Form 4: Escalade Inc. Vice President Patrick J. Griffin Receives Stock Grant and RSU Award

Patrick J. Griffin, Vice President of Escalade Inc., reports the acquisition of 8,265 shares of common stock and 5,520 restricted stock units (RSUs) as part of his compensation.

Summary

• On March 11, 2025, Patrick J. Griffin, Vice President of Escalade Inc., acquired 8,265 shares of common stock at $14.98 per share as part of his 2024 annual cash incentive bonus.
• He also received a grant of 5,520 Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) which vest in three equal installments on March 11, 2026, March 11, 2027, and March 11, 2028, contingent upon continued employment.
• Following these transactions, Mr. Griffin directly owns 563,880.229 shares of Escalade Inc. common stock.
• He also has indirect ownership through an adult son, a family limited partnership, a revocable trust, and an irrevocable trust.
• Mr. Griffin disclaims beneficial ownership of shares held by his adult son, the family limited partnership, the revocable trust, and the irrevocable trust, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest.
• He is deemed to have indirect beneficial ownership of 300,000 shares held by the revocable trust and 614,964.629 shares held by the irrevocable trust due to his role as trustee and his mother being the beneficiary.

Sentiment

Score: 7

Explanation: The document reflects a standard executive compensation practice, which is generally viewed neutrally to positively as it aligns management with shareholder interests. The sentiment is slightly positive due to the incentive structure of the RSU grant.

Positives

• The grant of stock and RSUs to a key executive aligns his interests with those of the shareholders.
• The vesting schedule of the RSUs incentivizes continued service and commitment from Mr. Griffin.

Future Outlook

The RSUs vest over a three-year period, contingent upon continued employment, indicating an expectation of Mr. Griffin's continued service to Escalade Inc.

Industry Context

Stock grants and RSU awards are common forms of executive compensation in publicly traded companies, aligning management's interests with shareholder value.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• Executive compensation packages, including stock and RSU grants, are standard practice among publicly traded companies like Escalade Inc.
• Companies such as Brunswick Corporation (BC) and Johnson Outdoors Inc. (JOUT) also utilize similar incentive plans to retain and motivate their executives.
• The vesting schedules for RSUs, typically spanning three to four years, are consistent with industry norms aimed at long-term alignment.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders may view the stock and RSU grants positively as they align executive interests with company performance.
• Employees may see this as a positive sign of investment in leadership and the company's future.

Key Dates