Vericel (VCEL) COO Halpin exercises options, then sells 10,000 shares

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Vericel Corp’s Chief Operating Officer Michael Halpin reported option exercises and share sales. On 01/07/2026 he exercised 10,000 stock options at $16.66 per share, receiving 10,000 shares of common stock. He then sold 10,000 common shares at $40.48 per share in an automatic transaction under a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted on November 19, 2024.

After these transactions, Halpin directly owned 16,080 shares of Vericel common stock and 46,250 stock options. The reported options were originally part of a grant representing the right to purchase 76,250 shares that vested in equal quarterly installments starting on May 6, 2019, contingent on continued service to the company.

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

UNITED 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

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Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

X

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^*

Halpin Michael

(Last) (First) (Middle)

64 SIDNEY STREET

(Street)

CAMBRIDGE MA 02139

(City) (State) (Zip)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
Vericel Corp [ VCEL ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

	Director		10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)
	Chief Operating Officer

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
01/07/2026

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

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)
			Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price
Common Stock	01/07/2026		M		10,000	A	$16.66	26,080(1)	D
Common Stock	01/07/2026		S		10,000	D(2)	$40.48	16,080(1)	D

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)
				Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$16.66	01/07/2026		M		10,000		(3)	02/06/2029	Common Stock	10,000	$0	46,250	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. 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).

2. 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 November 19, 2024.

3. 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.

	/s/ Sean Flynn, as Attorney-in-Fact for Michael Halpin	01/09/2026
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
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).
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FAQ

Who is the insider involved in this Vericel (VCEL) Form 4 filing?

The filing reports transactions by Michael Halpin, the Chief Operating Officer of Vericel Corp.

What stock option transaction did Vericel COO Michael Halpin report?

On 01/07/2026, Michael Halpin exercised 10,000 stock options (right to buy) at an exercise price of $16.66 per share, receiving 10,000 common shares.

How many Vericel (VCEL) shares did the COO sell in this Form 4?

On 01/07/2026, Michael Halpin sold 10,000 shares of Vericel common stock at a price of $40.48 per share in a reported sale transaction coded “S.”

Was the Vericel COO’s stock sale under a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan?

Yes. A footnote states the sales reported in this Form 4 were effected by an automatic sale under a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted by the reporting person on November 19, 2024.

How many Vericel common shares does Michael Halpin hold after these transactions?

Following the reported transactions, Michael Halpin directly beneficially owned 16,080 shares of Vericel common stock.

How many Vericel stock options does the COO hold after the reported Form 4 trades?

After the transactions, Michael Halpin held 46,250 Vericel stock options, as shown in the derivative securities table.

What is the vesting detail of the Vericel options referenced in the Form 4?

A footnote explains these options originally represented the right to purchase 76,250 shares and became exercisable in equal quarterly installments starting on May 6, 2019, contingent on continued service to the company.