lkfn-20250219

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): February 19, 2025

LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORPORATION

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Indiana

0-11487

35-1559596

(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)

(Commission
File Number)

(IRS Employer
Identification No.)


202 East Center Street,
Warsaw	,	Indiana	46580
(Address of principal executive offices)			(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (574) 267-6144

(Former name or 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))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class

Trading Symbol(s)

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, no par value

LKFN

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 (s230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (s240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the Registrant has elected not to use 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

As previously announced, Lakeland Financial Corporation (the “Company”) appointed Stephanie R. Leniski as Executive Vice President and Chief Retail Banking Officer of the Company and Lake City Bank, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary. In connection with the appointment, on February 19, 2025, the Company entered into a Change in Control Agreement with Ms. Leniski in the form previously entered into with certain of the Company’s named executive officers, a copy of which is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.1, and a summary of which is included in the Company’s definitive proxy statement for the Company’s 2024 annual meeting of shareholders, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2024, which summary is incorporated by reference herein. The summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the form of Change in Control Agreement, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d)Exhibits

10.1 Form of Change in Control Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 2, 2016)

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.

LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORPORATION


Dated: February 21, 2025	By:	/s/ David M. Findlay
		David M. Findlay
		Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Lakeland Financial Corporation filed SEC Form 8-K: Leadership Update, Financial Statements and Exhibits