Form 4: Avista Chairman Acquires Shares as Director Compensation

Avista Corp. Chairman Scott L. Morris acquired 91 shares of common stock as part of his director compensation, valued at $36.54 per share.

Summary

• Scott L. Morris, Chairman of the Board and a Director of Avista Corp. (AVA), acquired 91 shares of the company's common stock.
• The transaction occurred on September 2, 2025, and was made pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 plan.
• The shares were issued as an award of stock for Director Compensation and as part of the Directors annual retainer.
• The price per share for the acquisition was $36.54, which was the closing price on August 29, 2025.
• Following this transaction, Scott L. Morris beneficially owns a total of 115,671 shares of Avista Corp. common stock.

Sentiment

Score: 6

Explanation: The sentiment is slightly positive due to increased insider ownership, which generally aligns management interests with shareholders. However, the small number of shares acquired limits the overall impact.

Positives

• The acquisition of shares by the Chairman of the Board increases insider ownership, which can signal management's confidence in the company's future prospects and better align their interests with those of shareholders.
• The transaction is part of a routine director compensation plan, indicating stable corporate governance practices.

Future Outlook

The filing does not contain specific forward-looking statements or guidance beyond the scheduled transaction date.

Industry Context

This transaction is a routine insider filing for a utility company, Avista Corp., and does not provide specific insights into broader industry trends. Insider share acquisitions, especially as part of compensation, are common across various industries.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• Director compensation in the form of equity is a standard practice across publicly traded companies, including those in the utility sector, aligning director incentives with shareholder value.
• The use of Rule 10b5-1 plans for insider transactions is a common corporate governance practice to mitigate concerns about insider trading by pre-scheduling trades.

Related Party Transactions

• Scott L. Morris, Chairman of the Board and a Director, received 91 shares of common stock as part of his director compensation and annual retainer. This constitutes a transaction between the company and a related party.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders may view the increase in insider ownership, albeit small, as a positive signal of management's alignment with shareholder interests.
• The transaction is part of the compensation structure for directors, which is a standard practice for attracting and retaining qualified board members.

Key Dates

Recommendation

This Form 4 filing reports a routine acquisition of a very small number of shares by a director as part of their compensation. While it slightly increases insider ownership, the transaction size is not significant enough to warrant a change in investment recommendation for Avista Corp. based solely on this filing. Investors should consider broader financial performance and strategic developments.

Keywords

Avista Corp, AVA, Scott L. Morris, Director Compensation, Insider Trading, Share Acquisition, Form 4, Utility Company, Corporate Governance