SC 13G 1 v142876_sc13g.htm Unassociated Document
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
SCHEDULE 13G
 
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No.  )
 
 
 
 
Vion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(Name of Issuer)
 
 
Common Stock, $0.01 par value
(Title of Class of Securities)
 
 
927624106
(CUSIP Number)
 
 
December 31, 2008
(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)
 
Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:
x Rule 13d-1(b)
¨ Rule 13d-1(c)
¨ Rule 13d-1(d)
 
 
*   The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required in 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).
Page 1 of 5

CUSIP No. 927624106
 
  1.  
Names of Reporting Persons.
I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only).
 
            Bruce & Co., Inc.
   
  2.  
Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions)
(a)  ¨
(b)  ¨
   
  3.  
SEC Use Only
 
   
  4.  
Citizenship or Place of Organization
 
            Illinois
   
 
Number of  
Shares  
Beneficially  
Owned by  
Each  
Reporting  
Person  
With:  
 
 
  5.    Sole Voting Power
 
            781,017
 
  6.    Shared Voting Power
 
            0
 
  7.    Sole Dispositive Power
 
            781,017
 
  8.    Shared Dispositive Power
 
            0
  9.  
Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person
 
            781,017
   
10.  
Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions)
 
 
 
¨
 
11.  
Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)
 
            8.99%
   
12.  
Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)
 
            IA
   
 
Page 2 of 5

 
Item 1  
(a).
   Name of Issuer      
     Vion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Issuer”)      
Item 1  
(b).
   Address of Issuer’s Principal Executive Offices      
     The address of the Issuer’s principal executive offices is:      
     4 Science Park, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States      
Item 2  
(a).
   Name of Person Filing      
Item 2  
(b).
   Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence      
Item 2  
(c).
   Citizenship      
    
Bruce & Co., Inc.
20 N. Wacker Dr.
Suite 2414
Chicago, IL 60606
     
Item 2  
(d).
   Title of Class of Securities      
     Common Stock, $0.01 par value (the “Common Stock”).      
Item 2  
(e).
   CUSIP Number      
     The CUSIP number of the Common Stock is 927624106.      
Item 3.   If this statement is filed pursuant to §§ 240.13d-1(b) or 240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a:   
  (a)    ¨    Broker or dealer registered under section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o).
  (b)    ¨    Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c).
  (c)    ¨    Insurance company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c).
  (d)    ¨    Investment company registered under section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-8).
  (e)    x    An investment adviser in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E);
  (f)    ¨    An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F);
  (g)    ¨    A parent holding company or control person in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G);
  (h)    ¨    A savings associations as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813);
  (i)    ¨    A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3);
  (j)    ¨    Group, in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).
 
Page 3 of 5

 
Item 4.    Ownership.      
             
    (a)    Amount beneficially owned:        
        Bruce & Co., Inc., an Illinois corporation and registered investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, is filing this Schedule 13G in its capacity as the investment manager for Bruce Ford, Inc., a Maryland registered investment company, and other clients.        
                 
        Beneficial ownership of 781,017 shares of Common Stock, consisting of 132,580 shares of Common Stock, 648,437 shares of Common Stock underlying convertible senior notes.        
                 
      The percentage disclosed in Item 11 is calculated based upon the sum of (i) 8,036,827 shares of Common Stock outstanding, and (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes.      
   (b)    Percent of class:      
      See Item 11 of the Cover Pages to this Schedule 13G.      
   (c)    Number of shares as to which the person has:      
      (i)    Sole power to vote or to direct the vote      
         781,017      
      (ii)    Shared power to vote or to direct the vote      
         See item (a) above.      
      (iii)    Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of      
         781,017      
      (iv)    Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of      
         See item (a) above.      
Item 5.    Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class   
  
If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class of securities, check the following.  o
  
Item 6.    Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.      
   Not Applicable      
Item 7.    Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding Company
   Not Applicable
Item 8.    Identification and Classification of Members of the Group      
   Not Applicable      
Item 9.    Notice of Dissolution of Group      
   Not Applicable      
Item 10.    Certification      
   By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.      
 
Page 4 of 5

SIGNATURE
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
 
Dated: March 13, 2009  
Bruce & Co., Inc.  
By:  
/s/ R. Jeffrey Bruce
 
Name:   R. Jeffrey Bruce  
Title:   Vice-President  
 
 
 
 
Page 5 of 5