UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 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): April 26, 2012

 

 

LINCOLN ELECTRIC HOLDINGS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

 

 

Ohio   0-1402   34-1860551

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

22801 St. Clair Avenue

Cleveland, Ohio 44117

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(216) 481-8100

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not applicable

(Former name and 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:

 

¨ 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))

 

 

 


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

The 2012 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) was held on Thursday, April 26, 2012 at the Marriott Cleveland East, 26300 Harvard Road, Warrensville Heights, Ohio.

The final results of voting on each of the matters submitted for a vote of security holders at the 2012 Annual Meeting are as follows:

1. Shareholders elected four directors, each to hold office until the 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualified, as set forth below.

 

Name

   Votes
For
     Votes
Withheld
     Abstentions      Broker
Non-Votes
 

Harold L. Adams

     65,544,182         179,199         0         9,263,487   

Curtis E. Espeland

     65,541,187         182,194         0         9,263,487   

Robert J. Knoll

     65,567,496         155,885         0         9,263,487   

John M. Stropki, Jr.

     64,488,782         1,234,599         0         9,263,487   

2. Shareholders ratified the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent auditors for the year ending December 31, 2012, as set forth below.

 

Votes For

  Votes Against   Abstentions   Broker Non-Votes
74,647,924   241,654   97,290   0

3. Shareholders approved, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers as set forth below.

 

Votes For

  Votes Against   Abstentions   Broker Non-Votes
64,185,079   803,936   734,366   9,263,487

4. Shareholders re-approved the performance measures under the Company’s 2007 Management Incentive Compensation Plan (2007 MICP), as set forth below.

 

Votes For

 

Votes Against

  Abstentions   Broker Non-Votes
63,842,168   1,581,269   299,944   9,263,487


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 hereunto duly authorized.

 

    LINCOLN ELECTRIC HOLDINGS, INC.
Date: May 1, 2012     By:  

/s/ Frederick G. Stueber

      Frederick G. Stueber
      Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary