PALI Form 4: CEO/Director granted 323,400 cash-settled Phantom Units
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Palisaade Bio insider grant: The filing shows that John David Finley, a director and officer (listed as CEO, CFO), was granted 323,400 Phantom Units on 09/04/2025. Each Phantom Unit equals the economic value of one share of common stock and the award vests in 12 equal quarterly installments beginning November 5, 2025, subject to the reporting persons continuous service through each vesting date. Vested Phantom Units will be settled solely in cash based on the fair market value of an equal number of shares upon the earliest of termination by the issuer without cause, a liquidity change in control, or the 7th anniversary of the grant date, per the issuers Phantom Unit Plan. The Form 4 was signed by an attorney-in-fact on 09/05/2025.
Positive
- Retention-focused award: Vesting over 12 quarterly installments encourages long-term service
- Cash-settled structure: Phantom Units do not immediately dilute shares because settlement is in cash
Negative
- Large contingent obligation: 323,400 Phantom Units create a potential future cash liability upon vesting or liquidity events
- Limited valuation disclosure: The filing does not state the per-share fair market value used to estimate potential payout
Insights
TL;DR: A sizable cash-settled retention grant to a director/officer with multi-year vesting; governance impact is moderate and routine.
The grant of 323,400 Phantom Units is a compensation and retention tool rather than an immediate equity issuance because units settle in cash. The 12-quarter vesting schedule aligns executive incentives with multi-quarter service, and settlement triggers (involuntary termination without cause, change in control, or seven years) are standard for retention awards. From a governance perspective, material considerations include the potential cash liability on vesting or liquidity event and the concentration of award recipients in senior management. The filing provides clear vesting and settlement mechanics but does not disclose valuation assumptions or the current fair market value used to estimate liability, which limits assessment of near-term financial impact.
TL;DR: Large phantom-unit grant aligns pay with stock value but creates contingent cash obligation; disclosure is routine.
323,400 Phantom Units, each tied to one share's economic value, represent a significant long-term incentive award. Quarterly vesting beginning November 5, 2025 spreads service requirements over three years, promoting retention. Cash-only settlement avoids immediate dilution but creates a potential cash payout triggered by termination without cause, a liquidity event, or at the 7-year mark. The filing does not state the grant date fair market value per share or any cap/thresholds, so the expected payout magnitude and accounting treatment cannot be determined from this Form 4 alone.