IPSC 2026 special meeting to vote on Nasdaq-driven reverse split
Century Therapeutics, Inc. (IPSC) is calling a virtual 2026 Special Meeting of Stockholders on January 22, 2026 to vote on two key proposals. The first would amend its certificate of incorporation to allow the board, any time before June 30, 2026, to implement a reverse stock split of the company’s common stock at a ratio between 1‑for‑5 and 1‑for‑30, at the board’s discretion. A reverse split would reduce the number of shares outstanding but keep authorized shares the same, materially increasing authorized but unissued shares and proportionally adjusting outstanding options, RSUs, warrants and plan reserves.
The board states the main goal is to help IPSC regain and maintain compliance with Nasdaq’s $1.00 minimum bid price requirement after receiving a deficiency notice and transfer to the Nasdaq Capital Market, and to broaden potential investor interest. The filing explains risks, including possible reduced liquidity, more odd-lot holdings, no guarantee of a sustained higher share price, and an increased pool of authorized but unissued shares that could affect future capital raising and control dynamics. The second proposal would permit adjournment of the meeting if more time is needed to secure enough votes or a quorum.
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Insights
IPSC seeks broad authority for a reverse split to address Nasdaq bid-price noncompliance.
Century Therapeutics requests stockholder approval to let the board implement a reverse stock split between 1‑for‑5 and 1‑for‑30 before June 30, 2026. The company explicitly links this to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5450(a)(1), which requires a $1.00 minimum closing bid over at least ten consecutive trading days. IPSC previously received a deficiency letter, failed to regain compliance by an initial deadline, and obtained an extension to February 23, 2026 along with a transfer to the Nasdaq Capital Market.
The mechanics outlined are standard for such actions: no change to total authorized common stock of 300,000,000 shares, proportional reduction of outstanding shares and equity awards, proportional increase to option and warrant exercise prices, and cash in lieu of fractional shares based on the average closing price over the five trading days before effectiveness. The table using September 30, 2025 data shows how different split ratios would shift outstanding shares and increase authorized but unissued amounts.
The company highlights risks that a reverse split may not sustain a higher price, could reduce trading liquidity, and might lower market capitalization if sentiment weakens. It also notes that more authorized but unissued shares can have an anti‑takeover effect, even though management states the split is not intended as an anti‑takeover measure. The board reserves the right to abandon the split entirely if it later concludes it is not in stockholders’ best interests, so actual impact will depend on market conditions and board decisions as the Nasdaq compliance deadline approaches.
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Preliminary Proxy Statement
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
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Definitive Proxy Statement
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Definitive Additional Materials
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No fee required
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials
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| | Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11 | | |
In accordance with Rule 14a-6(d) under Regulation 14A, please be advised that Century Therapeutics, Inc.
intends to release definitive copies of this Proxy Statement to stockholders on or about
December 2, 2025.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
To be Held on January 22, 2026
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Brent Pfeiffenberger, Pharm.D.
President, Chief Executive Officer & Chairman of the Board |
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FIRST BEING MADE AVAILABLE ON OR ABOUT DECEMBER 2, 2025.
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Date:
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| | January 22, 2026 | |
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Time:
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| | 9:00 a.m., Eastern Time | |
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Website Address:
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| | The meeting can be accessed by visiting https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/xqpg9wru (password: century2026), where you will be able to listen to the meeting live, submit questions and vote online. There will be no physical location for stockholders to attend. | |
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Record Date:
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| | You can vote if you were a stockholder of record on November 25, 2025. | |
Senior Vice President, Finance and Operations, Principal Financial Officer and Secretary
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SUMMARY INFORMATION
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TIME AND DATE
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RECORD DATE
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WEBSITE ADDRESS
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Thursday, January 22, 2026
9:00 a.m., Eastern Time |
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November 25, 2025
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The meeting can be accessed by visiting https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/xqpg9wru (password: century2026), where you will be able to listen to the meeting live, submit questions and vote online. There will be no physical location for stockholders to attend.
