Form 4: SouthState COO Renee Brooks Receives Equity Awards

SouthState Bank Corp's Chief Operating Officer, Renee R. Brooks, was awarded 4,817 Performance Share Units and 3,211 Restricted Share Units on January 20, 2026.

Summary

• Renee R. Brooks, Chief Operating Officer of SouthState Bank Corp (SSB), was awarded equity on January 20, 2026.
• The awards include 4,817 Performance Share Units (PSUs) at a price of $96.88 per unit.
• These PSUs will vest following a 3-year performance period ending December 31, 2028, and are exchangeable for common stock on a 1-for-1 basis after vesting.
• Additionally, 3,211 time-vested Restricted Share Units (RSUs) were awarded at a price of $96.88 per unit.
• The RSUs will vest in three equal installments of one-third on January 1, 2027, January 1, 2028, and January 1, 2029, and are also exchangeable for common stock on a 1-for-1 basis after vesting.
• Following these transactions, Renee R. Brooks beneficially owns 17,198 derivative Performance Share Units and 5,989 derivative Restricted Share Units.

Sentiment

Score: 7

Explanation: The filing reports routine executive equity compensation, which is generally positive as it aligns management incentives with shareholder interests, though it's not a direct indicator of company performance.

Positives

• Equity awards align the Chief Operating Officer's interests with those of shareholders.
• The awards serve as a retention mechanism for key management personnel.

Future Outlook

The awards are structured with future vesting schedules, indicating a long-term incentive for the Chief Operating Officer, with PSUs vesting after a performance period ending December 31, 2028, and RSUs vesting annually through January 1, 2029.

Management Comments

• The timing of this filing was due to an administrative delay.

Industry Context

The granting of Performance Share Units and Restricted Share Units is a common practice in the financial services industry for executive compensation, designed to incentivize long-term performance and retention by aligning executive interests with shareholder value creation.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: Interests are further aligned with management through equity-based compensation, potentially leading to better long-term performance.
• Employees: The compensation structure for a key executive may set a precedent or reflect the company's overall compensation philosophy.

Next Steps

• Performance Share Units will vest following the 3-year performance period ending December 31, 2028.
• Restricted Share Units will vest at a rate of one-third on January 1, 2027, January 1, 2028, and January 1, 2029.

Key Dates

Keywords

SouthState Bank Corp, SSB, Renee R. Brooks, Chief Operating Officer, COO, equity award, Performance Share Units, Restricted Share Units, PSU, RSU, insider transaction, executive compensation, stock award, corporate governance