1 AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON AUGUST 14, 2001. REGISTRATION NO. 333- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 --------------- FORM S-8 REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 CELSION CORPORATION (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter) DELAWARE (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) 52-1256615 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) 10220-I OLD COLUMBIA ROAD COLUMBIA, MD 21046-1705 21046 (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code) CELSION CORPORATION 2001 STOCK OPTION PLAN (Full Title of the Plan) SPENCER J. VOLK PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER CELSION CORPORATION 10220-I OLD COLUMBIA ROAD COLUMBIA, MD 21046 (Name, and Address of Agent For Service) (410) 290-5390 Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service. --------------- COPIES TO: ANITA J. FINKELSTEIN VENABLE, BAETJER, HOWARD & CIVILETTI, LLP 1201 NEW YORK AVENUE, NW SUITE 1000 WASHINGTON, DC 20005 (202) 962-4800 CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE =========================================================================================================== PROPOSED AMOUNT MAXIMUM PROPOSED MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF TITLE OF SECURITIES TO BE AGGREGATE PRICE AGGREGATE OFFERING REGISTRATION TO BE REGISTERED REGISTERED (1) PER SHARE (2) PRICE FEE - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Common stock, par value $0.01 per share 10,000,000 Shares $0.63 $6,300,000 $1,575 =========================================================================================================== (1) Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement also covers an indeterminate number of additional shares as may be issued as a result of adjustments by reason of any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction. (2) Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) and Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act of 1933. The above calculation is based on the average of the high and low prices of the Registrant's Common Stock reported on The American Stock Exchange on August 10, 2001. 1
2 PART I INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS Not required to be included in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 pursuant to the Introductory Note to Part I of Form S-8. PART II ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE. The following documents, which have been filed by the Registrant with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission"), are incorporated into this Registration Statement by reference: (a) The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2000, filed with the Commission on December 28, 2000; (b) The Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2000, filed with the Commission on February 7, 2001; (c) The Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2001, filed with the Commission on May 14, 2001; (d) The Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2001, filed with the Commission on August 14, 2001 (e) The Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on December 29, 2000; (f) All other reports filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), since the end of the fiscal year covered by the Form 10-K referred to in (a) above; and (g) The description of the Common Stock set forth under the heading "Item 1. Description of Registrant's Securities to be Registered" in the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 001-15911) filed with the Commission on May 26, 2000 under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act, together with any amendment or report filed with the Commission for the purpose of updating such description. All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement and to be a part of this Registration Statement from the date of filing of such documents. Any statement contained herein or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document that also is or is deemed to be incorporated herein by reference modifies or supersedes such earlier statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement. ITEM 4. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES. Not Applicable. II-1
3 ITEM 5. INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL. Not Applicable. ITEM 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS. The Registrant is organized under the laws of the State of Delaware. The Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation provides that the Registrant shall indemnify its current and former directors and officers, and may indemnify its current and former employees and agents, against any and all liabilities and expenses incurred in connection with their services in those capacities to the maximum extent permitted by Delaware law. The Delaware General Corporation Law (the "DGCL") provides that a Delaware corporation has the power generally to indemnify its current and former directors, officers, employees and other agents (each, a "Corporate Agent") against expenses and liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement) in connection with any proceeding involving such person by reason of his being a Corporate Agent, other than a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation, if such person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, such person had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. In the case of an action brought by or in the right of the corporation, indemnification of a Corporate Agent is permitted if such person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation. However, no indemnification is permitted in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that the court in which such proceeding was brought shall determine upon application that despite the adjudication of liability, but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to such indemnification. To the extent that a Corporate Agent has been successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of such proceeding, whether or not by or in the right of the corporation, or in the defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, the corporation is required to indemnify such person for expenses in connection therewith. Under the DGCL, the corporation may advance expenses incurred by a Corporate Agent in connection with a proceeding, provided that the Corporate Agent undertakes to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to indemnification. The Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation requires the Registrant to advance expenses to any person entitled to indemnification, provided that such person undertakes to repay the advancement if it is determined in a final judicial decision from which there is no appeal that such person is not entitled to indemnification. The power to indemnify and advance the expenses under the DGCL does not exclude other rights to which a Corporate Agent may be entitled to under the Certificate of Incorporation, by laws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise. The Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation permits the Registrant to secure insurance on behalf of directors, officers, employees and agents of the Registrant for any expense, liability or loss incurred in such capacities, regardless of whether the Certificate of Incorporation or Delaware law would permit indemnification against such expense, liability or loss. The purpose of these provisions is to assist the Registrant in retaining qualified individuals to serve as our directors, officers, employees and agents by limiting their exposure to personal liability for serving as such. ITEM 7. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED. Not applicable. II-2
