Lumen Technologies Inc
9 nominees · 8 ballot items.
Election of nine directors; Ratification of KPMG as independent auditor; Approval of amendments to Articles to remove supermajority voting requirements (Items 3A & 3B); Approval of amendment to Articles to provide exceptions to “Related Person” definition (Item 4); Approval of Amended and Restated 2024 Equity Incentive Plan (Item 5); Advisory vote to approve executive compensation (“Say-On-Pay”) (Item 6); Shareholder proposal requesting shareholder right to vote for or against a poison pill (Item 7).
Follow how the vote landed and what changed on Lumen Technologies Inc’s board — director track records, governance grades, and ongoing monitoring — on the Boardroom Alpha platform.
On the ballot8
- 1
Election of Directors
ManagementBoard: FORElection of nine director nominees to serve one-year terms until the 2027 annual meeting.
- 2
Ratification of KPMG as Our 2026 Independent Auditor
ManagementBoard: FORRatify the appointment of KPMG LLP as Lumen’s independent auditor for fiscal year 2026.
- 3
Approval of Amendments to Articles of Incorporation to Remove Supermajority Voting Requirements (Item 3A
ManagementBoard: FORApprove amendment to Articles to eliminate supermajority voting requirements for certain shareholder matters and replace with majority of votes cast or closest standard consistent with Louisiana law.
More detail
This management proposal asks shareholders to approve amendments to Lumen’s Articles of Incorporation to remove existing supermajority voting provisions and replace them with majority-of-votes-cast standards or the closest equivalent permitted under Louisiana law. Management seeks shareholder approval to align corporate governance with the shareholder advisory vote passed in 2025 and to streamline corporate decision-making for matters like director removal, certain business combinations, and amendments to the Articles and Bylaws. The Board argues this change increases efficiency, reduces entrenched protections that can deter passive institutional investment, and restores fiduciary discretion to evaluate large shareholders and transactions case-by-case. Approval requires different thresholds for Items 3A and 3B under Louisiana law; Item 3A requires a majority of votes entitled to be cast by holders of outstanding voting shares, while Item 3B requires approval by holders of at least 80% of voting power (though Item 3B would be updated to the closest majority standard permitted by law if adopted). The Board recommends voting FOR because it believes removal of supermajority requirements will enable more responsive governance, reduce barriers to passive capital, and facilitate constructive transactions while maintaining statutory safeguards and implementing parallel Bylaw changes. The proposal has legal and shareholder-relationship implications: it reduces protection against hostile transactions but aligns Lumen with modern governance norms and shareholder expectations, and it follows earlier shareholder support for similar measures in 2025.
- 3
Approval of Amendments to Articles of Incorporation to Remove Supermajority Voting Requirements (Item 3B
ManagementBoard: FORApprove amendment to Articles regarding certain Article VII amendments requiring 80% vote standard to instead use closest standard permitted under Louisiana law (majority of votes entitled to be cast).
More detail
See Item 3A summary. Item 3B is a companion proposal focused on amending the Articles’ Article VII provisions (such as limits on indemnification and limitations of liability) that currently require an 80% shareholder vote and would replace that high threshold with the closest standard permitted under Louisiana law. The Board recommends FOR to modernize governance standards and align shareholder voting with majority-of-votes-cast norms while preserving directors’ fiduciary responsibilities.
- 4
Approval of an Amendment to Articles of Incorporation to Provide for Exceptions to the “Related Person” Definition
ManagementBoard: FORApprove amendment to Article V(D)(15) to exclude certain categories of persons from the definition of "Related Person," allowing Board-approved exceptions for certain 10%+ shareholders and instances resulting solely from corporate action.
More detail
Management requests shareholder approval to amend the Articles to narrow the 'Related Person' definition that triggers onerous 'Business Combination' protections if a shareholder exceeds 10% ownership. Specifically, the amendment provides Board‑approved exceptions (i) for persons whose ownership was Board‑approved prior to becoming a Related Person, (ii) for existing Related Persons who receive Board approval within a three-month window of the amendment becoming effective, and (iii) for persons whose ownership exceeds 10% solely as a result of Company actions (e.g., repurchases) so long as they don’t acquire more shares thereafter without approval. Management argues that the current automatic 10% trigger is rigid and deters passive institutional investment, limits the Board’s ability to distinguish between hostile actors and supportive investors, and can impede constructive transactions. The Board views the amendment as restoring fiduciary discretion, aligning Lumen with modern governance norms, and facilitating investor confidence and value‑enhancing transactions. The Board recommends FOR. Approving this amendment would give the Board the power to grant waivers for large passive investments, but still leaves other protective measures for truly problematic activists. The change affects anti‑takeover protections and could lower default transaction thresholds, but is presented as balanced by Board oversight and tailored exceptions to avoid abuse.
- 5
Approval of Amended and Restated 2024 Equity Incentive Plan
ManagementBoard: FORApprove Amended and Restated 2024 Equity Incentive Plan to increase share reserve by 45.6 million shares from 43M to 88.6M.
