Introduction
When you need to process equity settlements for multiple stakeholders at once, manually entering each transaction can be time-consuming and error-prone.
The equity settlement import template allows you to prepare all your settlement data in a structured spreadsheet format and upload it to Ledgy in one action.
This bulk import approach is particularly valuable during company-wide settlement events such as quarterly RSU vesting dates, liquidity events, or when processing backlogged settlements.
By using the import template correctly, you ensure consistent data entry across all stakeholders and significantly reduce the administrative time required to record settlements.
Who this is for: Account admins who need to record equity settlements for multiple stakeholders simultaneously.
What you'll learn: How to download the template, which fields are required for each settlement method, and how to format your data correctly to avoid validation errors.
Where to download the template
Go to Ownership > Transactions.
Click Import and select Equity settlement from the dropdown in Step 1 shown in the modal.
Download the template and remove the example row.
For general import guidance, see How to bulk import transactions.
For a clear explanation of how this works, watch from minute 1:50 - 5:30 in this video.
Required fields in every row
Date - Use DD.MM.YYYY.
Stakeholder name - Must match the stakeholder name in Ledgy.
Number of units to settle - The number of units or shares being settled.
Converted from transaction id - The grant you are settling.
Settlement method - See the section below.
Price per unit (FMV) - Required for all settlement methods.
Tax obligations and fees - Required for all settlement methods.
Number of shares to withhold - Required for all rows, with method-specific rules.
Formatting tips
Use dots for decimals (for example, 10.25).
All monetary values are in the transaction currency. If you use a different currency, fill in Transaction currency and Exchange rate.
Leave non-applicable fields empty. Entering 0 counts as a value and can cause validation errors.
Settlement methods and what they mean
Hold all (pay to cover) - Stakeholder keeps all shares and pays the costs.
Withhold to cover - Company withholds enough shares to cover costs.
Sell to cover - Enough shares are sold to cover costs.
Withhold all (cash settle) - All shares are withheld, net proceeds are paid out.
Sell all - All shares are sold, costs are deducted from proceeds.
Note: Some methods only appear if they are enabled for your account. If you do not see a method in the Ledgy UI, do not use it in the import.
Field-by-field guidance
Settlement method
Accepted values are case-insensitive and can use spaces or hyphens.
Examples: withhold to cover or withhold-to-cover.
Accepted values: hold all, withhold to cover, sell to cover, withhold all, sell all.
You can also type cash settle, which maps to withhold all.
Payment method
Required only for Hold all (pay to cover). Leave blank for all other methods.
Accepted values: bank transfer, payroll deduction.
Share price
This is the strike price per unit (exercise cost) of the related grant.
If you reference the grant via Converted from transaction id, Ledgy will use the grant's strike price automatically. For RSUs, leave this blank.
Price per unit (FMV)
Required for all settlement methods. This is the fair market value per unit at the settlement date.
Number of shares to withhold
Hold all (pay to cover): 0.
Withhold to cover: The number of shares needed to cover total cost. Calculate as (tax obligations + exercise cost) divided by FMV, rounded up to your share decimals.
Sell to cover: The number of shares sold to cover total cost (greater than 0 and not more than the units settled).
Withhold all (cash settle): Equal to the Number of units to settle.
Sell all: Equal to the Number of units to settle.
Tax obligations and fees
Required for all settlement methods. Enter the total taxes and charges for the settlement.
Do not include trading or payment fees here. Use the fee columns below.
Total payment fee
Use only for sell to cover and sell all. This is for payment, transfer, or FX fees.
Leave blank for other methods. Use 0 if there is no fee.
Total trading fee
Required for sell to cover and sell all. Enter broker or trading fees.
Leave blank for other methods. Use 0 if there is no fee.
Sale share price (of market order)
Required for sell to cover and sell all. This is the actual trade price per share.
It can differ from FMV. Leave blank for other methods.
Quick reference by settlement method
Field | Hold all | Withhold to cover | Sell to cover | Withhold all | Sell all |
Payment method | Required | Blank | Blank | Blank | Blank |
Share price | Optional | Optional | Optional | Optional | Optional |
Price per unit (FMV) | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required |
Number of shares to withhold | 0 | Required > 0 | Required > 0 | Equals units to settle | Equals units to settle |
Tax obligations and fees | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required |
Total payment fee | Blank | Blank | If applicable | Blank | If applicable |
Total trading fee | Blank | Blank | Required | Blank | Required |
Sale share price | Blank | Blank | Required | Blank | Required |
FAQs
Should I enter 0 or leave a cell empty?
Leave the cell empty if the field does not apply. Enter 0 only when 0 is a valid value (for example, Hold all requires 0 withheld shares).
What currency should I use?
Enter all monetary values in the transaction currency. If the transaction is not in the company currency, fill in Transaction currency and Exchange rate.