Eli Lilly acquisition converts Centessa (NASDAQ: CNTA) director options into $38 cash plus CVRs
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Centessa Pharmaceuticals director Carol Stuckley reported the cancellation of multiple share options in connection with Eli Lilly’s acquisition of the company. On June 24, 2026, Eli Lilly, through a wholly owned subsidiary, acquired all outstanding Ordinary Shares of Centessa by a scheme of arrangement under UK law.
Five option grants, each over Ordinary Shares with exercise prices of $12.43, $8.89, $6.35, $4.87, and $9.42, were disposed of to the issuer. Following these transactions, each outstanding share option was cancelled and converted into the right to receive $38.00 in cash per underlying share plus one contingent value right (CVR) per share, with potential additional payments of up to $9.00 per share based on specified milestones. No share options were exercised before the effective time.
Positive
- Eli Lilly acquisition terms provide defined consideration: Each cancelled Centessa option converts into $38.00 in cash per underlying Ordinary Share plus one CVR allowing contingent payments of up to an additional $9.00 per share if specified milestones are met.
Negative
- None.
Insights
Director options were cashed out and replaced with cash plus CVRs at Eli Lilly’s takeover of Centessa.
The transactions show Carol Stuckley disposing of several Centessa share option awards via issuer disposition as part of Eli Lilly’s all-share acquisition. These are not open‑market sales; the options were automatically cancelled at the deal’s effective time under the transaction agreement.
Each outstanding option converts into $38.00 in cash per underlying Ordinary Share, plus one contingent value right for potential additional payments of up to $9.00 per share if specified milestones are achieved. With derivativeSummary empty, the filing indicates no remaining option position for these grants after closing.
For investors, this confirms key economic terms for option holders in the completed acquisition, including the fixed cash element and the milestone‑based CVR component. Future company communications or CVR agent reports would determine whether and when any contingent payments up to $9.00 per share become payable.
Insider Trade Summary
| Type | Security | Shares | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disposition | Share Option (right to buy) | 208,474 | $0.00 | -- |
| Disposition | Share Option (right to buy) | 48,000 | $0.00 | -- |
| Disposition | Share Option (right to buy) | 48,000 | $0.00 | -- |
| Disposition | Share Option (right to buy) | 48,000 | $0.00 | -- |
| Disposition | Share Option (right to buy) | 40,000 | $0.00 | -- |
Footnotes (1)
- On June 24, 2026, Eli Lilly and Company ("Parent"), through its wholly owned subsidiary LDH XV Corporation ("Purchaser"), acquired all outstanding Ordinary Shares of Centessa Pharmaceuticals plc (the "Company") by means of a scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the UK Companies Act 2006 (the "Scheme of Arrangement"), pursuant to the Transaction Agreement dated as of March 31, 2026, by and among the Company, Parent and Purchaser (the "Transaction Agreement"). Pursuant to the Transaction Agreement, at the effective time of the Scheme of Arrangement, each outstanding share option, whether or not vested, was automatically cancelled and converted into the right to receive (i) an amount in cash equal to the excess of $38.00 in cash over the per-share exercise price of such option, without interest and less any applicable withholding taxes, and (ii) one non-transferable contingent value right (a "CVR") per underlying Ordinary Share entitling the holders to receive contingent payments of up to an aggregate of $9.00 per Ordinary Share, without interest and less any applicable withholding taxes, contingent upon the achievement of specified milestones set forth in the Contingent Value Rights Agreement between Parent, Purchaser and a rights agent mutually agreeable to the Company and Parent, in each case in accordance with the Transaction Agreement. No share options were exercised prior to the Effective Time. The Ordinary Shares may be represented by American Depositary Shares, each of which currently represents one Ordinary Share.