---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001527541-23-000033"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "WHLR"
cik: "0001527541"
company_name: "Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc."
filed_at: "2023-05-22T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-14T18:12:58.092510+00:00"
event_type: "other_material"
sentiment: "negative"
materiality_score: 0.65
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.15
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Wheeler REIT shareholders reject advisory vote on executive compensation

## Summary
- Directors elected: Michelle Bergman, E.J. Borrack, Kerry Campbell, Stefani Carter, Saverio Flemma, Megan Parisi, Joseph Stilwell; each received over 2.7M votes.
- Auditor Cherry Bekaert ratified for FY 2023: 3.79M for, 2.93M against, 582K abstain.
- Say-on-pay failed: 2.46M for, 2.61M against, 580K abstain, with 1.65M broker non-votes.
- Rejection of compensation shows shareholder discontent; non-binding advisory vote.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001527541-23-000033
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: WHLR
- cik: 0001527541
- company_name: Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc.
- filed_at: 2023-05-22T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: other_material
- sentiment: negative
- materiality_score: 0.65
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.15
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.07
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1527541/000152754123000033/0001527541-23-000033-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1527541/000152754123000033/whlr-20230519.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001527541-23-000033
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001527541-23-000033.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001527541-23-000033.txt

## Key facts
- Shareholder Votes
  Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. shareholders approved Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm at the 2023-05-19 meeting.
  - Proposal: auditor ratification
  - Outcome: passed
  - Meeting: 2023-05-19
  source text: The Company’s stockholders approved the ratification of the appointment of Cherry Bekaert LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023, and the voting results were as follows: Votes For Votes Against Abstentions Broker Non-Votes 3,786,517 2,929,505 582,238 0
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1527541/000152754123000033/0001527541-23-000033-index.htm
- Shareholder Votes
  Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. shareholders approved Election of Directors at the 2023-05-19 meeting.
  - Proposal: director election
  - Outcome: passed
  - Meeting: 2023-05-19
  source text: Each nominee for director was elected, and the voting results were as follows: Nominee Votes For Votes Withheld Broker Non-Votes Michelle D. Bergman 2,729,081 2,915,053 1,654,125 E.J. Borrack 2,727,210 2,916,925 1,654,125 Kerry G. Campbell 2,729,030 2,915,104 1,654,125 Stefani D. Carter 2,727,824 2,916,310 1,654,125 Saverio M. Flemma 2,728,194 2,915,941 1,654,125 Megan Parisi 2,725,923 2,918,212 1,654,125 Joseph D. Stilwell 2,849,272 2,794,863 1,654,125
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1527541/000152754123000033/0001527541-23-000033-index.htm
- Shareholder Votes
  Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. shareholders rejected Advisory Vote to Approve Executive Compensation at the 2023-05-19 meeting.
  - Proposal: say on pay
  - Outcome: failed
  - Meeting: 2023-05-19
  source text: The Company’s stockholders did not approve, on an advisory basis, the Company’s named executive officer compensation as described in the Company’s proxy statement, and the voting results were as follows: Votes For Votes Against Abstentions Broker Non-Votes 2,458,680 2,605,612 579,842 1,654,125
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1527541/000152754123000033/0001527541-23-000033-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.