MITAROTONDA JAMES A 4

What Happened
James A. Mitarotonda, reported as a 10% owner, acquired 1,679 shares of Eastern Company (EML) on 2026-06-16 at an implied price of $21.40 per share, for a total value of $35,931. The filing reports the transaction as a purchase (code P), but the shares were issued under the Eastern Company Director's Fee Program.

Key Details

• Transaction date and price: 2026-06-16, 1,679 shares at $21.40 each (total $35,931). The number of shares was determined using the share price on June 15, 2026 (footnote F1).
• Filing date: Form 4 filed 2026-06-17 covering the 2026-06-16 transaction — no late filing indicated.
• Shares owned after transaction: not specified in the filing.
• Notable footnotes:
  • F1: Shares issued under the Director's Fee Program pursuant to Rule 16b-3(d); price basis from 6/15/2026.
  • F2/F3: Reporting person is sole stockholder/director of LNA Capital Corp., which has relationships with Barington entities; the filer disclaims beneficial ownership except for pecuniary interest.

Context
This transaction reflects issuance under a director compensation program (a purchase-type reporting code but effectively a fee issuance) rather than an open-market buy. As a reported 10% owner with related entity disclosures, the filing includes institutional/ownership structure notes and a disclaimer of broader beneficial ownership. Such issuances are often routine compensation and should be interpreted accordingly alongside other insider activity.