Vericel Corp (VCEL) COO exercises options, sells 10,000 shares
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Vericel Corp Chief Operating Officer Michael Halpin exercised stock options to acquire 10,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $16.66 per share, then sold 10,000 shares at $46.84 per share on August 3, 2026.
The options exercised are part of a grant originally covering 76,250 shares that vested quarterly beginning May 6, 2019, with 26,250 options reported remaining outstanding. The sale was executed automatically under a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted on December 2, 2025, and Halpin’s direct holdings include shares acquired under Vericel’s 2015 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
Positive
- None.
Negative
- None.
Insider Trade Summary 10b5-1
Exercise and Sale: 10,000 shares ($302K approx. pre-tax spread)
Exercise and Sale
3 txns
Insider
Halpin Michael
Role
Chief Operating Officer
Sold
10,000 shs ($468K)
Approx. gross sale proceeds
$468K
Approx. exercise cost
$167K
Approx. pre-tax spread
$302K
| Type | Security | Shares | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exercise | Stock Option (Right to Buy) F3 | 10,000 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Exercise | Common Stock F1 | 10,000 | $16.66 | $167K |
| Sale | Common Stock F2, F1 | 10,000 | $46.84 | $468K |
Holdings After Transaction:
Stock Option (Right to Buy) — 26,250 shares (Direct);
Common Stock — 16,394 shares (Direct)
Footnotes (3)
- F1. These shares include shares acquired pursuant to the Issuer's 2015 Employee Stock Purchase Plan in transactions that were exempt under both Rule 16b-3(d) and Rule 16b-3(c).
- F2. The sales reported in this Form 4 were effected by an automatic sale pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted by the reporting person on December 2, 2025.
- F3. These options, representing the right to purchase 76,250 shares, became exercisable in equal quarterly installments, contingent upon continued service to the Company, with the first vesting date on May 6, 2019, which was one quarter after the date on which the option was granted.
Key Figures
Options exercised: 10,000 shares
Exercise price: $16.66 per share
Shares sold: 10,000 shares
+4 more
7 metrics
Options exercised
10,000 shares
Stock options exercised by COO Michael Halpin on August 3, 2026
Exercise price
$16.66 per share
Exercise price for 10,000 stock options converted into common stock
Shares sold
10,000 shares
Common shares sold in a sale transaction on August 3, 2026
Sale price
$46.84 per share
Per-share price for the 10,000 Vericel common shares sold
Options originally granted
76,250 shares
Size of option grant vesting quarterly beginning May 6, 2019
Options remaining
26,250 shares
Stock options reported as remaining after the 10,000-share exercise
10b5-1 plan adoption date
December 2, 2025
Date Michael Halpin adopted the Rule 10b5-1 trading plan governing the sale
Key Terms
Rule 10b5-1 trading plan, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, Rule 16b-3(d), Stock Option (Right to Buy), +1 more
5 terms
Rule 10b5-1 trading plan financial
"automatic sale pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted"
A Rule 10b5-1 trading plan is a pre-arranged schedule that allows company insiders to buy or sell stock at specific times, even if they have inside information. It helps prevent accusations of unfair trading by making these transactions look planned and transparent, rather than sneaky or illegal.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan financial
"shares acquired pursuant to the Issuer's 2015 Employee Stock Purchase Plan"
An employee stock purchase plan is a company program that lets workers buy shares through small payroll deductions, often at a discount to the market price and after a set offering period. Think of it like a workplace savings plan that turns into ownership: it encourages employees to share in the company’s success and can create predictable buying or selling of stock that investors watch because it affects supply, demand and employee incentives.
Rule 16b-3(d) financial
"transactions that were exempt under both Rule 16b-3(d) and Rule 16b-3(c)"
Rule 16b-3(d) is a narrow SEC safe-harbor that shields company insiders (officers, directors and large shareholders) from liability for short‑swing profits when their buys or sells of company stock are made under a pre-established, written plan or contract that removes the insider’s ability to time trades. For investors, this matters because it permits predictable, automated insider transactions — like scheduled sales for diversification or payroll withholding — without triggering forced disgorgement, so such planned trades are treated differently from opportunistic insider trading.
Stock Option (Right to Buy) financial
"Stock Option (Right to Buy) representing the right to purchase 76,250 shares"
Rule 16b-3(c) financial
"transactions that were exempt under both Rule 16b-3(d) and Rule 16b-3(c)"
An SEC rule that lets corporate insiders avoid automatic "short‑swing" profit recovery when they buy or sell their company’s stock under a pre‑approved, written plan that meets specific conditions. For investors, it matters because it clarifies when insider trades are treated as routine, reducing legal uncertainty and helping distinguish trades made for ordinary compensation or pre‑planned reasons from those that might signal opportunistic or timely insider advantage.
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
FAQ
What insider transactions did Vericel Corp (VCEL) report for COO Michael Halpin?
COO Michael Halpin exercised options for 10,000 shares of Vericel common stock at $16.66 per share and sold 10,000 shares at $46.84 per share on August 3, 2026, in a same-day exercise-and-sale sequence.
How many Vericel Corp (VCEL) stock options does Michael Halpin still hold after these transactions?
After exercising options for 10,000 shares, Michael Halpin is reported as holding 26,250 Vericel stock options from this grant. The original option award covered 76,250 shares, vesting in equal quarterly installments starting May 6, 2019, contingent on continued service.