Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc., (NASDAQ:LECO) (the "Company") announced today that it earned its first "Prime" Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Corporate Rating in March, 2026, from ISS STOXX, one of the world's leading advisory agencies for corporate governance and sustainable investments. Prime status identifies companies that achieve or succeed the sustainability performance requirements for their specific industry as measured by over 100 sector-specific ESG factors.

Among the 203 companies in the Industrial Machinery and Equipment sector, Lincoln Electric's corporate governance and business ethics, resource conservation practices, environmental management, and occupational health and safety performance ranked as high performing compared with sector averages. The Company also earned A grades across numerous policies and management systems, compliance and governance practices, as well as performance and targets for safety and various environmental metrics.

"We are proud to earn the Prime rating as it reinforces that our long-standing sustainability initiatives, dedicated work, platform investments, and transparency meet rigorous standards and it underscores our commitment to continuous improvement," said Steven B. Hedlund, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "We believe that leading with integrity, advancing innovation, and operating sustainably are important to all stakeholders and differentiates the value we bring to industry, customers, and our communities. We are excited to further the impact we will make helping customers build better through our new RISE strategy," Hedlund concluded.

Lincoln Electric's RISE strategy and 2030 sustainability targets build upon the achievements and learnings from its last strategy cycle. The Company's 2030 sustainability targets (versus a 2024 baseline) include:

Improving safety performance with a 34% reduction in total recordable case rates as the Company strives towards zero harm;
Decreasing its carbon footprint with a 30% reduction in GHG emissions (scope 1 & 2);
Deriving 20% of its energy from renewable sources;
Reducing its water intensity by 10% in facilities located in areas of high or very high water stress;
Decreasing its waste directed to disposal by 10%, which extends the Company's achievements in recycling and landfill avoidance, and
Establishing life cycle assessments for ten primary product families to help customers achieve their sustainability goals.

In the past year, Lincoln Electric was also recognized for the eighth time as One of the World's Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere^®, ranked by Newsweek in 2026 as one of America's Most Responsible Companies and America's Greatest Workplaces for Culture, Belonging & Community, and was cited by Forbes in 2026 as one of America's Most Successful Mid-Cap Companies and a Best Midsize Employer.

To learn more about Lincoln Electric's sustainability initiatives and performance, visit the Company's sustainability report here.

About Lincoln Electric

Lincoln Electric is a high-performance industrial machinery and technology leader who helps customers manufacture and maintain vital equipment and infrastructure. Lincoln Electric's innovative solutions enable higher quality and productivity across a variety of processes including welding, cutting, brazing, machining, process automation, and field repair. The Company leverages proprietary technologies and expertise in materials science, power electronics, automation, and intelligent software to help customers build better and achieve resilience in their operations. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Lincoln Electric is the essential ‘Linc' that keeps the economy running. The Company operates 71 manufacturing and automation facilities across 20 countries and serves customers in over 160 countries. For more information about Lincoln Electric and its products and services, visit the Company's website at https://www.lincolnelectric.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260422974484/en/

Amanda Butler

Vice President, Investor Relations & Communications

Tel: 216.383.2534

Email: Amanda_Butler@lincolnelectric.com

Lincoln Electric's Sustainability Performance Earned 'Prime' ESG Corporate Rating by ISS STOXX