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Athersys Announces Inducement Grant Under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4)

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Athersys (NASDAQ: ATHX) appointed Daniel Camardo as CEO, offering him a significant inducement package. He received nonqualified stock options to purchase 10 million shares at an exercise price of $0.86, the closing price of the stock on his start date, February 14, 2022. The options vest in part over four years and relate to company milestones including regulatory approvals and sales achievements. Athersys focuses on biotherapeutic developments, particularly the MultiStem cell therapy, targeting multiple critical care indications.

Positive
  • Inducement grant of stock options valued at $0.86 per share, potentially enhancing executive performance.
  • Company's strategic focus on advancing MultiStem cell therapy, providing growth potential.
Negative
  • Stock option vesting contingent on achieving significant milestones, indicating reliance on successful execution.

Stock option award offered as inducement to Daniel Camardo, new Chief Executive Officer of Athersys

CLEVELAND--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Athersys, Inc. (“Athersys” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: ATHX) announced today that, as previously disclosed in its Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 21, 2022, the Company made an inducement grant to Daniel Camardo, the newly-appointed Chief Executive Officer of Athersys. The Company’s Board of Directors approved, pursuant to Rule 5635(c)(4) of the Nasdaq Stock Market Listing Rules, the grant of an inducement equity award in the form of a nonqualified stock option to purchase 10,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. The option was granted outside of the Athersys, Inc. 2019 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan as an inducement material to Mr. Camardo’s acceptance of employment with the Company.

The stock option has an exercise price equal to $0.86, which was the closing price of Athersys’ common stock on the grant date of February 14, 2022, Mr. Camardo’s first day of employment. The option has up to a ten-year term and vests as follows: with regard to 4,000,000 shares, over a four-year period with 25% of such portion of the award generally vesting on February 14, 2023 and the remainder of such portion generally vesting monthly in substantially equal installments over the remaining 36 months; and with regard to 6,000,000 shares, upon achievement of certain Company milestones, including FDA manufacturing process and marketing approvals, cumulative product sales, and business development and fundraising activities, in each case, generally subject to Mr. Camardo’s continued service with Athersys through the applicable vesting dates (except under certain conditions regarding his death or disability or certain types of terminations of employment within 12 months following a change in control of Athersys).

About Athersys

Athersys is a biotechnology company engaged in the discovery and development of therapeutic product candidates designed to extend and enhance the quality of human life. The Company is developing its MultiStem® cell therapy product, a patented, adult-derived "off-the-shelf" stem cell product, initially for disease indications in the neurological, inflammatory and immune, cardiovascular and other critical care indications and has several ongoing clinical trials evaluating this potential regenerative medicine product. Athersys has forged strategic partnerships and a broad network of collaborations to further advance the MultiStem cell therapy toward commercialization. More information is available at www.athersys.com. Follow Athersys on Twitter at www.twitter.com/athersys.

NAI-1526206891v2

William (B.J.) Lehmann

President and Chief Operating Officer

Tel: (216) 431-9900

bjlehmann@athersys.com

Karen Hunady

Director of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations

Tel: (216) 431-9900

khunady@athersys.com

David Schull

Russo Partners, LLC

Tel: (212) 845-4271 or (858) 717-2310

David.schull@russopartnersllc.com

Peter Vozzo

ICR Westwicke

Tel: (443) 213-0505

peter.vozzo@westwicke.com

Source: Athersys, Inc.

FAQ

What stock option was offered to Daniel Camardo at Athersys?

Daniel Camardo was granted options to purchase 10 million shares at an exercise price of $0.86.

When did Daniel Camardo become CEO of Athersys?

Daniel Camardo became CEO on February 14, 2022.

What are the milestones required for Camardo's stock options to vest?

Milestones include FDA approvals, cumulative product sales, and business development activities.

Athersys, Inc.

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