Form 4: Apellis Officer Sells Shares for Tax Obligations

Apellis Pharmaceuticals' VP/Chief Accounting Officer, James Chopas, sold 2,064 shares of common stock at $21.7654 to cover tax withholding on Restricted Stock Units.

Summary

• James George Chopas, VP/Chief Accounting Officer of Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (APLS), reported a transaction.
• On January 22, 2026, Mr. Chopas sold 2,064 shares of Apellis common stock.
• The shares were sold at a price of $21.7654 per share.
• This sale was executed to cover tax withholding obligations related to Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) that were released on January 21, 2026.
• Following this transaction, Mr. Chopas beneficially owns 49,805 shares of Apellis common stock directly.
• The transaction was made pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1(c) plan.

Sentiment

Score: 5

Explanation: The filing reports a routine, non-discretionary sale of shares by an officer to cover tax withholding obligations upon the vesting of Restricted Stock Units. This type of transaction is neutral in sentiment as it does not indicate a change in the company's fundamentals or the officer's confidence in the company, but rather a standard administrative event related to equity compensation.

Future Outlook

The filing does not contain any forward-looking statements or guidance regarding the company's future performance or strategic direction.

Industry Context

This is a routine insider transaction, specifically a non-discretionary sale to cover tax obligations upon RSU vesting. Such transactions are common across all industries for executives receiving equity compensation and typically do not reflect a change in the company's operational performance or broader industry trends.

Stakeholder Impact

• The sale of shares by an officer to cover tax withholding is a routine event with minimal impact on shareholders, as it does not signal a change in company strategy or performance.
• Employees holding similar equity compensation plans may view this as a standard process for managing RSU vesting and associated tax liabilities.

Key Dates

Keywords

Apellis Pharmaceuticals, APLS, Form 4, Insider Transaction, Stock Sale, Tax Withholding, Restricted Stock Units, James Chopas, Officer Transaction, Rule 10b5-1