More detail
Management requests approval to increase the 2024 Equity Incentive Plan share reserve by 45.6 million shares to support equity-based compensation for employees, officers and directors. The HRCC, with Compensia’s analysis, evaluated historic burn rates, projected usage, overhang and peer benchmarks and concluded the requested increase is reasonable and sufficient for approximately three years under current grant practices. The proposal restores 100% equity LTI for 2025 and maintains governance protections: minimum one-year vesting (with limited 5% exception), no discounted options or repricings without shareholder approval, responsible recycling rules, limits on annual director awards, no excise gross-ups, clawback provisions, and double‑trigger change‑in‑control vesting. Approving the amendment enables the Company to continue awarding performance- and time‑based equity critical for retention and alignment during transformation; against concerns about dilution, the committee notes projected overhang remains within acceptable ranges and disclosures on usage and peers. The HRCC unanimously recommends FOR.
- 6
Advisory Vote to Approve Executive Compensation—“Say-On-Pay”
ManagementBoard: FORAdvisory, non-binding vote to approve the compensation of named executive officers as disclosed in the proxy statement.
More detail
This management advisory proposal asks shareholders to approve, on a non-binding basis, the compensation of the named executive officers as disclosed in the proxy, including the CD&A and compensation tables. Management and the HRCC emphasize pay-for-performance alignment: 93% of CEO’s 2025 target compensation at risk, strong STI payout (136.4% in 2025), LTI performance (88.5% payout for 2023 PBRS) and enhancements to LTI design and governance. The HRCC reviewed market benchmarks, peer groups, shareholder engagement and revised incentive designs; they recommend FOR because the programs drive long‑term alignment, retention during transformation, include governance protections (clawbacks, no repricing without shareholder approval, double-trigger change‑in‑control), and SRCC concluded realized/realizable pay aligns with TSR and strategic outcomes. While nonbinding, the HRCC views the vote as important feedback and commits to continued engagement.
- 7
Shareholder Proposal — Shareholder Right to Vote For or Against a Poison Pill
Shareholder — John CheveddenBoard: AGAINSTShareholder proposal requesting the Board adopt a rule to redeem any current or future poison pill unless the plan is submitted to a shareholder vote within 12 months.
Nominees on the ballot9
Top institutional holders10
| # | Owner | % of shares | Shares | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BlackRock, Inc. | 8.9% | 91,677,016 | $637M |
| 2 | VANGUARD PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT LLC | 6.0% | 62,119,909 | $432M |
| 3 | STATE STREET CORP | 4.5% | 46,012,329 | $320M |
| 4 | VANGUARD CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC | 4.0% | 41,631,209 | $289M |
| 5 | BlackRock, Inc. | 2.9% | 30,034,073 | $209M |
| 6 | FMR LLC | 2.0% | 20,118,610 | $140M |
| 7 | GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP INC | 1.9% | 19,819,377 | $138M |
| 8 | GEODE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC | 1.9% | 19,530,263 | $136M |
| 9 | CHARLES SCHWAB INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT INC | 1.7% | 17,175,568 | $119M |
| 10 | DIMENSIONAL FUND ADVISORS LP | 1.4% | 14,012,266 | $97M |
Other Communication Services sector meetings6
Upcoming shareholder meetings at Lumen Technologies Inc’s closest sector peers — compare boards, ballots, and ownership across the cohort.
Frequently asked questions
- When is the Lumen Technologies Inc 2026 annual meeting?
- Lumen Technologies Inc (LUMN) holds its 2026 annual shareholder meeting on Wednesday, May 20, 2026.
- What is the record date for the Lumen Technologies Inc 2026 meeting?
- The record date for the Lumen Technologies Inc 2026 meeting is Monday, March 23, 2026. Shareholders of record on or before that date are eligible to vote.
- Who are the director nominees for Lumen Technologies Inc's 2026 meeting?
- The board is presenting 9 director nominees at the Lumen Technologies Inc 2026 meeting, listed with their independence status and background.
- What proposals will shareholders vote on at the Lumen Technologies Inc 2026 meeting?
- Shareholders will vote on 8 proposals at the Lumen Technologies Inc 2026 meeting, each tagged with who proposed it and the board's recommendation.
The opinions and information contained herein have been obtained or derived from sources believed to be reliable, but Boardroom Alpha cannot guarantee its accuracy and completeness, and that of the opinions based thereon.
This report contains opinions and is provided for informational purposes only – it does not constitute investment, legal or tax advice. You should not rely solely upon the research herein for purposes of transacting securities or other investments, and you are encouraged to conduct your own research and due diligence, and to seek the advice of a qualified securities professional before you make any investment.
None of the information contained in this report constitutes, or is intended to constitute a recommendation by Boardroom Alpha of any particular security or trading strategy or a determination by Boardroom Alpha that any security or trading strategy is suitable for any specific person. To the extent any of the information contained herein may be deemed to be investment advice, such information is impersonal and not tailored to the investment needs of any specific person.
No representation or warranty, expressed or implied, is made on behalf of Boardroom Alpha as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained herein. Boardroom Alpha does not accept any liability for any direct, indirect or consequential loss or damage suffered by any person as a result of relying on all or any part of this research and any liability is expressly disclaimed.