Lee Enterprises (LEE) CEO Nathan Bekke granted stock, options and performance rights
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
LEE ENTERPRISES President & CEO Nathan E. Bekke reported equity awards primarily related to the company’s 2020 Long-Term Incentive Plan. On August 6, 2026, he received 107,759 performance rights and a corresponding 107,759-share grant of common stock, bringing his direct common stock holdings to 143,696 shares. These awards were originally approved on December 16, 2024, subject to shareholder approval of the First Amendment to the 2020 Long-Term Incentive Plan and registration of additional shares on Form S-8, which occurred on February 27, 2025 and March 11, 2025, respectively.
Earlier, on March 11, 2025, he was granted an employee stock option for 5,946 shares at an exercise price of $16.36 per share, vesting in three equal annual installments beginning December 16, 2025 and expiring on December 15, 2034. He also received 7,273 performance rights expiring on September 26, 2027. Each performance right represents a contingent right to receive one share of common stock that vests on the expiration date if specified stock performance criteria are satisfied.
Positive
- None.
Negative
- None.
Insider Trade Summary
Net Buyer: 107,759 shares
Net Buy
4 txns
Insider
BEKKE NATHAN E.
Role
President & CEO
| Type | Security | Shares | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grant/Award | Performance Rights F3, F1 | 107,759 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Grant/Award | Common Stock F1 | 107,759 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Grant/Award | Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy) F1, F2 | 5,946 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Grant/Award | Performance Rights F3, F1 | 7,273 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Holdings After Transaction:
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy) — 5,946 shares (Direct);
Performance Rights — 115,032 shares (Direct);
Common Stock — 143,696 shares (Direct)
Footnotes (3)
- F1. The grant of restricted stock awards, stock options, and performance shares were approved by the executive compensation committee of LEE's board of directors on December 16, 2024, subject to shareholder approval of the First Amendment to the 2020 Long-Term Incentive Plan ("Amendment") under which the awards were granted and the subsequent filing of LEE's Registration Statement on Form S-8 registering the additional shares authorized under the Amendment. LEE's shareholders approved the Amendment on February 27, 2025, and the Form S-8 was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 11, 2025.
- F2. The option vests in three equal annual installments beginning on December 16, 2025.
- F3. Each performance right represents a contingent right to receive one share of LEE common stock. The performance rights vest on the expiration date and upon the satisfaction of certain performance criteria of LEE's common stock.
Key Figures
Performance rights granted (2026): 107,759 performance rights
Common stock grant (2026): 107,759 shares
Shares held after grant: 143,696 shares
+5 more
8 metrics
Performance rights granted (2026)
107,759 performance rights
Grant to CEO on August 6, 2026, expiring September 30, 2029
Common stock grant (2026)
107,759 shares
Common stock granted on August 6, 2026, direct ownership
Shares held after grant
143,696 shares
Direct common stock holdings following August 6, 2026 transaction
Stock option exercise price
$16.36 per share
Employee stock option granted March 11, 2025 for 5,946 shares
Stock option shares
5,946 shares
Employee stock option expiring December 15, 2034
Performance rights (2025 grant)
7,273 performance rights
Performance rights granted March 11, 2025, expiring September 26, 2027
Shareholder approval date
February 27, 2025
Approval of First Amendment to 2020 Long-Term Incentive Plan
Form S-8 filing date
March 11, 2025
Registration of additional shares under amended 2020 plan
Key Terms
Performance Rights, restricted stock awards, 2020 Long-Term Incentive Plan, Registration Statement on Form S-8, +1 more
5 terms
Performance Rights financial
"Each performance right represents a contingent right to receive one share"
Performance rights are conditional awards that give employees or executives the promise of receiving company shares or cash only if the business meets specific targets or survives for a set period. They work like a bonus you only get when certain goals are hit, so they matter to investors because they can increase the number of shares outstanding (dilution), signal management’s incentives and confidence in future results, and affect per-share earnings and valuation.
restricted stock awards financial
"The grant of restricted stock awards, stock options, and performance shares"
Restricted stock awards are company shares given to employees or executives that cannot be sold or transferred until certain conditions — like staying with the company for a set time or meeting performance targets — are met, like a gift that is locked in a safe until rules are satisfied. Investors care because these awards tie management’s pay to company performance, can increase the number of shares outstanding when they become tradable (dilution), and may signal expected future selling pressure or commitment to long-term growth.
2020 Long-Term Incentive Plan financial
"First Amendment to the 2020 Long-Term Incentive Plan ("Amendment")"
Registration Statement on Form S-8 regulatory
"the subsequent filing of LEE's Registration Statement on Form S-8"
A registration statement on Form S-8 is the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing companies use to register shares they intend to grant to employees, directors, consultants or benefit plans under stock compensation programs. It matters to investors because it signals potential issuance of new shares tied to pay and incentives, which can increase the total shares outstanding — like adding more slices to a pie — reducing each existing share’s ownership and potentially affecting earnings per share and stock value.
contingent right financial
"Each performance right represents a contingent right to receive one share"
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
FAQ
What equity awards did LEE (LEE) CEO Nathan E. Bekke report on this Form 4?
Nathan E. Bekke reported 107,759 performance rights and a related 107,759-share common stock grant, plus earlier option and performance-right awards. These represent compensation-based equity awards under LEE’s 2020 Long-Term Incentive Plan, rather than open-market share purchases or sales.
What are the terms of the LEE (LEE) stock options granted to the CEO?
On March 11, 2025, Bekke received an employee stock option for 5,946 shares at an exercise price of $16.36 per share. The option vests in three equal annual installments starting December 16, 2025 and expires on December 15, 2034.
How do the LEE (LEE) performance rights granted to the CEO vest?
Each performance right represents a contingent right to one share of LEE common stock. The performance rights vest on their expiration date, but only upon satisfaction of specified stock performance criteria for LEE’s common shares.
What earlier performance rights did the LEE (LEE) CEO receive before August 2026?
On March 11, 2025, Bekke was granted 7,273 performance rights linked to LEE common stock, expiring on September 26, 2027. These rights vest at expiration if specified performance criteria for LEE’s common stock are met.