Machek Howard 4

4 · CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO · Filed Feb 2, 2026

AI-generated summary of this filing

Updated Feb 2, 2026

CENT (CENT) Chief Accounting Officer Howard Machek Exercises Options, Sells Shares

What Happened

Howard Machek, Chief Accounting Officer of Central Garden & Pet Co. (CENT), had multiple equity transactions on January 30, 2026. He exercised 4,255 options at an exercise price/value shown as $22.80 per share (total value reported $97,014). He also received 2,253 shares as an award/settlement (reported at $0). To cover withholding tax obligations and/or payment obligations, he delivered/surrendered shares: 985 shares disposed at $30.22 ($29,767) and 3,667 shares disposed at $30.22 ($110,817). The filing also reports the derivative (the option) as disposed/converted in connection with the exercise.

Key Details

Transaction date: January 30, 2026; Form 4 filed February 2, 2026 (appears timely; filed within the two-business-day window).
Individual transactions reported:
- Award/settlement: 2,253 shares acquired @ $0.00 (value $0).
- Option exercise: 4,255 shares acquired @ $22.80 (value $97,014).
- Tax/withholding disposals: 985 shares disposed @ $30.22 ($29,767) and 3,667 shares disposed @ $30.22 ($110,817).
- Derivative disposition: 4,255 shares listed as disposed @ $0.00 (represents conversion/termination of the derivative instrument).
Shares owned after the transactions: not provided in the excerpt.
Relevant footnotes:
- F1/F3: Shares were delivered by the reporting person to satisfy withholding tax liabilities upon settlement/vesting of awards.
- F2: Reference to CENTA Stock Fund units in the company 401(k) (consist of CENTA shares and cash) — not tied to a specific transaction above.
- F4: The options were granted Feb 10, 2020; they were vested and have been exercised.
No indication in this filing that the Form 4 was late.

Context

This is primarily an option exercise combined with routine share withholding to cover taxes (a common cashless exercise/settlement pattern). The transaction includes an award/settlement of performance/restricted shares and the use of shares to satisfy withholding obligations — these actions are generally administrative and do not necessarily signal a change in insider sentiment. Purchases by insiders tend to carry more informational weight for retail investors; here the notable item is the option exercise (acquisition via exercise) with shares surrendered to meet tax obligations.

Form 4

Period: 2026-01-30

Chief Accounting Officer

Transactions

Award
Class A Common Stock
2026-01-30+2,253→ 47,344 total
Tax Payment
Class A Common Stock
[F1]
2026-01-30$30.22/sh−985$29,767→ 46,359 total
Exercise/Conversion
Class A Common Stock
2026-01-30$22.80/sh+4,255$97,014→ 50,614 total
Tax Payment
Class A Common Stock
[F3]
2026-01-30$30.22/sh−3,667$110,817→ 46,947 total
Exercise/Conversion
Stock Option (Right to Buy)
[F4]
2026-01-30−4,255→ 0 total
Exercise: $22.80Exp: 2026-02-10→ Class A Common Stock (4,255 underlying)

Holdings

Footnotes (4)

[F1]Shares delivered by Reporting Person in payment of the withholding tax liability upon settlement of performance share units.
[F2]The units represent interests in the CENTA Stock Fund in the Issuer's 401(k) Plan, which consist of shares of CENTA stock and cash.
[F3]Shares delivered by Reporting Person in payment of the withholding tax liability upon vesting of restricted stock. The amount of shares withheld is based on the average of the high and low of the sales prices of CENTA on January 30, 2026.
[F4]Options were granted on February 10, 2020, and all shares are vested and have been exercised.

Signature

/s/Filomena Eickstaedt as Attorney-in-fact for Howard Machek|2026-02-02

1 file