Executive Change

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): May 16, 2020   LINCOLN ELECTRIC HOLDINGS, INC. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)   Ohio   0-1402   34-1860551 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)   (Commission File Number)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) 22801 St Clair Avenue Cleveland , Ohio 44117 (Address of principal executive offices, with zip code) (216) 481-8100 (Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)   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)) Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Title of each class   Trading Symbol(s)   Name of exchange on which registered Common Shares, without par value   LECO   The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC 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 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. George D. Blankenship, Executive Vice President, President, Americas Welding, of Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”), informed the Company of his intention to retire, effective May 31, 2020, following thirty-five years of service with the Company. In connection with his retirement, the Board of Directors of the Company approved treating Mr. Blankenship’s retirement from the Company as a retirement under the annual bonus (EMIP) program and his outstanding equity awards. As a result, Mr. Blankenship will be entitled to the retirement treatment under such programs, generally as described in the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 20, 2020. Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits. (d) Exhibits             99.1     The Company’s press release dated May 20, 2020 announcing the retirement of George D. Blankenship             104     Cover page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in the Exhibit 101 attachments) 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 20, 2020     By:   /s/ Jennifer I. Ansberry       Jennifer I. Ansberry, Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary