UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-Q
 
x
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2011
OR
o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from          to          .
 
Commission File No. 0-26770

NOVAVAX, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
 
22-2816046
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
 
9920 Belward Campus Drive, Rockville, MD
 
 
20850
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip code)

(240) 268-2000

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes  x    No o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (Sec.232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes  x    No o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
 
Large accelerated filer o
Accelerated filer x
Non-accelerated filer o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company o

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes  o    No x
 
The number of shares outstanding of the Registrant’s Common Stock, $0.01 par value, was 115,121,089 as of July 31, 2011.
 



 
 

 

NOVAVAX, INC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION   Page No.  
         
Item 1.
Financial Statements
     
         
 
Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2011 (unaudited)
     
 
and December 31, 2010
    1  
           
 
Statements of Operations for the three and six months ended
       
 
June 30, 2011 and 2010 (unaudited)
    2  
           
 
Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended
       
 
June 30, 2011 and 2010 (unaudited)
    3  
           
 
Notes to the Financial Statements (unaudited)
    4  
           
Item 2.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial
       
 
Condition and Results of Operations
    11  
           
Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
    22  
           
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
    22  
           
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
 
           
Item 1.
Legal Proceedings
    23  
           
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
    23  
           
Item 5.
Other Information
    23  
           
Item 6.
Exhibits
    24  
           
SIGNATURES
    25  

 
i

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements
NOVAVAX, INC.
BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share and per share information)

   
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
   
(unaudited)
   
 
 
ASSETS
 
Current assets:
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 13,092     $ 8,061  
Short-term investments available-for-sale
    9,229       23,615  
Accounts receivables
    1,832       54  
Unbilled receivables
    2,020        
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    2,243       1,607  
   Total current assets
    28,416       33,337  
Property and equipment, net
    7,629       8,206  
Goodwill
    33,141       33,141  
Other non-current assets
    160       160  
Total assets
  $ 69,346     $ 74,844  
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
Current liabilities:
               
Accounts payable
  $ 2,961     $ 3,572  
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
    3,110       6,273  
Current portion of notes payable
    60       80  
Deferred revenue
    2,500        
Deferred rent
    364       341  
Total current liabilities
    8,995       10,266  
Warrant liability
    1,605       2,842  
   Non-current portion of notes payable
    300       320  
   Deferred rent
    2,175       2,366  
Total liabilities
    13,075       15,794  
                 
Commitments and contingences
           
Stockholders’ equity:
               
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 2,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding
           
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 200,000,000 shares authorized; and 115,125,113 shares issued and 114,669,683 shares outstanding at June 30, 2011 and 111,492,014 shares issued and 111,036,584 shares outstanding at December 31, 2010
    1,151       1,115  
Additional paid-in capital
    380,970       371,477  
Notes receivable from former directors
    (1,572 )     (1,572 )
Accumulated deficit
    (322,738 )     (310,292 )
Treasury stock, 455,430 shares, cost basis
    (2,450 )     (2,450 )
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    910       772  
Total stockholders’ equity
    56,271       59,050  
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 69,346     $ 74,844  
                 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
 
 
1

 
 
NOVAVAX, INC.
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per share information)
(unaudited)

   
For the Three Months
 Ended June 30,
   
For the Six Months
 Ended June 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
                       
Revenue
  $ 3,001     $ 7     $ 3,835     $ 117  
                                 
Operating expenses:
                               
Research and development
    5,584       6,327       10,998       15,356  
General and administrative
    3,338       3,148       6,188       5,683  
Total operating expenses
    8,922       9,475       17,186       21,039  
Loss from operations
    (5,921 )     (9,468 )     (13,351 )     (20,922 )
Other income (expense):
                               
Interest income
    38       44       84       88  
Interest expense
    (2 )     (2 )     (4 )     (4 )
Change in fair value of warrant liability
    1,304       569       1,237       1,638  
Loss from operations before income tax
    (4,581 )     (8,857 )     (12,034 )     (19,200 )
Income tax expense
    412             412        
Net loss
  $ (4,993 )   $ (8,857 )   $ (12,446 )   $ (19,200 )
                                 
Basic and diluted net loss per share
  $ (0.04 )   $ (0.09 )   $ (0.11 )   $ (0.19 )
                                 
Basic and diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding
    112,821       100,694       112,009       100,442  

 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
 
 
2

 
 
NOVAVAX, INC.
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)

   
For the Six Months
 Ended June 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
Operating Activities:
           
Net loss:
  $ (12,446 )   $ (19,200 )
Reconciliation of net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
               
Change in fair value of warrant liability
    (1,237 )     (1,638 )
Depreciation and amortization
    788       633  
Amortization of net premiums on short-term investments
    231       66  
Impairment of property and equipment
          127  
Deferred rent
    (168 )     (131 )
Non-cash stock-based compensation
    1,135       509  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
               
Accounts receivables
    (1,778 )     (98 )
Unbilled receivables
    (2,020 )      
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    (636 )     843  
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
    (3,808 )     258  
Deferred revenue
    2,500       (96 )
Net cash used in operating activities
    (17,439 )     (18,727 )
                 
Investing Activities:
               
Capital expenditures
    (178 )     (712 )
Proceeds from maturities of short-term investments
    15,375       900  
Purchases of short-term investments
    (1,082 )     (14,199 )
Net cash provided by (used in) by investing activities
    14,115       (14,011 )
                 
Financing Activities:
               
Principal payments of notes payable
    (40 )     (46 )
Net proceeds from sales of common stock, net of offering costs of $0.2 million and $0.1 million, respectively
    8,280       3,060  
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options
    115       413  
Net cash provided by financing activities
    8,355       3,427  
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    5,031       (29,311 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    8,061       38,757  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 13,092     $ 9,446  
                 
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash activities:
               
Equipment purchases included in accounts payable
  $ 34     $ 297  
                 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
 
 
3

 
 
NOVAVAX, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2011
(unaudited)

Note 1 – Organization
 
Novavax, Inc. (the “Company”), is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel, highly potent recombinant vaccines. These vaccines leverage the Company’s virus-like particle (“VLP”) platform technology coupled with a single-use bioprocessing production system. VLPs are genetically engineered three-dimensional nanostructures that incorporate immunologically important lipids and recombinant proteins. The Company’s VLPs resemble the virus they were engineered to mimic, but lack the genetic material to replicate the virus and its single-use bioprocessing production technology uses insect cells rather than chicken eggs or mammalian cells. The Company’s current product targets include vaccines against seasonal and pandemic (including H5N1) influenza and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (“RSV”).
 
In 2009, the Company formed a joint venture (the “JV”) with Cadila Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (“Cadila”) named CPL Biologicals Private Limited to develop and manufacture vaccines, biological therapeutics and diagnostics in India. The Company owns 20% of the JV, and Cadila owns the remaining 80%.
 
Note 2 – Liquidity Matters
 
Since its inception, the Company has incurred, and continues to incur, significant losses from operations. At June 30, 2011, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $13.1 million and short-term investments with a fair value of $9.2 million.
 
The Company’s vaccine candidates currently under development will require significant additional research and development efforts, including extensive pre-clinical and clinical testing, and regulatory approval prior to commercial use. The Company’s research and development efforts may not be successful and any potential vaccine candidates may not prove to be safe and effective in clinical trials. Even if developed, these vaccine candidates may not receive regulatory approval or be successfully introduced and marketed at prices that would permit the Company to operate profitably. The commercial launch of any vaccine is subject to significant risks including, but not limited to, manufacturing scale-up and market acceptance.
 
Based on the Company’s cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments balances as of June 30, 2011, anticipated revenue under the Department of Health and Human Services, Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (“HHS BARDA”) contract awarded in February 2011, anticipated proceeds from sales of the Company’s common stock under its At Market Issuance Sales Agreement and its current business operations, the Company believes it will have adequate capital resources available to operate at planned levels for at least the next twelve months. Additional capital will be required in the future to develop its vaccine candidates through clinical development, manufacturing and commercialization. The Company’s ability to generate revenue under the HHS BARDA contract is subject to its performance under the contract; its ability to raise funds under its At Market Issuance Sales Agreement is subject to both its business performance and market conditions. Further, the Company may seek additional capital through public or private equity offerings, debt financing, strategic alliance and licensing arrangements, government contracts, collaborative arrangements, or some combination of these financing alternatives. Any capital raised by an equity offering, whether public or private, will likely be substantially dilutive to the existing stockholders and any licensing or development arrangement may require the Company to give up rights to a product or technology at less than its full potential value. Other than the Company’s At the Market Issuance Sales Agreement, the Company has not secured any additional commitments for new financing nor can the Company provide any assurance that financing will be available on commercially acceptable terms, if at all. If the Company is unable to perform under the HHS BARDA contract or obtain additional capital, it will assess its capital resources and will likely be required to delay, reduce the scope of, or eliminate one or more of its research and development programs, and/or downsize the organization, including its general and administrative infrastructure.
 
 
4

 
 
Note 3 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
 
Basis of Presentation
 
The accompanying unaudited financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. The balance sheet as of June 30, 2011, statements of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 and the statements of cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 are unaudited, but include all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) that the Company considers necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, operating results and cash flows, respectively, for the periods presented. Although the Company believes that the disclosures in these financial statements are adequate to make the information presented not misleading, certain information and footnote information normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
 
Results for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of results for any future interim period or for the entire year. The accompanying unaudited financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.
 
Use of Estimates
 
The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates.
 
Fair Value Measurements
 
The Company adopted Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures , for financial and non-financial assets and liabilities.

