Form 4: Southern Company Director Shantella E. Cooper Reports Acquisition of Deferred Stock Units

Director Shantella E. Cooper reports acquisition of deferred stock units in Southern Company through a deferred compensation plan.

Summary

• On April 1, 2025, Shantella E. Cooper, a director of Southern Company, acquired 789.5883 deferred stock units (DSUs) under the company's deferred compensation plan.
• These DSUs are payable in Southern Company common stock only upon termination of Cooper's service.
• The acquisition price is $0, and the underlying Southern Company common stock is valued at $91.82 per share.
• Following the transaction, Cooper directly owns 28,360.4302 shares of Southern Company common stock.
• Cooper has granted power of attorney to Laura O. Hewett, Lindsay T. McClelland, Brittney Anderson and J. Patrick Becker for SEC filings related to beneficial ownership of securities.

Sentiment

Score: 7

Explanation: The document reflects a routine transaction related to executive compensation, which is generally viewed neutrally. The acquisition of deferred stock units can be seen as a positive sign of alignment with company performance.

Positives

• The acquisition of deferred stock units aligns the director's interests with the long-term performance of the company.
• The deferred compensation plan is a common tool for retaining and incentivizing key personnel.

Future Outlook

The deferred stock units will be payable in Southern Company stock upon termination of the director's service.

Industry Context

Reporting of beneficial ownership changes by company insiders is a standard practice and provides transparency to investors.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• Deferred compensation plans are a common practice among publicly traded companies to align executive compensation with shareholder value.
• Companies like Duke Energy and Dominion Energy also utilize deferred compensation plans for their executives.

Stakeholder Impact

• The transaction has a minimal direct impact on stakeholders.
• It provides transparency regarding the director's holdings and alignment with company performance.

Key Dates

Keywords

Southern Company, Director, Deferred Stock Units, Beneficial Ownership, SEC Form 4, Compensation Plan, Power of Attorney