Circio announces allocation of stock options to key employees
Summary by AI BETAClose X
Oslo, Norway, 14 February 2026 – Circio Holding ASA (OSE: CRNA), a biotechnology company developing novel circular RNA expression technology for gene and cell therapy, today announces that the Board of Directors has resolved to grant stock options to all of its employees. The option program is as an important long-term incentive to retain key personnel and critical expertise in the company. The option grant follows the completion of a high successful rights issue and parallel private placements, raising close to NOK 70 million in gross proceeds.
On 12 January 2026, the Extraordinary General Meeting granted the Board of Circio Holding ASA an authorization to increase the Company's share capital by up to NOK 8,617,544.50 by issuing stock options and restricted stock units (RSUs) under the Company´s long-term incentive program, representing up to a maximum of 10% of the Company's outstanding share capital prior to the Rights Issue.
On 13 February, the Board resolved to issue a total of 3,700,000 stock options to members of the executive management and a total of 1,300,000 stock options to employees. Following the option grant, the total outstanding option pool is approx. 8,700,000 options, representing a maximum of 4% dilution to the current share float, if exercised in full.
Each option, when exercised, will give the right to acquire one share in the Company. The options are granted without consideration. Pursuant to the vesting schedule, 25% of the options will vest 12 months after the day of grant (as long as the option holder is still employed). Thereafter, 1/36 of the remaining options will vest each month as long as the option holder is still employed, with the first 1/36 vesting 13 months after the day of grant. Options that have not been exercised will lapse 7 years after the date of grant.
The exercise price of the granted options is NOK 1.18. The exercise price is equal to the volume weighted average trading price of the shares of the Company on the Oslo Stock Exchange on the date of the grant, 13 February 2026.
Primary insiders in Circio Holding ASA have received the following options grants, according to the terms described above:
- Chief Executive Officer Erik Digman Wiklund has been granted 1,200,000 share options. Following the grant, he holds 728,133 shares and 2,000,011 options in the Company.
- Chief Financial Officer Lubor Gaal has been granted 750,000 share options. Following the grant, he holds 486,900 shares and 1,373,329 options in the Company.
- Chief Technology Officer Thomas Birkballe Hansen has been granted 750,000 share options. Following the grant, he holds 315,600 shares and 1,166,658 options in the Company.
- Chief Scientific Officer Victor Levitsky has been granted 500,000 share options. Following the grant, he holds 371,433 shares and 821,502 options in the Company.
- Chief Operating Officer Ola Melin has been granted 500,000 share options. Following the grant, he holds 261,766 shares and 824,185 options in the Company.
Please see the attached forms for further details about the stock option allocation.
This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to article 19 of the EU Market Abuse Regulation and section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.
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