ASC 820 discusses valuation techniques, such as the market approach (comparable market prices), the income approach (present value of future income or cash flow) and the cost approach (cost to replace the service capacity of an asset or replacement cost). The statement utilizes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels. The following is a brief description of those three levels:

 
·
Level 1: Observable inputs such as quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
 
·
Level 2: Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets and quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active.
 
·
Level 3: Unobservable inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions.
 
 
5

 

 
Financial assets and liabilities measured at fair market value on a recurring basis as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 are summarized below (in thousands):
                                     
   
Fair Value at June 30, 2011
   
Fair Value at December 31, 2010
 
Assets
 
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
 
Corporate debt securities
  $     $ 9,229     $     $     $ 23,615     $  
Total Short-term investments
  $     $ 9,229     $     $     $ 23,615     $  
Liabilities
                                               
Warrant liability
  $     $     $ 1,605     $     $     $ 2,842  

The following table summarizes the activity of Level 3 inputs measured on a recurring basis as of June 30, 2011 (in thousands):

   
Fair Value Measurements of
Warrants Using  Significant
Unobservable Inputs 
 (Level 3)
 
Balance at December 31, 2010
  $ 2,842  
Change in fair value of Warrant liability
    (1,237 )
Balance at June 30, 2011
  $ 1,605  

The amounts in the Company’s balance sheet for accounts receivable, unbilled receivables, accounts payable and notes payable approximate fair value due to their short-term nature.

Short-Term Investments
 
Short-term investments at June 30, 2011 consist of investments in commercial paper, corporate notes and three auction rate securities. All marketable securities had original maturities greater than 90 days, but less than one year. The auction rate securities have a par value of $5.1 million. The Company has classified these securities as available-for-sale since the Company may need to liquidate these securities within the next year. The available-for-sale securities are carried at fair value and unrealized gains and losses, if determined to be temporary, on these securities are included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in stockholders’ equity. Investments available for sale are evaluated periodically to determine whether a decline in value is “other-than-temporary.” The term “other-than-temporary” is not intended to indicate a permanent decline in value. Rather, it means that the prospects for a near term recovery of value are not necessarily favorable, or that there is a lack of evidence to support fair values equal to, or greater than, the carrying value of the security. Management reviews criteria, such as the magnitude and duration of the decline, as well as the Company’s ability to hold the securities until market recovery, to predict whether the loss in value is other-than-temporary. If a decline in value is determined to be other-than-temporary, the value of the security is reduced and the impairment is recorded in the statements of operations. The specific identification method is used in computing realized gains and losses on sale of the Company’s securities.
 
Short-term investments classified as available-for-sale as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 were comprised of (in thousands):
                                                           
    June 30, 2011      December 31, 2010  
   
Amortized
Cost
   
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
   
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
   
Fair Value
   
Amortized
Cost
   
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
   
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
   
Fair Value
 
Auction rate securities
  $ 3,373     $ 912     $     $ 4,285     $ 3,373     $ 773     $     $ 4,146  
Corporate debt securities
    4,946             (2 )     4,944         19,470             (1 )     19,469  
Total
  $ 8,319     $ 912     $ (2 )   $ 9,229     $ 22,843     $ 773     $ (1 )   $ 23,615  
 
 
6

 
 
Net Loss per Share
 
Net loss per share is computed using the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding. All outstanding warrants, stock options and unvested restricted stock awards totaling 11,290,256 shares and 9,393,368   shares at June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, are excluded from the computation, as their effect is antidilutive.

Comprehensive Income (Loss)
 
Comprehensive income (loss) is the total net income (loss) plus all changes in equity during the period except those changes resulting from investment by and distribution to owners. Total comprehensive loss, including unrealized gains (losses) on the Company’s available-for-sale investments, was $5.0   million and $8.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Total comprehensive loss, including unrealized gains (losses) on the Company’s available-for-sale investments, was $12.3   million and $19.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
 
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
 
In January 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-06, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (Topic 820)—Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements , which amends Topic 820 to add new requirements for disclosures about transfers into and out of Levels 1 and 2 and separate disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances and settlements related to Level 3 measurements. ASU 2010-06 also clarifies existing fair value disclosures about the level of disaggregation and about inputs and valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The ASU was effective for the first reporting period beginning after December 15, 2009, except for the requirements to provide the Level 3 activity of purchases, sales, issuances and settlements on a gross basis, which was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010, and for interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption was permitted. The adoption for the requirement to provide the Level 3 activity did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

In September 2009, ASU 2009-13, Revenue Recognition (Topic 605)— Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements , was issued and changed the accounting for multiple-deliverable arrangements to enable vendors to account for products or services (deliverables) separately rather than as a combined unit. Specifically, this guidance amends the criteria in Subtopic 605-25, Revenue Recognition Multiple-Element Arrangements, for separating consideration in multiple-deliverable arrangements. This guidance establishes a selling price hierarchy for determining the selling price of a deliverable, which is based on: (a) vendor-specific objective evidence; (b) third-party evidence; or (c) estimates. This guidance also eliminates the residual method of allocation and requires that arrangement consideration be allocated at the inception of the arrangement to all deliverables using the relative selling price method. In addition, this guidance significantly expands required disclosures related to a vendor’s multiple-deliverable revenue arrangements. ASU 2009-13 became effective prospectively for multiple deliverable revenue arrangements entered into, or materially modified, on or after January 1, 2011. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

In March 2010, ASU 2010-17, Revenue Recognition—Milestone Method (Topic 605) : Milestone Method of Revenue Recognition—a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force , was issued and amended the accounting for revenue arrangements under which a vendor satisfies its performance obligations to a customer over a period of time, when the deliverable or unit of accounting is not within the scope of other authoritative literature and when the arrangement consideration is contingent upon the achievement of a milestone. The amendment defines a milestone and clarifies whether an entity may recognize consideration earned from the achievement of a milestone in the period in which the milestone is achieved. ASU 2010-17 became effective prospectively for milestones achieved within research and development arrangements on or after January 1, 2011. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.
 
 
7

 
 
In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income (“ASU 2011-05”). This guidance is intended to increase the prominence of other comprehensive income in financial statements by presenting it in either a single statement or two-statement approach. This ASU is effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2012. The adoption of ASU 2011-05 will not have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements .

Note 4 – Stock-Based Compensation

Under the Company’s stock-based compensation plan, the 2005 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2005 Plan”), equity awards may be granted to officers, directors, employees, consultants and advisors to the Company and any present or future subsidiary. The 2005 Plan, approved in May 2005 and amended in June 2011 by the stockholders of the Company, currently authorizes the grant of equity awards for up to 14,312,192 shares of common stock, which included, at the time of approval of the 2005 Plan, a maximum 5,746,468 shares of common stock subject to stock options outstanding under the Company’s 1995 Stock Option Plan (the “1995 Plan”) that may revert to and become issuable under the 2005 Plan if such options should expire or otherwise terminate unexercised. The term of the Company’s 1995 Plan has expired. Outstanding stock options remain in existence in accordance with their terms and no new awards will be made under the 1995 Plan.
 
The Company recorded stock-based compensation expense in the statements of operations as follows (in thousands):
 
   
Three Months Ended
June 30,
   
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
 
Research and development
  $ 150     $ 77     $ 273     $ 8  
General and administrative
    553       348       862       501  
Total stock-based compensation expenses
  $ 703     $ 425     $ 1,135     $ 509  

 
During the three months ended March 31, 2010, the Company recorded a stock-based compensation benefit of ($0.1) million due to the reversal of previously recognized expense for unvested stock options that were cancelled due to employees leaving the Company.
 
Stock Options Awards
 
The following is a summary of option activity under the 2005 Plan and the 1995 Plan for the six months ended June 30, 2011:
 
   
2005 Stock Incentive Plan
   
1995 Stock Option Plan
 
   
Stock
Options
   
Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
   
Stock
Options
   
Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
 
Outstanding at January 1, 2011
    5,214,794     $ 2.34       579,850     $ 4.97  
Granted
    2,857,400     $ 2.26           $  
Exercised
    (84,899 )   $ 1.35           $  
Canceled
    (571,680 )   $ 2.37       (55,200 )   $ 8.87  
Outstanding at June 30, 2011
    7,415,615     $ 2.32       524,650     $ 4.58  
Shares exercisable at June 30, 2011
    3,461,147     $ 2.28       524,650     $ 4.58  
                                 
Shares available for grant at June 30, 2011
    3,422,135                          
 
 
8

 

 
 
The fair value of stock options granted was estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions:
 
 
Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
2011
 
2010
 
2011
 
2010
Weighted-average fair value of stock options granted
$1.09
 
$1.68
 
$1.23
 
$1.64
Risk-free interest rate
0.83%-1.91%
 
1.47%-2.33%
 
0.83%-1.91%
 
1.46%-2.89%
Dividend yield
0%
 
0%
 
0%
 
0%
Volatility
73.28%-80.02%
 
98.78%-108.02%
 
73.28%-80.48%
 
98.78%-108.02%
Expected life (in years)
3.26-4.47
 
3.06-4.47
 
3.26-4.47
 
3.06-6.26
Expected forfeiture rate
0-23.15%
 
21.07%
 
0-23.15%
 
21.07%

 
The aggregate intrinsic value and weighted-average remaining contractual term of stock options outstanding as of June 30, 2011 was approximately $1.4 million and 7.2   years, respectively. The aggregate intrinsic value and weighted-average remaining contractual term of stock options exercisable as of June 30, 2011 was approximately $1.2   million and 5.7 years, respectively. The aggregate intrinsic value represents the total intrinsic value (the difference between the Company’s closing stock price on the last trading day of the period and the exercise price, multiplied by the number of in-the-money options) that would have been received by the option holders had all option holders exercised their options on June 30, 2011. This amount is subject to change based on changes to the fair value of the Company’s common stock. The aggregate intrinsic value of options exercised for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 was $0.1 million and $0.3 million, respectively.
 