4 ITEM 8. EXHIBITS. NUMBER DESCRIPTION ------ ----------- 4.1* Celsion Corporation 2001 Stock Option Plan. 5* Opinion of Venable, Baetjer, Howard & Civiletti, LLP re: Legality. 23.1* Consent of Venable, Baetjer, Howard & Civiletti, LLP (included in Exhibit 5). 23.2* Consent of Stegman & Company, Independent Public Accountants to Celsion Corporation. 24* Powers of Attorney (included in Signature Page). - ----------- * Filed herewith. ITEM 9. UNDERTAKINGS. (A) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes: (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement: (i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933; (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement; (iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement; II-3
5 provided, however, that paragraphs A(1)(i) and A(1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement. (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment to this registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. (B) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. (C) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. II-4
6 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Columbia, Maryland, on the 9th day of August, 2001. CELSION CORPORATION By: /s/ Spencer J. Volk ------------------------------------- Spencer J. Volk President and Chief Executive Officer POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Spencer J. Volk and John Mon and each of them, as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place, and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, or any related registration statement that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their, or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated. SIGNATURE TITLE DATE ------------------------------ ------------------------------- -------------- /s/ Spencer J. Volk Director, President and Chief August 9, 2001 ------------------------------ Executive Officer (Principal Spencer J. Volk Executive Officer) /s/ Anthony P. Deasey Senior Vice President and Chief August 9, 2001 ------------------------------ Financial Officer (Principal Anthony P. Deasey Financial and Accounting Officer) /s/ Augustine Y. Cheung Chairman of the Board August 9, 2001 ------------------------------ Augustine Y. Cheung /s/ John Mon Vice President, Secretary, August 9, 2001 ------------------------------ Treasurer and Director John Mon /s/ LaSalle D. Lefall Director August 9, 2001 ------------------------------ LaSalle D. Leffall, Jr. /s/ Max E. Link Director August 9, 2001 ------------------------------ Max E. Link /s/ Claude Tihon Director August 9, 2001 ------------------------------ Claude Tihon /s/ Kris Venkat Director August 9, 2001 ------------------------------ Kris Venkat II-1
7 EXHIBIT INDEX NUMBER DESCRIPTION ------ ----------- 4.1* Celsion Corporation 2001 Stock Option Plan. 5* Opinion of Venable, Baetjer, Howard & Civiletti, LLP re: Legality. 23.1* Consent of Venable, Baetjer, Howard & Civiletti, LLP (included in Exhibit 5). 23.2* Consent of Stegman & Company, Independent Public Accountants to Celsion Corporation. 24* Powers of Attorney (included in Signature Page). - ----------- * Filed herewith. II-1
1 CELSION CORPORATION 2001 STOCK OPTION PLAN 1. ESTABLISHMENT, PURPOSE AND TYPES OF AWARDS Celsion Corporation hereby establishes the CELSION CORPORATION 2001 STOCK OPTION PLAN (the "Plan"). The purpose of the Plan is to promote the long-term growth and profitability of Celsion Corporation (the "Corporation") by (i) providing key people with incentives to improve stockholder value and to contribute to the growth and financial success of the Corporation, and (ii) enabling the Corporation to attract, retain and reward the best available persons for positions of substantial responsibility. The Plan permits the granting of stock options (including nonqualified stock options and incentive stock options qualifying under Section 422 of the Code) and stock appreciation rights (including free-standing, tandem and limited stock appreciation rights) or any combination of the foregoing (collectively, "Awards"). 2. DEFINITIONS Under this Plan, except where the context otherwise indicates, the following definitions apply: (a) "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Corporation. (b) "Change in Control" shall mean: (i) any sale, exchange or other disposition of substantially all of the Corporation's assets or over 50% of its Common Stock; or (ii) any merger, share exchange, consolidation or other reorganization or business combination in which the Corporation is not the surviving or continuing corporation, or in which the Corporation's stockholders become entitled to receive cash, securities of the Corporation other than voting common stock, or securities of another issuer. (c) "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any regulations issued thereunder. (d) "Committee" shall mean the Board or committee of Board members appointed pursuant to Section 3 of the Plan to administer the Plan. (e) "Common Stock" shall mean shares of the Corporation's common stock. (f) "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. (g) "Fair Market Value" of a share of the Corporation's Common Stock for any purpose on a particular date shall be determined in a manner such as the Committee shall in good faith determine to be appropriate. (h) "Grant Agreement" shall mean a written agreement between the Corporation and a grantee memorializing the terms and conditions of an Award granted pursuant to the Plan. (i) "Grant Date" shall mean the date on which the Committee formally acts to grant an Award to a grantee or such other date as the Committee shall so designate at the time of taking such formal action. (j) "Parent" shall mean a corporation, whether now or hereafter existing, within the meaning of the definition of "parent corporation" provided in Section 424(e) of the Code, or any successor thereto of similar import. (k) "Rule 16b-3" shall mean Rule 16b-3 as in effect under the Exchange Act on the effective date of the Plan, or any successor provision prescribing conditions necessary to exempt the issuance of securities under the Plan (and further transactions in such securities) from Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.
