Fried Robert N 4

What Happened
Robert N. Fried, CEO of Niagen Bioscience (NAGE), exercised stock options on April 24, 2026. He acquired 20,000 shares by paying an exercise price of $2.61 per share for a total cash outlay of $52,200. The filing also shows a related derivative instrument reported as disposed at $0 (this reflects the option being converted/exercised). According to the filing, Fried paid cash for the exercise and has not sold any of the shares received.

Key Details

• Transaction date: April 24, 2026 (reported on Form 4 filed April 27, 2026) — appears timely.
• Primary transaction: Exercise (code M) — 20,000 shares acquired at $2.61 each = $52,200.
• Related entry: 20,000 shares reported as disposed at $0, reflecting cancellation/conversion of the derivative upon exercise.
• Shares owned after transaction: Not specified in the filing; the reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of certain securities per footnote.
• Notable footnotes:
  • F1: Fried paid the exercise price in cash and has not sold the shares received.
  • F2: The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of some securities (legal/formal disclaimer).
  • F3: The filing notes 6,745 shares held by Jeremy Fried and 6,001 shares held by Benjamin Fried (sons of Robert Fried).

Context
This was an options exercise (not a cashless sale). The separate zero-dollar line is typical when the option/derivative is cancelled upon exercise. Because Fried did not immediately sell the shares, the transaction represents an acquisition of stock into his holdings rather than a monetization. As always, filings state actions taken but do not explain the insider’s motives.