Restricted Stock Awards
 
Under the 2005 Plan, the Company has granted restricted stock awards subject to certain performance-based and time-based vesting conditions which, if not met, would result in forfeiture of the shares and reversal of any previously recognized related stock-based compensation expense.
 
The following is a summary of restricted stock awards activity for the six months ended June 30, 2011:
 
   
Number of
 Shares
   
Per Share
Weighted-
Average
Grant-Date
Fair Value
 
Outstanding at January 1, 2011
    56,666     $ 2.47  
Restricted stock granted
        $  
Restricted stock vested
    (50,000 )   $ 2.11  
Restricted stock forfeited
        $  
Outstanding at June 30, 2011
    6,666     $ 5.21  

As of June 30, 2011, there was approximately $3.5   million of total unrecognized compensation expense (net of estimated forfeitures) related to unvested options and restricted stock awards. This unrecognized compensation expense is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.5   years. This estimate does not include the impact of other possible stock-based awards that may be made during future periods.
 
Note 5 – Warrant Liability
 
In July 2008, the Company completed a registered direct offering of 6,686,650 units, raising approximately $17.5 million in net proceeds. Each unit consisted of one share of common stock and a warrant to purchase 0.5 shares of common stock (the “Warrants”) at a price of $2.68 per unit. The Warrants represent the right to acquire an aggregate of 3,343,325 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $3.62 per share and are exercisable between January 31, 2009 and July 31, 2013.
 
 
9

 
 
During the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, the Company recorded as income in its statements of operations a change in fair value of warrant liability of $1.2 million and $1.6 million, respectively. As of June 30, 2011, the warrant liability recorded on the balance sheet was $1.6 million and all Warrants remain outstanding as of that date.
 
Note 6 – At Market Issuance Sales Agreement
 
In March 2010, the Company entered into a sales agreement, under which the Company may sell an aggregate of $50 million in gross proceeds of its common stock. The Company’s Board of Directors has authorized the sale of up to 25 million shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to this agreement. The shares of common stock are being offered pursuant to a shelf registration statement filed with the SEC. For the six months ended June 30, 2011, the Company sold 3.5 million shares at an average sales price of $2.38 per share, resulting in $8.3 million in net proceeds. Since June 30, 2011 through August 8, 2011, the Company has sold an additional 0.5 million shares resulting in $0.9 million in net proceeds.
 
Note 7 – License Agreement

In February 2011, the Company entered into a License Agreement with LG Life Sciences, Ltd. (“LG Life Sciences”) to develop, manufacture and commercialize influenza vaccines using the Company’s proprietary VLP technology exclusively in South Korea and non-exclusively in certain other emerging countries. The term of the License Agreement is expected to terminate in 2027. Payments to the Company under the License Agreement include an upfront payment, milestone payments, reimbursements of certain development and product costs and royalty payments.

It was determined that the upfront payment was not substantive based on the accounting guidance of ASU 2010-17 and is expected to be earned over the research and development period of the agreement. Payments related to milestones deemed substantive under ASU 2010-17 will be recognized upon achievement of such events.  Payments for milestones not deemed substantive will be recognized over the remaining term of the research and development period upon achievement of such milestone.

Note 8 – Sub sequent Events
 
In July 2011, the Company and Cadila extended the term by one year for which services can be provided by Cadila under its master services agreement. Under the recently revised terms, if, by March 2013, the amount of services provided by Cadila under the master services agreement is less than $7.5 million, the Company will pay Cadila the portion of the shortfall amount that is less than or equal to $2.0 million and 50% of the portion of the shortfall amount that exceeds $2.0 million. Through June 30, 2011, the Company has purchased $0.2 million in services from Cadila pursuant to this agreement.
 
 
10

 
 
Item 2.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
Certain statements contained or incorporated by reference herein constitute forward-looking statements. In some cases, these statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “expect(s)”, “intends”, “plans”, “seeks”, “estimates”, “could”, “should”, “feel(s)”, “believe(s)”, “will”, “would”, “may”, “can”, “anticipate(s)”, “potential” and similar expressions or the negative of these terms. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, or industry results, to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
 
Forward-looking statements in this Quarterly Report include, without limitation, statements regarding:
 
 
·
potential commercialization of our product candidates;
 
 
·
our expectation that we will have adequate capital resources available to operate at planned levels for at least the next twelve months;
 
 
·
our expectations for future revenue under the contract with the Department of Health and Human Services, Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (HHS BARDA) and funding requirements and capital raising activity, including anticipated proceeds from our At Market Issuance Sales Agreement;
 
 
·
our expectations on financial or business performance, conditions or strategies and other financial and business matters, including expectations regarding operating expenses, use of cash, and the fluctuations in expenses and capital requirements associated with pre-clinical studies, clinical trials and other research and development activities;
 
 
·
our expectations on clinical development and anticipated milestones, including under the contract with HHS BARDA and our RSV clinical trial;
 
 
·
our expectations that our trivalent seasonal influenza VLP vaccine could potentially address an unmet medical need in older adults;
 
 
·
our expectations regarding payments to Wyeth and UMMS;
 
 
·
our expectations for the use of results from our Pandemic H1N1 clinical trial in Mexico to support the development of our influenza vaccines in other countries, including the United States;
 
 
·
the impact of new accounting pronouncements; and
 
 
·
our expectations concerning payments under existing license agreements.
 
Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements or historical experience include, among others, the following:
 
 
·
our ability to progress any vaccine candidates into pre-clinical studies or clinical trials;
 
 
·
the scope, initiation, rate and progress of our pre-clinical studies and clinical trials and other research and development activities;
 
 
·
clinical trial results;
 
 
11

 
 
 
·
even with positive data from pre-clinical studies or clinical trials, the vaccine candidate may not prove to be safe and efficacious;
 
 
·
decisions by regulatory agencies may delay or prevent our development programs or increase the costs of such programs;
 
 
·
regulatory approval is needed before any vaccines can be sold in or outside the United States and, to date, no governmental authority has approved any of our vaccine candidates for sale;
 
 
·
influenza is seasonal in nature, and if approval or commercial launch after approval is not timely in relation to the influenza season, we may not be able to manufacture or sell our influenza vaccines on terms favorable to us until the next influenza season, if at all;
 
 
·
RSV is a difficult disease to prevent and there is significant activity by many companies toward the development of a suitable vaccine;
 
 
·
we have not manufactured any of our vaccine candidates at a commercial level;
 
 
·
we utilize a unique manufacturing process and the scale-up of that process may prove difficult and/or costly;
 
 
·
our dependence on third parties to manufacture and distribute our vaccines;
 
 
·
risks associated with conducting business outside of the United States;
 
 
·
the cost and our ability of filing, prosecuting, defending and enforcing any patent claims and other intellectual property rights;
 
 
·
competition for clinical resources and patient enrollment from drug candidates in development by other companies with greater resources and visibility;
 
 
·
our ability to enter into future collaborations with industry partners and the terms, timing and success of any such collaboration;
 
 
·
our ability to obtain adequate financing in the future through product licensing, co-promotional arrangements, public or private equity or debt financings or otherwise;
 
 
·
our ability to meet the significant requirements of a federal government contractor, which includes having appropriate accounting, project tracking and earned-value management systems implemented and operational, under our contract with HHS BARDA; and
 
 
·
other factors referenced herein.
 
The Company assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements, except as specifically required by law. We caution readers not to place considerable reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report.
 
Overview
 
Novavax, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Novavax,” the “Company,” “we,” or “us”), was incorporated in 1987, and is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel, highly potent recombinant vaccines. These vaccines leverage our virus-like particle (VLP) platform technology coupled with a single-use bioprocessing production system.
 
 
12

 
 
VLPs are genetically engineered three-dimensional nanostructures that incorporate immunologically important lipids and recombinant proteins. Our VLPs resemble the virus they were engineered to mimic, but lack the genetic material to replicate the virus. Our single-use bioprocessing production technology uses insect cells rather than chicken eggs or mammalian cells. Our current product targets include vaccines against seasonal and pandemic (including H5N1) influenza and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).
 
CPL Biologicals Private Limited (the JV), our joint venture formed in 2009 between us and Cadila Pharmaceuticals Ltd., a private company incorporated under the laws of India (Cadila), is 80% owned by Cadila and 20% is owned by us. The JV will develop and manufacture our pandemic and seasonal influenza vaccine candidates and Cadila’s biogeneric products and other diagnostic products for the territory of India. In June 2010, the JV opened its newly constructed state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, 100% funded by Cadila, to be used to produce our pandemic and seasonal influenza vaccines. Because we do not control the JV, we account for our investment using the equity method. Since the carrying value of our contribution was nominal and there is no guarantee or commitment to provide future funding, we have not recorded nor do we expect to record losses related to this investment in the future.
 
A current summary of our significant research and development programs and status of development follows:
 
Program
Development Phase
Pandemic Influenza (H1N1)
Phase II ( ended )
Pandemic Influenza (H5N1)
Phase II
Seasonal Influenza
Phase II
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
Phase I

Pandemic Influenza (H1N1)

In 2010, we completed our clinical trial of our H1N1 influenza VLP vaccine in Mexico in collaboration with Laboratorio Avi-Mex S.A. de C.V. and GE Healthcare. This randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial was designed to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of our H1N1 influenza VLP vaccine in healthy adults. We initially completed enrollment of stage-one and reported positive results on the vaccine’s safety and immunogenicity in the first 1,000 subjects. We initiated stage-two of the trial to evaluate the safety of the vaccine in a larger cohort and completed enrollment of more than 3,500 subjects. The 6-month safety evaluation of the subjects in the second-stage of the clinical trial was completed in September 2010, and no vaccine-related serious adverse events were reported. The positive final results of this trial were presented in February 2011 at the 7 th World Health Organization Meeting on Evaluation of Pandemic Influenza Vaccines in Clinical Trials. These results are expected to support development of our H5N1 pandemic and seasonal influenza VLP vaccines in other countries, including the United States.

