SMOLYANSKY JULIE 4

What Happened Julie Smolyansky, a reported 10% owner of Lifeway Foods (LWAY), had 13,334 vested restricted stock units (RSUs) settled for cash on March 6, 2026, producing proceeds of $21.50 per unit (total $286,681). On the same date the company’s Compensation Committee certified performance share units (PSUs) granted June 16, 2023 — 108,426 PSUs were reported as an award that will be settled no later than March 15, 2027 (expected cash settlement unless Danone consents to stock issuance).

Key Details

• Transaction date: March 6, 2026; Form 4 filed March 10, 2026 (timely — within the 2-business-day requirement).
• Sale/settlement: 13,334 vested RSUs settled for cash at $21.50 each = $286,681.
• Award/grant: 108,426 PSUs certified on March 6, 2026; to be settled by March 15, 2027 in cash unless converted to stock with Danone’s consent.
• Shares owned after transaction: Not specified in the Form 4 (filing shows the RSUs were cash-settled and PSUs remain outstanding).
• Notable footnotes: F1 explains the RSUs were economic equivalents (no shares issued); F10 explains PSUs were performance-based and only reportable after certification; other footnotes note holdings by spouse, minor children, and related LLC interests.

Context

• This was not an open-market sale of held stock but a cash settlement of vested RSUs (a common payroll/compensation event) and a certification of performance awards. Cash-settled RSUs/PSUs convert economic value to cash rather than transferring shares, so they don’t necessarily signal a personal trading view.
• As a 10% owner, Smolyansky’s transactions reflect compensation and performance award mechanics rather than a routine executive buy/sell.