Fate Therapeutics Reports New Employee Inducement Awards Under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4)

Rhea-AI Summary

Fate Therapeutics (NASDAQ: FATE), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on iPSC-derived cellular immunotherapies, announced new employee equity inducement grants on September 2, 2025.

The company granted non-qualified stock options for 45,000 shares at $1.03 per share to one new non-executive employee. Additionally, restricted stock units (RSUs) for 63,000 shares were awarded to two non-executive employees. The options and RSUs will vest over four years, with initial 25% vesting after one year, followed by monthly or annual vesting schedules respectively.

SAN DIEGO, Sept. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fate Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: FATE), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to bringing a first-in-class pipeline of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cellular immunotherapies to patients with cancer and autoimmune diseases, today announced that on September 2, 2025 the Company granted (i) non-qualified stock options to one newly-hired non-executive employee to purchase a total of 45,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price per share of $1.03, which was the closing price per share of the Company’s common stock as reported by NASDAQ on September 2, 2025, the options grant date, and (ii) restricted stock units (RSUs) representing 63,000 shares of its common stock to two newly-hired non-executive employees, including the newly-hired employee receiving the non-qualified stock options referenced above. The grants were approved by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors and granted under the Company’s Amended and Restated Inducement Equity Plan as an inducement material to the new employees entering into employment with the Company in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). The options will vest over four years, with 25% of the shares underlying the option vesting on the one-year anniversary of the grant date and the remaining 75% vesting in approximately equal monthly installments over the following thirty-six months, subject to the employee being continuously employed by the Company through each vesting date. The RSUs will vest over four years, with 25% of the shares underlying each RSU award vesting on each anniversary of the grant date, subject to the employees being continuously employed by the Company through each vesting date.

About Fate Therapeutics, Inc.
Fate Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to bringing a first-in-class pipeline of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cellular immunotherapies to patients with cancer and autoimmune diseases. Using its proprietary iPSC product platform, the Company has established a leadership position in creating multiplexed-engineered iPSC lines and in the manufacture and clinical development of off-the-shelf, iPSC-derived cell products. The Company’s pipeline includes iPSC-derived natural killer (NK) cell and T-cell product candidates, which are selectively designed, incorporate novel synthetic controls of cell function, and are intended to deliver multiple therapeutic mechanisms to patients. Fate Therapeutics is headquartered in San Diego, CA. For more information, please visit www.fatetherapeutics.com.

Contact:
Christina Tartaglia
Precision AQ
212.362.1200
christina.tartaglia@precisionaq.com

FAQ

What equity grants did Fate Therapeutics (FATE) announce on September 2, 2025?

Fate Therapeutics granted stock options for 45,000 shares at $1.03 per share to one employee and RSUs for 63,000 shares to two employees as inducement awards.

What is the vesting schedule for FATE's new employee stock options?

The stock options vest over 4 years, with 25% vesting after one year and the remaining 75% vesting in monthly installments over the following 36 months.

How do the RSUs vest for new Fate Therapeutics employees?

The RSUs vest over 4 years, with 25% of the shares vesting on each anniversary of the grant date.

Why did Fate Therapeutics issue these equity grants?

The grants were issued as inducement material for new employees joining the company, in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).