Escalade (ESCA) interim CEO adds stock through bonus grant and RSU vesting

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Escalade, Inc. interim president and CEO Patrick J. Griffin reported stock-based compensation and equity vesting. On February 27, 2026, he acquired 11,263 shares of common stock at $14.40 per share as a grant in lieu of his 2025 annual cash incentive bonus under the Escalade 2017 Incentive Plan. On March 3, 2026, 1,850 restricted stock units converted into 1,850 common shares on a one-for-one basis as the final tranche of a 5,550-RSU award granted in 2023. After these transactions, he directly held 576,515.229 common shares.

The filing also lists indirect holdings in shares held by his adult children, an irrevocable trust, a family limited partnership, and a revocable trust owned by his mother. Griffin disclaims beneficial ownership of these indirect positions except to the extent of any pecuniary interest.

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

UNITED 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

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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^*

Griffin Patrick J

(Last) (First) (Middle)

817 MAXWELL AVENUE

(Street)

EVANSVILLE IN 47711

(City) (State) (Zip)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
ESCALADE INC [ ESCA ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

X	Director	X	10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)
	INTERIM PRESIDENT & CEO

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
02/27/2026

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

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)
			Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price
Common Stock	02/27/2026		A		11,263	A	$14.4(1)	574,665.229	D
Common Stock	03/03/2026		M		1,850	A	(2)	576,515.229	D
Common Stock								3,289	I	By adult son(3)
Common Stock								1,289	I	by UTMA custodian for adult daughter(4)
Common Stock								614,964.629	I	By Irevocable Trust(5)
Common Stock								1,326,736	I	By Family Limited Partnership(6)
Common Stock								300,000	I	By Revocable Trust(7)

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)
				Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares
Restricted Stock Units	(2)(8)	03/03/2026		M			1,850	(9)	03/03/2026	Common Stock	1,850	$0	0	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. The grant of ESCA common stock is in lieu of cash payment of the 2025 annual cash incentive bonus payable to the reporting person for services as an officer. The ESCA common stock is awarded pursuant to the Escalade, Incorporated 2017 Incentive Plan.

2. Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) converted into common stock on a one-for-one basis.

3. Mr. Griffin disclaims beneficial interest in shares held by his adult son, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.

4. Mr. Griffin disclaims beneficial interest in shares held by his adult daughter, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.

5. Mr. Griffin disclaims beneficial ownership in shares held by an irrevocable trust (previously owned by his late father), except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein. Mr. Griffin is deemed to have an indirect beneficial ownership in the 614,964.629 shares held by such trusts due to his serving as a trustee and his mother being the beneficiary.

6. This reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership in shares held by the family limited partnership, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.

7. Mr. Griffin disclaims beneficial ownership in shares held by a revocable trust owned by his mother, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein. Mr. Griffin is deemed to have an indirect beneficial ownership in the 300,000 shares held by such trusts due to his serving as a trustee and his mother being the beneficiary.

8. Each RSU represents a right to receive one share of ESCA common stock granted pursuant to the Escalade, Incorporated 2017 Incentive Plan (Escalade 2017 Plan).

9. On March 3, 2023, the reporting person was granted 5,550 RSUs pursuant to the Escalade 2017 Plan, of which 1,850 RSUs vested on March 3, 2024 and an additional 1,850 RSUs vested and settled on March 3, 2025, as previously reported. The remaining 1,850 RSUs vested and settled on March 3, 2026, as reported on this Form 4. All RSUs settle in shares of ESCA common stock.

	/s/ PATRICK J. GRIFFIN	03/03/2026
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
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).
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FAQ

What insider transactions did Escalade (ESCA) interim CEO Patrick J. Griffin report?

Patrick J. Griffin reported acquiring Escalade common stock through equity compensation. He received 11,263 shares as a stock grant in lieu of his 2025 cash bonus and 1,850 shares from vesting restricted stock units, all under the Escalade 2017 Incentive Plan.

How many Escalade (ESCA) shares did Patrick J. Griffin acquire from RSU vesting?

He acquired 1,850 Escalade common shares from restricted stock units vesting on March 3, 2026. These RSUs were part of a 5,550-unit grant made in March 2023, vesting in three equal tranches that all settle in Escalade common stock.

What is the size and nature of Patrick J. Griffin’s 2025 bonus stock grant in Escalade (ESCA)?

Griffin received 11,263 Escalade common shares at $14.40 per share on February 27, 2026. This grant was awarded instead of a cash payment for his 2025 annual incentive bonus and was issued under the Escalade 2017 Incentive Plan.

How many Escalade (ESCA) shares does Patrick J. Griffin own directly after these transactions?

Following the reported transactions, Griffin directly holds 576,515.229 Escalade common shares. This total reflects the added 11,263-share bonus grant and the 1,850 shares received upon vesting of restricted stock units that converted one-for-one into common stock.

What indirect Escalade (ESCA) holdings related to Patrick J. Griffin are disclosed?

The filing lists indirect holdings through his adult son, adult daughter, an irrevocable trust, a family limited partnership, and a revocable trust owned by his mother. Griffin disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares except to the extent of any pecuniary interest.

How were Patrick J. Griffin’s Escalade (ESCA) restricted stock units structured and settled?

Griffin received 5,550 restricted stock units in March 2023 under the Escalade 2017 Plan. The RSUs vested in three equal installments of 1,850 units each, in 2024, 2025, and 2026, with every vested unit settling into one share of Escalade common stock.