STOCK TITAN

Vericel (VCEL) director defers RSUs and receives new option grant

Filing Impact
(Neutral)
Filing Sentiment
(Neutral)
Form Type
4

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Vericel Corp director Lisa Wright reported equity compensation and a deferral election, with no open-market buying or selling. She exercised 3,200 Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) into an equal number of Phantom Stock units under Vericel’s Deferred Compensation Plan, and holds 15,851 shares of common stock afterward.

Wright also received a new grant of 3,200 RSUs, each representing one share of common stock, which vest 100% on the earlier of April 30, 2026, or the first Annual Meeting of Stockholders after April 30, 2025. In addition, she was granted stock options for 8,000 shares at an exercise price of $33.43, vesting in equal monthly increments over one year and expiring on April 29, 2036.

Positive

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Insider WRIGHT LISA
Role null
Type Security Shares Price Value
Exercise Restricted Stock Unit 3,200 $0.00 --
Grant/Award Stock Option (Right to Buy) 8,000 $0.00 --
Grant/Award Restricted Stock Unit 3,200 $0.00 --
Exercise Common Stock 3,200 $0.00 --
Holdings After Transaction: Restricted Stock Unit — 0 shares (Direct, null); Stock Option (Right to Buy) — 8,000 shares (Direct, null); Common Stock — 15,851 shares (Direct, null)
Footnotes (1)
  1. The Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) converted to Phantom Stock units and are deferred under the Vericel Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan. The units will be payable only in shares of Common Stock upon the Reporting Person's elected Benefit Distribution Date. Upon the vesting of RSUs granted to the Reporting Person on April 30, 2025, the Reporting Person deferred the receipt of 3,200 shares of Common Stock and instead received 3,200 shares of Phantom Stock pursuant to the Vericel Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan. Each RSU represents a contingent right to receive one share of common stock of Vericel Corporation. These RSUs vest 100% on the earlier of April 30, 2026, or the date of the first Annual Meeting of Stockholders following April 30, 2025. No expiration date for this type of award. The option vests over a 1-year period, in equal monthly increments, contingent upon continued service to the Company. These RSUs vest 100% on the earlier of April 29, 2027, or the date of the first Annual Meeting of Stockholders following April 29, 2026.
RSUs exercised to Phantom Stock 3,200 units Converted and deferred under Deferred Compensation Plan
Common shares held after transactions 15,851 shares Direct holdings following April 29, 2026 activity
New RSU grant 3,200 RSUs Vest on earlier of April 30, 2026 or first meeting after April 30, 2025
New stock option grant 8,000 options Right to buy common stock, vesting monthly over 1 year
Stock option exercise price $33.43 per share Exercise price for 8,000-share option grant
Stock option expiration April 29, 2036 Expiration date for 8,000-share option grant
Restricted Stock Units financial
"The Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) converted to Phantom Stock units and are deferred"
Restricted stock units are a type of company reward where employees are promised shares of stock, but they only fully own these shares after meeting certain conditions, like staying with the company for a set time. They matter because they can become valuable assets and are often used to motivate employees to help the company succeed.
Phantom Stock financial
"converted to Phantom Stock units and are deferred under the Vericel Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan"
A phantom stock is a form of compensation that gives employees or executives the benefits of stock ownership, such as the increase in stock value, without actually giving them real shares. It acts like a promise to pay the employee the equivalent value of company stock later, often as a bonus or incentive. This allows companies to motivate and reward staff without diluting ownership or transferring actual shares.
Deferred Compensation Plan financial
"deferred under the Vericel Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan"
A deferred compensation plan is an arrangement where an employer agrees to pay part of an employee’s pay or bonus at a later date instead of immediately, often to reduce current tax bills or to tie rewards to long-term performance. For investors it matters because these promises create future cash obligations and influence executive incentives and retention; they can affect a company’s reported liabilities, cash flow planning and the risk profile if the business faces financial trouble.
Benefit Distribution Date financial
"payable only in shares of Common Stock upon the Reporting Person's elected Benefit Distribution Date"
Annual Meeting of Stockholders financial
"vest 100% on the earlier of April 30, 2026, or the date of the first Annual Meeting of Stockholders"
Stock Option (Right to Buy) financial
"Stock Option (Right to Buy) ... The option vests over a 1-year period, in equal monthly increments"
SEC Form 4
FORM 4UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
OMB APPROVAL
OMB Number:3235-0287
Estimated average burden
hours per response:0.5
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of equity securities of the issuer that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person*
WRIGHT LISA

