Lifeway CEO reports PSU vesting, RSU cash settlement
Lifeway Foods, Inc. CEO Julie Smolyansky reported compensation-related equity activity, not open-market trading.
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Lifeway Foods, Inc. CEO Julie Smolyansky reported compensation-related equity activity, not open-market trading.
On March 6, 2026, 13,334 previously granted restricted stock units vested and were settled in cash, with related shares disposed to the issuer at $21.50 per share, leaving her with 2,139,318 common shares held directly. On the same date, 108,426 performance share units tied to three-year revenue and adjusted EBITDA goals were certified; these are scheduled to be settled in cash by March 15, 2027, unless Danone North America PBC consents to settlement in common stock or such consent is no longer required.
Positive
- None.
Negative
- None.
Insider Trade Summary
13,334 shares exercised/converted
Exercise
12 txns
Insider
SMOLYANSKY JULIE
Role
CEO, President and Secretary
| Type | Security | Shares | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exercise | Restricted Stock Units | 13,334 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Grant/Award | Performance Share Units | 108,426 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Exercise | Common Stock, no par value | 13,334 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Disposition | Common Stock, no par value | 13,334 | $21.50 | $287K |
| holding | Restricted Stock Units | -- | -- | -- |
| holding | Restricted Stock Units | -- | -- | -- |
| holding | Restricted Stock Units | -- | -- | -- |
| holding | Restricted Stock Units | -- | -- | -- |
| holding | Restricted Stock Units | -- | -- | -- |
| holding | Common Stock, no par value | -- | -- | -- |
| holding | Common Stock, no par value | -- | -- | -- |
| holding | Common Stock, no par value | -- | -- | -- |
Holdings After Transaction:
Restricted Stock Units — 34,440 contracts (Direct);
Performance Share Units — 108,426 contracts (Direct);
Common Stock, no par value — 2,139,318 shares (Direct);
Restricted Stock Units — 970 contracts (Indirect, See footnote (3);
Restricted Stock Units — 1,019 contracts (Indirect, See footnote);
Common Stock, no par value — 527,338 shares (Indirect, See footnote)
Footnotes (10)
- F1. No shares of stock were issued. Each Restricted Stock Unit ("RSU") granted to the Reporting Person on August 31, 2022 was the economic equivalent of one share of common stock. 13,334 RSUs held by Reporting Person vested on August 31, 2025. On March 6, 2026, such vested RSUs were settled in cash.
- F2. Held for the benefit of minor children.
- F3. Held by the Reporting Person's spouse.
- F4. Held by Smolyansky Holding LLC of which the reporting person is the beneficial owner of 50%. The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein.
- F5. Each restricted stock unit has a value equal to one share of common stock. The remaining restricted stock units will vest on June 16, 2026, contingent on the Reporting Person's continued service on the vesting date.
- F6. Each restricted stock unit has a value equal to one share of common stock. Of such restricted stock units, 6,070 vested on January 10, 2026 and 6,068 will vest on January 10, 2027, contingent on the Reporting Person's continued service on each applicable vesting date.
- F7. Each restricted stock unit has a value equal to one share of common stock. Of such restricted stock units, 3,397 will vest on March 28, 2026, 3,397 will vest on March 28, 2027, and 3,397 will vest on March 28, 2028, contingent on the Reporting Person's continued service on each applicable vesting date.
- F8. Each restricted stock unit has a value equal to one share of common stock. Of such restricted stock units, 486 vested on January 10, 2026 and 484 will vest on January 10, 2027, contingent on the Reporting Person's spouse's continued service on each applicable vesting date.
- F9. Each restricted stock unit has a value equal to one share of common stock. Of such restricted stock units, 340 will vest on March 28, 2026, 340 will vest on March 28, 2027, and 339 will vest on March 28, 2028, contingent on the Reporting Person's spouse's continued service on each applicable vesting date.
- F10. On June16, 2023, the Reporting Person was granted performance share units ("PSUs"), the vesting of which was subject to the achievement of certain 3-year cumulative revenue criteria and 3-year cumulative adjusted EBITDA criteria. In light of the performance-based conditions of the award, the award was not reportable under Section 16 until the performance-based conditions were certified by the Issuer's Compensation Committee. Such certification occurred on March 6, 2026. The PSUs are to be settled no later than March 15, 2027 in cash, unless prior to settlement the Issuer receives consent of Danone North America PBC ("Danone") to issue common stock to the Reporting Person or such consent is no longer required pursuant to the Cooperation Agreement, dated September 30, 2025, between the Issuer and Danone, in which case, the Compensation Committee may determine, in its sole discretion, to settle the PSUs instead with common stock or a combination of common stock and cash.
FAQ
AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
What did Lifeway Foods (LWAY) CEO Julie Smolyansky report in this Form 4?
Julie Smolyansky reported equity compensation events, not open-market trading. 13,334 restricted stock units vested and were settled in cash, and 108,426 performance share units tied to three-year performance goals were certified by the compensation committee on March 6, 2026.
What happened to the 13,334 restricted stock units reported by Lifeway Foods (LWAY) CEO?
The 13,334 restricted stock units granted August 31, 2022 vested on August 31, 2025 and were settled in cash on March 6, 2026. No new shares were issued; instead, related shares were disposed to the issuer at $21.50 per share, according to the Form 4 footnote.
How are Danone and the cooperation agreement referenced in the Lifeway Foods (LWAY) Form 4?
A cooperation agreement dated September 30, 2025 with Danone North America PBC affects how the performance share units may settle. Unless Danone consents, the 108,426 units are to be settled in cash; with consent, the compensation committee may instead use common stock or a cash-stock mix.
Does the Lifeway Foods (LWAY) Form 4 show any open-market stock sales by the CEO?
The Form 4 does not report open-market purchases or sales. It shows vesting and cash settlement of restricted stock units, a disposition of 13,334 shares back to the issuer at $21.50, and certification of 108,426 performance share units tied to long-term performance criteria.
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
