Geron Reports Inducement Grants Under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4)

Rhea-AI Summary

Geron Corporation (NASDAQ: GERN) announced the granting of stock options to purchase 901,950 shares of common stock to newly hired employees as an inducement for employment. The options were issued on September 21, 2022, at an exercise price of $2.54 per share, equal to the stock's closing price on that day. Of the total, 495,800 shares vest over four years while 406,150 shares vest upon achieving specific regulatory milestones. This grant aligns with Nasdaq rules and Geron's 2018 Inducement Award Plan.

Positive

• Inducement for employment may enhance talent acquisition.
• Stock options align employee interests with shareholder value.

Negative

• Potential dilution of existing shareholders due to stock options.
• Dependence on regulatory milestones for vesting of a significant portion of options.

FOSTER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Geron Corporation (Nasdaq: GERN) today reported that it has granted non-statutory stock options to purchase an aggregate of 901,950 shares of Geron common stock as inducements to newly hired employees in connection with commencement of employment with the Company.

The stock options were granted on September 21, 2022 at an exercise price of $2.54 per share, which is equal to the closing price of Geron common stock on the date of grant. Stock options representing an aggregate of 495,800 shares have a 10-year term and vest over four years, with 12.5% of the shares underlying the options vesting on the six-month anniversary of commencement of employment for the respective employees and the remaining shares vesting over the following 42 months in equal installments of whole shares, subject to continued employment with Geron through the applicable vesting dates. Stock options representing an aggregate of 406,150 shares have a 10-year term and vest in full upon achievement of certain regulatory milestones, subject to continued employment with Geron through the appliable vesting dates. All of the stock options were granted as material inducement to employment in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4) and are subject to the terms and conditions of the stock option agreements covering the grants and Geron’s 2018 Inducement Award Plan, which was adopted December 14, 2018 and provides for the granting of stock options to new employees.

About Geron

Geron is a late-stage clinical biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and potential commercialization of a first-in-class telomerase inhibitor, imetelstat, in hematologic malignancies. The Company currently is conducting two Phase 3 clinical trials: IMerge in lower risk myelodysplastic syndromes and IMpactMF in relapsed/refractory myelofibrosis.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220922005763/en/

Aron Feingold

Investor and Media Relations

investor@geron.com

media@geron.com

Source: Geron Corporation

FAQ

What stock options did Geron Corporation grant in September 2022?

Geron granted stock options to purchase 901,950 shares of common stock on September 21, 2022.

What is the exercise price for the stock options granted by Geron?

The exercise price for the stock options is $2.54 per share.

How long is the term for the stock options granted by Geron?

The stock options have a term of 10 years.

What are the vesting conditions for Geron's stock options?

495,800 shares vest over four years; 406,150 shares vest upon achievement of regulatory milestones.

What is the purpose of the stock options granted by Geron?

The stock options were granted as a material inducement for newly hired employees.