Form 4: Cisco EVP Deborah Stahlkopf Reports Tax Liability Share Withholding
SEC Form 4
Deborah Stahlkopf, EVP and Chief Legal Officer of Cisco Systems, reports the withholding of shares to cover tax liabilities from restricted stock unit settlements.
Summary
- On May 10, 2025, Deborah L. Stahlkopf, EVP and Chief Legal Officer of Cisco Systems, Inc., had 6,389 shares of common stock withheld to cover tax liabilities.
- This withholding arose from the partial settlement of restricted stock unit awards and dividend equivalents.
- Following the transaction, Stahlkopf beneficially owns 190,829 shares of Cisco common stock.
- This total includes 1,087 dividend equivalents accrued on vested deferred restricted stock units, 1,065 dividend equivalents accrued on unvested deferred restricted stock units and 5,826 dividend equivalents accrued on unvested restricted stock units.
Sentiment
Score: 5
Explanation: This is a neutral report of a routine transaction related to executive compensation and tax obligations. It doesn't inherently indicate positive or negative sentiment.
Industry Context
Form 4 filings are a routine part of corporate governance, providing transparency into the transactions of company insiders. This filing indicates the executive's shares were used to cover tax obligations.
Comparison to Industry Standards
- Executive compensation packages often include restricted stock units (RSUs) as a form of long-term incentive.
- The practice of withholding shares to cover tax liabilities upon vesting of RSUs is standard across publicly traded companies.
- Companies like Apple (AAPL), Microsoft (MSFT), and Amazon (AMZN) also report similar transactions by their executives through Form 4 filings.
Stakeholder Impact
- The transaction has a minimal direct impact on shareholders, as it involves the withholding of shares for tax purposes, not a sale on the open market.
- The transaction impacts the executive's personal holdings, reducing the number of shares they directly own.
Key Dates
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| September 22, 2021 | Date of original Form 4 filing reporting restricted stock unit awards. |
| October 13, 2022 | Date of original Form 4 filing reporting restricted stock unit awards. |
| September 25, 2023 | Date of original Form 4 filing reporting restricted stock unit awards. |
| May 10, 2025 | Date of transaction: shares withheld for tax liability. |
| May 13, 2025 | Date of signature on the Form 4 filing. |
Keywords
Form 4, Insider Trading, Beneficial Ownership, Deborah Stahlkopf, Cisco, CSCO, Restricted Stock Units, Tax Liability, Dividend Equivalents
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