Pandemic Influenza (H5N1)

In 2007, we released results from a pre-clinical study in which ferrets that received our H5N1 vaccine candidate were protected from a lethal challenge of the H5N1 virus. After filing an Investigational New Drug (IND) application, we initiated a Phase I/IIa clinical trial. We released interim data from the first portion of this clinical trial in December 2007. These interim results demonstrated that our pandemic influenza vaccine can generate a protective immune response. We conducted the second portion of the Phase I/IIa trial in 2008 to gather additional subject immunogenicity and safety data and determine a final dose through the completion of this clinical trial. In August 2008, we reported favorable results from this clinical trial, which demonstrated strong neutralizing antibody titers across all three doses tested. A final clinical study report was completed and the vaccine was well-tolerated at all dosages as compared with the placebo. No serious adverse events were reported. In February 2009, we announced that the vaccine induced robust hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) responses, which have been shown to be important for protection against influenza disease. In conjunction with our HHS BARDA contract, we have developed a detailed pandemic influenza vaccine clinical development plan. During the 36 month base-period, we expect to initiate multiple clinical trials, including a Phase I testing trial that is expected to begin in early 2012, utilizing Novavax’s pandemic influenza VLP vaccine candidate with adjuvants (including Novavax’s proprietary adjuvant) to prevent pandemic H5N1 influenza.
 
 
13

 
 
Seasonal Influenza

In April 2010, we reported the final results of our Phase II trial in older adults (60 years or higher in age) in a dose-ranging study comparing our trivalent seasonal influenza VLP vaccine with a commercially available inactivated trivalent influenza vaccine (TIV). The results showed that the vaccine was both safe and immunogenic against the 2009-2010 seasonal influenza virus strains in older adults. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has indicated that currently approved seasonal influenza vaccines have shown to be only 30% to 70% effective in preventing hospitalization for pneumonia and influenza in older adults; however, we believe that our trivalent seasonal influenza VLP vaccine has the potential to address this unmet medical need. In March 2010, we released final results of the Phase II trial in healthy adults (18 to 49 years in age) immunized with our trivalent seasonal influenza VLP vaccine. The results showed the vaccine was well-tolerated and immunogenic. In conjunction with our HHS BARDA contract, we have developed a detailed seasonal influenza vaccine clinical development plan. During the 36 month base-period, we expect to initiate multiple Phase II dose-ranging and dose-confirmatory trials, with the first Phase II trial beginning in the fourth quarter of 2011, and a Phase III registration trial.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
 
Our RSV vaccine candidate has completed a pre-clinical safety and efficacy study in cotton rats; the results of which were used to support an IND application that we filed with the FDA in September 2010. We addressed a specific question from the FDA around our chemistry, manufacturing and controls (CMC) that caused the agency to put our planned Phase I trial on temporary clinical hold, and in December 2010, the temporary clinical hold was lifted. In December 2010, we began patient enrollment in our Phase I clinical trial to assess the safety, immunogenicity and tolerability of our RSV vaccine candidate. This blinded, placebo-controlled, escalating-dose study of healthy adults (18 to 49 years in age) will be tested in a total of 150 subjects and interim top-line date from the trial are expected in the third quarter of 2011. At the conclusion of the Phase I trial, we will assess the safety and immunogenicity results and make a determination on the launch of a Phase II trial.
 
HHS BARDA Contract Award for Recombinant Influenza Vaccines
 
In September 2009, we responded to the HHS BARDA request for proposal (RFP) for a potential contract award for the advanced development of recombinant influenza vaccines. In February 2011, we were awarded a contract from HHS BARDA valued at $97 million for the first 36 month base-period, with an HHS BARDA option for an additional period of 24 months valued at $82 million, for a total contract value of up to $179 million. The HHS BARDA contract award provides significant funding for our continued ongoing clinical development and product scale-up of our seasonal and pandemic influenza vaccine candidates. This is a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract in which HHS BARDA will reimburse us for direct contract costs incurred plus allowable indirect costs and a fee earned in the further development of our seasonal and pandemic H5N1 influenza vaccines. Billings under the contract will be based on approved provisional indirect billing rates, which permit recovery of fringe benefits, overhead and general and administrative expenses not exceeding certain limits. These indirect rates will be subject to audit by HHS BARDA on an annual basis. When the final determination of the allowable costs for any year has been made, revenue and billings may be adjusted accordingly.
 
License Agreement with LG Life Sciences, Ltd.
 
In February 2011, we entered into a licensing agreement with LG Life Sciences, Ltd. (LGLS) that allows LGLS to use our VLP technology to develop and commercially sell our influenza vaccines in South Korea and certain other emerging-market countries. LGLS received an exclusive license to our influenza VLP technology in South Korea and a non-exclusive license in the other specified countries. At its own cost, LGLS is responsible for funding its clinical development of the influenza VLP vaccines and completing a manufacturing facility in South Korea. We received an upfront payment and may receive potential milestone payments, reimbursements of certain development and product costs and double-digit royalty payments from LGLS’s future commercial sales of influenza VLP vaccines.
 
 
14

 
 
Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates
 
There are no material changes to the Company’s critical accounting policies as described in Item 7 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, as filed with the SEC, other than as mentioned below.

Revenue
 
We currently derive revenue from a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract in which HHS BARDA will reimburse us for direct contract costs incurred plus allowable indirect costs and a fee earned in the further development of our seasonal and pandemic H5N1 influenza vaccines. Revenue on this cost-plus-fixed-fee contract is recognized as costs are incurred plus allowable indirect costs and the fee earned. Billings under the contract will be based on approved provisional indirect billing rates, which permit recovery of fringe benefits, overhead and general and administrative expenses not exceeding certain limits. These indirect rates will be subject to audit by HHS BARDA on an annual basis. When the final determination of the allowable costs for any year has been made, revenue and billings may be adjusted accordingly.
 
Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted
 
In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income (“ASU 2011-05”). This guidance is intended to increase the prominence of other comprehensive income in financial statements by presenting it in either a single statement or two-statement approach. This ASU is effective for us beginning January 1, 2012. The adoption of ASU 2011-05 will not have a material effect on our financial statements.
 
Results of Operations
 
The following is a discussion of the historical financial condition and results of operations of the Company and should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto set forth in this Quarterly Report.
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 (amounts in tables are presented in thousands, except per share information)
 
Revenue:
 
   
Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
Change
2010 to 2011
 
Revenue:
                 
Total revenue
  $ 3,001     $ 7     $ 2,994  

Revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2011 was $3.0 million and is comprised of services performed under the HHS BARDA contract. For 2011, we expect to generate significant revenue as we perform under the HHS BARDA contract.
 
 
15

 
 
Operating Expenses:
 
   
Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
Change
2010 to 2011
 
Operating Expenses:
                 
Research and development
  $ 5,584     $ 6,327     $ (743 )
General and administrative
    3,338       3,148       190  
Total operating expenses
  $ 8,922     $ 9,475     $ (553 )
 
Research and Development Expenses
 
Research and development expenses decreased to $5.6   million for the three months ended June 30, 2011 from $6.3 million for the same period in 2010, a decrease of $0.7   million, or 12%,   primarily due to lower research and development spending in the three months ended June 30, 2011 to support our clinical trials related to our H1N1 and seasonal influenza vaccine candidates. The decrease is primarily a result of lower outside-testing costs (including outsourced clinical trial costs, sponsored research and consulting agreements), partially offset by higher employee-related costs.
 
We track our research and development expenses by the type of costs incurred in identifying, developing, manufacturing and testing vaccine candidates. We evaluate and prioritize our activities according to functional area and therefore believe that project-by-project information would not form a reasonable basis for disclosure to our investors. These expenses consist primarily of salaries and related expenses for personnel, costs associated with contract research and manufacturing organizations, manufacturing supplies and outside animal and pre-clinical testing. At June 30, 2011, we had 78 employees dedicated to our research and development programs. Historically, we have not accounted for internal research and development expenses by project, since our employees work time is spread across multiple programs.
 
The following summarizes our research and development expenses by functional area for the three months ended June 30, 2011 (in millions).
 
Manufacturing
  $ 3.0  
Vaccine Discovery
    0.7  
Clinical and Regulatory Affairs
    1.9  
Total research and development expenses
  $ 5.6  

We do not provide forward-looking estimates of costs and time to complete our research programs due to the many uncertainties associated with vaccine development. As we obtain data from pre-clinical studies and clinical trials, we may elect to discontinue or delay trials in order to focus our resources on more promising vaccine candidates. Completion of trials may take several years or more, but the length of time can vary substantially depending upon the phase, size of trial, primary and secondary endpoints and the intended use of the vaccine candidate. The cost of clinical trials may vary significantly over the life of a project as a result of a variety of factors, including:

 
·
the number of patients who participate in the trials;
 
 
·
the number of sites included in the trials;
 
 
·
if trial locations are domestic, international or both;
 
 
·
the time to enroll patients;
 
 
16

 
 
 
·
the duration of treatment and follow-up;
 
 
·
the safety and efficacy profile of the vaccine candidate; and
 
 
·
the cost and timing of, and the ability to secure, regulatory approvals.
 
As a result of these uncertainties, we are unable to determine with any significant degree of certainty, the duration and completion costs of our research and development projects or when, and to what extent, we will generate future cash flows from our research projects.
 