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VOTING MATTERS
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FOR MORE
INFORMATION |
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BOARD OF
DIRECTORS RECOMMENDATION |
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PROPOSAL 1: Approval of an amendment to the Charter to effect a reverse stock split of our outstanding shares of Common Stock by a ratio of any whole number between 1-for-5 and 1-for-30, the implementation and timing of which shall be subject to the discretion of our Board
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FOR
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PROPOSAL 2: Approval of adjournment of the Special Meeting to the extent there are insufficient votes at the Special Meeting to approve the preceding proposal or to establish a quorum
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Page 14
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FOR
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GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE MEETING
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GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE MEETING
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VOTING MATTERS
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VOTES REQUIRED
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TREATMENT OF
ABSTENTIONS AND BROKER NON-VOTES |
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BROKER
DISCRETIONARY VOTING |
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PROPOSAL 1: Approval of an amendment to the Charter to effect a reverse stock split of our outstanding shares of Common Stock by a ratio of any whole number between 1-for-5 and 1-for-30, the implementation and timing of which shall be subject to the discretion of the Board
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Majority of shares of capital stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote
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Abstentions and broker non-votes will have the effect of voting against the proposal
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Yes
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PROPOSAL 2: Approval of adjournment of the Special Meeting to the extent there are insufficient votes at the Special Meeting to approve the preceding proposal or to establish a quorum
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Majority of the votes properly cast
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Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of the proposal
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Yes
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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL
OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT |
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NAME OF BENEFICIAL OWNER
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SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED
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NUMBER OF SHARES
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PERCENTAGE
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| | | Greater than 5% Stockholders | | | | | | | | |
| | | Versant Entities(1) | | |
12,166,109
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13.93%
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| | | FUJIFILM Cellular Dynamics, Inc.(2) | | |
6,955,207
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7.97%
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| | | Bayer World Investments B.V.(3) | | |
12,675,838
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14.52%
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| | | Named Executive Officers and Directors | | | | | | | | |
| | | Brent Pfeiffenberger, Pharm.D.(4) | | |
983,179
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1.13%
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| | | Douglas Carr(5) | | |
542,861
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*
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| | | Gregory Russotti, Ph.D.(6) | | |
1,096,189
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1.26%
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| | | Kimberly Blackwell, M.D.(7) | | |
227,227
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*
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| | | Daphne Quimi(8) | | |
132,744
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*
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| | | Timothy P. Walbert(9) | | |
127,744
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*
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| | | Alessandro Riva, M.D.(10) | | |
227,227
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*
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| | | Carlo Rizzuto, Ph.D.(11) | | |
147,616
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| | | All executive officers and directors as a group (8 persons)(12) | | |
3,812,840
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4.37%
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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL
OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT |
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ITEMS TO BE VOTED ON
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ITEMS TO BE VOTED ON
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ITEMS TO BE VOTED ON
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ITEMS TO BE VOTED ON
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Before Reverse
Stock Split as of September 30, 2025 |
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5:1 Reverse
Stock Split Ratio |
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10:1 Reverse
Stock Split Ratio |
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20:1 Reverse
Stock Split Ratio |
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30:1 Reverse
Stock Split Ratio |
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| | | Authorized Common Stock | | |
310,000,000
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310,000,000
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310,000,000
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310,000,000
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310,000,000
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| | | Common stock issued and outstanding | | |
86,527,767
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17,305,553
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8,652,776
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4,326,388
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2,884,258
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Warrants to purchase Common Stock outstanding
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32,009
