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Commitments and Contingencies
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2020
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies

Note 17. Commitments and Contingencies

 

On September 20, 2019, a purported stockholder of the Company filed a derivative and putative class action lawsuit against the Company and certain officers and directors (the “Shareholder Action”). The Company is a defendant in this derivative and putative class action lawsuit in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Chancery Division, filed by a shareholder against the Company (as both a class action defendant and nominal defendant), and certain of its officers and directors (the “Individual Defendants”), with the caption O’Connor v. Braun et al., Docket No. MER-C-000068-19 (the “Shareholder Action”). The Shareholder Action alleges breaches of the defendants’ fiduciary duties based on allegations that the defendants omitted or made improper statements when seeking shareholder approval of the 2018 Stock Incentive Plan. The Shareholder Action seeks, among other things, any damages sustained by the Company as a result of the defendants’ alleged wrongdoing, a declaratory judgment against all defendants invalidating the 2018 Stock Incentive Plan and declaring any awards made under the Plan invalid, rescinded, and subject to disgorgement, an order disgorging the equity awards granted to the Individual Defendants under the 2018 Stock Incentive Plan, and attorneys’ fees and costs. Without admitting the validity of any of the claims asserted in the Shareholder Action, or any liability with respect thereto, and expressly denying all allegations of wrongdoing, fault, liability, or damage against the Company and the Individual Defendants arising out of any of the conduct, statements, acts or omissions alleged, or that could have been alleged, in the Shareholder Action, the Company and the Individual Defendants have concluded that it is desirable that the claims be settled on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Settlement Agreement. The Company and the Individual Defendants are entering into the Settlement Agreement for settlement purposes only and solely to avoid the cost and disruption of further litigation.

 

On April 24, 2020, the Company, the Individual Defendants, and the plaintiff (the “Parties”) entered into a Settlement Agreement and Release (the “Settlement Agreement”), which memorializes the terms of the Parties’ settlement of the Shareholder Action (the “Settlement”). The Settlement calls for repricing of certain stock options and payment of plaintiff legal fees of $187,500. On July 24, 2020, the Court issued an order approving the Parties’ proposed form of notice to shareholders regarding the Settlement. On August 3, 2020, the Company filed notice of the Settlement Agreement on Form 8-K as filed with the SEC. A hearing was held on September 8, 2020 whereby the Court issued a final approval approving the Settlement. Pursuant to the Settlement, the Company paid $187,500 on October 1, 2020.

 

On October 29, 2020, a putative securities class action was filed against the Company and certain of its officers and directors (the “Spar Individual Defendants”) in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, captioned Spar v. Celsion Corporation, et al., Case No. 1:20-cv-15228. The plaintiff alleges that the Company and Individual Defendants made false and misleading statements regarding one of the Company’s product candidates, ThermoDox®, and brings claims for damages under Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder against all Defendants, and under Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act of 1934 against the Spar Individual Defendants. The Company believes that the case is without merit and intend to defend it vigorously. Due to the early stage of the case, neither the likelihood that a loss, if any, will be realized, nor an estimate of the possible loss or range of loss, if any, can be determined.

 

On October 13, 2020, we received notice from The Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”) that the closing bid price for our common stock had been below $1.00 per share for the previous 30 consecutive business days, and that we are therefore not in compliance with the minimum bid price requirement for continued inclusion on The Nasdaq Capital Market under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) (the “Rule”). Nasdaq’s notice has no immediate effect on the listing or trading of our common stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market. The notice indicates that we will have 180 calendar days, until April 12, 2021, to regain compliance with this requirement. We can regain compliance with the $1.00 minimum bid listing requirement if the closing bid price of our common stock is at least $1.00 per share for a minimum of ten (10) consecutive business days during the 180-day compliance period. If we do not regain compliance during the initial compliance period, we may be eligible for additional time to regain compliance. To qualify, we will be required to meet the continued listing requirement for market value of our publicly held shares and all other Nasdaq initial listing standards, except the bid price requirement, and will need to provide written notice to Nasdaq of our intention to cure the deficiency during the second compliance period. If we meet these requirements, we expect that Nasdaq will grant us an additional 180 calendar days to regain compliance with the minimum bid price requirement. If it appears to Nasdaq that we will not be able to cure the deficiency, or if we are otherwise not eligible, we expect that Nasdaq will notify us that our common stock will be subject to delisting. We will have the right to appeal a determination to delist our common stock, and our common stock would remain listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market until the completion of the appeal process. We intend to actively monitor the minimum bid price of our common stock and may, as appropriate, consider available options to regain compliance with the Rule.