(Last)(First)(Middle)
C/O VERICEL CORPORATION
64 SIDNEY STREET

(Street)
CAMBRIDGE MASSACHUSETTS 02139

(City)(State)(Zip)

UNITED STATES

(Country)
2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
Vericel Corp [ VCEL ]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
XDirector10% Owner
Officer (give title below)Other (specify below)
2a. Foreign Trading Symbol
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
04/29/2026
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)
XForm filed by One Reporting Person
Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
CodeVAmount(A) or (D)Price
Common Stock(1)04/29/2026M3,200A(2)15,851D
Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
CodeV(A)(D)Date ExercisableExpiration DateTitleAmount or Number of Shares
Restricted Stock Unit(3)04/29/2026M3,200 (4) (5)Common Stock3,200(2)0D
Stock Option (Right to Buy)$33.4304/29/2026A8,000 (6)04/29/2036Common Stock8,000$08,000D
Restricted Stock Unit(3)04/29/2026A3,200 (7) (5)Common Stock3,200$03,200D
Explanation of Responses:
1. The Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) converted to Phantom Stock units and are deferred under the Vericel Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan. The units will be payable only in shares of Common Stock upon the Reporting Person's elected Benefit Distribution Date.
2. Upon the vesting of RSUs granted to the Reporting Person on April 30, 2025, the Reporting Person deferred the receipt of 3,200 shares of Common Stock and instead received 3,200 shares of Phantom Stock pursuant to the Vericel Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan.
3. Each RSU represents a contingent right to receive one share of common stock of Vericel Corporation.
4. These RSUs vest 100% on the earlier of April 30, 2026, or the date of the first Annual Meeting of Stockholders following April 30, 2025.
5. No expiration date for this type of award.
6. The option vests over a 1-year period, in equal monthly increments, contingent upon continued service to the Company.
7. These RSUs vest 100% on the earlier of April 29, 2027, or the date of the first Annual Meeting of Stockholders following April 29, 2026.
/s/ Sean Flynn, as Attorney-in-Fact for Lisa Wright05/01/2026
** Signature of Reporting PersonDate
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.
* Form 4: SEC 1474 (03-26)

FAQ

What insider transactions did Vericel (VCEL) director Lisa Wright report?

Lisa Wright reported only equity awards and a deferral election, not stock sales. She exercised 3,200 RSUs into Phantom Stock units, received a new 3,200 RSU grant, and was granted options for 8,000 shares at $33.43 per share.

Did Lisa Wright buy or sell Vericel (VCEL) shares on the open market?

The filing shows no open-market purchases or sales by Lisa Wright. All transactions are compensation-related: RSUs exercised into Phantom Stock, a new RSU grant, and a stock option grant, with no reported market trades of Vericel common stock.

How many Vericel (VCEL) shares does Lisa Wright hold after these transactions?

After the reported transactions, Lisa Wright holds 15,851 shares of Vericel common stock directly. This figure reflects her position following the RSU exercise and related deferral activity disclosed in the Form 4 filing.

What are the terms of Lisa Wright’s new Vericel (VCEL) RSU grant?

Lisa Wright received 3,200 new RSUs tied to Vericel common stock. These RSUs vest 100% on the earlier of April 30, 2026, or the first Annual Meeting of Stockholders after April 30, 2025, subject to her continued service to the company.

What are the details of Lisa Wright’s new Vericel (VCEL) stock options?

Wright was granted options for 8,000 Vericel shares at $33.43 per share. The options vest over one year in equal monthly installments, contingent on continued service, and expire on April 29, 2036 if not exercised earlier.

How does the Vericel (VCEL) Deferred Compensation Plan affect Lisa Wright’s RSUs?

Wright elected to defer 3,200 RSUs into 3,200 Phantom Stock units under Vericel’s Deferred Compensation Plan. These units are payable only in shares of common stock on her elected Benefit Distribution Date, rather than at the original vesting time.