2 (l) "Subsidiary" and "subsidiaries" shall mean only a corporation or corporations, whether now or hereafter existing, within the meaning of the definition of "subsidiary corporation" provided in Section 424(f) of the Code, or any successor thereto of similar import. 3. ADMINISTRATION (a) Procedure. The Plan shall be administered by the Board. In the alternative, the Board may appoint a Committee consisting of not less than two (2) members of the Board to administer the Plan on behalf of the Board, subject to such terms and conditions as the Board may prescribe. Once appointed, the Committee shall continue to serve until otherwise directed by the Board. From time to time, the Board may increase the size of the Committee and appoint additional members thereof, remove members (with or without cause) and appoint new members in substitution therefor, fill vacancies, however caused, and remove all members of the Committee and, thereafter, directly administer the Plan. In the event that the Board is the administrator of the Plan in lieu of a Committee, the term "Committee" as used herein shall be deemed to mean the Board. Members of the Board or Committee who are either eligible for Awards or have been granted Awards may vote on any matters affecting the administration of the Plan or the grant of Awards pursuant to the Plan, except that no such member shall act upon the granting of an Award to himself or herself, but any such member may be counted in determining the existence of a quorum at any meeting of the Board or the Committee during which action is taken with respect to the granting of an Award to him or her. The Committee shall meet at such times and places and upon such notice as it may determine. A majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum. Any acts by the Committee may be taken at any meeting at which a quorum is present and shall be by majority vote of those members entitled to vote. Additionally, any acts reduced to writing or approved in writing by all of the members of the Committee shall be valid acts of the Committee. (b) Procedure After Registration of Common Stock. Upon and after the point in time that the Common Stock or any other capital stock of the Corporation becomes registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, the Board shall take all action necessary to cause the Plan to be administered in accordance with the then effective provisions of Rule 16b-3, provided that any amendment to the Plan required for compliance with such provisions shall be made in accordance with Section 11 of the Plan. (c) Powers of the Committee. The Committee shall have all the powers vested in it by the terms of the Plan, such powers to include authority, in its sole and absolute discretion, to grant Awards under the Plan, prescribe Grant Agreements evidencing such Awards and establish programs for granting Awards. The Committee shall have full power and authority to take all other actions necessary to carry out the purpose and intent of the Plan, including, but not limited to, the authority to: (i) determine the eligible persons to whom, and the time or times at which Awards shall be granted, (ii) determine the types of Awards to be granted, (iii) determine the number of shares to be covered by or used for reference purposes for each Award, (iv) impose such terms, limitations, restrictions and conditions upon any such Award as the Committee shall deem appropriate, (v) modify, extend or renew outstanding Awards, accept the surrender of outstanding Awards and substitute new Awards, provided that no such action shall be taken with respect to any outstanding Award which would adversely affect the grantee without the grantee's consent, and (vi) accelerate or otherwise change the time in which an Award may be exercised or becomes payable and to waive or accelerate the lapse, in whole or in part, of any restriction or condition with respect to such Award, including, but not limited to, any restriction or condition with respect to the vesting or exercisability of an Award following termination of any grantee's employment.
