Western Alliance (WAL) Insider Vesting, Sales Reported by CFO
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Western Alliance Bancorporation (WAL) Form 4 shows transactions by Vice Chairman and CFO Dale Gibbons on 08/15/2025. The filing records cash-settled restricted stock unit vesting events and open-market sales. A total of 285 RSUs (economic equivalent of 285 shares) vested under a 2024 grant and 212 RSUs vested under a 2025 grant; these vested units are payable in cash and represent 5,122 and 6,343 underlying share equivalents respectively. Separate open-market sales occurred at $82.55 per share, reducing direct beneficial ownership to 296,358 shares. The reporting also notes 296,643 and 296,570 share counts shown after certain acquisitions before the sales, and shares held in the company 401(k) plan that are included in indirect ownership.
Positive
- Routine compensation vesting: Two tranches of cash-settled RSUs vested with clear monthly schedules, showing predictable executive compensation delivery
- Substantial retained ownership: Reporting person continues to hold 296,358 shares directly after reported sales, indicating ongoing ownership alignment
- 401(k) participation: Shares held in the company 401(k) plan are disclosed, reflecting additional indirect ownership
Negative
- Open-market sales: Dispositions at $82.55 reduced direct holdings, which could be perceived as partial liquidity-taking
- Cash settlement of RSUs: Vesting units are paid in cash rather than equity, which does not increase share count alignment with shareholders
Insights
TL;DR: Insider sold shares while restricted units vested; net direct ownership remains near ~296k shares, indicating routine compensation and liquidity actions.
The transactions are a mix of routine vesting of cash-settled RSUs and timely open-market disposals at $82.55 per share. Vesting schedules are monthly over multi-year periods (36 months) for two grants starting March 2024 and March 2025, which is consistent with standard executive compensation pacing. The sales reduced direct holdings modestly from reported interim balances; however, total direct ownership remains substantial at 296,358 shares. For investors, these moves read as typical exercise/settlement and diversification/liquidity activity rather than a company-specific signal.
TL;DR: Transactions appear compliant and routine: scheduled RSU vesting, cash settlement, and open-market sales properly reported on Form 4.
The filing discloses vesting that is payable solely in cash and explicitly states the vesting cadence (1/36th monthly). Sales executed at $82.55 are reported contemporaneously with vesting dates and the Form 4 is signed via attorney-in-fact, indicating standard procedural handling. No indications of trading pursuant to a 10b5-1 plan are checked on the form, and there are no amendments noted. From a governance perspective, disclosures meet Section 16 requirements and present no immediate red flags.