Form 4: Accel Entertainment Chief Accounting Officer Reports Pre-Planned Stock Transactions

Accel Entertainment's Chief Accounting Officer, Christen Kozlik, reported the acquisition of 1,875 shares of Class A-1 Common Stock through RSU vesting and the subsequent disposition of 550 shares for tax withholding, pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 plan.

Summary

• Christen Kozlik, Chief Accounting Officer of Accel Entertainment, Inc. (ACEL), reported stock transactions on June 15, 2025, filed on June 17, 2025.
• Kozlik acquired 1,875 shares of Class A-1 Common Stock through the vesting and settlement of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) at a price of $0.00 per share.
• Following this acquisition, Kozlik's direct beneficial ownership of Class A-1 Common Stock increased to 6,409 shares.
• Concurrently, 550 shares of Class A-1 Common Stock were disposed of at a price of $11.25 per share to cover tax withholding obligations related to the RSU vesting.
• After these transactions, Kozlik's direct beneficial ownership of Class A-1 Common Stock stands at 5,859 shares.
• Kozlik continues to hold 11,250 Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), which represent a contingent right to receive Class A-1 Common Stock upon future vesting.

Sentiment

Score: 5

Explanation: The document reports routine insider stock transactions related to equity compensation and tax withholding, which are neutral events and do not indicate significant positive or negative sentiment regarding the company's performance or outlook.

Positives

• The vesting of 1,875 Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) indicates the fulfillment of equity compensation, aligning management's interests with shareholders.
• The transaction was made pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 plan, indicating a pre-scheduled and transparent approach to insider stock transactions.

Negatives

• The disposition of 550 shares for tax withholding purposes reduces the direct beneficial ownership of the Chief Accounting Officer, although this is a standard practice.

Future Outlook

The document indicates future vesting of the remaining 11,250 Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) in eight equal quarterly installments following December 15, 2024, contingent on the reporting person's continued service to the Issuer.

Industry Context

This Form 4 filing is a routine disclosure of insider stock transactions, common across all publicly traded companies. It reflects standard equity compensation practices and tax withholding procedures for executive compensation within the gaming and entertainment industry.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• The reported RSU vesting and subsequent share disposition for tax withholding are standard practices for executive compensation in publicly traded companies, including those in the gaming and entertainment sector.
• Companies like Scientific Games, Light & Wonder, or Penn Entertainment also utilize similar equity compensation structures for their executives, where vested shares are often partially sold to cover tax liabilities.
• The transaction price of $11.25 for the disposed shares reflects the market value at the time of the transaction, which is consistent with typical tax withholding sales.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: The transaction represents a routine equity compensation event for a key executive, aligning their interests with shareholder value through stock ownership, though a portion was sold for tax purposes.
• Employees: Reflects standard executive compensation practices, which may influence broader employee compensation strategies.

Next Steps

• The remaining 11,250 Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) will vest in eight equal quarterly installments following December 15, 2024, subject to continued service.
• Future Form 4 filings are expected for subsequent RSU vesting events and any other reportable transactions by Christen Kozlik.

Key Dates

Keywords

Accel Entertainment, ACEL, Form 4, Insider Trading, Stock Transaction, Restricted Stock Units, RSU, Equity Compensation, Chief Accounting Officer, Christen Kozlik, Rule 10b5-1 Plan