Form 4: Capricor Director Granted Stock Options

Capricor Therapeutics director Paul Gisbert Auwaerter received grants of stock options totaling 22,280 shares with an exercise price of $24.81.

Summary

• Paul Gisbert Auwaerter, a Director of Capricor Therapeutics, Inc. (CAPR), was granted stock options on January 5, 2026.
• The grants include three separate awards of stock options, all with an exercise price of $24.81 per share and an expiration date of January 5, 2036.
• One award of 15,500 shares vests at a rate of 1/12th on the first day of each month, commencing February 1, 2026, and fully vesting by December 31, 2026. This award is for annual board service and is subject to early exercise, with a repurchase option for the Issuer if service terminates prior to vesting.
• A second award of 1,360 shares is fully vested and exercisable as of January 5, 2026, pertaining to annual board committee service.
• A third award of 5,420 shares is also fully vested and exercisable as of January 5, 2026, pertaining to annual board service.
• The total number of derivative securities beneficially owned following these transactions is 22,280 stock options.

Sentiment

Score: 6

Explanation: The filing reports a routine compensation event for a director, which is generally viewed as neutral to slightly positive as it aligns management incentives with shareholder interests, without indicating any significant operational or financial news.

Positives

• The grant of stock options aligns the director's financial interests with those of the shareholders, incentivizing long-term company performance.
• A significant portion of the options (1,360 and 5,420 shares, totaling 6,780 shares) are fully vested and exercisable immediately, providing immediate value.

Risks

• If the reporting person elects to early exercise the 15,500 options and purchases shares prior to vesting, those shares will be restricted and subject to a repurchase option by the Issuer if the reporting person's service terminates before vesting.

Future Outlook

This filing primarily details a compensation event for a director and does not provide specific forward-looking statements or guidance regarding the company's operational or financial performance.

Industry Context

The grant of stock options to a director is a standard practice in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry, serving as a common form of executive and board compensation to align leadership interests with shareholder value creation.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• NA This Form 4 filing details a specific insider transaction and does not provide sufficient context or data to make a detailed comparison to industry-specific compensation benchmarks or comparable company projects and results.

Related Party Transactions

• The grant of stock options to a director constitutes a related party transaction, representing compensation for board and committee service.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: The stock option grants align the director's financial incentives with shareholder value creation, potentially encouraging decisions that benefit the company's stock price.
• Employees: No direct impact on general employees is indicated by this filing.

Next Steps

• The 15,500 stock options will begin vesting monthly starting February 1, 2026, until fully vested by December 31, 2026.
• The director may choose to exercise the vested options at any time before their expiration date of January 5, 2036.

Key Dates

Keywords

Capricor Therapeutics, CAPR, Stock Options, Director Compensation, Insider Transaction, Form 4, Equity Grant