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

MaxCyte (Nasdaq: MXCT) granted inducement awards tied to the appointment of Parmeet Ahuja as Chief Financial Officer.

Rhea-AI Summary

MaxCyte (Nasdaq: MXCT) granted inducement awards tied to the appointment of Parmeet Ahuja as Chief Financial Officer. The Compensation Committee approved stock options for 375,000 shares (10-year term, exercise price $0.676) and 187,500 RSUs.

Grant dates: stock options March 30, 2026; RSUs April 15, 2026. Options vest 25% after one year then monthly over 36 months; RSUs vest 25% after one year then in three equal annual installments, each subject to continued service. Disclosed under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).

Positive

• New CFO hire with structured long-term equity incentive aligning interests
• Significant equity grants: 375,000 options and 187,500 RSUs
• Exercise price set at recent market close: $0.676

Negative

• Potential dilution from 562,500 share-equivalent inducement awards

Argus Apr 1 session

+5.92% close to close Open Argus

Details

News Market Reaction – MXCT

On Apr 1, the first trading day after this news, MXCT closed 5.92% above the previous close.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus for the Apr 1 session.

Key Figures

Stock options granted: 375,000 shares RSU award: 187,500 shares Exercise price: $0.676 +5 more

Stock options granted

375,000 shares

Inducement award under 2026 Inducement Plan

RSU award

187,500 shares

Service-based RSU inducement grant

Exercise price

$0.676

Closing price on March 30, 2026 for stock options

Option vesting period

4 years

25% after one year, remainder monthly over 36 months

RSU vesting period

4 years

25% after first anniversary, then three annual installments

Option term

10 years

Maximum term of inducement stock options

Option grant date

March 30, 2026

Grant date for stock option inducement award

RSU grant date

April 15, 2026

Grant date for RSU inducement award

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Mar 24

5 events

1. Mar 24

   Earnings results

   24h Move

   -6.8%

   Reported 2025 revenue decline and trimmed 2026 outlook versus prior year.

2. Mar 23

   CFO appointment

   24h Move

   -1.1%

   Named new CFO with over 20 years of finance leadership experience.

3. Feb 24

   Product launch

   24h Move

   +5.0%

   Launched ExPERT DTx, a 96-well high-throughput electroporation platform.

4. Feb 23

   Earnings date set

   24h Move

   +5.0%

   Announced timing and webcast details for Q4 and FY2025 results release.

5. Jan 12

   Preliminary earnings

   24h Move

   -4.9%

   Released preliminary 2025 results highlighting a challenging year despite guidance in line.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Key Terms

nasdaq listing rule 5635(c)(4), restricted stock unit, exercise price

3 terms

nasdaq listing rule 5635(c)(4) regulatory

"in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4)."

NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(c)(4) is a rule that requires a company to get approval from its shareholders before selling a large amount of its shares, usually over 20%. This helps protect investors by making sure the company doesn't flood the market with new shares without their say, which could lower the stock's value.

restricted stock unit financial

"a service-based restricted stock unit (“RSU”) award with respect to 187,500 shares"

A restricted stock unit is a promise from a company to give an employee shares of stock after certain conditions are met, like staying with the company for a set amount of time. It’s like earning a bonus that turns into company stock once you’ve proven your commitment, making it a way to motivate and reward employees.

exercise price financial

"The stock options have a ten-year term and an exercise price of $0.676"

The exercise price is the fixed amount at which you can buy or sell an asset, like a stock, when using an options contract. It matters because it helps determine whether exercising the option will be profitable or not, depending on the current market price. Think of it as the set price you agree on today to buy or sell later.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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ROCKVILLE, Md., March 31, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MaxCyte, Inc. (Nasdaq: MXCT), a leading cell-engineering focused company providing enabling platform technologies to advance the discovery, development and commercialization of next-generation cell therapeutics, reported today that Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of MaxCyte granted inducement awards in the form of stock options to purchase an aggregate of 375,000 shares of MaxCyte’s common stock and a service-based restricted stock unit (“RSU”) award with respect to 187,500 shares of MaxCyte’s common stock to Parmeet Ahuja in connection with his appointment as Chief Financial Officer of MaxCyte. The awards were granted under the MaxCyte, Inc. 2026 Inducement Plan (the “Plan”) with a grant date of March 30, 2026 with respect to the stock option award and April 15, 2026 with respect to the RSU award, as an inducement material to Mr. Ahuja entering into employment with MaxCyte, in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).

The stock options are scheduled to vest over four years, with 25% vesting on the first anniversary of the grant date and the remaining shares vesting monthly over the 36-month period thereafter, subject to Mr. Ahuja’s continuous service with MaxCyte through the applicable vesting dates. The stock options have a ten-year term and an exercise price of $0.676, the closing price of MaxCyte’s common stock as reported by Nasdaq on March 30, 2026.

The RSUs are scheduled to vest over four years, with 25% vesting on the first anniversary of March 30, 2026 and the remainder vesting in three equal annual installments thereafter, subject to Mr. Ahuja’s continuous service with MaxCyte through the applicable vesting dates.

MaxCyte is providing this information in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).

About MaxCyte

At MaxCyte®, we are committed to building better cells together. As a leading cell-engineering company, we are driving the discovery, development and commercialization of next-generation cell therapies. Our best-in-class Flow Electroporation® technology and SeQure DX™ gene editing risk assessment services enable precise, efficient and scalable cell engineering. Supported by expert scientific, technical and regulatory guidance, our platform empowers researchers from around the world to engineer diverse cell types and payloads, accelerating the development of safe and effective treatments for human health. For more than 25 years, we've been advancing cell engineering, shaping the future of medicine. Learn more at maxcyte.com and follow us on X and LinkedIn.

MaxCyte Contacts:

Investor Relations

Gilmartin Group

David Deuchler, CFA

ir@maxcyte.com 

Media Contact

Oak Street Communications

Kristen White

+1 415-608-6060

kristen@oakstreetcommunications.com 

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What inducement awards did MaxCyte (MXCT) grant to its new CFO Parmeet Ahuja?

The company granted stock options for 375,000 shares and RSUs for 187,500 shares. According to the company, the options carry a ten-year term and the RSUs are service-based with multi-year vesting.

When do the MXCT stock options and RSUs granted to Parmeet Ahuja vest?

Options vest 25% after one year, then monthly over 36 months; RSUs vest 25% after one year, then in three equal annual installments. According to the company, vesting is subject to continuous service through each vesting date.

What exercise price was set for MaxCyte (MXCT) stock options granted on March 30, 2026?

The exercise price is $0.676, equal to the Nasdaq closing price on March 30, 2026. According to the company, this price applies to the 10-year option awards issued as an inducement.

Why did MaxCyte (MXCT) disclose these awards under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4)?

MaxCyte disclosed the grants because inducement equity awards issued in connection with a new executive’s hire require Nasdaq reporting. According to the company, the awards were material to Mr. Ahuja taking employment and follow Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).

How might MaxCyte's (MXCT) inducement awards to the CFO affect shareholders?

The awards represent potential dilution equal to 562,500 share equivalents if fully issued and exercised. According to the company, the grants are standard inducement compensation tied to multi-year vesting and continued service.