General and Administrative Expenses
 
General and administrative expenses increased to $3.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011 from $3.1 million for the same period in 2010, an increase of $0.2 million, or 6%, primarily due to higher employee-related costs, including severance expenses, partially offset by lower professional fees.
 
Other Income (Expense):
 
   
Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
Change 2010
to 2011
 
Other Income (Expense):
                 
Interest income
  $ 38     $ 44     $ (6 )
Interest expense
    (2 )     (2 )      
Change in fair value of warrant liability
    1,304       569       735  
Total other income (expense)
  $ 1,340     $ 611     $ (729 )

We had total other income of $1.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011 compared to total other income of $0.6 million for the same period in 2010, a change of $0.7 million. For the three months ended June 30, 2011, the change in fair value of the warrant liability resulted in a $0.7 million increase in total other income (expense) as compared to the same period in 2010.
 
Income Tax:
 
   
Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
Change 2010
to 2011
 
Income Tax:
                 
Total income tax expense
  $ 412     $     $ 412  

Income tax expense for the three months ended June 30, 2011 was $0.4 million. We incurred a foreign withholding tax related to a payment received in accordance with a license agreement.
 
 
17

 
 
Net Loss:
 
   
Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
Change 2010
to 2011
 
Net Loss:
                 
Net loss
  $ (4,993 )   $ (8,857 )   $ 3,864  
Net loss per share
  $ (0.04 )   $ (0.09 )   $ 0.05  
Weighted shares outstanding
    112,821       100,694       12,127  

Net loss for the three months ended June 30, 2011 was $5.0   million, or $0.04   per share, as compared to $8.9 million, or $0.09 per share, for the same period in 2010, a decreased net loss of $3.9   million. The decrease net loss was primarily due to revenue recognized under the HHS BARDA agreement, as well as lower research and development spending and a reduction in the Warrant liability in the three months ended June 30, 2011.
 
The increase in weighted shares outstanding for the three months ended June 30, 2011 is primarily a result of sales of our common stock under our At Market Issuance Sales Agreement.
 
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 (amounts in tables are presented in thousands, except per share information)
 
Revenue:
 
   
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
Change 2010
to 2011
 
Revenue:
                 
Total revenue
  $ 3,835     $ 117     $ 3,718  

Revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2011 was $3.8 million and is comprised of services performed under the HHS BARDA contract.
 
Operating Expenses:
 
   
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
Change 2010
to 2011
 
Operating Expenses:
                 
Research and development
  $ 10,998     $ 15,356     $ (4,358 )
General and administrative
    6,188       5,683       505  
Total operating expenses
  $ 17,186     $ 21,039     $ (3,853 )
 
Research and Development Expenses
 
Research and development expenses decreased to $11.0   million for the six months ended June 30, 2011 from $15.4 million for the same period in 2010, a decrease of $4.4 million, or 28%,   primarily due to lower research and development spending in the six months ended June 30, 2011 to support our clinical trials related to our H1N1 and seasonal influenza vaccine candidates. The decrease is primarily a result of lower outside-testing costs (including outsourced clinical trial costs, sponsored research and consulting agreements).
 
 
18

 
 
The following summarizes our research and development expenses by functional area for the six months ended June 30, 2011 (in millions).
 
Manufacturing
  $ 6.1  
Vaccine Discovery
    1.6  
Clinical and Regulatory Affairs
    3.3  
Total research and development expenses
  $ 11.0  
 
General and Administrative Expenses
 
General and administrative expenses increased to $6.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011 from $5.7 million for the same period in 2010, an increase of $0.5 million, or 9%, primarily due to higher employee-related costs, including severance expenses, partially offset by lower professional fees.
 
Other Income (Expense):
 
   
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
Change 2010
to 2011
 
Other Income (Expense):
                 
Interest income
  $ 84     $ 88     $ (4 )
Interest expense
    (4 )     (4 )      
Change in fair value of warrant liability
    1,237       1,638       (401 )
Total other income (expense)
  $ 1,317     $ 1,722     $ (405 )

We had total other income of $1.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to total other income of $1.7 million for the same period in 2010, a change of $0.4 million. For the six months ended June 30, 2011, the change in fair value of the warrant liability resulted in a $0.4 million decrease in total other income (expense) as compared to the same period in 2010.
 
Income Tax:
 
   
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
Change 2010
to 2011
 
Income Tax:
                 
Total income tax expense
  $ 412     $     $ 412  

Income tax expense for the six months ended June 30, 2011 was $0.4 million. We incurred a foreign withholding tax related to a payment received in accordance with a license agreement.
 
 
19

 
 
Net Loss:
 
   
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
Change 2010
to 2011
 
Net Loss:
                 
Net loss
  $ (12,446 )   $ (19,200 )   $ 6,754  
Net loss per share
  $ (0.11 )   $ (0.19 )   $ 0.08  
Weighted shares outstanding
    112,009       100,442       11,567  

Net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2011 was $12.4 million, or $0.11   per share, as compared to $19.2 million, or $0.19 per share, for the same period in 2010, a decreased net loss of $6.8   million. The decreased net loss was primarily due to lower research and development spending to support our clinical trials for our H1N1 and seasonal influenza vaccine candidates and revenue recognized under the HHS BARDA agreement in the six months ended June 30, 2011.
 
The increase in weighted shares outstanding for the six months ended June 30, 2011 is primarily a result of sales of our common stock under our At Market Issuance Sales Agreement.
 
Liquidity Matters and Capital Resources
 
Our future capital requirements depend on numerous factors including, but not limited to, the commitments and progress of our research and development programs, the progress of pre-clinical and clinical testing, the time and costs involved in obtaining regulatory approvals, the costs of filing, prosecuting, defending and enforcing patent claims and other intellectual property rights and manufacturing costs. We plan to continue to have multiple vaccine candidates in various stages of development, and we believe our research and development, as well as general and administrative expenses and capital requirements will fluctuate depending upon the timing of certain events, such as scope, initiation, rate and progress of our pre-clinical studies and clinical trials and other research and development activities.
 
As of June 30, 2011, we had $13.1 million in cash and cash equivalents and $9.2 million in short-term investments as compared to $8.1 million and $23.6 million, respectively, at December 31, 2010. The following table summarizes cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 (in thousands):
 
   
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
Change 2010
to 2011
 
Summary of Cash Flows:
                 
Net cash (used in) provided by:
                 
Operating activities
  $ (17,439 )   $ (18,727 )   $ 1,288  
Investing activities
    14,115       (14,011 )     28,126  
Financing activities
    8,355       3,427       4,928  
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    5,031       (29,311 )     34,342  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    8,061       38,757       (30,696 )
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 13,092     $ 9,446     $ 3,646  

Net cash used in operating activities decreased to $17.4   million as compared to $18.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The decrease is cash usage was primarily due to a decreased net loss, partially offset by the timing of our customer and vendor payments.
 
During the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, our investing activities consisted primarily of purchases and maturities of short-term investments and capital expenditures. Capital expenditures for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 were $0.2   million and $0.7 million, respectively.
 
 
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During the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, our financing activity consisted primarily of $8.3 million and $3.1 million, respectively, in net proceeds from the sale of our common stock pursuant to our At Market Issuance Sales Agreement. We continue to sell our common stock under our current At Market Issuance Sales Agreement and since June 30, 2011 through August 8, 2011, we have sold an additional 0.5   million shares for $0.9 million in net proceeds.

We have entered into agreements with outside clinical research organization providers to support our clinical development. As of June 30, 2011, $2.2   million remains unpaid on certain of these agreements in the event our outside providers complete their services in 2011. However, under the terms of the agreements, we have the option to terminate, but we would be obligated to pay the provider(s) for all costs incurred through the effective date of termination.
 
We have licensed certain rights from Wyeth Holdings Corporation, a subsidiary of Pfizer Inc (Wyeth), and the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS). The Wyeth license, which provides for an upfront payment, annual license fees, milestone payments and royalties on any product sales, is a non-exclusive, worldwide license to a family of patent applications covering VLP technology for use in human vaccines in certain fields of use; the license may be terminated by Wyeth only for cause and may be terminated by us only after we have provided ninety (90) days notice that we have absolutely and finally ceased activity, including through any affiliate or sublicense, related to the manufacturing, development, marketing or sale of products covered by the license. In May 2010, we amended the license, effective as of March 17, 2010, under which the parties agreed that we would not be obligated to make a milestone payment in the event our H1N1 pandemic vaccine candidate received regulatory approval in the country of Mexico, provided that we increase certain subsequent milestone payments. Payments under the agreement to Wyeth from 2007 through June 30, 2011 aggregated $5.1 million. We do not expect to make a milestone payment to Wyeth in the next twelve months. The UMMS license, which provides for milestone payments and royalties on product sales, is an exclusive worldwide license of VLP technology to develop VLP vaccines for the prevention of any viral diseases in humans. As of June 30, 2011, our payments made to UMMS in the aggregate are not material. Also, we believe that all payments under the UMMS agreement will not be material in the next twelve months.
 
In connection with our JV with Cadila, we entered into a master services agreement, which we and Cadila amended in July 2011 to extend the term by one year for which services can be provided by Cadila under this agreement. Under the recently revised terms, if, by March 2013, the amount of services provided by Cadila under the master services agreement is less than $7.5 million, the Company will pay Cadila the portion of the shortfall amount that is less than or equal to $2.0 million and 50% of the portion of the shortfall amount that exceeds $2.0 million. Through June 30, 2011, we have purchased $0.2 million in services from Cadila pursuant to this agreement.
 
