Tax-driven stock sales by major Ginkgo Bioworks (DNA) holder Barry Canton
Filing Impact
Filing Sentiment
Form Type
4
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Ginkgo Bioworks Holdings, Inc. 10% owner Barry Canton reported compensation-related stock activity tied to performance-based restricted stock units (PSUs). On April 7 and 8, 2026, he exercised 55,476 PSUs at $0.00 per unit, receiving the same number of Class A Common shares.
According to the disclosure, 26,271 Class A shares were then sold in open-market transactions at prices of $6.93 and $6.397 per share to cover tax withholding obligations upon PSU vesting. The filing notes these “sell to cover” trades are not discretionary. After these transactions, Canton directly held 338,568 Class A Common shares.
The PSUs stem from an 82,800-unit grant made on June 19, 2025, based on a company-wide cash flow reduction target for the period from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025. The total PSUs vested reflect performance at 67% of target, as certified by the board’s Compensation Committee.
Positive
- None.
Negative
- None.
Insider Trade Summary
Net Seller: 26,271 shares ($175,067)
Net Sell
6 txns
Insider
Canton Barry
Role
10% Owner
Sold
26,271 shs ($175K)
| Type | Security | Shares | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sale | Class A Common Stock | 13,116 | $6.397 | $84K |
| Exercise | Performance-Based Restricted Stock Unit | 27,738 | $0.00 | -- |
| Exercise | Class A Common Stock | 27,738 | $0.00 | -- |
| Sale | Class A Common Stock | 13,155 | $6.93 | $91K |
| Exercise | Performance-Based Restricted Stock Unit | 27,738 | $0.00 | -- |
| Exercise | Class A Common Stock | 27,738 | $0.00 | -- |
Holdings After Transaction:
Class A Common Stock — 338,568 shares (Direct);
Performance-Based Restricted Stock Unit — 0 shares (Direct)
Footnotes (1)
- Each performance-based restricted stock unit ("PSU") represents a contingent right to receive one share of the Issuer's Class A Common Stock. Represents shares sold by the Reporting Person to cover tax withholding obligations in connection with the vesting of PSUs. Sales to cover tax withholding obligations in connection with the vesting of such securities do not represent discretionary trades by the Reporting Person. The Issuer's equity incentive plans allow the Issuer to require that satisfaction of tax withholding obligations be funded by a "sell to cover" transaction. On June 19, 2025, the Reporting Person was granted 82,800 PSUs based on a company-wide cash flow reduction target over a one-year period beginning on January 1, 2025 and ending on December 31, 2025. The total number of vested PSUs distributed by Issuer on April 7, 2026 and April 8, 2026 in the form of Class A Common Stock reflects actual performance equal to 67% of target performance, as certified by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.
Key Figures
Shares sold to cover taxes: 26,271 shares
Sale prices: $6.93 and $6.397 per share
PSUs exercised: 55,476 units
+3 more
6 metrics
Shares sold to cover taxes
26,271 shares
Class A Common Stock sold in April 2026 to cover PSU tax withholding
Sale prices
$6.93 and $6.397 per share
Open-market sales of Class A Common Stock on April 8 and 9, 2026
PSUs exercised
55,476 units
Performance-based restricted stock units converted to Class A Common Stock
PSU grant size
82,800 units
Performance-based restricted stock units granted on June 19, 2025
Performance vs. target
67%
Actual performance relative to PSU target as certified by Compensation Committee
Shares held after transactions
338,568 shares
Barry Canton’s direct Class A Common Stock holdings following April 2026 trades
Key Terms
Performance-Based Restricted Stock Unit, PSU, sell to cover, equity incentive plans, +1 more
5 terms
Performance-Based Restricted Stock Unit financial
"Each performance-based restricted stock unit ("PSU") represents a contingent right to receive one share..."
A performance-based restricted stock unit is a promise of company shares given to an employee that only becomes actual stock if specific performance targets are met and any required time at the company is completed. For investors, these awards matter because they can dilute existing shares when earned and signal management’s confidence or the company’s expected future performance, much like a bonus cheque that only clears when pre-set goals are reached.
PSU financial
"Each performance-based restricted stock unit ("PSU") represents a contingent right..."
A PSU is a company where the government owns a controlling stake and often plays a direct role in its management and strategy. Think of it like a business that operates with public oversight, similar to a town-run utility versus a private neighborhood service. Investors watch PSUs differently because government involvement can affect profits, dividend policies, regulatory treatment and stability, so these stocks may behave more like policy instruments than pure market-driven enterprises.
sell to cover financial
"The Issuer's equity incentive plans allow the Issuer to require that satisfaction of tax withholding obligations be funded by a "sell to cover" transaction."
Sell to cover is when a person who receives company stock through options or awards sells just enough shares immediately to pay required taxes, exercise costs, or fees, keeping the rest. Think of it like cashing part of a bonus to cover the tax bill so you can keep the remainder. For investors, it can create predictable small selling pressure and slightly change the number of shares actually held by insiders without increasing long‑term dilution.
equity incentive plans financial
"The Issuer's equity incentive plans allow the Issuer to require that satisfaction of tax withholding obligations..."
Equity incentive plans are company programs that pay employees, executives, or directors with company stock, stock options, or share units instead of or in addition to cash, aiming to align their interests with shareholders—like giving team members a stake in the house they help build. For investors this matters because such plans can motivate better company performance but also dilute existing ownership and increase reported compensation costs, so they affect future earnings, voting power, and share value.
cash flow reduction target financial
"based on a company-wide cash flow reduction target over a one-year period beginning on January 1, 2025..."
FAQ
What did Ginkgo Bioworks (DNA) insider Barry Canton report in this Form 4?
Barry Canton reported vesting and exercise of performance-based restricted stock units and related share sales. He exercised 55,476 PSUs into Class A Common Stock, then sold 26,271 shares to cover tax withholding obligations, leaving him with 338,568 directly held shares.
Were Barry Canton's Ginkgo Bioworks (DNA) stock sales discretionary trades?
The filing states these were not discretionary trades. The 26,271 Ginkgo Bioworks shares were sold under a “sell to cover” arrangement to satisfy tax withholding obligations arising from the vesting of performance-based restricted stock units under the company’s equity incentive plans.
How many performance-based restricted stock units vested for Barry Canton at Ginkgo Bioworks (DNA)?
Barry Canton had 55,476 performance-based restricted stock units vest, which were exercised into an equal number of Class A shares. This vesting represents 67% of the original 82,800 PSU grant, reflecting company performance against a cash flow reduction target for 2025.
What performance conditions were tied to Barry Canton's Ginkgo Bioworks (DNA) PSU grant?
The PSU grant of 82,800 units, awarded June 19, 2025, was based on a company-wide cash flow reduction target over January 1 to December 31, 2025. The Compensation Committee certified performance at 67% of target, driving the 55,476-unit vesting disclosed.