Form 4: Aprea Therapeutics Director John Henneman III Receives Equity Compensation

Aprea Therapeutics, Inc. Director John B. Henneman III was granted 1,045 restricted stock units and 4,185 stock options as part of his compensation, aligning his interests with shareholders.

Summary

• John B. Henneman III, a Director of Aprea Therapeutics, Inc. (APRE), reported changes in his beneficial ownership of company securities.
• On June 5, 2025, Mr. Henneman acquired 1,045 shares of common stock in the form of restricted stock units (RSUs) at a price of $0.00 per share.
• These RSUs are scheduled to vest and be settled in common stock on June 5, 2026, contingent upon his continued service on the Issuer's board of directors.
• Following this transaction, Mr. Henneman beneficially owns 10,229 shares of common stock.
• Additionally, on June 5, 2025, Mr. Henneman was granted 4,185 stock options with an exercise price of $1.81 per share.
• These stock options will vest in full on June 5, 2026, also subject to his continued service on the board.
• The stock options have an expiration date of June 5, 2035.
• After this transaction, Mr. Henneman beneficially owns 4,185 derivative securities (stock options).

Sentiment

Score: 6

Explanation: The document reports a routine equity compensation grant to a director, which is a positive for aligning interests but does not indicate significant new operational or financial performance. It's a neutral-to-slightly positive event.

Positives

• The grant of restricted stock units and stock options to a director aligns management's interests with those of shareholders, as the value of this compensation is tied to the company's stock performance.
• The acquisition of additional equity by a director can signal confidence in the company's future prospects.

Future Outlook

The restricted stock units and stock options granted to Director John B. Henneman III are subject to vesting on June 5, 2026, contingent upon his continued service on the board of directors, indicating a future alignment of interests.

Industry Context

The granting of equity compensation, such as restricted stock units and stock options, to non-employee directors is a standard practice across various industries, including biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, to attract and retain talent, and to align the interests of directors with those of shareholders.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• The practice of granting equity as compensation to directors is a common governance mechanism in publicly traded companies, particularly in growth-oriented sectors like biotechnology, to incentivize long-term value creation.
• While specific compensation amounts vary widely based on company size, industry, and individual director responsibilities, the structure of granting RSUs and stock options with vesting periods tied to continued service is consistent with typical director compensation packages observed in companies like Moderna (MRNA) or BioNTech (BNTX) for their non-executive directors, although the scale of grants would differ based on market capitalization and compensation philosophy.

Corporate Governance

Related Party Transactions

• The transaction involves the company granting equity compensation to a director, which is a standard related-party transaction for executive and board compensation.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: The equity grant aligns the director's interests with shareholders, potentially leading to better long-term decision-making focused on stock appreciation.
• Employees: No direct impact on general employees is indicated by this filing.

Next Steps

• The restricted stock units and stock options are expected to vest on June 5, 2026, assuming the director's continued service on the board.

Key Dates

Keywords

Aprea Therapeutics, APRE, Form 4, Insider Transaction, Director Compensation, Restricted Stock Units, Stock Options, Equity Grant, Beneficial Ownership