Orange County Bancorp (OBT) Form 4 — Insider Sale and SERP Phantom Stock Disclosed
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Gregory Sousa, EVP and Deputy Chief Legal Officer of Orange County Bancorp, Inc. (OBT), reported changes in his beneficial ownership on Form 4 dated 09/16/2025. The filing shows a disposition of 10,280 shares of Common Stock and reports indirect ownership of 5,263 shares through a 401(k) plan. The filing also records the acquisition of phantom stock interests under a Performance-Based SERP that may be settled in shares, and shows 3,659 shares reported as directly owned following a prior phantom stock transaction. The filing discloses multiple restricted stock unit (RSU) grants with staggered vesting schedules: one vesting beginning March 11, 2024, another beginning March 21, 2025, and a third beginning March 20, 2026. All items are presented as required under Section 16 reporting rules.
Positive
- Timely and complete Section 16 disclosure by the reporting officer
- Ongoing equity alignment through RSUs with staggered vesting and Performance-Based SERP phantom stock that may convert to shares
- Retirement-plan ownership disclosed (5,263 shares held indirectly via 401(k))
Negative
- Disposition of 10,280 common shares was reported, which reduces the reporting person's direct holdings
- Filing lacks price and proportion context (no clear indication of percentage of total holdings or rationale for sale)
Insights
TL;DR: Routine insider reporting showing a notable sale and continued indirect and direct holdings via retirement plan and SERP instruments.
The Form 4 discloses a 10,280-share disposition, alongside retained positions including 5,263 shares held indirectly in a 401(k) and 3,659 shares reported as directly owned following phantom stock accounting. The filing also details RSU grants with multi-year vesting, indicating ongoing compensation alignment with shareholder interests. This is a compliance-driven filing; absent additional context on price or proportion of total holdings, the transaction should be seen as informative rather than clearly material to the company’s valuation.
TL;DR: Disclosure aligns with executive compensation mechanics; phantom stock and RSUs reflect standard SERP and equity-based pay.
The document explicitly describes phantom stock under a Performance-Based SERP that may be settled in shares and multiple RSU schedules that vest one-third annually. These elements suggest compensation is tied to multi-year performance or retention. The sale of 10,280 shares is recorded but the filing provides no context on whether proceeds relate to tax withholding on vesting, routine diversification, or other purpose. From a governance standpoint, the filing is complete and transparent about the nature and timing of equity interests.