3 The Committee shall have full power and authority to administer and interpret the Plan and to adopt such rules, regulations, agreements, guidelines and instruments for the administration of the Plan and for the conduct of its business as the Committee deems necessary or advisable and to interpret same, all within the Committee's sole and absolute discretion. (d) Limited Liability. To the maximum extent permitted by law, no member of the Board or Committee shall be liable for any action taken or decision made in good faith relating to the Plan or any Award thereunder. (e) Indemnification. To the maximum extent permitted by law, the members of the Board and Committee shall be indemnified by the Corporation in respect of all their activities under the Plan. (f) Effect of Committee's Decision. All actions taken and decisions and determinations made by the Committee on all matters relating to the Plan pursuant to the powers vested in it hereunder shall be in the Committee's sole and absolute discretion and shall be conclusive and binding on all parties concerned, including the Corporation, its stockholders, any participants in the Plan and any other employee of the Corporation, and their respective successors in interest. 4. SHARES AVAILABLE FOR THE PLAN; MAXIMUM AWARDS Subject to adjustments as provided in Section 10 of the Plan, the shares of stock that may be delivered or purchased or used for reference purposes (with respect to stock appreciation rights) under the Plan, including with respect to incentive stock options intended to qualify under Section 422 of the Code, shall not exceed an aggregate of Ten Million (10,000,000) shares of Common Stock of the Corporation and the Corporation shall reserve said number of shares of Common Stock for issuance pursuant to the Plan. If any Award, or portion of an Award, under the Plan expires or terminates unexercised, becomes unexercisable or is forfeited or otherwise terminated, surrendered or canceled as to any shares, the shares subject to such Award shall thereafter be available for further Awards under the Plan. 5. PARTICIPATION Participation in the Plan shall be open to all employees, officers, directors and consultants of the Corporation, or of any Parent or Subsidiary of the Corporation, as may be selected by the Committee from time to time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, participation in the Plan with respect to Awards of incentive stock options shall be limited to employees of the Corporation, or of any Parent or Subsidiary of the Corporation. Awards may be granted to such eligible persons and for or with respect to such number of shares of Common Stock as the Committee shall determine, subject to the limitations in Section 4 of the Plan. A grant of any type of Award made in any one year to an eligible person shall neither guarantee nor preclude a further grant of that or any other type of Award to such person in that year or subsequent years. 6. STOCK OPTIONS Subject to the other applicable provisions of the Plan, the Committee may from time to time grant to eligible participants nonqualified stock options or incentive stock options as that term is defined in Section 422 of the Code. The stock options granted shall be subject to the following terms and conditions. (a) Grant of Option. The grant of a stock option shall be evidenced by a Grant Agreement, executed by the Corporation and the grantee, stating the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the stock option evidenced thereby and the terms and conditions of such stock option, in such form as the Committee may from time to time determine. (b) Price. The price per share payable upon the exercise of each stock option ("exercise price") shall be determined by the Committee. (c) Payment. Stock options may be exercised in whole or in part by payment of the exercise price of the shares to be acquired in accordance with the provisions of the Grant Agreement, and/or such rules and
4 regulations as the Committee may have prescribed, and/or such determinations, orders, or decisions as the Committee may have made. Payment may be made in cash (or cash equivalents acceptable to the Committee) or, if approved by the Committee, in shares of Common Stock or a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock, or by such other means as the Committee may prescribe. The Fair Market Value of shares of Common Stock delivered on exercise of stock options shall be determined as of the date of exercise. Shares of Common Stock delivered in payment of the exercise price may be previously owned shares or, if approved by the Committee, shares acquired upon exercise of the stock option. Any fractional share will be paid in cash. If approved by the Board of Directors, the Corporation may make or guarantee loans to grantees to assist grantees in exercising stock options and satisfying any related withholding tax obligations. If the Common Stock is registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act, the Committee, subject to such limitations as it may determine, may authorize payment of the exercise price, in whole or in part, by delivery of a properly executed exercise notice, together with irrevocable instructions, to: (i) a brokerage firm designated by the Corporation to deliver promptly to the Corporation the aggregate amount of sale or loan proceeds to pay the exercise price and any withholding tax obligations that may arise in connection with the exercise, and (ii) the Corporation to deliver the certificates for such purchased shares directly to such brokerage firm. (d) Terms of Options. The term during which each stock option may be exercised shall be determined by the Committee; provided, however, that in no event shall a stock option be exercisable more than ten years from the date it is granted. Prior to the exercise of the stock option and delivery of the shares certificates represented thereby, the grantee shall have none of the rights of a stockholder with respect to any shares represented by an outstanding stock option. (e) Restrictions on Incentive Stock Options. Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan shall comply in all respects with Code Section 422 and, as such, shall meet the following additional requirements. (i) Grant Date. An incentive stock option must be granted within 10 years of the earlier of the Plan's adoption by the Board of Directors or approval by the Corporation's shareholders. (ii) Exercise Price and Term. The exercise price of an incentive stock option shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the shares on the date the stock option is granted and the term of the stock option shall not exceed ten years. Also, the exercise price of any incentive stock option granted to a grantee who owns (within the meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the Code, after the application of the attribution rules in Section 424(d) of the Code) more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of shares of the Corporation or its Parent or Subsidiary corporations (within the meaning of Sections 422 and 424 of the Code) shall be not less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the grant date and the term of such stock option shall not exceed five years. (iii) Maximum Grant. The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the Grant Date) of shares of Common Stock with respect to which all incentive stock options first become exercisable by any grantee in any calendar year under this or any other plan of the Corporation and its Parent and Subsidiary corporations may not exceed $100,000 or such other amount as may be permitted from time to time under Section 422 of the Code. To the extent that such aggregate Fair Market Value shall exceed $100,000, or other applicable amount, such stock options shall be treated as nonqualified stock options. In such case, the Corporation may designate the shares of Common Stock that are to be treated as stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of an incentive stock option by issuing a separate certificate for such shares and identifying the certificate as incentive stock option shares in the stock transfer records of the Corporation. (iv) Grantee. Incentive stock options shall only be issued to employees of the Corporation, or of a Parent or Subsidiary of the Corporation. (v) Designation. No stock option shall be an incentive stock option unless so designated by the Committee at the time of grant or in the Grant Agreement evidencing such stock option.
