Rigetti CTO Andrew Bestwick Receives 750K RSUs, Sells 5,791 Shares

What Happened
Andrew Joseph Bestwick, Chief Technology Officer of Rigetti Computing, received an award of 750,000 restricted stock units (RSUs) on 2026-08-18 (acquisition reported at $0). On 2026-08-20 he disposed of 5,791 shares in open-market transactions at a weighted average price of $16.81, generating proceeds of approximately $97,319. The sale is reported as a nondiscretionary sell-to-cover to satisfy tax withholding tied to RSU settlement.

Key Details

• Transaction types/dates: RSU award (A) on 2026-08-18; sale (S) on 2026-08-20.
• Sale price/value: weighted average $16.81; total proceeds ≈ $97,319. Reported sale prices ranged $16.63–$16.965.
• Shares acquired: 750,000 RSUs (reported at $0 acquisition price). RSUs convert to shares upon settlement per plan terms.
• Reason for sale: nondiscretionary sell-to-cover for tax withholding (footnote).
• Shares owned after transaction: not specified in the filing.
• Filing timeliness: filed 2026-08-20 for transactions dated 2026-08-18 and 8/20 — reported within the standard Form 4 reporting window.

Context

• RSU details: each RSU represents a contingent right to one common share upon settlement. Vesting is scheduled quarterly (1/16th of the award each quarter) beginning November 20, 2026, subject to continuous service.
• Interpretation: the RSU award is a compensation grant (not a market purchase). The small sale was routine sell-to-cover for taxes and is not, by itself, a clear signal of confidence or lack thereof.