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6,401
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3,200
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1,600
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1,066
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Common stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding stock options, and settlement of restricted stock units
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16,027,772
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3,205,554
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1,602,777
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801,388
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534,259
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Common stock reserved for issuance for future grants under our 2021 Equity Incentive Plan
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3,959,420
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791,884
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395,942
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197,971
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131,980
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Common stock reserved for issuance for future grants under our 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
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639,745
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127,949
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63,974
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31,987
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21,324
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Common stock authorized but unissued and unreserved/unallocated
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202,813,287
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288,562,659
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299,281,331
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304,640,666
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306,427,113
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ITEMS TO BE VOTED ON
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ITEMS TO BE VOTED ON
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ITEMS TO BE VOTED ON
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ITEMS TO BE VOTED ON
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ITEMS TO BE VOTED ON
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THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE CHARTER TO EFFECT A REVERSE STOCK SPLIT OF OUR OUTSTANDING SHARES OF COMMON STOCK BY A RATIO OF ANY WHOLE NUMBER BETWEEN 1-FOR-5 AND 1-FOR-30, THE IMPLEMENTATION AND TIMING OF WHICH SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE DISCRETION OF THE BOARD
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✓
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ITEMS TO BE VOTED ON
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THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE APPROVAL OF ADJOURNMENT OF THE SPECIAL MEETING TO THE EXTENT THERE ARE INSUFFICIENT VOTES AT THE SPECIAL MEETING TO APPROVE THE PRECEDING PROPOSAL OR TO ESTABLISH A QUORUM
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✓
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OTHER INFORMATION
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Appendix A
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AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF
CENTURY THERAPEUTICS, INC.
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Appendix A
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FAQ
What is Century Therapeutics (IPSC) asking stockholders to approve in this 2026 Special Meeting?
Stockholders are being asked to approve (1) an amendment to the charter that would give the board discretion to implement a reverse stock split of IPSC common stock at any ratio between 1‑for‑5 and 1‑for‑30 before June 30, 2026, and (2) the ability to adjourn the Special Meeting if there are insufficient votes or no quorum.
Why does IPSC want the authority to conduct a reverse stock split?
The board states that the primary purpose is to increase the market price of IPSC’s common stock to help regain and maintain compliance with Nasdaq’s $1.00 minimum bid price rule, following a deficiency notice and an extension to February 23, 2026. The company also cites potential broader investor appeal and an improved perception of the stock.
How would the proposed reverse stock split affect IPSC shares and equity awards?
Each chosen ratio (between 1‑for‑5 and 1‑for‑30) would proportionally reduce the number of shares outstanding while keeping the authorized share count unchanged, thereby increasing authorized but unissued shares. Outstanding stock options, restricted stock units, and warrants would be adjusted so that the number of underlying shares decreases and per‑share exercise prices increase in the same ratio, with no fractional shares issued and cash paid in lieu thereof.
What Nasdaq listing issues does Century Therapeutics currently face?
IPSC received a Nasdaq notice on February 26, 2025 for not meeting the $1.00 minimum bid price requirement over 30 consecutive business days. It did not regain compliance by the initial deadline of August 26, 2025, but Nasdaq granted an additional 180‑day period to February 23, 2026 and approved a transfer from the Nasdaq Global Select Market to the Nasdaq Capital Market.
What risks does the IPSC proxy statement highlight about the reverse stock split?
The company notes there is no assurance that a reverse split will raise or sustain the share price to satisfy Nasdaq rules, and that it could decrease liquidity, increase the number of odd‑lot holdings, and reduce overall market capitalization if the price does not move as expected. It also acknowledges that more authorized but unissued shares may, under some circumstances, have an anti‑takeover effect, though this is not the stated intent.
How will fractional IPSC shares be handled in the reverse stock split?
No fractional shares will be issued. Instead, any holder otherwise entitled to a fraction will receive cash in lieu, equal to the fraction multiplied by the average of the adjusted closing sale prices of IPSC common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market during the five consecutive trading days immediately before the reverse split becomes effective.
Does the IPSC board have to implement the reverse stock split if stockholders approve it?
No. Even if stockholders approve the proposal, the board retains the right, in its sole discretion, to decide whether and when to implement the reverse stock split and may abandon it entirely any time before the certificate of amendment becomes effective if it determines the action is no longer in the best interests of the company and its stockholders.