Form 4: LifeStance Health CPO's RSU Tax Withholding

LifeStance Health Group's Chief People Officer, Ann Varanakis, had 5,233 shares withheld for tax obligations related to vested restricted stock units.

Summary

• Ann Varanakis, Chief People Officer of LifeStance Health Group, Inc. (LFST), reported a transaction on August 26, 2025.
• The transaction involved the disposition of 5,233 shares of common stock at a price of $5.39 per share.
• These shares were withheld by the company to cover tax withholding obligations upon the net settlement of restricted stock units (RSUs) that vested on the same date.
• This was not an open-market sale but a mandatory tax-related transaction.
• Following this transaction, Ann Varanakis beneficially owns 369,335 shares of LifeStance Health Group common stock.

Sentiment

Score: 5

Explanation: The filing reports a routine tax withholding transaction related to vested executive compensation, which is a neutral event for company operations and does not indicate a positive or negative shift in performance or outlook.

Positives

• Vesting of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) for the Chief People Officer, Ann Varanakis, indicates the fulfillment of compensation incentives.

Future Outlook

No forward-looking statements or guidance are provided in this Form 4 filing.

Industry Context

This transaction represents a routine executive compensation event, specifically the vesting of restricted stock units and the associated tax withholding, which is a common practice across various industries for incentivizing and retaining key personnel.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• The use of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) as a component of executive compensation, followed by share withholding for tax purposes upon vesting, is a standard practice widely adopted by publicly traded companies, including those in the healthcare services sector like LifeStance Health Group. This aligns with typical compensation structures seen in companies such as Teladoc Health (TDOC) or Amwell (AMWL) for their executives, where equity awards are a significant part of total compensation.

Related Party Transactions

• The transaction involves the company withholding shares from its Chief People Officer to satisfy tax obligations related to vested Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), a standard compensation practice between an executive and the issuer.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: Minimal direct impact as this is a routine compensation event and not an open-market sale. It reflects the ongoing compensation structure for executives.
• Employees: The vesting of RSUs for an executive demonstrates the company's compensation structure and retention mechanisms for key personnel.

Key Dates

Recommendation

This Form 4 reports a routine tax withholding transaction for an executive's vested restricted stock units, which is a standard compensation event and does not provide new information to warrant a change in investment recommendation.

Keywords

LifeStance Health Group, LFST, Ann Varanakis, Chief People Officer, Form 4, SEC filing, RSU, Restricted Stock Units, stock compensation, tax withholding, insider transaction