5 (vi) Stockholder Approval. No stock option issued under the Plan shall be an incentive stock option unless the Plan is approved by the shareholders of the Corporation within 12 months of its adoption by the Board in accordance with the Bylaws and Articles of the Corporation and governing law relating to such matters. (f) Other Terms and Conditions. Stock options may contain such other provisions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as the Committee shall determine appropriate from time to time. 7. STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS (a) Award of Stock Appreciation Rights. Subject to the other applicable provisions of the Plan, the Committee may at any time and from time to time grant stock appreciation rights ("SARs") to eligible participants, either on a free-standing basis (without regard to or in addition to the grant of a stock option) or on a tandem basis (related to the grant of an underlying stock option), as it determines. SARs granted in tandem with or in addition to a stock option may be granted either at the same time as the stock option or at a later time; provided, however, that a tandem SAR shall not be granted with respect to any outstanding incentive stock option Award without the consent of the grantee. SARs shall be evidenced by Grant Agreements, executed by the Corporation and the grantee, stating the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the SAR evidenced thereby and the terms and conditions of such SAR, in such form as the Committee may from time to time determine. The term during which each SAR may be exercised shall be determined by the Committee. In no event shall a SAR be exercisable more than ten years from the date it is granted. The grantee shall have none of the rights of a stockholder with respect to any shares of Common Stock represented by a SAR. (b) Restrictions of Tandem SARs. No incentive stock option may be surrendered in connection with the exercise of a tandem SAR unless the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the incentive stock option is greater than the exercise price for such incentive stock option. SARs granted in tandem with stock options shall be exercisable only to the same extent and subject to the same conditions as the stock options related thereto are exercisable. The Committee may, in its discretion, prescribe additional conditions to the exercise of any such tandem SAR. (c) Amount of Payment Upon Exercise of SARs. A SAR shall entitle the grantee to receive, subject to the provisions of the Plan and the Grant Agreement, a payment having an aggregate value equal to the product of (i) the excess of (A) the Fair Market Value on the exercise date of one share of Common Stock over (B) the base price per share specified in the Grant Agreement, times (ii) the number of shares specified by the SAR, or portion thereof, which is exercised. In the case of exercise of a tandem SAR, such payment shall be made in exchange for the surrender of the unexercised related stock option (or any portion or portions thereof which the grantee from time to time determines to surrender for this purpose). (d) Form of Payment Upon Exercise of SARs. Payment by the Corporation of the amount receivable upon any exercise of a SAR may be made by the delivery of Common Stock or cash, or any combination of Common Stock and cash, as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee from time to time. If upon settlement of the exercise of a SAR a grantee is to receive a portion of such payment in shares of Common Stock, the number of shares shall be determined by dividing such portion by the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the exercise date. No fractional shares shall be used for such payment and the Committee shall determine whether cash shall be given in lieu of such fractional shares or whether such fractional shares shall be eliminated. 8. WITHHOLDING OF TAXES The Corporation may require, as a condition to the grant of any Award under the Plan or exercise pursuant to such Award or to the delivery of certificates for shares issued or payments of cash to a grantee pursuant to the Plan or a Grant Agreement (hereinafter collectively referred to as a "taxable event"), that the grantee pay to the Corporation, in cash or, if approved by the Corporation, in shares of Common Stock, including shares acquired upon grant of the Award or exercise of the Award, valued at Fair Market Value on the date as of which the withholding tax liability is determined, any federal, state or local taxes of any kind
