Ecolab (NYSE: ECL) director exercises 2,300 options and retains shares
Filing Impact
Filing Sentiment
Form Type
4
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Ecolab director Michael Larson exercised stock options for 2,300 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $115.075 per share. The company satisfied part of the exercise cost and related tax obligations by delivering or withholding 1,006 shares at $262.885 per share, classified as a tax-withholding disposition under Rule 16b-3. After these transactions, Larson holds 18,842.43 shares of Ecolab common stock directly, reflecting a routine compensation-related option exercise rather than an open-market trade.
Positive
- None.
Negative
- None.
Insider Trade Summary
2,300 shares exercised/converted
Mixed
3 txns
Insider
LARSON MICHAEL
Role
Director
| Type | Security | Shares | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exercise | Non-Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy) | 2,300 | $0.00 | -- |
| Exercise | Common Stock | 2,300 | $115.075 | $265K |
| Tax Withholding | Common Stock | 1,006 | $262.885 | $264K |
Holdings After Transaction:
Non-Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy) — 0 shares (Direct);
Common Stock — 19,848.43 shares (Direct)
Footnotes (1)
- Reflects the reporting person's payment of the exercise price for a stock option issued in accordance with Rule 16b-3 by delivering or withholding shares of Ecolab common stock. The option became exercisable, on a cumulative basis, as to 25% of the option shares (excluding any fractional portion less than one share), on the last day of each of the first, second and third three-month periods following its date of grant and as to the remaining shares on the last day of the fourth three-month period following its date of grant. The date listed in the "Date Exercisable" column represents the first vesting date.
Key Figures
Options exercised: 2,300 shares
Exercise price: $115.075 per share
Tax-withholding shares: 1,006 shares
+4 more
7 metrics
Options exercised
2,300 shares
Non-Employee Stock Option converted into common stock on March 27, 2026
Exercise price
$115.075 per share
Strike price of the non-employee stock option originally granted August 5, 2016
Tax-withholding shares
1,006 shares
Shares delivered/withheld to cover exercise price or taxes at $262.885 per share
Price for tax withholding
$262.885 per share
Value used for F-code tax-withholding disposition on March 27, 2026
Shares held after transactions
18,842.43 shares
Michael Larson’s direct Ecolab common stock holdings following the Form 4 transactions
Option expiration date
May 5, 2026
Expiration date of the exercised non-employee stock option
Option first exercisable
August 5, 2016
First vesting date reported for the stock option’s exercisability schedule
Key Terms
Non-Employee Stock Option, Rule 16b-3, tax-withholding disposition, derivative exercise/conversion, +1 more
5 terms
Non-Employee Stock Option financial
"security_title: Non-Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)"
Rule 16b-3 regulatory
"stock option issued in accordance with Rule 16b-3 by delivering or withholding shares"
Rule 16b-3 is a Securities and Exchange Commission regulation that exempts certain routine, pre-approved transactions by company insiders from automatic liability for short-term trading profits. It acts like a safe harbor: if an insider follows a formal plan or the board approves specific transactions in advance, profits from buying and selling company stock within six months are not automatically reclaimed. Investors care because the rule clarifies when insider trades are permissible and reduces uncertainty about potential clawbacks.
tax-withholding disposition financial
"transaction_action: tax-withholding disposition"
A tax-withholding disposition is an event or transaction—such as selling or transferring securities, exercising options, or receiving compensation—that triggers a requirement to hold back part of the payment and remit it to tax authorities. It matters to investors because it reduces the cash they receive immediately and can change the timing and amount of taxable income, like a cashier taking a portion of your sale proceeds to pay taxes before you get the rest.
derivative exercise/conversion financial
"transaction_action: derivative exercise/conversion"
Form 4 regulatory
"INSIDER FILING DATA (Form 4):"
Form 4 is a official document that company insiders, such as executives or major shareholders, file with regulators whenever they buy or sell company shares. It provides transparency about how those with inside knowledge are trading, helping investors see if insiders are confident in the company's prospects or may be selling for personal reasons. This information can influence investor decisions by revealing insiders' perspectives on the company's value.
FAQ
What did Ecolab (ECL) director Michael Larson report in this Form 4?
Michael Larson reported exercising stock options for 2,300 Ecolab common shares and a related tax-withholding share disposition. These transactions are compensation-related and reflect conversion of options into stock, rather than an open-market purchase or sale of existing shares.
What is the significance of the Rule 16b-3 reference in Michael Larson’s Ecolab filing?
The filing notes the option was issued under Rule 16b-3, which governs certain insider compensation plans. This indicates the exercise and related share withholding occurred within an approved equity compensation framework, rather than as discretionary market trading activity.