Merck (MRK) director Mary Ellen Coe receives 233 phantom stock units in cash-settled award
Filing Impact
Filing Sentiment
Form Type
4
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Merck & Co., Inc. director Mary Ellen Coe reported a routine compensation-related transaction involving phantom stock units. She received a grant of 233.4630 phantom stock units at a reference price of $128.5000 per unit, recorded as a grant or award acquisition.
Following this grant, Coe holds 31,999.1016 phantom stock units, each tied on a 1-for-1 basis to Merck common stock but settled 100% in cash upon her termination of service under the Plan for Deferred Payment of Directors' Compensation. Separately, she directly holds 10 shares of Merck common stock after the reported transactions.
Positive
- None.
Negative
- None.
Insider Trade Summary
2 transactions reported
Mixed
2 txns
Insider
Coe Mary Ellen
Role
null
| Type | Security | Shares | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grant/Award | Phantom Stock | 233.463 | $128.50 | $30K |
| holding | Common Stock | -- | -- | -- |
Holdings After Transaction:
Phantom Stock — 31,999.102 shares (Direct, null);
Common Stock — 10 shares (Direct, null)
Footnotes (1)
- 1-for-1 Phantom stock units are to be settled 100% in cash upon reporting person's termination of service in accordance with a distribution schedule elected pursuant to the terms of the Plan for Deferred Payment of Directors' Compensation.
Key Figures
Phantom stock grant: 233.4630 units
Reference price per phantom unit: $128.5000
Total phantom units after grant: 31,999.1016 units
+1 more
4 metrics
Phantom stock grant
233.4630 units
Grant of phantom stock units to director
Reference price per phantom unit
$128.5000
Grant valuation price
Total phantom units after grant
31,999.1016 units
Director’s phantom stock balance after transaction
Common shares held after transaction
10 shares
Director’s direct Merck common stock holdings
Key Terms
Phantom Stock, Plan for Deferred Payment of Directors' Compensation, grant/award acquisition, cash-settled
4 terms
Phantom Stock financial
"The transaction involves Phantom Stock units linked 1-for-1 to Common Stock."
A phantom stock is a form of compensation that gives employees or executives the benefits of stock ownership, such as the increase in stock value, without actually giving them real shares. It acts like a promise to pay the employee the equivalent value of company stock later, often as a bonus or incentive. This allows companies to motivate and reward staff without diluting ownership or transferring actual shares.
Plan for Deferred Payment of Directors' Compensation financial
"Phantom stock units are settled in cash under the Plan for Deferred Payment of Directors' Compensation."
grant/award acquisition financial
"The phantom stock transaction is classified as a grant/award acquisition."
cash-settled financial
"Phantom stock units are to be settled 100% in cash upon termination of service."
Cash-settled describes a financial contract that is resolved by paying the monetary difference between agreed and actual prices, instead of delivering the underlying asset. For investors, it matters because it simplifies trades—like settling a bet with cash rather than handing over the item—and affects liquidity, tax treatment, and counterparty exposure, since you receive or pay only the value change rather than owning or transferring the actual security or commodity.
FAQ
What did Merck (MRK) director Mary Ellen Coe report in this Form 4?
Mary Ellen Coe reported a routine phantom stock grant. She received 233.4630 phantom stock units, bringing her total phantom holdings to 31,999.1016 units, and directly holds 10 shares of Merck common stock after the reported transactions.
How many Merck (MRK) phantom stock units were granted to Mary Ellen Coe?
Mary Ellen Coe was granted 233.4630 phantom stock units. These units are part of Merck’s deferred compensation structure for directors and increase her total phantom stock balance to 31,999.1016 units as of the reported transaction date.
At what reference price were Merck (MRK) phantom stock units granted in this filing?
The phantom stock units were recorded at a reference price of $128.5000 per unit. This price is used for accounting and award valuation purposes and does not represent an open-market purchase or sale of Merck common stock by the director.
How many Merck (MRK) phantom stock units does Mary Ellen Coe hold after this grant?
After the grant, Mary Ellen Coe holds 31,999.1016 phantom stock units. Each unit tracks Merck common stock on a 1-for-1 basis but is payable in cash under the company’s Plan for Deferred Payment of Directors' Compensation at termination of service.
How and when are Merck (MRK) phantom stock units held by Mary Ellen Coe settled?
The phantom stock units are settled 100% in cash upon Mary Ellen Coe’s termination of service. Payment follows a distribution schedule elected under Merck’s Plan for Deferred Payment of Directors' Compensation, rather than resulting in delivery of actual Merck common shares.