<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001206774-18-003583.txt : 20181231
<SEC-HEADER>0001206774-18-003583.hdr.sgml : 20181231
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20181231074517
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001206774-18-003583
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	8-K
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20181226
ITEM INFORMATION:		Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers: Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers
FILED AS OF DATE:		20181231
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20181231

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GERON CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000886744
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				752287752
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		8-K
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-20859
		FILM NUMBER:		181258638

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		149 COMMONWEALTH DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 2070
		CITY:			MENLO PARK
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94025
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6504737700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		149 COMMONWEALTH DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 2070
		CITY:			MENLO PARK
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94025

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	GERON CORPORATION
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19960521
</SEC-HEADER>
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<TYPE>8-K
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<FILENAME>geron33139023-8k.htm
<DESCRIPTION>CURRENT REPORT
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<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><B><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">UNITED STATES<BR></FONT></B><B><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION <BR>WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 <BR>___________ </FONT></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><B><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">FORM 8-K</FONT></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><B><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">CURRENT REPORT<BR></FONT></B><B><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE <BR>SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934</FONT></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): </FONT><B><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">December 26, 2018</FONT></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><B><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;GERON CORPORATION<BR></FONT></B><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</FONT></P>
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   <TD width="33%" noWrap align=center><B><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Delaware</FONT></B></TD>
   <TD width="33%" noWrap align=center><B><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">0-20859</FONT></B></TD>
   <TD width="33%" noWrap align=center><B><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">75-2287752</FONT></B></TD></TR>
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   <TD width="33%" noWrap align=center><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">(State or other jurisdiction</FONT></TD>
   <TD width="33%" noWrap align=center><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">(Commission File Number)</FONT></TD>
   <TD width="33%" noWrap align=center><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">(IRS Employer</FONT></TD></TR>
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   <TD width="33%" noWrap align=center><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">of incorporation)</FONT></TD>
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   <TD width="33%" noWrap align=center><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Identification No.)</FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>

<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><B><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">149 COMMONWEALTH DRIVE, SUITE 2070 <BR>MENLO PARK, CALIFORNIA 94025<BR></FONT></B><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">(Address of principal executive offices, including zip
code)</FONT></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><B><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">(650) 473-7700<BR></FONT></B><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">(Registrant&#8217;s telephone number, including area code)</FONT></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><B><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">N/A<BR></FONT></B><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)</FONT></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:</FONT></P>
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   <TD width="98%"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</FONT></TD></TR>

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   <TD width="98%"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</FONT></TD></TR>

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   <TD width="98%"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</FONT></TD></TR>

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   <TD width="98%"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</FONT></TD></TR></TABLE></DIV>

<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (&#167;230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (&#167;240.12b-2 of this chapter).</FONT></P>

<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Emerging growth company <FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">&#9744;</FONT></FONT><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman"></FONT></P>

<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting
standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">&#9744;</FONT></FONT></P>
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   <TD STYLE="width: 1%; white-space: nowrap; text-align: left; vertical-align: top"><B><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Item 5.02</FONT></B></TD>
   <TD STYLE="width: 1%; white-space: nowrap; text-align: left; vertical-align: top">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
   <TD STYLE="width: 98%; text-align: left; vertical-align: top"><B><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.</FONT></B></TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="text-align: left; text-indent: 15pt"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">On December 26, 2018, Hoyoung Huh, M.D., Ph.D., the Chairman of the Board of Directors (the &#8220;Board&#8221;) of Geron Corporation (the &#8220;Company&#8221;) notified the Board in writing of his decision to resign from the Board and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board, effective December 26, 2018. Dr. Huh&#8217;s resignation was not due to any disagreement with the Company, the Board or the management of the Company on any matter relating to the Company&#8217;s future prospects, operations, policies or practices. Dr. Huh was a Class II member of the Board and has served as Chairman of the Board since September 2011, and as a member of the Board since May 2010.</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="text-align: left; text-indent: 15pt"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">On December 27, 2018, based on recommendations from the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board, the Board took the following actions in connection with Dr. Huh&#8217;s departure from the Board:</FONT></P>

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<TR> <TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 8pt; PADDING-LEFT: 15pt" vAlign=top width="1%"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 9.5pt">&#9679;</FONT></TD><TD vAlign=top width="99%"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">The Board appointed John A. Scarlett, M.D., the Company&#8217;s President and Chief Executive Officer and a Class I member of the Board, as Chairman of the Board, effective December 27, 2018. As an employee director of the Board, Dr. Scarlett does not receive any compensation for his Board service.<BR>
&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR> <TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 8pt; PADDING-LEFT: 15pt" vAlign=top width="1%"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 9.5pt">&#9679;</FONT></TD> <TD vAlign=top width="99%"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">In accordance with the Company&#8217;s Corporate Governance Guidelines, with the appointment of Dr. Scarlett as Chairman, the Board appointed Karin Eastham (a current &#8220;independent director&#8221; as determined by the Board under NASDAQ listing standards) as Lead Independent Director, effective December 27, 2018, to provide active leadership on behalf of the other independent directors on the Board. Ms. Eastham will continue her roles on other Board committees, including Chairperson of the Audit Committee and a member of the Compensation Committee. Ms. Eastham has served on the Board as a Class III director since March 2009.</FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>




<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">1</FONT></P>
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<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><B><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">SIGNATURE</FONT></B></P>
<P STYLE="text-align: left; text-indent: 15pt"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">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 hereunto duly
authorized.</FONT></P>
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   <TD COLSPAN="3" STYLE="text-align: left"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">GERON CORPORATION</FONT></TD></TR>
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   <TD STYLE="width: 50%; text-align: left"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Date:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">December 31, 2018</FONT></FONT></TD>
   <TD STYLE="width: 3%; text-align: left"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">By:</FONT></TD>
   <TD STYLE="border-bottom: #000000 1pt solid; width: 32%; text-align: left"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">/s/ Stephen N. Rosenfield</FONT></TD>
   <TD STYLE="width: 15%; text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
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   <TD STYLE="text-align: left"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Name:&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
   <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="text-align: left"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Stephen N. Rosenfield</FONT></TD></TR>

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   <TD STYLE="text-align: left"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Title:</FONT></TD>
   <TD STYLE="text-align: left; white-space: nowrap"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Executive Vice President, General Counsel and</FONT></TD>
   <TD STYLE="text-align: left">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
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   <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="text-align: left"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">Corporate Secretary</FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><FONT size=2 face="Times New Roman">2</FONT></P>
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