Form 4: Levi Strauss Director Gifts Shares, Updates Holdings

Levi Strauss & Co. Director and 10% owner Bradley J. Haas reported gifting Class B Common Stock and updated his beneficial ownership, with filings made via a power of attorney.

Summary

• Bradley J. Haas, a Director and 10% owner of Levi Strauss & Co. (LEVI), filed a Form 4 to report changes in beneficial ownership.
• On February 3, 2026, Mr. Haas gifted a total of 15,504 shares of Class B Common Stock from his revocable trust to custodial accounts.
• Each share of Class B Common Stock is convertible into one share of Class A Common Stock at the option of the holder and has no expiration date.
• Following these transactions, Mr. Haas directly beneficially owns 13,298,219 shares of Class B Common Stock.
• He also indirectly holds 163,574 shares in custodial accounts and 68,911 shares held by his spouse, for which he disclaims beneficial ownership.
• Additionally, Mr. Haas indirectly holds 6,832,130 shares in trusts where he serves as trustee.
• The Form 4 filing was signed by Christina M. Hamilton as Attorney-in-fact for Bradley J. Haas.
• A Limited Power of Attorney, executed on March 11, 2025, authorizes several individuals, including Christina M. Hamilton, to prepare and file SEC forms on behalf of Mr. Haas.

Sentiment

Score: 5

Explanation: StockSavvy.ai views this as a neutral filing. It reports routine insider ownership changes related to gifting and a power of attorney, with no direct positive or negative implications for the company's operational or financial performance.

Positives

• The transactions represent a planned gifting of shares, which is a common estate planning strategy and does not necessarily indicate a negative view on the company.

Negatives

• The gifting of shares reduces Mr. Haas's direct beneficial ownership, though he retains significant indirect control and ownership.

Future Outlook

The filings do not contain any forward-looking statements or guidance regarding the company's future performance or strategic direction, focusing solely on insider ownership changes.

Management Comments

• Each share of Class B Common Stock is convertible into one share of Class A Common Stock at the option of the holder and has no expiration date.
• Mr. Haas gifted these shares from his revocable trust to custodial accounts of which Mr. Haas is the custodian.
• Shares held in custodial accounts for the benefit of others. Mr. Haas is the custodian and has sole voting and investment power over the accounts. He disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares.
• Shares held by Mr. Haas' spouse. He disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares.
• Shares held in trusts of which Mr. Haas is the trustee.

Industry Context

StockSavvy.ai notes that insider transaction filings like Form 4 are routine disclosures required by the SEC. While these specific transactions relate to personal estate planning rather than market-driven sales or purchases, they provide transparency into the ownership structure of Levi Strauss & Co., a prominent player in the apparel industry. Such filings are closely watched by investors for insights into insider sentiment, though gifting transactions typically carry less weight than open market sales or purchases.

Corporate Governance

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: Provides transparency regarding a significant insider's ownership structure and estate planning activities. No direct impact on company operations or share value from these specific transactions.

Next Steps

• Mr. Haas or his attorneys-in-fact will continue to file Forms 3, 4, and 5 as required for future changes in beneficial ownership.

Key Dates

Recommendation

The filing details routine insider gifting of shares and a power of attorney, which are administrative and estate planning matters. These transactions do not reflect a change in the company's fundamental performance or outlook, nor do they signal a significant shift in insider sentiment that would warrant a 'buy' or 'sell' recommendation. Therefore, a 'hold' recommendation is appropriate as the filing provides no new information to alter an existing investment thesis.

Keywords

Levi Strauss, LEVI, Form 4, Insider Trading, Beneficial Ownership, Stock Gifting, Director Holdings, SEC Filing, Class B Common Stock, Corporate Governance