Machek Howard 4

What Happened
Howard Machek, Chief Accounting Officer of Central Garden & Pet Co. (CENT), had 1,329 shares delivered to the company to satisfy the withholding tax liability upon vesting of restricted stock. The transaction is recorded as a disposition (code F) at an effective price of $33.60 per share, for a total value of approximately $44,654. This was a tax-withholding share delivery (routine), not an open-market sale for investment purposes.

Key Details

• Transaction date: 2026-02-06; Form 4 filed: 2026-02-10 (filed within required timeframe).
• Price used: $33.60 per share (average of high and low sales prices on 2026-02-06, per footnote).
• Shares involved: 1,329 shares withheld and delivered to cover tax withholding; proceeds/value ≈ $44,654.
• Shares owned after transaction: Not specified in the Form 4 filing.
• Footnote F1: Shares were delivered to pay withholding tax on vesting of restricted stock; withholding amount based on the average of the high and low sales prices on 2/6/2026.
• Footnote F2: Describes CENTA Stock Fund units in the company 401(k) plan (not directly tied to this withholding transaction).
• Transaction code: F = tax withholding (disposition), not a purchase (code S would indicate a sale).

Context
This was a routine share withholding to cover taxes when restricted stock vested (a common corporate practice). Such transactions are administrative and do not necessarily indicate insider buying or selling for investment reasons.