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[Form 4] Verona Pharma plc Insider Trading Activity

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

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Verona Pharma plc (VRNA) reporting person Lisa Deschamps, a director, filed a Form 4 disclosing transactions tied to the company's scheme of arrangement with Merck.

At the Effective Time, each ADS, representing eight Ordinary Shares, was paid $107 in cash under the transaction agreement. The filing shows 72,000 Ordinary Shares (equivalent to ADS-based RSUs) were acquired as vested RSU awards and then converted into the cash right to receive ADS consideration. A series of outstanding share options and other equity awards were accelerated and converted into cash payments where the exercise price was below the ADS consideration; multiple option awards totaling 600,000 underlying Ordinary Shares were shown as disposed or converted to cash rights. Following the transactions, the reporting person holds 72,000 Ordinary Shares (direct).

Positive

  • RSUs fully vested and converted to cash rights at $107 per ADS, providing immediate value to awardees
  • In-the-money options were converted into cash consideration, removing future dilution from those grants

Negative

  • Significant equity disposals reported: 84,856 Ordinary Shares disposed as part of the scheme
  • Post-transaction direct ownership for the reporting person decreased to 72,000 Ordinary Shares

Insights

Equity awards were accelerated and converted into cash at the deal price; RSUs became vested cash rights.

The Transaction Agreement forced full vesting of time-based RSUs immediately prior to the Effective Time, converting each RSU into the right to receive the ADS consideration of $107 per ADS. That mechanism crystallizes compensation liabilities and simplifies post-close equity settlements.

This treatment affects reported insider holdings and taxable events for recipients; monitor any separate tax withholding disclosures and the timing of cash payments for settlement within the next 30-90 days.

In-the-money options were cashed out, yielding zero post-transaction equity holdings from those grants.

Options with exercise prices below the ADS consideration were converted into cash equal to the excess of $107 per ADS over the exercise price, producing realized cash value for optionholders and removing those option shares from post-close capitalization counts.

Watch for any follow-up disclosures about aggregate cash paid for option conversions and RSU settlements; these figures determine the total cash outflow tied to equity compensation in the transaction.

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
OMB APPROVAL
OMB Number: 3235-0287
Estimated average burden
hours per response: 0.5
X
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*
Deschamps Lisa

(Last) (First) (Middle)
3 MORE LONDON RIVERSIDE

(Street)
LONDON X0 SE1 2RE

(City) (State) (Zip)
2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
Verona Pharma plc [ VRNA ]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
X Director 10% Owner
Officer (give title below) Other (specify below)
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
10/07/2025
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
Ordinary Shares(1) 10/07/2025 D 84,856 D (2)(3) 0 D
Ordinary Shares(1) 10/07/2025 M 72,000 A (4) 72,000 D
Ordinary Shares(1) 10/07/2025 D 72,000 D (4) 0 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
Restricted Share Unit(5) (4) 10/07/2025 M 72,000 (4) (4) Ordinary Shares(1) 72,000 (4) 0 D
Share Options (Right to Buy) $0.5038 10/07/2025 D 200,000 (6) 04/27/2032 Ordinary Shares(1) 200,000 (6) 0 D
Share Options (Right to Buy) $2.67 10/07/2025 D 96,000 (6) 04/27/2033 Ordinary Shares(1) 96,000 (6) 0 D
Share Options (Right to Buy) $1.9338 10/07/2025 D 240,000 (6) 04/28/2034 Ordinary Shares(1) 240,000 (6) 0 D
Share Options (Right to Buy) $0.775 10/07/2025 D 64,000 (6) 08/08/2031 Ordinary Shares(1) 64,000 (6) 0 D
Explanation of Responses:
1. Reported securities are represented by American Depositary Shares ("ADSs"), each of which represents eight (8) Ordinary Shares of the Issuer.
2. Represents Ordinary Shares of the Issuer acquired from the Reporting Person by means of a scheme of arrangement (the "Scheme of Arrangement") under Part 26 of the UK Companies Act 2006, pursuant to a transaction agreement, dated as of July 8, 2025 (the "Transaction Agreement"), by and among the Issuer, Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, a New Jersey limited liability company ("Parent") and Vol Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly owned subsidiary of Parent ("Bidco").
3. At the effective time of the Scheme of Arrangement (the "Effective Time"), each holder of the Scheme Shares (as defined in the Scheme of Arrangement) became entitled to receive $13.375 in cash per Scheme Share, without interest and net of any applicable withholding taxes. Because each ADS represents a beneficial ownership interest in eight (8) Ordinary Shares of the Issuer, holders of ADSs as of the Effective Time became entitled to receive eight (8) times the foregoing cash amount, or $107 in cash, without interest and net of any applicable withholding taxes, per ADS (the "ADS Consideration").
4. Pursuant to the terms of the Transaction Agreement, immediately prior to the Effective Time, each outstanding time-based restricted share unit award ("RSU Award"), unless agreed otherwise, became fully vested, and at the Effective Time, was automatically converted into the right to receive an amount in cash (without interest and subject to all required withholding taxes) equal to the product of (i) the aggregate number of ADSs underlying such RSU Award and (ii) the ADS Consideration.
5. Represents an award of RSUs covering ADSs, which is presented in terms of the equivalent number of Ordinary Shares underlying the ADSs. Each RSU represents a contingent right to receive one (1) ADS of the Issuer. Each ADS represents eight (8) Ordinary Shares of the Issuer. The RSUs have no expiration date.
6. Pursuant to the terms of the Transaction Agreement, immediately prior to the Effective Time, each outstanding share option became fully vested, to the extent unvested, and at the Effective Time, each share option that had an exercise price less than the ADS Consideration was automatically converted into the right to receive an amount in cash equal to the product of (i) the aggregate number of ADSs underlying such share option and (ii) the excess, if any, of (a) an amount equal to the ADS Consideration over (b) the exercise price of such share option.
/s/ Andrew Fisher, Attorney-in-fact for Lisa Deschamps 10/08/2025
** 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).
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.

FAQ

What did Lisa Deschamps report on the Form 4 for VRNA?

The Form 4 reports that RSUs were vested and converted and multiple option awards were converted or disposed in connection with the scheme of arrangement; the reporting person holds 72,000 Ordinary Shares following the transactions.

How much cash was paid per ADS under the transaction agreement?

Each ADS was entitled to $107 in cash at the Effective Time, because each ADS represents eight Ordinary Shares and the per‑share cash amount was $13.375.

Were share options affected by the transaction?

Yes; outstanding share options with exercise prices below the ADS consideration were fully vested and converted into cash rights based on the excess of $107 per ADS over the option exercise price.

How many Ordinary Shares were disposed or converted in the filing?

The filing shows 84,856 Ordinary Shares disposed and conversions/vestings that affected a total of 600,000 underlying Ordinary Shares from option awards listed.

Does the Form 4 indicate any remaining derivative holdings for the reporting person?

Following the reported transactions, the Form 4 shows 0 derivative securities beneficially owned resulting from the converted options and RSUs; direct ownership is 72,000 Ordinary Shares.
Verona Pharma

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VRNA Stock Data

9.19B
73.30M
4.89%
95.18%
2.32%
Biotechnology
Pharmaceutical Preparations
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United Kingdom
LONDON