Form 4: ACHV CCO Exercises PRSUs, Sells Shares for Tax

Achieve Life Sciences' Chief Commercial Officer, Jaime Xinos, exercised performance restricted stock units and sold a portion of the resulting shares to cover tax obligations.

Summary

• Jaime Xinos, Chief Commercial Officer of Achieve Life Sciences, Inc. (ACHV), reported transactions on September 4, 2025.
• Xinos acquired a total of 69,000 shares of common stock through the settlement of performance restricted stock units (PRSUs) at a price of $0.
• Concurrently, 20,854 shares of common stock were sold by the issuer on Xinos's behalf to satisfy income tax withholding and remittance obligations related to the PRSU settlement.
• These shares were sold at a weighted average price of $2.77 per share, with individual transactions ranging from $2.68 to $2.88.
• Following these transactions, Xinos directly beneficially owns 74,432 shares of common stock.
• Additionally, Xinos continues to beneficially own 80,000 performance restricted stock units, which represent a contingent right to receive one share of common stock each upon the achievement of certain milestones.

Sentiment

Score: 7

Explanation: The sentiment is moderately positive. The Chief Commercial Officer earned and settled a significant number of performance-based equity awards, indicating successful achievement of company milestones. While a portion was sold for tax purposes, this is a standard practice and the net effect is an increase in direct common stock ownership and continued holding of substantial PRSUs, reflecting ongoing alignment with shareholder interests.

Positives

• Chief Commercial Officer Jaime Xinos acquired 69,000 shares of common stock through the settlement of performance restricted stock units, indicating a vested interest in the company's performance.
• The settlement of PRSUs suggests the achievement of performance criteria, as noted for 20,000 PRSUs previously reported on January 30, 2025, which were earned upon certification by the Compensation Committee.

Negatives

• 20,854 shares of common stock were sold to cover tax withholding obligations, reducing the direct beneficial ownership of the Chief Commercial Officer.

Future Outlook

NA

Industry Context

This is a routine insider transaction report and does not provide specific industry context or competitive analysis.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: A minor increase in outstanding shares due to PRSU settlement, partially offset by the sale of shares for tax. The transaction demonstrates management's vested interest through performance-based compensation.
• Employees: Reflects the company's compensation structure for executives, linking pay to performance.

Key Dates

Recommendation

This Form 4 filing details a routine insider transaction involving the settlement of performance-based equity awards and a subsequent sale of shares to cover tax obligations. Such transactions are common and do not typically indicate a change in the company's fundamental outlook or warrant a shift in investment recommendation. The Chief Commercial Officer continues to hold a significant stake in the company, aligning their interests with shareholders.

Keywords

Achieve Life Sciences, ACHV, Insider Transaction, Form 4, Performance Restricted Stock Units, PRSU, Stock Settlement, Tax Withholding, Chief Commercial Officer