Form 4: Empery Digital director receives VWAP‑contingent 298,802 options
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Empery Digital Inc. (EMPD) director Rohan Kumar Chauhan reported a stock option grant. The Form 4 shows options granted on 07/17/2025 to buy 298,802 shares of common stock with a $10 exercise price. The options show an expiration or exercisable date of 07/17/2035 and are reported as directly owned. Vesting is tied to the issuer's daily VWAP: 20% vests at $10 and additional 20% increments until fully vested at a $30 VWAP. All vesting is explicitly subject to shareholder approval of a new stock option plan. The filing is signed by the reporting person on 08/25/2025.
Positive
- Report discloses a specific grant of 298,802 stock options with a clear $10 exercise price
- Vesting terms are explicitly defined: 20% vests at $10 VWAP and incremental 20% installments until $30 VWAP
Negative
- All vesting is explicitly subject to shareholder approval of a new stock option plan, creating approval risk
- Vesting is contingent on achieving specified VWAP milestones, so options may remain unvested if market thresholds are not met
Insights
TL;DR: Director received a large option award dependent on share-price milestones and shareholder approval.
The Form 4 documents a grant of 298,802 stock options at a $10 exercise price dated 07/17/2025, with a listed 07/17/2035 exercisable/expiration marker and direct ownership. Vesting depends on VWAP milestones (20% at $10, incremental 20% to $30), which ties vesting to market performance rather than time-based conditions. Importantly, vesting is contingent on shareholder approval of a new option plan, creating execution risk until that approval occurs. For investors, the grant increases potential dilution if milestones and shareholder approval are met; until then, options remain conditional.
TL;DR: Grant uses performance-based vesting and requires shareholder approval, limiting immediate impact and raising governance considerations.
The filing shows a performance-contingent option award to a director with explicit VWAP-triggered vesting thresholds from $10 to $30. The requirement that vesting is subject to stockholder approval of a new option plan is a material governance note: without approval the award cannot vest. Disclosure is clear on the conditions and direct ownership; however, investors should note the conditional nature of the grant when assessing potential future dilution and alignment outcomes.