SEC Form 3

FORM 3

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

OMB APPROVAL OMB Number: 3235-0104 Estimated average burden hours per response: 0.5

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person* Eaken Matthew John (Last) (First) (Middle) 22 WEST FRONTAGE ROAD (Street) NORTHFIELD IL 60093 (City) (State) (Zip)	2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year) 01/01/2018	3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol STEPAN CO [ SCL ]
		4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) Director 10% Owner X Officer (give title below) Other (specify below) VP & Interim CFO	5. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)
			6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) X Form filed by One Reporting Person Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 4)	2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned (Instr. 4)	3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
Common Stock	2,136.124	I	By ESOP II Trust
Common Stock	2,797.61	D

Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 4)	2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 4)		4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	5. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares
Performance Shares	(1)	(1)	Common Stock	875	(1)	D
Performance Shares	(2)	(2)	Common Stock	509	(2)	D
Performance Shares	(3)	(3)	Common Stock	821	(3)	D
Stock Appreciation Right	02/19/2015	02/18/2023	Common Stock	1,058	$63.11	D
Stock Appreciation Right	02/18/2016	02/17/2024	Common Stock	1,416	$61.91	D
Stock Appreciation Right	02/21/2018(4)	02/20/2027	Common Stock	1,899	$78.58	D
Stock Appreciation Right	02/23/2018	02/22/2026	Common Stock	2,759	$43.85	D
Stock Option (Right to Buy)	02/19/2015	02/18/2023	Common Stock	453	$63.11	D
Stock Option (Right to Buy)	02/18/2016	02/17/2024	Common Stock	472	$61.91	D
Stock Option (Right to Buy)	02/21/2018(4)	02/20/2027	Common Stock	633	$78.58	D
Stock Option (Right to Buy)	02/23/2018	02/22/2026	Common Stock	920	$43.85	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. Each performance share represents a contingent right to receive one share of Stepan Company Common Stock. The performance shares vest upon Stepan Company achieving certain financial targets by December 31, 2017.

2. Each performance share represents a contingent right to receive one share of Stepan Company Common Stock. The performance shares vest upon Stepan Company achieving certain financial targets by December 31, 2019.

3. Each performance share represents a contingent right to receive one share of Stepan Company Common Stock. The performance shares vest upon Stepan Company achieving certain financial targets by December 31, 2018.

4. Vests ratably over three years beginning on the date shown.

	Matthew M. Rice, attorney-in-fact for Matthew J. Eaken	01/11/2018
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.