[Form 4] Akero Therapeutics, Inc. Insider Trading Activity
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Akero Therapeutics insider transactions on 09/02/2025 show Jonathan Young, Chief Operating Officer, exercised stock options and sold an equal number of shares under a Rule 10b5-1 plan. The filing reports an exercise/acquisition of 12,500 shares at $21.10 and sales totaling 12,500 shares executed at weighted-average prices of $45.776, $47.136 and $47.58. After these transactions Mr. Young beneficially owned 197,484 shares direct and additionally has three irrevocable trusts holding 20,000 shares each, which he disclaims as beneficial ownership. The transactions were effected pursuant to a 10b5-1 trading plan dated April 29, 2025.
Positive
- Exercise of options: Acquisition of 12,500 shares via option exercise at $21.10 shows executive converting equity compensation into stock ownership.
- Use of 10b5-1 plan: Transactions were executed pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan dated April 29, 2025, indicating trades were prearranged.
- Full disclosure: Filing provides weighted-average sale prices and offers to provide per-trade details upon request.
Negative
- Insider selling: Sales of 12,500 shares on 09/02/2025 reduce direct holdings from reported pre-transaction levels.
- Concentrated holdings in trusts: Three irrevocable trusts each hold 20,000 shares; the reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership, which may complicate assessment of insider alignment.
Insights
TL;DR: Insider exercised 12,500 options at $21.10 then sold 12,500 shares under a 10b5-1 plan, realizing proceeds well above strike.
Jonathan Young exercised a stock option to acquire 12,500 shares at a $21.10 exercise price and contemporaneously sold 12,500 shares across multiple trades on 09/02/2025 under a Rule 10b5-1 plan. The reported sale prices are materially higher than the exercise price, indicating a significant gross spread per share. This is a routine liquidity event for an executive and was prearranged under a written trading plan, reducing potential signaling of opportunistic trading. The filing discloses direct ownership of 197,484 shares after the transactions and three irrevocable trusts holding 20,000 shares each that the reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of.
TL;DR: Transactions were executed under a dated 10b5-1 plan and include option exercise plus matching disposals, consistent with pre-planned insider liquidity.
The report explicitly states the trades were effected pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan dated April 29, 2025, which provides the insider an affirmative defense under Rule 10b5-1(c). The filing also discloses shares held in irrevocable trusts for beneficiaries and includes a formal disclaimer of beneficial ownership for those trust holdings. From a governance perspective, disclosure appears complete and includes weighted-average sale-price ranges and an offer to provide per-trade details on request, aligning with good disclosure practices for insider transactions.