Form 4: Eastern Co. Director Frederick DiSanto Boosts Stake Through Fee Program and Open Market Purchase

Frederick D. DiSanto, a Director at Eastern Co., increased his direct beneficial ownership of the company's common stock through a director's fee program and an open market purchase in June 2025.

Summary

• Frederick D. DiSanto, a Director of Eastern Co. (EML), reported changes in his beneficial ownership of the company's common stock.
• On June 13, 2025, Mr. DiSanto acquired 979 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, at a price of $23.36 per share. These shares were acquired under the Eastern Company director's fee program pursuant to Rule 16b3(d).
• On June 17, 2025, Mr. DiSanto purchased an additional 16 shares of Common Stock at a price of $23.00 per share.
• Following these transactions, Mr. DiSanto directly beneficially owns 81,153 shares of Common Stock.
• Additionally, Mr. DiSanto indirectly beneficially owns 43,797 shares through Ancora Catalyst and 11,970 shares through Ancora Merlin, by virtue of his position as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ancora Holdings, the sole member of Ancora Alternatives, the General Partner of both Ancora Catalyst and Ancora Merlin. He expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.

Sentiment

Score: 7

Explanation: The sentiment is moderately positive as a director's acquisition of shares, especially through open market purchases, typically indicates confidence in the company's prospects.

Positives

• A director increasing their stake in the company, especially through open market purchases, can signal confidence in the company's future prospects.
• The acquisition of shares through the director's fee program aligns the director's interests with those of shareholders.

Risks

• Mr. DiSanto disclaims beneficial ownership of shares held indirectly through Ancora Catalyst and Ancora Merlin, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest, which may indicate a limited direct financial exposure to those specific holdings despite his control.

Future Outlook

This Form 4 filing does not contain forward-looking statements or guidance regarding the company's future performance or strategic outlook.

Management Comments

• Frederick D. DiSanto, as a Director, has increased his direct stake in Eastern Co., signaling his personal investment and alignment with shareholder interests.

Industry Context

This filing is a routine insider transaction report and does not provide broader industry trends or competitive analysis. It reflects an individual director's investment activity within the company.

Related Party Transactions

• Frederick D. DiSanto indirectly beneficially owns 43,797 shares through Ancora Catalyst and 11,970 shares through Ancora Merlin. This is due to his position as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ancora Holdings, which is the sole member of Ancora Alternatives, the General Partner of both Ancora Catalyst and Ancora Merlin. He disclaims beneficial ownership except for his pecuniary interest.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders may view the director's increased stake as a positive indicator of management's belief in the company's value and future performance, potentially boosting investor confidence.

Key Dates

Keywords

SEC Form 4, Insider Trading, Beneficial Ownership, EML, Eastern Co., Frederick D. DiSanto, Stock Acquisition, Director Compensation, Common Stock, Ancora