Quantum computing execs cash out with over $20 million in sales this week
As everyone piled into quantum computing stocks this week, some of their top executives were hitting the eject button.
D-Wave Quantum CEO Dr. Alan Baratz took profit on $14.4 million in company stock, with a filing indicating that the sales “were effected for financial and tax planning purposes.”
The same day, Rigetti Computing CTO David Rivas sold over half a million in company stock. A key difference is Rivas’ actions were “nondiscretionary sales of shares required to be sold” in order “to cover transactions to satisfy tax witholding obligations in connection with the settlement of RSUs,” per the filing, while most of Baratz’s sales were not. (RSUs are restricted stock units.)
On Monday, Quantum Computing’s chief quantum officer, Dr. Yuping Huang, sold $5.85 million, a small portion of his overall holdings, “for estate planning and family investment purposes.” Board member Dr. Javad Shabani divested $465,933 and is completely out of company stock.