UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) February 15, 2010
NOVAVAX, INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware
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0-26770
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22-2816046 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or
organization)
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(Commission File Number)
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(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
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9920 Belward Campus Drive |
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Rockville, Maryland
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20850 |
(Address of principal executive offices)
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(Zip Code) |
Registrants telephone number, including area code: (240) 268-2000
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):
o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14d-2(b))
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.13e-4(c))
Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of
Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
On February 15, 2010, the Board of Directors of Novavax, Inc. (Novavax) elected Mr. Stanley Erck,
a director of Novavax, as its Executive Chairman, effective immediately. Mr. John Lambert, the
former Executive Chairman, will continue to serve as a director of Novavax. Novavax will pay Mr.
Erck a salary of $300,000 per year and has granted Mr. Erck 300,000 options, half of which will
vest on February 15, 2011 and half of which will be based on the achievement of certain performance
measures related to corporate objectives, to be determined by the Board of Directors within the
next sixty days.
A copy of the press release announcing the election of Mr. Erck as Executive Chairman is attached
as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference. The
press release contains statements that are forward-looking statements subject to the cautionary
statement about forward-looking statements set forth therein.
Item 3.01. Notice of Delisting or Failure to Satisfy a Continued Listing Rule or Standard; Transfer
of Listing.
On February 16, 2010, Novavax notified The Nasdaq Stock Market (Nasdaq) that Mr. Erck was no
longer an independent director as defined in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(2) based on his employment
status with the Company and the amount of his salary. As a result of Mr. Ercks election as
Executive Chairman and the resignations of two other independent directors in recent months,
Novavax is no longer in compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(b)(1), which requires that the
board of directors be comprised of a majority of independent directors. Nasdaq confirmed this
situation in a letter received by Novavax on February 16, 2010 and Novavax publically announced the
non-compliance in a press release dated February 18, 2010. Novavax has 45 days to submit a plan to
Nasdaq to regain compliance.
Over recent months, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of Novavaxs Board of
Directors has been identifying, evaluating and recruiting potential candidates for election to the
Board of Directors. Novavax expects to elect two independent directors and thus cure this
non-compliance before its 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
A copy of the press release announcing Novavaxs non-compliance with the Nasdaq Listing Rule is
attached as Exhibit 99.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by
reference. The press release contains statements that are forward-looking statements subject to
the cautionary statement about forward-looking statements set forth therein.
Statements herein relating to future performance, conditions or strategies and other business
matters, including expectations regarding the timing of curing the non-compliance with Nasdaq
Listing Rule 5605(b)(1) are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act. Novavax cautions that these forward-looking statements are subject to
numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, which change over time. Factors that may cause
actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements or
historical experience include risks and uncertainties, including Novavaxs ability to attract
qualified individuals to serve on its Board of Directors, the cash and equity compensation such
individuals might require to serve on the Board of Directors, and the timing of such elections.
Further information on the factors and risks that could affect Novavaxs business, financial
conditions and results of operations, is contained in Novavaxs filings with the U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission, which are available at www.sec.gov. These forward-looking statements speak
only as of the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
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