Form 4: Matthews International Corp Director Jerry R. Whitaker Reports Acquisition of Deferred Stock Units

Director Jerry R. Whitaker reports acquisition of 73 Deferred Stock Units (DSUs) of Matthews International Corp, representing dividend equivalent rights, bringing his total holdings to 4,631 DSUs.

Summary

• On May 20, 2024, Jerry R. Whitaker, a director of Matthews International Corp, acquired 73 Deferred Stock Units (DSUs) under the company's 2019 Director Fee Plan.
• These DSUs were issued pursuant to dividend equivalent rights.
• Each DSU is the economic equivalent of one share of Class A common stock and will be payable in common stock according to Whitaker's deferral election or the Issuer's Amended and Restated 2019 Director Fee Plan.
• Following the transaction, Whitaker beneficially owns 4,631 DSUs.
• The transaction was reported on May 21, 2024.

Sentiment

Score: 7

Explanation: The sentiment is neutral to slightly positive as it reflects standard director compensation practices and alignment with shareholder interests.

Positives

• The acquisition of DSUs reflects continued director alignment with shareholder interests.
• The dividend equivalent rights provide additional compensation to the director.

Future Outlook

The DSUs will be payable in common stock according to a deferral election made by the reporting person or pursuant to the Issuer's Amended and Restated 2019 Director Fee Plan.

Industry Context

Director compensation through stock units is a common practice to align management interests with shareholders.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• Many companies use deferred stock units as part of their director compensation packages.
• The specific terms of the 2019 Director Fee Plan would need to be compared to similar plans at peer companies to assess its competitiveness.

Stakeholder Impact

• The acquisition of DSUs aligns director interests with shareholders, potentially fostering better corporate governance.

Key Dates