STOCK TITAN

Central Garden & Pet (CENT) chair exercises 127,942-share option and withholds shares

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(Neutral)
Form Type
4

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Central Garden & Pet Co chairman and 10% owner William E. Brown exercised stock options for 127,942 shares of Class A Common Stock at an exercise price of $31.176 per share. A substantial portion of the resulting shares (116,232) was delivered or withheld to cover the option exercise price and withholding tax liability at $38.28 per share. Brown also has indirect exposure to 354,159 Class A shares held by family irrevocable trusts, for which he and his spouse share investment control but disclaim beneficial ownership except for their pecuniary interest.

Positive

  • None.

Negative

  • None.
Insider BROWN WILLIAM E
Role Chairman
Type Security Shares Price Value
Exercise Stock Option F3 127,942 $0.00 $0.00
Exercise Class A Common Stock 127,942 $31.176 $3.99M
Exercise Price or Tax Liability Class A Common Stock F1 116,232 $38.28 $4.45M
holding Class A Common Stock F2 -- -- --
Holdings After Transaction: Stock Option — 0 shares (Direct); Class A Common Stock — 949,258 shares (Direct); Class A Common Stock — 354,159 shares (Indirect, By Irrevocable Trusts)
Footnotes (3)
  1. F1. Shares withheld by the Issuer in payment of the aggregate option exercise price and withholding tax liability incurred upon the above-reported exercise of options. The amount of shares withheld is based on the respective average of the high and low sales prices on the date of the exercise.
  2. F2. These securities are owned directly by various family Irrevocable Trusts and indirectly by the Reporting Person and his spouse as co-trustees of the Irrevocable Trusts. The Reporting Person and his spouse, as co-trustees, have and share investment control over the securities held in each of the Irrevocable Trusts but disclaim beneficial ownership of the reported securities held by the Irrevocable Trusts except to the extent of his and his wife's pecuniary interest therein.
  3. F3. On August 11, 2020, the Issuer's Compensation Committee granted the reporting person an option to purchase 102,354 (127,942 after stock dividend) shares of Class A Common Stock of the Issuer at an exercise price of $38.97 ($31.176 after stock dividend) per share. The option vests in four equal annual installments beginning August 11, 2021.
Option shares exercised 127,942 shares Class A Common Stock acquired via option exercise on 2026-08-10
Exercise price per share $31.176 Exercise price of stock option after stock dividend adjustment
Shares withheld for exercise price and taxes 116,232 shares Class A shares delivered or withheld at $38.28 per share
Withholding price per share $38.28 Average of high and low sales prices on the exercise date
Indirect trust holdings 354,159 shares Class A shares held by various family irrevocable trusts
Option expiration date 2026-08-11 Expiration date of the stock option that was exercised
Original grant shares 102,354 shares Original option grant before adjustment for stock dividend
Original exercise price $38.97 Original exercise price before stock dividend adjustment
Stock Option financial
"security_title "Stock Option" with an exercise price of $31.176 per share"
A stock option is a contract that gives you the right to buy or sell a company's stock at a specific price within a certain time frame. People use them to potentially make money if the stock's price moves favorably or to protect against losses. It's like holding a coupon that can be used to buy or sell stock at a set price later on.
withholding tax liability financial
"payment of the aggregate option exercise price and withholding tax liability incurred"
Irrevocable Trusts financial
"These securities are owned directly by various family Irrevocable Trusts"
pecuniary interest financial
"disclaim beneficial ownership of the reported securities except to the extent of pecuniary interest"
exercise price financial
"option to purchase shares of Class A Common Stock at an exercise price of $38.97 ($31.176 after stock dividend)"
The exercise price is the fixed amount at which you can buy or sell an asset, like a stock, when using an options contract. It matters because it helps determine whether exercising the option will be profitable or not, depending on the current market price. Think of it as the set price you agree on today to buy or sell later.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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FAQ

What did William E. Brown report in this Form 4 for CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO (CENT)?