Based on our cash and cash equivalents and short-term investment balances as of June 30, 2011, anticipated revenue under the HHS BARDA contract awarded in February 2011, anticipated proceeds from the sales of our common stock under our At the Market Sales Agreement and our current business operations, we believe we will have adequate capital resources available to operate at planned levels for at least the next twelve months. Additional capital will be required in the future to develop our product candidates through clinical development, manufacturing and commercialization. Our ability to generate revenue under the HHS BARDA contract is subject to our performance under the contract; our ability to raise funds under our At the Market Sales Agreement is subject to both our business performance and market conditions. Further, we may seek additional capital through further public or private equity offerings, debt financing, additional strategic alliance and licensing arrangements, non-dilutive government contracts, collaborative arrangements, or some combination of these financing alternatives. Any capital raised by an equity offering will likely be substantially dilutive to the existing stockholders and any licensing or development arrangement may require us to give up rights to a product or technology at less than its full potential value. Other than our At the Market Sales Agreement, we have not secured any additional commitments for new financing nor can we provide any assurance that new financing will be available on commercially acceptable terms, if at all. If we are unable to perform under the HHS BARDA contract or obtain additional capital, we will assess our capital resources and will likely be required to delay, reduce the scope of, or eliminate one or more of our product research and development programs, downsize our organization, or reduce our general and administrative infrastructure.
 
 
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Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
 
The primary objective of our investment activities is to preserve our capital until it is required to fund operations while at the same time maximizing the income we receive from our investments without significantly increasing risk. As of June 30, 2011, we had cash and cash equivalents of $13.1 million, short-term investments of $9.2 million and working capital of $19.4 million.

Our exposure to market risk is primarily confined to our investment portfolio. As of June 30, 2011, our short-term investments were classified as available-for-sale. We do not believe that a change in the market rates of interest would have any significant impact on the realizable value of our investment portfolio. Changes in interest rates may affect the investment income we earn on our investments when they mature and the proceeds are reinvested into new investments and, therefore, could impact our cash flows and results of operations.
 
We had previously invested in auction rate securities for short periods of time as part of our cash management program. Short-term investments at June 30, 2011 include investments in three auction rate securities with a par value of $5.1 million and a fair value of $4.3 million. At June 30, 2011, we have recorded $0.9 million in unrealized gains on the auction rate securities included in other comprehensive income on the balance sheet. These investments are classified within current assets because we may need to liquidate these securities within the next year to fund our ongoing operations.
 
Interest and dividend income is recorded when earned and included in interest income. Premiums and discounts, if any, on short-term investments are amortized or accreted to maturity and included in interest income. The specific identification method is used in computing realized gains and losses on sale of our securities.
 
We are headquartered in the United States where we conduct the vast majority of our business activities. Accordingly, we have not had any material exposure to foreign currency rate fluctuations.
 
We do not have material debt and, as such, do not believe that we are exposed to any material interest rate risk as a result of our borrowing activities.
 
Item 4.  Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our management, with the assistance of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has reviewed and evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) as of June 30, 2011. Management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance of achieving their control objectives. Based on the evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of June 30, 2011, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated any changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the second quarter of 2011, and has concluded that there was no change that occurred during the second quarter of 2011 that materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
 
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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

In March 2010, we initiated legal proceedings against Mr. Mitch Kelly in the state of New York and Dr. Denis O’Donnell in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for collection of their respective indebtedness due to the Company.  Since then, we have been actively pursuing resolution of these matters through pretrial proceedings as well as through potential settlement communications. Mr. Kelly and Dr. O’Donnell are former directors of the Company that have each defaulted on outstanding notes due to the Company in the aggregate principal amount of $1,572,000. Unless settlement agreements are reached and subject to each State court’s schedule, we anticipate going to trial on each of these matters in late 2011 or 2012.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There are no material changes to the Company’s risk factors as described in Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, as filed with the SEC.

Item 5. Other Information

At our annual meeting of stockholders held on June 15, 2011, the stockholders cast an advisory vote on whether future stockholder “say-on-pay” votes should occur every one, two or three years. Say-on-pay votes are periodic stockholder advisory votes to approve, on a non-binding basis, the compensation paid to our named executive officers as disclosed in our proxy statements, and are required to be held no less frequently than once every three years under Section 14A of the Exchange Act. In the proxy statement provided to stockholders in connection with our 2011 annual meeting, our board of directors recommended that the stockholders vote in favor of a three year frequency on this proposal. As previously reported in the Form 8-K filed with SEC on June 21, 2011, our stockholders recommended, by a plurality of the votes cast at our 2011 annual meeting, that future stockholder say-on-pay votes should be held once every three years.

Consistent with the stockholder voting results and the board of directors' recommendation in the proxy statement, our board of directors has determined that future stockholder say-on-pay votes will occur once every three years until the next required advisory vote on the frequency of say-on-pay votes, or until the board of directors determines that a different frequency for say-on-pay votes is in the best interests of the company’s stockholders. Accordingly, we anticipate that the next stockholder say-on-pay vote will be held at our 2014 annual meeting of stockholders. The next stockholder advisory vote regarding the frequency of say-on-pay votes will be held in six years (as required by the Exchange Act) at our 2017 annual meeting of stockholders.
 
 
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Item 6. Exhibits

Exhibits marked with a single asterisk (*) are filed herewith.

Exhibits maker with a double plus sign (††) refer to management contracts, compensatory plans or arrangements.

10.1*
Novavax, Inc. Amended and Restated 2005 Stock Incentive Plan
10.2* ††
Employment Agreement between Novavax, Inc. and Stanley C. Erck dated June 22, 2011, effective as of April 19, 2011
14*
Novavax, Inc. Amended and Restated Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
31.1*
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(e) of the Securities Exchange Act
31.2*
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(e) of the Securities Exchange Act
32.1*
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2*
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
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SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
NOVAVAX, INC.
 
       
Date: August 9, 2011   
By:
/s/ Stanley C. Erck    
    President and Chief Executive Officer  
    and Director  
   
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
       
       
Date: August 9, 2011
By:
/s/ Frederick W. Driscoll
 
   
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
 
   
and Treasurer
 
   
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
 
 
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Exhibit 10.1
 
NOVAVAX, INC.

AMENDED AND RESTATED 2005 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
[ Amended and Restated as of June 15, 2011 ]
1.
Purpose.
 
The purpose of this plan (the “ Plan ”) is to secure for Novavax, Inc. (the “ Company ”) and its stockholders the benefits arising from capital stock ownership by employees, officers and directors of, and consultants or advisors to, the Company and its parent and subsidiary corporations who are expected to contribute to the Company’s future growth and success.  Except where the context otherwise requires, the term “Company” shall include the parent and all present and future subsidiaries of the Company as defined in Sections 424(e) and 424(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended or replaced from time to time (the “ Code ”); (provided, however, that status as a “parent” or “subsidiary” corporation depends on satisfaction of the criteria in Sections 424(e) and (f) as of the date on which such determination is being made, and does not necessarily continue to exist merely because it did so as of the date of grant of an option or other award).  Those provisions of the Plan which make express reference to Section 422 shall apply only to Incentive Stock Options (as that term is defined in the Plan).  The Plan is being amended and restated effective January 1, 2008 to reflect the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.
 
2.
Type of Stock Awards and Administration.
 
(a)            Types of Awards .  This Plan provides for the grant of stock options, restricted stock awards, stock appreciation rights (SARs), and restricted stock units (RSUs) (collectively, these awards shall be referred to herein as “ Stock Awards ”).  Options granted pursuant to the Plan may be either incentive stock options (“ Incentive Stock Options ”) meeting the requirements of Section 422 of the Code or non-statutory options which are not intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code (“ Non-Statutory Options ”).
 
(b)            Administration .
 
(i)           The Plan will be administered by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose construction and interpretation of the terms and provisions of the Plan shall be final and conclusive.  The Board of Directors may in its sole discretion grant Stock Awards to purchase shares of the Company’s Common Stock, $.01 par value (“ Common Stock ”), and issue shares upon the receipt or exercise of such Stock Awards as provided in the Plan.  The Board shall have authority, subject to the express provisions of the Plan, to construe the respective agreements under which Stock Awards are made and the Plan, to proscribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan, to determine the terms and provisions of the respective agreements, which need not be identical, and to make all other determinations which are, in the judgment of the Board of Directors, necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan.  The Board of Directors may correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or in any Stock Award agreement in the manner and to the extent it shall deem expedient to carry the Plan into effect and it shall be the sole and final judge of such expediency.  No director or person acting pursuant to authority delegated by the Board of Directors shall be liable for any action or determination under the Plan made in good faith.

 
 

 
 
(ii)           The Board of Directors may, to the full extent permitted by or consistent with applicable laws or regulations and Section 3(b) of this Plan delegate any or all of its powers under the Plan to a committee (the “ Committee ”) appointed by the Board of Directors, and if the Committee is so appointed all references to the Board of Directors in the Plan shall mean and relate to such Committee.
 
(c)            Applicability of Rule 16b-3 .  Those provisions of the Plan which make express reference to Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), or any successor rule (“ Rule 16b-3 ”), or which are required in order for certain stock or option transactions to qualify for exemption under Rule 16b-3, shall apply only to such persons as are required to file reports under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act (a “ Reporting Person ”).
 
3.
Eligibility.
 
(a)            General .  Stock Awards may be granted only to persons who are, at the time of grant, employees, officers or directors of, or consultants or advisors to, the Company (collectively, the “ Participants ”); provided , that the class of Participants to whom Incentive Stock Options may be granted shall be limited to employees of the Company.  A person who has been granted a Stock Award may, if he or she is otherwise eligible, be granted additional Stock Awards if the Board of Directors shall so determine.
 
