer in 2026?
Stockholders selected a frequency of one year for future advisory votes on executive compensation. The one-year option received 176,047,038 votes, compared with 4,742 for two years, 1,285,275 for three years, and 82,193 abstentions, plus 3,488,788 broker non-votes.
How often will Waystar (WAY) hold future advisory votes on executive compensation?
Waystar will hold advisory votes on named executive officer compensation every year, consistent with the board’s recommendation and stockholder preference. The company plans to maintain this annual frequency until the next advisory vote on frequency, scheduled no later than the 2032 annual meeting.
Were there significant broker non-votes in Waystar (WAY) 2026 director elections?
Yes. Each director election item showed 3,488,788 broker non-votes. Despite these broker non-votes, all four Class II director nominees received substantial "for" votes, comfortably exceeding the withheld votes and securing re-election to the board through the 2029 annual meeting.