Form 4: LivaNova Executive Exercises SARs, Adjusts Holdings

LivaNova PLC's President of Cardiopulmonary, Franco Poletti, exercised stock appreciation rights and adjusted his direct beneficial ownership of ordinary shares.

Summary

• Franco Poletti, President, Cardiopulmonary of LivaNova PLC, exercised 2,140 Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs) on March 11, 2026.
• These SARs were granted on March 11, 2016, vested in four equal annual installments beginning March 11, 2017, and were automatically exercised upon their expiration.
• The exercise resulted in the acquisition of 2,140 Ordinary Shares at a price of $57.6 per share.
• Concurrently, 1,980 Ordinary Shares were withheld to settle the SAR base price at $62.26 per share.
• An additional 69 Ordinary Shares were withheld to satisfy tax liabilities, also at $62.26 per share.
• Following these transactions, Poletti directly owns 8,941 Ordinary Shares and indirectly owns 219 Ordinary Shares through his spouse.
• The transaction was made pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1(c) contract, instruction, or written plan.

Sentiment

Score: 6

Explanation: StockSavvy.ai views this as a neutral to slightly positive event, reflecting a routine executive compensation realization. The net reduction in direct shares due to withholdings is standard for such exercises.

Positives

• The exercise of Stock Appreciation Rights indicates a realization of value from long-term incentive compensation for the executive.
• The transaction was executed under a Rule 10b5-1 plan, demonstrating pre-planned and compliant insider trading practices.

Negatives

• A net reduction in direct beneficial ownership of ordinary shares occurred due to shares withheld for SAR base price settlement and tax liabilities.

Future Outlook

N/A

Industry Context

StockSavvy.ai notes that insider transactions, particularly those involving the exercise of long-term incentives like Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs), are common in the medical technology industry as a component of executive compensation. The use of a Rule 10b5-1 plan indicates a pre-scheduled transaction, reducing concerns about opportunistic trading.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: Provides transparency into executive compensation and share ownership changes.
• Employees: Reflects the structure of executive incentive plans.

Key Dates

Recommendation

This Form 4 filing details a routine, pre-scheduled insider transaction involving the exercise of expiring Stock Appreciation Rights and subsequent share withholdings for settlement and taxes. It does not provide new information regarding the company's operational performance, strategic direction, or financial health that would warrant a change in investment recommendation. Therefore, a 'hold' recommendation is appropriate as this filing alone does not present a catalyst for significant price movement or a re-evaluation of the company's fundamentals.

Keywords

LivaNova PLC, LIVN, Form 4, Insider Transaction, Stock Appreciation Rights, SARs, Executive Compensation, Franco Poletti, Share Ownership, Rule 10b5-1