(b)            Grant of Stock Awards to Directors and Officers After Exchange Act Registration .  From and after the registration of the Common Stock of the Company under the Exchange Act, in the discretion of the Board, the selection of a director or an officer (as the terms “director” and “officer” are defined for purposes of Rule 16b-3) as a recipient of a Stock Award, the timing of the Stock Award grant, the purchase or exercise price of the Stock Award, the number of shares subject to the Stock Award and other terms and conditions shall be determined either (i) by the Board of Directors, of which all members shall be “outside directors” and/or “non-employee directors” (as hereinafter defined) or (ii) by the Committee referenced in Section 2(b)(ii) above, consisting of two or more directors having full authority to act in the matter, each of whom shall be an “outside director” and/or “non-employee director” (with any action of the Committee subject to approval or ratification by the Board, if required).  For the purposes of the Plan, a director shall be deemed to be a “non-employee director” only if such person qualifies as a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3, as such term is interpreted from time to time, and shall be deemed to be an “outside director” only if such director qualifies as an “outside director” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code and the applicable Treasury regulations.

 
2

 
 
4.
Stock Subject to Plan.
 
(a)            Initial Share Reserve .  Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 11 below, the number of shares of Common Stock which are initially set aside and reserved for issuance under the Plan is 2,565,724 shares, (which includes a total of 565,724 shares of Common Stock that were previously held in reserve under the 1995 Stock Option Plan, but which were unused, and which have been transferred to this Plan).  Additionally, if any outstanding stock option granted under the Company’s 1995 Stock Option Plan should for any reason expire or otherwise terminate, in whole or in part, without having been exercised in full, the shares of common stock that are not acquired under any such stock option shall revert to, and become available for issuance under, this 2005 Stock Incentive Plan.  The maximum aggregate number of additional shares of Common Stock that may revert to the 2005 Stock Incentive Plan under this provision is 5,746,468 shares.  Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 11 below, no employee shall be eligible to be granted stock options or stock appreciation rights covering more than 900,000 shares of Common Stock during any calendar year.
 
(b)            Reversion of Shares to the Share Reserve .  If any Stock Award under this Plan shall for any reason expire or otherwise terminate, in whole or in part, without having been exercised in full, or if any shares of Common Stock issued to a Participant pursuant to a Stock Award are forfeited back to or repurchased by the Company, including, but not limited to, any repurchase or forfeiture caused by the failure to meet a contingency or condition required for the vesting of such shares, then the shares of Common Stock not acquired or returned under such Stock Award shall revert to and again become available for issuance under the Plan.  If any shares subject to a Stock Award are not delivered to a Participant because such shares are withheld for the payment of taxes or the Stock Award is exercised through a reduction of shares subject to the Stock Award ( i.e. , “net exercised”), then the number of shares that are not delivered shall revert to and again become available for issuance under the Plan.  If the exercise price of any Stock Award is satisfied by tendering shares of Common Stock held by the Participant (either by actual deliver or attestation), then the number of such tendered shares shall revert to and again become available for issuance under the Plan.  Notwithstanding the above, and subject to Section 11 below related to capitalization adjustments, the maximum aggregate number of shares that may be issued upon the exercise of Incentive Stock Options shall in no event exceed 14,312,192 shares.
 
5.
Stock Option Provisions.
 
(a)            Form of Option Agreements .  As a condition to the grant of an option under the Plan, each recipient of an option shall execute an option agreement in such form not inconsistent with the Plan as may be approved by the Board of Directors.  Such option agreements may differ among recipients.
 
(b)            Purchase Price .
 
(i)            General .  Subject to Section 3(b), the purchase price per share of stock deliverable upon the exercise of an option shall be determined by the Board of Directors; provided , however , that the exercise price of an option shall not be less than 100% of the “Fair Market Value” (as defined below) of such stock, as determined by the Board of Directors, at the time of grant of such option, or less than 110% of such Fair Market Value in the case of options described in Section 6.  For purposes of this Plan, the term “Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of the Common Stock determined as follows:

 
3

 
 
(1)           If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or traded on the Nasdaq National Market or the Nasdaq SmallCap Market, the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock shall be the closing sales price for such stock (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on such exchange or market (or the exchange or market with the greatest volume of trading in the Common Stock) on the day of determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Board deems reliable.  If the day of determination is not a market trading day, then the trading day prior to the day of determination shall be used.
 
(2)           In the absence of such markets for the Common Stock, the Fair Market Value shall be determined in good faith by the Board and consistent with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.
 
(ii)          Payment of Purchase Price .  Options granted under the Plan may provide for the payment of the exercise price by delivery of cash or a check to the order of the Company in an amount equal to the exercise price of such options, or, to the extent provided in the applicable option agreement, (i) by delivery to the Company of shares of Common Stock of the Company already owned by the optionee having a Fair Market Value equal in amount to the exercise price of the options being exercised, or (ii) by any other means approved by the Board, as may be recommended by the Committee referenced in Section 2(b)(ii) above.  The Fair Market Value of any shares of the Company’s Common Stock or other non-cash consideration which maybe delivered upon exercise of an option shall be determined by the Board of Directors.  If the exercise price of an option is being paid by delivery of already-owned Common Stock of the Company that has been acquired from the Company, directly or indirectly, the Company may require that such already-owned shares have been held by the optionee for a period of more than six (6) months (or such longer or shorter period of time to avoid a charge to earnings for financial accounting purposes).
 
(c)            Option Period .  Each option and all rights thereunder shall expire on such date as shall be set forth in the applicable option agreement, except that, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, such date shall not be later than ten years after the date on which the option is granted and, in all cases, options shall be subject to earlier termination as provided in the Plan.
 
(d)            Exercise of Options .  Each option granted under the Plan shall be exercisable either in full or in installments at such time or times during such period and subject to such conditions as shall be set forth in the agreement evidencing such option, subject to the provisions of the Plan.
 
(e)            Nontransferability of Options .  Options shall not be assignable or transferable by the person to whom they are granted, either voluntarily or by operation of law, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and, during the life of the optionee, shall be exercisable only by the optionee; provided , however , that Non-Statutory Options maybe transferred pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order (as defined in Rule 16b-3) or as otherwise expressly permitted in the agreement evidencing any such Non-Statutory Option.

 
4

 
 
(f)            Effect of Termination of Employment or Other Relationship .  Except as provided in Section 6 with respect to Incentive Stock Options, and subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Board of Directors shall determine the period of time during which an optionee may exercise an option following (i) the termination of the optionee’s employment or other relationship with the Company or (ii) the death or disability of the optionee.  Such periods shall be set forth in the agreement evidencing such option.
 
6.
Special Provisions for Incentive Stock Options.
 
Options granted under the Plan which are intended to be Incentive Stock Options shall be subject to the following additional terms and conditions:
 
(a)            Express Designation .  All Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan shall, at the time of grant, be specifically designated as such in the option agreement covering such Incentive Stock Options.
 
(b)            10% Stockholder .  If any employee to whom an Incentive Stock Option is to be granted under the Plan is, at the time of the grant of such option, the owner of stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company (after taking into account the attribution of stock ownership rules of Section 424(d) of the Code), then the following special provisions shall be applicable to the Incentive Stock Option granted to such Individual:
 
(i)           The purchase price per share of the Common Stock subject to such Incentive Stock Option shall not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock at the time of grant; and
 
(ii)           the option exercise period shall not exceed five years from the date of grant.
 
(c)            Dollar Limitation .  For so long as the Code shall so provide, options granted to any employee under the Plan (and any other incentive stock option plans of the Company) which are intended to constitute Incentive Stock Options shall not constitute Incentive Stock Options to the extent that such options, in the aggregate, become exercisable for the first time in any one calendar year for shares of Common Stock with an aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the respective date or dates of grant) of more than $100,000.
 
(d)            Termination of Employment, Death or Disability .  No Incentive Stock Option may be exercised unless, at the time of such exercise, the optionee is, and has been continuously since the date of grant of his or her option, employed by the Company, except that:
 
(i)           an Incentive Stock Option may be exercised within the period of three months after the date the optionee ceases to be an employee of the Company (or within such lesser period as may be specified in the applicable option agreement), provided , that the agreement with respect to such option may designate a longer exercise period and that the exercise after such three-month period shall be treated as the exercise of a Non-Statutory Option under the Plan;

 
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(ii)           if the optionee dies while in the employ of the Company, or within three months after the optionee ceases to be such an employee, the Incentive Stock Option may be exercised by the person to whom it is transferred by will or the laws of descent and distribution within the period of one year after the date of death (or within such lesser period as may be specified in the applicable option agreement); and
 
(iii)           if the optionee becomes disabled (within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code or any successor provision thereto) while in the employ of the Company, the Incentive Stock Option may be exercised within the period of one year after the date the optionee ceases to be such an employee because of such disability (or within such lesser period as maybe specified in the applicable option agreement).
 
(iv)           For all purposes of the Plan and any option granted hereunder, “employment” shall be defined in accordance with the provisions of Section 1.421-7(h) of the Income Tax Regulations (or any successor regulations).  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, no Incentive Stock Option may be exercised after its expiration date.
 
7.
Additional Provisions Related to Stock Options.
 
(a)            Additional Option Provisions .  The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, include additional provisions in option agreements covering options granted under the Plan, including without limitation restrictions on transfer, repurchase rights, or such other provisions as shall be determined by the Board of Directors; provided that such additional provisions shall not be inconsistent with any other term or condition of the Plan and such additional provisions shall not cause any Incentive Stock Option granted under the Plan to fail to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, and shall not cause any option to violate the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.
 
(b)            Acceleration or Extension of Exercise Dates .  The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, (i) accelerate the date or dates on which all or any particular option or options granted under the Plan may be exercised or (ii) extend the dates during which all, or any particular, option or options granted under the Plan may be exercised, but in no event beyond the original term of the option grant.
 
