Palisade Bio CMO receives 289,000 cash-settled phantom units; vesting begins Nov 2025
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Palisade Bio insider grant: Jones Mitchell Lawrence, listed as an officer serving as Chief Medical Officer, was granted 289,000 Phantom Units on 09/04/2025. Each Phantom Unit equals one share of common stock and the award was granted at $0 per unit. The Phantom Units vest in 12 equal quarterly installments beginning November 5, 2025, contingent on continuous service, and vested units are payable solely in cash based on the fair market value of the underlying shares upon specified settlement events including termination by the issuer without Cause, a liquidity change in control, or the seventh anniversary of the grant. The filing reports 289,000 shares beneficially owned following the transaction and is signed by an attorney-in-fact on 09/05/2025.
Positive
- Substantial retention incentive: 289,000 Phantom Units align the Chief Medical Officer with long-term service through quarterly vesting.
- No immediate dilution: Phantom Units are cash-settled, so they do not immediately increase outstanding common shares.
Negative
- Potential cash obligation: Cash settlement creates a material future liability tied to the stock price rather than equity dilution.
- Extended vesting schedule: Vesting in 12 quarterly installments delays full alignment and defers realization, which may concentrate retention risk over time.
Insights
TL;DR Executive granted 289,000 cash-settled phantom units, creating potential future cash obligations tied to stock value.
The grant of 289,000 Phantom Units is a sizeable compensation award for a senior executive and will vest over three years, aligning long-term service with reward. Because the award is cash-settled, the company carries a potential cash liability that will depend on future share price and triggering events, unlike equity-settled awards which dilute shareholders instead. Investors should note the timing of cash settlement triggers and that the grant was made at zero intrinsic price, indicating this is a service-vested retention award rather than an at-the-money option. The filing does not include any acceleration provisions beyond the stated settlement events.
TL;DR Compensation structure favors cash settlement and multi-quarter vesting, impacting governance of long-term incentives.
The Phantom Unit plan terms described create deferred cash compensation tied to equity value, which can be appropriate for retention but reduces direct owner alignment that stock grants provide. Vesting in 12 equal quarterly installments starting November 5, 2025, conditions retention through multiple service periods. The settlement clauses—termination without Cause, change in control event, or seven-year maturity—are clear and limited; however, cash settlement upon these events means shareholders do not receive additional equity dilution but may face cash outflows. Disclosure is specific but limited to this grant; no aggregate outstanding phantom liability or plan cap is provided in this filing.