Form 4: ePlus COO Darren Raiguel Receives Significant Restricted Stock Grant

ePlus Inc. Chief Operating Officer Darren S. Raiguel was granted 18,543 shares of restricted common stock, aligning executive incentives with long-term company performance.

Summary

• Darren S. Raiguel, Chief Operating Officer of ePlus Inc. (PLUS), was granted 18,543 shares of restricted common stock on June 10, 2025.
• The restricted stock award was issued under the Company's 2021 Employee Long-Term Incentive Plan.
• The shares are subject to a three-year restriction period, with one-third of the shares vesting on each of the next three annual anniversaries of the grant date.
• Following this transaction, Mr. Raiguel directly beneficially owns 58,982 shares of common stock.
• Additionally, 43,569 shares are indirectly beneficially owned through the Darren S. Raiguel Trust, where he and his spouse are sole trustees and beneficiaries.

Sentiment

Score: 7

Explanation: The document reports a routine executive compensation event (restricted stock grant). This is generally positive for executive retention and alignment with shareholder interests, but does not indicate significant new financial performance or strategic shifts for the company itself.

Positives

• The grant of restricted stock aligns the Chief Operating Officer's interests directly with long-term shareholder value creation.
• The award is part of a structured long-term incentive plan, indicating a commitment to executive retention and performance.

Risks

• The Restricted Shares are subject to forfeiture and transfer back to the Company under certain circumstances as described in the 2021 Employee Long-Term Incentive Plan.

Future Outlook

The restricted stock grant implies a future outlook focused on long-term executive retention and performance, with shares vesting over a three-year period, aligning the COO's incentives with the company's sustained growth.

Management Comments

• Mr. Raiguel, an executive of ePlus inc., was granted a restricted stock award consisting of 18,543 shares of common stock.
• The Restricted Shares were granted by the Company's Compensation Committee, pursuant to the Company's 2021 Employee Long-Term Incentive Plan.
• The Restricted Shares are subject to a restriction period of three years, with one-third of the shares vesting on each of the next three annual anniversaries of the grant.
• Under certain circumstances, as more fully described in the Plan, the restrictions may lapse, or the shares may be forfeited and transferred back to the Company.
• Shares are also held in a revocable trust, of which the reporting person and his spouse are the sole trustees and beneficiaries.

Industry Context

Executive compensation, particularly through restricted stock units (RSUs) or restricted stock awards, is a common practice across industries to incentivize long-term performance and align management interests with shareholders. This grant is consistent with typical compensation structures for senior executives in technology and IT services sectors.

Corporate Governance

Related Party Transactions

• 43,569 shares of common stock are indirectly beneficially owned through the Darren S. Raiguel Trust, where the reporting person and his spouse are the sole trustees and beneficiaries.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: The grant aligns the COO's financial interests with the long-term performance of the company, potentially leading to more focused efforts on increasing shareholder value.
• Employees: The existence of a long-term incentive plan (2021 Employee Long-Term Incentive Plan) suggests a structured approach to employee and executive compensation, which can positively impact morale and retention.

Next Steps

• Vesting of one-third of the restricted shares on June 10, 2026.
• Vesting of one-third of the restricted shares on June 10, 2027.
• Vesting of the final one-third of the restricted shares on June 10, 2028.

Key Dates

Keywords

ePlus Inc., PLUS, Restricted Stock Award, Executive Compensation, Insider Transaction, Form 4, Long-Term Incentive Plan, Corporate Governance