6 required by law to be withheld with respect to any taxable event under the Plan. The Corporation, to the extent permitted or required by law, shall have the right to deduct from any payment of any kind (including salary or bonus) otherwise due to a grantee any federal, state or local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to any taxable event under the Plan, or to retain or sell without notice a sufficient number of the shares to be issued to such grantee to cover any such taxes. 9. TRANSFERABILITY No Award granted under the Plan shall be transferable by a grantee otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee in accord with the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence, an Award may be exercised during the lifetime of the grantee, only by the grantee or, during the period the grantee is under a legal disability, by the grantee's guardian or legal representative. 10. ADJUSTMENTS; BUSINESS COMBINATIONS In the event of a reclassification, recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination of shares, or other similar event, the maximum number and kind of shares reserved for issuance or with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan as provided in Section 4 shall be adjusted to reflect such event, and the Committee shall make such adjustments as it deems appropriate and equitable in the number, kind and price of shares covered by outstanding Awards made under the Plan, and in any other matters which relate to Awards and which are affected by the changes in the Common Stock referred to above. In the event of any proposed Change in Control, the Committee shall take such action as it deems appropriate and equitable to effectuate the purposes of this Plan and to protect the grantees of Awards, which action may include, but without limitation, any one or more of the following: (i) acceleration or change of the exercise and/or expiration dates of any Award to require that exercise be made, if at all, prior to the Change in Control; (ii) cancellation of any Award upon payment to the holder in cash of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to such Award as of the date of (and, to the extent applicable, as established for purposes of) the Change in Control, less the aggregate exercise price, if any, of the Award; and (iii) in any case where equity securities of another entity are proposed to be delivered in exchange for or with respect to Common Stock of the Corporation, arrangements to have such other entity replace the Awards granted hereunder with awards with respect to such other securities, with appropriate adjustments in the number of shares subject to, and the exercise prices under, the award. The Committee is authorized to make adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, Awards in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, the events described in the preceding two paragraphs of this Section 10) affecting the Corporation, or the financial statements of the Corporation or any Subsidiary, or of changes in applicable laws, regulations, or accounting principles, whenever the Committee determines that such adjustments are appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan. In the event the Corporation dissolves and liquidates (other than pursuant to a plan of merger or reorganization), then notwithstanding any restrictions on exercise set forth in this Plan or any Grant Agreement, or other agreement evidencing a stock option or stock appreciation right: (i) each grantee shall have the right to exercise his stock option or stock appreciation right at any time up to ten (10) days prior to the effective date of such liquidation and dissolution; and (ii) the Committee may make arrangements with the grantees for the payment of appropriate consideration to them for the cancellation and surrender of any stock option or stock appreciation right that is so canceled or surrendered at any time up to ten (10) days prior to the effective date of such liquidation and dissolution. The Committee may establish a different period (and different conditions) for such exercise, delivery, cancellation, or surrender to avoid subjecting the grantee to liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act. Any stock option or stock appreciation right not so exercised, canceled, or surrendered shall terminate on the last day for exercise prior to such effective date.
