Nichols Benjamin S. 4

What Happened
Benjamin S. Nichols, Chief Commercial Officer of Compass Minerals International (CMP), had 685 restricted stock units (RSUs convert/vest) settle on May 18, 2026. The filing shows 685 RSUs converted to common shares (reported as derivative exercise/conversion, code M) and 195 of those shares were withheld to satisfy tax withholding (code F) at $28.97/share, producing $5,649 in withholding. Net to Nichols: 685 − 195 = 490 shares (approximately $14,195 at $28.97/share). This is a vesting/tax-withholding event rather than an open-market purchase or discretionary sale.

Key Details

• Transaction date: 2026-05-18; Form 4 filed 2026-05-19 (timely).
• Reported actions: M = exercise/conversion of derivative (685 shares); F = shares withheld for tax (195 shares @ $28.97, $5,649).
• Net shares received: 490 shares (685 vested − 195 withheld). Estimated market value of net shares at $28.97 ≈ $14,195.
• Footnotes: F1 indicates shares were withheld to cover tax obligations; F3 confirms each RSU converts to one share; F4 notes RSUs vested in three equal installments ending May 18, 2026.
• Filing timeliness: No late filing indicated in this report excerpt.

Context
This was a routine RSU vesting and tax-withholding transaction (conversion of restricted stock units), not a cash purchase or an open-market sale. Code M here reflects conversion/settlement of RSUs into common stock; code F reflects shares withheld to satisfy tax obligations (a common, administrative action). The filing excerpt does not state total shares Nichols beneficially owns after the transaction; the important takeaway for investors is the insider received a net increase of 490 shares due to vesting.