---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001999371-25-014334"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "LWAY"
cik: "0000814586"
company_name: "Lifeway Foods, Inc."
filed_at: "2025-10-01T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-17T05:10:59.095771+00:00"
event_type: "other_material"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.7
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.7
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Lifeway Foods signs Cooperation Agreement with Danone; adds independent directors, stays litigation

## Summary
- 3 new independent directors appointed by Oct 30, 2025; 4th by Nov 14, 2025; Pol Sikar to step down at 2025 annual meeting.
- Jay Scher and another current director to step down at 2026 annual meeting; Board to separate Chair and CEO roles.
- Danone waives board representation and rights of first refusal; litigation over Stockholders' Agreement stayed.
- Danone agrees not to support Smolyansky family consent solicitation and will vote with Board on director elections at 2025/2026 meetings.
- Lifeway to file shelf registration statement by Oct 30, 2025 for Danone's shares; evaluating capital allocation alternatives.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001999371-25-014334
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: LWAY
- cik: 0000814586
- company_name: Lifeway Foods, Inc.
- filed_at: 2025-10-01T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: other_material
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.7
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.7
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 1.01, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/814586/000199937125014334/0001999371-25-014334-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/814586/000199937125014334/lway-8k_093025.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001999371-25-014334
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001999371-25-014334.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001999371-25-014334.txt

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