7 Except as hereinbefore expressly provided, issuance by the Corporation of shares of stock of any class or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, for cash, property, labor or services, upon direct sale, upon the exercise of rights or warranty to subscribe therefore, or upon conversion of shares or obligations of the Corporation convertible into such shares or other securities, and in any case whether or not for fair value, shall not affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number of shares of Common Stock subject to Awards theretofore granted or the purchase price per share of Common Stock subject to Awards. 11. TERMINATION AND MODIFICATION OF THE PLAN The Board, without further approval of the stockholders, may modify or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time, except that no modification shall become effective without prior approval of the stockholders of the Corporation to increase the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Plan or if stockholder approval is necessary to comply with any tax or regulatory requirement or rule of any exchange or Nasdaq System upon which the Common Stock is listed or quoted (including for this purpose stockholder approval that is required for continued compliance with Rule 16b-3 or stockholder approval that is required to enable the Committee to grant incentive stock options pursuant to the Plan). The Committee shall be authorized to make minor or administrative modifications to the Plan as well as modifications to the Plan that may be dictated by requirements of federal or state laws applicable to the Corporation or that may be authorized or made desirable by such laws. The Committee may amend or modify the grant of any outstanding Award in any manner to the extent that the Committee would have had the authority to make such Award as so modified or amended. No modification may be made that would materially adversely affect any Award previously made under the Plan without the approval of the grantee. 12. NON-GUARANTEE OF EMPLOYMENT Nothing in the Plan or in any Grant Agreement thereunder shall confer any right on an employee to continue in the employ of the Corporation or shall interfere in any way with the right of the Corporation to terminate an employee at any time. 13. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT For purposes of maintaining a grantee's continuous status as an employee and accrual of rights under any Award, transfer of an employee among the Corporation and the Corporation's Parent or Subsidiaries shall not be considered a termination of employment. Nor shall it be considered a termination of employment for such purposes if an employee is placed on military or sick leave or such other leave of absence which is considered as continuing intact the employment relationship; in such a case, the employment relationship shall be continued until the date when an employee's right to reemployment shall no longer be guaranteed either by law or contract. 14. WRITTEN AGREEMENT Each Grant Agreement entered into between the Corporation and a grantee with respect to an Award granted under the Plan shall incorporate the terms of this Plan and shall contain such provisions, consistent with the provisions of the Plan, as may be established by the Committee. 15. NON-UNIFORM DETERMINATIONS The Committee's determinations under the Plan (including without limitation determinations of the persons to receive Awards, the form, amount and timing of such Awards, the terms and provisions of such Awards and the agreements evidencing same) need not be uniform and may be made by it selectively among persons who receive, or are eligible to receive, Awards under the Plan, whether or not such persons are similarly situated.
8 16. LIMITATION ON BENEFITS With respect to persons subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, transactions under this Plan are intended to comply with all applicable conditions of Rule 16b-3. To the extent any provision of the Plan or action by the Committee fails to so comply, it shall be deemed null and void, to the extent permitted by law and deemed advisable by the Committee. 17. LISTING AND REGISTRATION If the Corporation determines that the listing, registration or qualification upon any securities exchange or upon any listing or quotation system established by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("Nasdaq System") or under any law, of shares subject to any Award is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the granting of same or the issue or purchase of shares thereunder, no such Award may be exercised in whole or in part and no restrictions on such Award shall lapse, unless such listing, registration or qualification is effected free of any conditions not acceptable to the Corporation. 18. COMPLIANCE WITH SECURITIES LAW The Corporation may require that a grantee, as a condition to exercise of an Award, and as a condition to the delivery of any share certificate, provide to the Corporation, at the time of each such exercise and each such delivery, a written representation that the shares of Common Stock being acquired shall be acquired by the grantee solely for investment and will not be sold or transferred without registration or the availability of an exemption from registration under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. The Corporation may also require that a grantee submit other written representations which will permit the Corporation to comply with federal and applicable state securities laws in connection with the issuance of the Common Stock, including representations as to the knowledge and experience in financial and business matters of the grantee and the grantee's ability to bear the economic risk of the grantee's investment. The Corporation may require that the grantee obtain a "purchaser representative" as that term is defined in applicable federal and state securities laws. The stock certificates for any shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to this Plan may bear a legend restricting transferability of the shares of Common Stock unless such shares are registered or an exemption from registration is available under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. The Corporation may notify its transfer agent to stop any transfer of shares of Common Stock not made in compliance with these restrictions. Common Stock shall not be issued with respect to an Award granted under the Plan unless the exercise of such Award and the issuance and delivery of share certificates for such Common Stock pursuant thereto shall comply with all relevant provisions of law, including, without limitation, the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and the requirements of any national securities exchange or Nasdaq System upon which the Common Stock may then be listed or quoted, and shall be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Corporation with respect to such compliance to the extent such approval is sought by the Committee. 19. NO TRUST OR FUND CREATED Neither the Plan nor any Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Corporation and a grantee or any other person. To the extent that any grantee or other person acquires a right to receive payments from the Corporation pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Corporation. 20. NO LIMIT ON OTHER COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENTS Nothing contained in the Plan shall prevent the Corporation or its Parent or Subsidiary corporations from adopting or continuing in effect other compensation arrangements (whether such arrangements be generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases) as the Committee in its discretion determines desirable, including without limitation the granting of stock options, stock awards, stock appreciation rights or phantom stock units otherwise than under the Plan.
