Shareholder Vote

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, DC 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 19, 2018 LINCOLN ELECTRIC HOLDINGS, INC. (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter) 0-1402 (Commission File Number) Ohio 34-1860551 (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) (IRS Employer Identification No.) 22801 St. Clair Avenue Cleveland, Ohio 44117 (Address of Principal Executive Offices, with Zip Code) Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (216) 481-8100 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 ( see General Instruction A.2. below): ☐ 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)) Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter). ☐ Emerging growth company If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐ Item 5.07. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders. The 2018 Annual Meeting of the Company was held on Thursday, April 19, 2018 at Lincoln Electric’s Welding Technology & Training Center, 22800 St. Clair Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio. At the 2018 Annual Meeting, 56,632,636 shares, of the 65,618,884 shares that were outstanding and entitled to vote (86.3%), were represented in person or by proxy, constituting a quorum. The final results of voting on each of the matters submitted for a vote of security holders at the 2018 Annual Meeting are as follows: Proposal 1 - Shareholders elected ten directors, each to hold office until the 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualified, as set forth below. Name Votes For Votes Withheld Broker Non-Votes Curtis E. Espeland 46,491,280 148,828 9,992,528 Stephen G. Hanks 46,329,316 310,792 9,992,528 Michael F. Hilton 43,509,484 3,130,624 9,992,528 G. Russell Lincoln 45,891,192 748,916 9,992,528 Kathryn Jo Lincoln 46,104,433 535,675 9,992,528 William E. MacDonald, III 46,276,405 363,703 9,992,528 Christopher L. Mapes 45,619,982 1,020,126 9,992,528 Phillip J. Mason 46,518,637 121,471 9,992,528 Ben P. Patel 46,517,330 122,778 9,992,528 Hellene S. Runtagh 46,281,710 358,398 9,992,528 Proposal 2 - Shareholders ratified the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent auditors for the year ending December 31, 2018, as set forth below. Votes For Votes Against Abstentions Broker Non-Votes 56,076,746 455,963 99,927 0 Proposal 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 43,880,518 912,381 1,847,209 9,992,528 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: April 23, 2018 By: /s/ Jennifer Ansberry Jennifer Ansberry Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary