[Form 4] Bicycle Therapeutics plc American Insider Trading Activity
Roger D. Dansey, a director of Bicycle Therapeutics plc (BCYC), reported equity awards on a Form 4 filed for transactions dated 09/08/2025. The filing shows an award of 12,500 restricted share units (RSUs) and an option to purchase 25,000 ordinary shares at a $7.16 exercise price. Each RSU represents a contingent right to one ordinary share and the RSUs vest in three equal annual installments on 09/08/2026, 09/08/2027 and 09/08/2028. The option also vests in three equal annual installments on the same dates and expires on 09/08/2035. Ownership reported is direct for both awards.
- Alignment of interests: Grants use RSUs and options that vest over three years, which aligns the director's incentives with shareholder value over time.
- Clear vesting schedule: Both RSUs and options vest in three equal installments on 09/08/2026, 09/08/2027 and 09/08/2028, providing transparent timelines.
- Potential dilution: If exercised and RSUs settled, the awards represent 37,500 ordinary shares that could dilute existing shareholders upon issuance.
- No cash purchase: RSUs are granted at $0 (contingent right to shares), and options have a $7.16 strike, creating possible future share issuance without current cash inflow to the company.
Insights
TL;DR: Director grants are routine compensation with limited immediate market impact but create potential future dilution.
The Form 4 documents standard equity-based compensation: 12,500 RSUs and a 25,000-share option at $7.16. Vesting over three years aligns incentives with multi-year performance. Reported ownership is direct, indicating the director will hold the awards personally once vested. These grants do not reflect share sales or purchases at market and convey no immediate cash proceeds to the reporting person.
TL;DR: Compensation appears typical for a non-employee director and follows multi-year vesting practices.
The awards use common structures: RSUs that convert to one ordinary share each and time-vested stock options expiring in 2035. Three-year, equal installment vesting is standard for retention. The filing is signed by an attorney-in-fact, which is acceptable. There is no indication of accelerated vesting or special terms disclosed in this Form 4.