[Form 4] THERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC INC. Insider Trading Activity
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Scott M. Sperling, a director associated with Thomas H. Lee Partners, received 17,428.67 phantom stock units in Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) on 09/27/2025 under the company's Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors. Each unit is convertible into one share of common stock on a 1-for-1 basis and was credited at a per-unit value of $464.24, reflecting the quarter-end closing price used to calculate director retainer deferrals. The units are distributable as shares when director service ends or if a change of control occurs. The filing documents a grant of stock-linked deferred compensation rather than an open-market purchase or sale.
Positive
- Director pay aligned with shareholders: Retainers deferred into phantom stock units that convert 1-for-1 into common stock on distribution.
- Transparent valuation method: Units credited at a disclosed per-unit price of $464.24 based on quarter-end closing price.
Negative
- None.
Insights
TL;DR: Director compensation was deferred into stock units, aligning pay with shareholder value and preserving retention incentives.
The reported grant credits director retainer fees into phantom stock units convertible 1-for-1 into common shares upon termination of service or change of control. This structure promotes alignment between directors and long-term shareholders by linking compensation to the company's stock performance and by delaying distribution until cessation of service or a corporate event. The per-unit credit at $464.24 documents the valuation method (quarter-end close) used by the Plan. The transaction appears routine for director compensation and carries no immediate dilutive issuance of shares until distribution.
TL;DR: A deferred-compensation stock-unit grant of material notional value was recorded; it is compensatory, not a market trade.
The form shows an award of 17,428.67 phantom stock units credited to the reporting person at $464.24 per unit, implying a notional value of approximately $8.1 million based on the credited unit price (calculation visible from provided figures). Units convert 1-for-1 into common stock on distribution, meaning potential future issuance or transfer of shares tied to director departure or change of control. For investors, this is a standard compensation mechanism rather than a signal of insider buying or selling activity.