Viasat (VSAT) SVP Benjamin Palmer Exercises RSUs; Shares Withheld

What Happened
Benjamin E. Palmer, Senior Vice President and President, Commercial at Viasat, had RSUs convert into common stock on August 17, 2026. A total of 20,620 shares vested (5,000 + 15,620). To satisfy tax withholding obligations, the issuer withheld 9,692 of those shares at $81.41 per share (2,350 and 7,342 shares), totaling about $789,026. After withholding, the reporting person received a net of 10,928 shares. The conversion entries are reported as derivative exercises (code M) and the withholdings are reported as dispositions for tax purposes (code F).

Key Details

• Transaction date: August 17, 2026; Form 4 filed August 19, 2026 (within the 2-business-day filing window).
• Vesting/conversion: 20,620 shares (5,000 + 15,620) reported as exercised/converted (code M) at $0.00 per share (typical for RSU conversions).
• Tax withholding: 9,692 shares withheld (2,350 and 7,342) at $81.41 per share, proceeds ≈ $191,314 and $597,712 respectively; total ≈ $789,026 (reported as dispositions, code F).
• Net shares received by the insider: 10,928 shares. The filing does not state the total shares owned after the transaction.
• Footnotes: F1 confirms shares were withheld by the issuer to satisfy tax withholding (not sold on the open market). F2–F4 describe the original RSU grants (2023 grant vesting in annual installments; 2025 grant vesting in three installments starting Aug 17, 2026) and forfeiture rules prior to vesting.

Context
This was not an open-market sale or purchase by the insider but routine RSU vesting with issuer tax withholding (a cashless-like settlement). Tax-withholdings are common and do not necessarily indicate a change in sentiment; they simply satisfy tax obligations. The filing shows conversion of restricted stock units to shares (derivative code M) and subsequent withholding for taxes (code F).