9 21. NO RESTRICTION OF CORPORATE ACTION Nothing contained in the Plan shall be construed to prevent the Corporation or any Parent or Subsidiary from taking any corporate action which is deemed by the Corporation or such Parent or Subsidiary to be appropriate or in its best interest, whether or not such action would have an adverse effect on the Plan or any Award issued under the Plan. No employee, beneficiary or other person shall have any claim against the Corporation or any Parent or Subsidiary as a result of such action. 22. GOVERNING LAW The validity, construction and effect of the Plan, of any Grant Agreements entered into pursuant to the Plan, and of any rules, regulations, determinations or decisions made by the Board or Committee relating to the Plan or such Grant Agreements, and the rights of any and all persons having or claiming to have any interest therein or thereunder, shall be determined exclusively in accordance with applicable federal laws and the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to its conflict of laws rules and principles. 23. PLAN SUBJECT TO ARTICLES AND BY-LAWS This Plan is subject to the Articles and By-Laws of the Corporation, as they may be amended from time to time. 24. EFFECTIVE DATE; TERMINATION DATE The Plan is effective as of the date on which the Plan was adopted by the Board; provided that no stock options issued hereunder shall be treated as incentive stock options, regardless of the designation in the Grant Agreement, unless the Plan is approved by the shareholders of the Corporation as provided in Section 6(e)(vi). No Award shall be granted under the Plan after the close of business on the day immediately preceding the tenth anniversary of the effective date of the Plan. Subject to other applicable provisions of the Plan, all Awards made under the Plan prior to such termination of the Plan shall remain in effect until such Awards have been satisfied or terminated in accordance with the Plan and the terms of such Awards. Date Approved by the Board: February 21, 2001 Date Approved by the Shareholders: May 18, 2001 - ----------------------------
1 Exhibit 5 Venable, Baetjer, Howard & Civiletti, LLP 1201 New York Avenue, NW Suite 1000 Washington, DC 20005 (202) 962-4800 August 13, 2001 Celsion Corporation 10220-I Old Columbia Road Columbia, Maryland 21046 Re: Registration Statement on Form S-8 Ladies and Gentlemen: We have acted as counsel to Celsion Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Registrant"), in connection with a registration statement on Form S-8 of the Registrant (the "Registration Statement") filed this day with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), pertaining to the registration of ten million (10,000,000) shares of the common stock, par value one cent ($0.01) per share, of the Registrant (the "Shares") for issuance and sale pursuant to the Celsion Corporation 2001 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan"). This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act. In connection with this opinion, we have considered such questions of law as we have deemed necessary as a basis for the opinions set forth below, and we have examined or otherwise are familiar with originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the following: (i) the Registration Statement; (ii) the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, as amended, of the Registrant, as currently in effect, certified by the Secretary of the Registrant; (iii) certain resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Registrant relating to the adoption of the Plan and the issuance of the Shares and the other transactions contemplated by the Registration Statement, certified by the Secretary of the Registrant; (iv) the Plan; and (v) such other documents as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinion set forth below. In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies and the authenticity of the originals of such copies. As to any facts material to this opinion that we did not independently establish or verify, we have relied upon statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Registrant and others. We have also assumed that the Registrant shall have sufficient authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock available at the time of each issuance of Shares and that the relevant
2 Celsion Corporation August 13, 2001 Page 3 provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Registrant and the Delaware General Corporation Law in effect at the time of issuance of any of the Shares will not differ in any relevant respect from the analogous provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company and the Delaware General Corporation Law in effect as of the date of this opinion and that no additional relevant provisions shall have been added subsequent to the date hereof. Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares have been duly authorized for issuance and that when issued, sold, paid for and delivered in accordance with the terms of the Plan, the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. This letter expresses our opinion with respect to the Delaware General Corporation Law (without regard to the principles of conflict of laws thereof) as in effect as of the date hereof. It does not extend to the securities or "blue sky" laws of any jurisdiction, to federal securities laws or to any other laws and we do not express any opinion as to the effect of any other laws on the opinions stated herein. We assume no obligation to update the opinions set forth herein. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Legal Matters" in the prospectus that forms a part of the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are included in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission. Very truly yours, /s/ Venable, Baetjer, Howard, & Civiletti, LLP
1 [STEGMAN & COMPANY LOGO] EXHIBIT 23.2 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 pertaining to Celsion Corporation of our report dated October 20, 2000 with respect to the financial statements of Celsion Corporation included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2000 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. /s/ STEGMAN & COMPANY Baltimore, Maryland August 14, 2001 Suite 200, 405 East Joppa Road Baltimore, Maryland 21286 * 410-823-8000 * 1-800-686-3863 * Fax: 410-296-4815 * www.stegman.com *