SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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SCHEDULE 13D
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. 1)
Elite Pharmaceuticals Inc.
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(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock, par value $0.01
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(Title of Class of Securities)
28659T200
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(CUSIP Number)
Howard S. Jacobs
Katten Muchin Zavis Rosenman
575 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10022
(212) 940-8800
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(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and
Communications)
April 21, 2004
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(Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)
If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to
report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing
this schedule because of ss.ss. 240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g),
check the following box. |_|
The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be
deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of
the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see
the Notes).
(Continued on following pages)
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CUSIP No. 28659T200
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1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
Atul M. Mehta
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2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) |_|
(b) |_|
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3 SEC USE ONLY
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4 SOURCE OF FUNDS (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
N/A
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5 CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED
PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e) |_|
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6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
USA
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7 SOLE VOTING POWER
1,941,000*
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NUMBER OF 8 SHARED VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY 312,700
OWNED BY -----------------------------------------------------------------
EACH 9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
REPORTING
PERSON 1,941,000*
WITH -----------------------------------------------------------------
10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
312,700
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11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
2,253,700*
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12 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES |_|
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13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
17.5%
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14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
IN
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* This number and the percentage ownership include 770,000 shares of Common
Stock issuable upon exercise of options.
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This Amendment No. 1 (the "Amendment") amends the Schedule 13D filed on
July 3, 2003 (the "Original Schedule 13D") on behalf of Atul M. Mehta, with
respect to the common stock, par value $0.01 per share of Elite Pharmaceuticals
Inc., a Delaware corporation.
Item 1: Security and Issuer.
This Amendment relates to the Common Stock, par value $0.01 (the
"Common Stock"), of Elite Pharmaceuticals Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), 165 Ludlow Avenue, Northvale, New Jersey 07647.
Item 2: Identity and Background.
Item 2(b) of the Original Schedule 13D is hereby amended and
replaced in its entirety with the following:
(b) The business address for Mr. Mehta is c/o Howard S. Jacobs,
Esq., Katten Muchin Zavis Rosenman, 575 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10022.
Item 3: Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration.
Not applicable.
Item 4: Purpose of Transaction.
On July 3, 2003, Mr. Mehta filed a complaint against the Company,
Elite Laboratories, Inc. and John Moore alleging, among other things, a breach
of his employment agreement. On April 21, 2004, Mr. Mehta and the Company
entered into a settlement agreement and mutual release (the "Settlement
Agreement"), pursuant to which, among other things, Mr. Mehta was permitted to
retain 770,000 options and to sell up to 90,000 shares of Common Stock during
the ninety (90) day period commencing on the date of the Settlement Agreement,
at the rate of (a) 1,000 shares of Common Stock per day, if on the trading day
immediately prior to the date of sale the closing price of the Common Stock on
the American Stock Exchange is not less than $2.50 or (b) 1,500 shares of Common
Stock per day, if on the trading day immediately prior to the date of sale the
closing price of the Common Stock on the American Stock Exchange is less than
$2.50.
Item 5: Interest in Securities of the Issuer.
Item 5 of the Original Schedule 13D is hereby amended and replaced
in its entirety with the following:
(a) Mr. Mehta beneficially owns 2,253,700 shares of Common Stock,
which represents approximately 17.5% of the Common Stock. This number and the
percentage ownership include:
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1) 100 shares of Common Stock owned jointly by Mr. Mehta
and his wife;
2) 770,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise
of currently exercisable options. The options have exercise prices
ranging from $1.00 per share to $10.00 per share and all have an
expiration date of June 13, 2005, unless otherwise extended pursuant
to the Settlement Agreement;
3) 100,000 shares of Common Stock held by his wife, Asha
Mehta;
4) 200,000 shares of Common Stock held by Mehta
Partners; and
5) 12,600 shares of Common Stock held by his children.
(b) Mr. Mehta has the sole power to vote or direct the vote of the
1,941,000 shares of Common Stock and the sole power to dispose of or to direct
the disposition of such 1,941,000 shares of Common Stock. The Reporting Person
has the shared power, along with his wife and children, to vote or direct the
vote of the 312,700 shares of Common Stock and the shared power to dispose of or
to direct the disposition of such 312,700 shares of Common Stock.
(c) (i) On April 22, 2004, Mr. Mehta sold 100 shares of Common
Stock on the open market for $4.22 per share.
(ii) On April 22, 2004, Mr. Mehta sold 900 shares of Common
Stock on the open market for $4.12 per share.
(iii) On April 23, 2004, Mr. Mehta sold 700 shares of Common
Stock on the open market for $4.05 per share.
(iv) On April 23, 2004, Mr. Mehta sold 300 shares of Common
Stock on the open market for $4.04 per share.
(v) On April 26, 2004, Mr. Mehta sold 1,000 shares of Common
Stock on the open market for $3.90 per share.
(vi) On April 27, 2004, Mr. Mehta sold 1,000 shares of Common
Stock on the open market for $3.90 per share.
(d) No person other than the persons filing this Amendment is known
to have the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends
from or the proceeds from the sale of the Common Stock owned by them.
(e) Not applicable.
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Item 6: Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships with Respect to
Securities of the Issuer.
See response to Item 4.
Item 7: Material to be Filed as Exhibits.
(a) Settlement Agreement and Mutual Release dated April 21, 2004
between Atul M. Mehta and Elite Pharmaceuticals Inc., Elite Laboratories, Inc.
and John Moore.
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of the undersigned's knowledge
and belief, the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this
statement is true, complete and correct.
April 28, 2004
/s/ Atul M. Mehta
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Atul M. Mehta
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Exhibit Index
Exhibit A Settlement Agreement and Mutual Release dated April 21, 2004
between Atul M. Mehta and Elite Pharmaceuticals Inc., Elite
Laboratories, Inc. and John Moore.