Form 4: SouthState Chief Credit Officer's RSU Vesting and Tax-Related Share Disposition

SouthState Corp's Chief Credit Officer, Daniel E. Bockhorst, acquired 1,491 shares through RSU vesting and simultaneously disposed of 36 shares for tax obligations, resulting in a net beneficial ownership of 36,785 common shares.

Summary

• Daniel E. Bockhorst, Chief Credit Officer of SouthState Corp (SSB), acquired 1,491 shares of common stock on July 31, 2025.
• The acquisition resulted from the vesting of time-vested Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) that were originally awarded on July 31, 2023, with vesting occurring at a rate of one-third on each anniversary date of the grant.
• Concurrently, 36 shares of common stock were disposed of on July 31, 2025, at a price of $94.17 per share.
• This disposition was specifically for the purpose of covering tax liabilities applicable to the vested securities, in accordance with Rule 16(b)-3.
• Following these transactions, Daniel E. Bockhorst directly beneficially owns 36,785 shares of SouthState Corp common stock.

Sentiment

Score: 7

Explanation: The filing indicates a routine vesting of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) for a key executive, which is a positive sign for executive retention and alignment of interests with shareholders. The associated sale of shares is solely for tax purposes, not a discretionary sale, thus not indicating negative sentiment from the executive or significant negative implications for the company.

Positives

• The vesting of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) indicates continued compensation and retention of a key executive, Daniel E. Bockhorst.
• The executive's beneficial ownership remains substantial at 36,785 shares, which aligns their interests with those of shareholders.

Negatives

• A small number of shares were sold, though this was a non-discretionary sale solely for tax purposes rather than a market-driven disposition.

Future Outlook

No specific forward-looking statements or guidance are provided beyond the scheduled vesting date of the RSUs.

Management Comments

• Number of common shares issued pursuant to the time-vested RSUs vested on 7/31/2025; RSUs were awarded on 7/31/2023, vesting at a rate of one third on each anniversary date of the grant.
• Withholding of shares to pay tax liability applicable to securities issued in accordance with Rule 16(b)-3.

Industry Context

This filing is a routine insider transaction report, common across all industries for publicly traded companies. It reflects standard executive compensation practices, specifically the vesting of equity awards, which is a common method for aligning executive interests with shareholder value in the financial services sector.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: The continued equity ownership by a key executive like the Chief Credit Officer helps align management's interests with shareholder value creation.
• Employees: This transaction reflects standard executive compensation practices, which can contribute to overall employee morale and retention strategies within the company.

Key Dates

Recommendation

This Form 4 filing details a routine, pre-scheduled vesting of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) for a key executive, Daniel E. Bockhorst, and a subsequent sale of shares solely for tax withholding purposes. Such transactions are common and do not reflect a discretionary buy or sell decision by the insider, nor do they typically signal a change in the company's fundamental outlook or performance. Therefore, it provides no new information that would warrant a change in investment recommendation based solely on this filing.

Keywords

SouthState Corp, SSB, Daniel E. Bockhorst, Chief Credit Officer, Restricted Stock Units, RSU Vesting, Insider Transaction, Form 4, Beneficial Ownership, Tax Withholding