William E. Brown reported exercising stock options for 127,942 shares of Central Garden & Pet Co Class A Common Stock at an exercise price of $31.176 per share, with related share withholding to cover exercise costs and taxes.

How many CENT Class A shares did Brown acquire through option exercise and at what price?

Brown acquired 127,942 Class A Common shares of CENT through option exercise at an exercise price of $31.176 per share, reflecting an option originally granted in 2020 and adjusted following a stock dividend.

How many CENT shares were withheld to cover exercise price and taxes in this Form 4?

A total of 116,232 Class A Common shares of CENT were delivered or withheld to pay the aggregate option exercise price and withholding tax liability, using the average of the high and low sales prices on the exercise date.

What indirect holdings in CENT does Brown report through irrevocable trusts?

Brown reports 354,159 Class A shares of CENT held by various family irrevocable trusts. He and his spouse, as co‑trustees, share investment control but disclaim beneficial ownership except to the extent of their pecuniary interest.

Was Brown’s CENT Form 4 transaction made under a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan?

The filing indicates the Rule 10b5-1 checkbox is not affirmed. There is no disclosed Rule 10b5-1 trading plan governing these transactions, so they are not reported as pre-arranged under such a plan.

What were the original grant terms of Brown’s exercised CENT stock option?

The option was granted on August 11, 2020 for 102,354 shares (adjusted to 127,942 after a stock dividend) at an exercise price of $38.97 (adjusted to $31.176) per share and vested in four equal annual installments.
SEC Form 4
FORM 4UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
OMB APPROVAL
OMB Number:3235-0287
Estimated average burden
hours per response:0.5
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of equity securities of the issuer that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person*
BROWN WILLIAM E

(Last)(First)(Middle)
C/O CENTRAL GARDEN & PET COMPANY
1340 TREAT BLVD, SUITE 600

(Street)
WALNUT CREEK CALIFORNIA 94597

(City)(State)(Zip)

UNITED STATES

(Country)
2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO [ CENT ]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
XDirectorX10% Owner
XOfficer (give title below)Other (specify below)
Chairman
2a. Foreign Trading Symbol
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
08/10/2026
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)
XForm filed by One Reporting Person
Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
CodeVAmount(A) or (D)Price
Class A Common Stock08/10/2026M127,942A$31.1761,065,490D
Class A Common Stock08/10/2026F(1)116,232D$38.28949,258D
Class A Common Stock354,159IBy Irrevocable Trusts(2)
Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
CodeV(A)(D)Date ExercisableExpiration DateTitleAmount or Number of Shares
Stock Option$31.17608/10/2026M127,942 (3)08/11/2026Class A Common Stock127,942$0.000D
Explanation of Responses:
1. Shares withheld by the Issuer in payment of the aggregate option exercise price and withholding tax liability incurred upon the above-reported exercise of options. The amount of shares withheld is based on the respective average of the high and low sales prices on the date of the exercise.
2. These securities are owned directly by various family Irrevocable Trusts and indirectly by the Reporting Person and his spouse as co-trustees of the Irrevocable Trusts. The Reporting Person and his spouse, as co-trustees, have and share investment control over the securities held in each of the Irrevocable Trusts but disclaim beneficial ownership of the reported securities held by the Irrevocable Trusts except to the extent of his and his wife's pecuniary interest therein.
3. On August 11, 2020, the Issuer's Compensation Committee granted the reporting person an option to purchase 102,354 (127,942 after stock dividend) shares of Class A Common Stock of the Issuer at an exercise price of $38.97 ($31.176 after stock dividend) per share. The option vests in four equal annual installments beginning August 11, 2021.
/s/ JoAnn Jonte as attorney-in-fact for William Brown08/12/2026
** Signature of Reporting PersonDate
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.
* Form 4: SEC 1474 (03-26)