Semler Scientific CEO Option Exercise and Share Sale Disclosed
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Semler Scientific insider activity: Dr. Douglas Murphy-Chutorian, Semler Scientific (SMLR) CEO and director, exercised options and completed related sales on 08/25/2025. He exercised a stock option with a $2.56 exercise price to acquire 60,000 shares; those underlying options were fully vested and immediately exercisable. To cover the exercise cost and withholding taxes he sold 28,604 shares at a weighted average price of $30.54 per share (sales executed between $30.33 and $30.92). He transferred beneficial ownership of 31,396 shares into a family trust (co-trustee with spouse) and reports indirect beneficial ownership of 186,709 shares following the transactions.
Positive
- Acquisition of 60,000 shares via exercise at a low $2.56 strike converts incentives into long-term equity alignment.
Negative
- Sale of 28,604 shares at a weighted average of $30.54, though disclosed as to cover exercise and taxes, reduces direct share holdings.
Insights
TL;DR: CEO exercised vested options, sold a portion to cover costs, and increased reported indirect holdings via a family trust.
The exercise of 60,000 options at $2.56 is a routine executive equity realization that converts incentive compensation into common stock. The sale of 28,604 shares at a weighted average of $30.54 appears limited and is explained as covering the exercise price and withholding taxes, reducing direct holdings while increasing reported indirect holdings via trust transfers. For investors, this is a typical liquidity-related transaction rather than a signal of company-specific distress or major portfolio reallocation.
TL;DR: Transaction follows standard governance and disclosure practices; trust transfer creates indirect holdings with shared voting power.
The filing discloses that Dr. Murphy-Chutorian and his spouse are co-trustees of a family trust that now holds 31,396 shares, producing indirect beneficial ownership of 186,709 shares. The Form 4 includes required explanations and price ranges for sales, and confirms the options were fully vested and immediately exercisable. From a governance perspective, the transfer to a family trust with shared voting and investment power should be monitored for any future coordinated voting with other insiders but is a common estate and tax planning step.