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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
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FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): August 9, 2001
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Celsion Corporation
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(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
Delaware 000-14242 52-1256615
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(State or Other Jurisdiction (Commission (IRS Employer
of Incorporation) File Number) Identification No.)
10220-I Old Columbia Road, Columbia, Maryland 21046-1705
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(Address of principal executive office) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (410) 290-5390
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(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
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ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS
Background
On April 27, 2000, the Registrant commenced an action in the United
States District Court for the District of Maryland (the "Maryland Federal
Court") against Warren C. Stearns, a former director of the Registrant, Mr.
Stearn's management company, SMC, and a number of affiliates, family members and
colleagues of Mr. Stearns (collectively, the "Original Defendants"), who held
warrants for the purchase of approximately 4.1 million shares of the
Registrant's Common Stock (the "Common Stock"). The Registrant reviewed with
counsel the circumstances surrounding the issuance of these warrants and the
services that were performed or purported to be performed by Mr. Stearns and
SMC, and concluded that the warrants should be rescinded for a violation of
Section 15 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 ("Count I"). Moreover, the
Registrant believes that the right of the holders to exercise these warrants was
released.
On January 18, 2001, the Maryland Federal Court transferred the case to
the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, in
Chicago (the "Chicago Federal Court"). On July 17, 2001, the Registrant filed a
motion to amend its complaint to add a second count, alleging that Mr. Stearns,
on behalf of himself and the other Original Defendants, had executed a Mutual
Release which released any right the Original Defendants had to exercise the
warrants ("Count II"). That motion was granted on July 19, 2001.
Recent Developments
On August 9, 2001, the Original Defendants filed a counterclaim (the
"Counterclaim") against the Registrant, certain officers and directors of the
Registrant, and an attorney and law firm that previously had represented the
Registrant (the "Third-Party Defendants"). The Counterclaim is grounded in the
Registrant's failure to issue the Common Stock. The Original Defendants allege:
(i) that the Registrant's failure to issue the Common Stock was a breach of the
warrants that were issued to the Original Defendants; (ii) that the filing of
the Complaint was a breach of the Mutual Release signed by the Registrant; (iii)
that the Third-Party Defendants intentionally interfered with the Registrant's
contractual relations pursuant to the warrants; (iv) conversion of the Common
Stock against the Registrant and Third-Party Defendants; (v) civil conspiracy
among the Registrant and the Third-Party Defendants in failing to issue the
Common Stock; and (vi) fraudulent misrepresentation against the Registrant and
the Third-Party Defendants stemming from alleged representations that the Common
Stock would be issued to the Original Defendants. On September 10, 2001, the
Chicago Federal Court dismissed, with prejudice, Count I of the Complaint,
finding that it was barred by a three-year statute of repose. Count II of the
Complaint was not, however, dismissed by the Chicago Federal Court and the
Registrant's response to the Counterclaim is not yet due.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
CELSION CORPORATION
Date: October 1, 2001 By: /s/ Anthony P. Deasey
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Anthony P. Deasey
Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
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