Form 4: F5 CTO Kunal Anand Awarded 8,013 Service-Based RSUs

F5, Inc. Chief Technology Officer Kunal Anand was granted 8,013 service-based Restricted Stock Units, vesting quarterly starting February 2026.

Summary

• Kunal Anand, Chief Technology Officer of F5, Inc., acquired 8,013 service-based Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) on November 3, 2025.
• Each Restricted Stock Unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of F5, Inc. Common Stock upon vesting.
• These service-based RSUs will vest in twelve equal quarterly increments, commencing on February 1, 2026.
• Concurrent with this award, additional Performance RSUs were granted, with the number earned contingent on achieving performance targets.
• If performance targets are met at 100%, the reporting person could receive an additional 8,013 Performance RSUs over the vesting period.
• Performance RSUs are not reported in Table II and will only be reported in Table I if and when the Talent and Compensation Committee determines that performance targets have been achieved.

Sentiment

Score: 7

Explanation: The grant of RSUs to a key executive is a positive sign for management retention and alignment of interests, though it's a routine compensation event and not indicative of extraordinary operational performance.

Positives

• The grant of 8,013 service-based Restricted Stock Units to the Chief Technology Officer indicates continued commitment to incentivizing and retaining key management personnel.
• The inclusion of Performance RSUs aligns executive compensation directly with the achievement of company performance targets, fostering a focus on strategic goals.

Risks

• The actual number of Performance RSUs received may be less than the potential 8,013 if performance targets are not fully achieved.
• The reporting person must remain employed during the vesting period to receive the full number of both service-based and performance-based Restricted Stock Units.

Future Outlook

The vesting of service-based Restricted Stock Units and the potential earning of Performance RSUs are contingent on future service and the achievement of performance targets, respectively, indicating a long-term incentive structure for the Chief Technology Officer.

Management Comments

• The grant of service-based and performance-based Restricted Stock Units is intended to incentivize and retain the Chief Technology Officer, aligning their interests with long-term company performance and shareholder value.

Industry Context

The grant of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) and Performance RSUs is a common executive compensation practice in the technology industry, designed to align executive incentives with shareholder value creation and long-term company performance.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• The use of service-based and performance-based Restricted Stock Units for executive compensation is a widely adopted practice among publicly traded technology companies.
• This compensation structure is comparable to those seen at peers like Cisco, Juniper Networks, and Palo Alto Networks, aiming to foster long-term retention and performance alignment within the executive team.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: Potential positive impact through incentivized management and alignment of executive interests with long-term company performance.
• Employees: This is a standard executive compensation practice and does not directly impact the broader employee base.

Next Steps

• The service-based Restricted Stock Units will begin vesting in twelve equal quarterly increments starting February 1, 2026.
• The Talent and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors will determine if performance targets for the Performance RSUs have been achieved, at which point the underlying shares will be reported.

Key Dates

Recommendation

This Form 4 filing details a routine grant of Restricted Stock Units to a key executive, which is a standard component of executive compensation designed for retention and performance alignment. It does not present new information that would significantly alter the investment thesis for F5, Inc., thus a 'hold' recommendation is appropriate.

Keywords

F5 Inc, FFIV, Kunal Anand, Restricted Stock Units, RSU, Executive Compensation, Insider Transaction, Form 4, Chief Technology Officer