8.
Provisions of Stock Awards Other Than Options.
 
(a)            Restricted Stock Awards .  As a condition to the grant of an award of restricted stock under the Plan, each recipient of a restricted stock award shall execute a restricted stock award agreement in such form not inconsistent with the Plan as may be approved by the Board of Directors.  The terms and conditions of restricted stock award agreements may change from time to time, and the terms and conditions of separate restricted stock award agreements need not be identical; provided , however , that each restricted stock award agreement shall include (through incorporation of the provisions hereof by reference in the agreement or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions:

 
6

 
 
(i)            Purchase Price .  At the time of the grant of a restricted stock award, the Board will determine the price to be paid by the Participant for each share subject to the restricted stock award.  To the extent required by applicable law, the price to be paid by the Participant for each share of restricted stock will not be less than the par value of a share of Common Stock.  A restricted stock award may be awarded as a stock bonus ( i.e. , with no cash purchase price to be paid) to the extent permissible under applicable law.
 
(ii)            Consideration .  At the time of the grant of a restricted stock award, the Board will determine the consideration permissible for the payment of the purchase price of the restricted stock.  The purchase price of Common Stock acquired pursuant to the award shall be paid in one of the following ways:  (i) in cash at the time of purchase; (ii) by services rendered or to be rendered to the Company; or (iii) in any other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Board; provided, however , that at any time that the Company is incorporated in Delaware, the Common Stock’s “par value,” as defined in the Delaware General Corporation Law, shall not be paid by deferred payment unless permissible under the Delaware Corporation Law.
 
(iii)            Vesting .  Shares of Common Stock acquired under a restricted stock award may, but need not, be subject to a share repurchase option in favor of the Company in accordance with a vesting schedule to be determined by the Board.
 
(iv)            Termination of Participant’s Service .  In the event that a Participant’s service as an employee, director, consultant or advisor to the Company terminates, the Company may repurchase or otherwise reacquire any or all of the shares of Common Stock held by the Participant that have not vested as of the date of termination under the terms of the restricted stock award agreement.  The Company may delay the exercise of its repurchase option for such period of time required to avoid a charge to earnings for financial accounting purposes.
 
(v)            Transferability .  Rights to purchase or receive shares of Common Stock granted under a restricted stock award shall be transferable by the Participant only upon such terms and conditions as are set forth in the restricted stock award agreement, as the Board shall determine in its discretion, and so long as Common Stock awarded then remains subject to the terms of the restricted stock award agreement.
 
(b)          Restricted Stock Units .  As a condition to the grant of a unit of restricted stock under the Plan, each recipient of a restricted stock unit shall execute a restricted stock unit agreement in such form not inconsistent with the Plan as may be approved by the Board of Directors.  The terms and conditions of restricted stock unit agreements may change from time to time, and the terms and conditions of separate restricted stock unit agreements need not be identical; provided , however , that each restricted stock unit agreement shall include (through incorporation of the provisions hereof by reference in the agreement or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions:
 
(i)            Consideration .  At the time of grant of a restricted stock unit award, the Board will determine the consideration, if any, to be paid by the Participant upon delivery of each share of Common Stock subject to the restricted stock unit award.  To the extent required by applicable law, the consideration to be paid by the Participant for each share of Common Stock subject to a restricted stock unit award will not be less than the par value of a share of Common Stock.  Such consideration may be paid in any form permitted under applicable law.

 
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(ii)            Vesting .  At the time of the grant of a restricted stock unit award, the Board may impose such restrictions or conditions to the vesting of the shares restricted stock unit as it deems appropriate.
 
(iii)            Payment .  A restricted stock unit award may be settled by the delivery of shares of Common Stock, their cash equivalent, or an combination of the two, as the Board deems appropriate.  Settlement of such restricted stock unit award shall occur no later than two and one-half (2½) months following the year in which such restricted stock unit award vests.
 
(iv)            Additional Restrictions .  At the time of the grant of a restricted stock unit award, the Board, as it deems appropriate, may impose such restrictions or conditions that delay the delivery of the shares of restricted stock (or their cash equivalent) after the vesting of such Award; provided that no such restriction or condition shall cause a restricted stock unit award to violate the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.
 
(v)            Dividend Equivalents .  Dividend equivalents may be credited in respect of restricted stock units, as the Board deems appropriate.  Such dividend equivalents may be converted into additional restricted stock units by dividing (1) the aggregate amount or value of the dividends paid with respect to that number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of restricted stock units then credited by (2) the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the payment date for such dividend.  The additional restricted stock units credited by reason of such dividend equivalents will be subject to all the terms and conditions of the underlying award to which they relate.  Dividend equivalents shall be settled at the same time as the restricted stock unit awards to which they relate.
 
(vi)            Termination of Participant’s Service .  Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Stock Award agreement, restricted stock units (and any related dividend equivalents) that have not vested will be forfeited upon the Participant’s termination of Continuous Service for any reason.
 
(c)           Stock Appreciation Rights .  As a condition to the grant of a stock appreciation right under the Plan, each recipient of a stock appreciation right shall execute a stock appreciation right agreement in such form not inconsistent with the Plan as may be approved by the Board of Directors.  The terms and conditions of stock appreciation right agreements may change from time to time, and the terms and conditions of separate agreements need not be identical, but each agreement shall include (through incorporation of the provisions hereof by reference in the agreement or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions:
 
(i)            Calculation of Appreciation .  Each stock appreciation right will be denominated in shares of Common Stock equivalents.  The appreciation distribution payable on the exercise of a stock appreciation right will be not greater than an amount equal to the excess of (A) the aggregate Fair Market Value (on the date of the exercise of the stock appreciation right) of a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of shares of Common Stock equivalents in which the Participant is vested under such stock appreciation right and with respect to which the Participant is exercising the stock appreciation right on such date, over (B) the aggregate Fair Market Value (on the date of grant of the stock appreciation right), or such higher value assigned by the Committee, of the same number of Common Stock equivalents awarded to the Participant under the stock appreciation right award.

 
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(ii)            Vesting .  At the time of the grant of a stock appreciation right, the Board may impose such restrictions or conditions to the vesting of such right as it deems appropriate.
 
(iii)            Exercise .  To exercise any outstanding stock appreciation right, the Participant must provide written notice of exercise to the Company in compliance with the provisions of the stock appreciation rights agreement evidencing such right.
 
(iv)            Payment .  The appreciation distribution in respect of a stock appreciation right may be paid in Common Stock, in cash, or any combination of the two, as the Board deems appropriate.
 
(v)            Termination of Participant’s Service .  If a Participant’s service as an employee, director, consultant or advisor to the Company terminates for any reason, any unvested stock appreciation rights shall be forfeited and any vested stock appreciation rights shall be automatically redeemed by the Company.
 
9.
General Restrictions.
 
(a)            Investment Representations .  The Company may require any person to whom a Stock Award is granted, as a condition of receiving or exercising such Stock Award, as applicable, to give written assurances in substance and form satisfactory to the Company to the effect that such person is acquiring the Common Stock subject to the Stock Award for his or her own account for investment and not with any present intention of selling or otherwise distributing the same, and to such other effects as the Company deems necessary or appropriate in order to comply with federal and applicable state securities laws, or with covenants or representations made by the Company in connection with any public offering of its Common Stock.
 
(b)            Compliance With Securities Laws .  Each Stock Award shall be subject to the requirement that if, at any time, counsel to the Company shall determine that the listing, registration or qualification of the shares subject to such Stock Award upon any securities exchange or under any state or federal law, or the consent or approval of any governmental or regulatory body, or that the disclosure of non-public information or the satisfaction of any other condition is necessary as a condition of, or in connection with, the issuance or purchase of shares thereunder, such Stock Award may not be issued or exercised, as applicable in whole or in part, unless such listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval, or satisfaction of such condition shall have been effected or obtained on conditions acceptable to the Board of Directors.  Nothing herein shall be deemed to require the Company to apply for or to obtain such listing, registration or qualification, or to satisfy such condition.

 
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10.
Rights as a Stockholder.
 
The holder of an option shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares covered by the option (including, without limitation, any rights to receive dividends or non-cash distributions with respect to such shares) until the date of issue of a stock certificate to him or her for such shares.  No adjustment shall be made for dividends or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such stock certificate is issued.
 
11.
Adjustment Provisions for Recapitalizations and Related Transactions .
 
(a)           If (i) the outstanding shares of Common Stock are (A) exchanged for a different number or kind of shares or other securities of the Company or (B) increased or decreased as a result of any recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split or reverse stock split or (ii) additional shares or new or different shares or other securities of the Company or other non-cash assets are distributed with respect to such shares of Common Stock or other securities, an appropriate and proportionate adjustment shall be made in (x) the maximum number and kind of shares reserved for issuance under the Plan, (y) the number and kind of shares or other securities subject to any then outstanding Stock Awards under the Plan, and (z) the price for each share subject to any then outstanding Stock Awards under the Plan, without changing the aggregate purchase price for such Stock Awards or as to which such options remain exercisable.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no adjustment shall be made pursuant to this Section 11 if such adjustment would cause the Plan to fail to comply with Section 422 of the Code.
 
(b)           Any adjustments under this Section 11 will be made by the Board of Directors, whose determination as to what adjustments, if any, will be made and the extent thereof will be final, binding and conclusive.  No fractional shares will be issued under the Plan on account of any such adjustments.
 
12.
Merger, Consolidation, Asset Sale, Liquidation, etc.
 
(a)            General .  In the event of (i) a consolidation, merger, combination or reorganization of the Company, in which outstanding shares of Common Stock are exchanged for securities, cash or other property of any other corporation or business entity, (ii) the sale, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, (iii) a transaction or series of related transactions involving a person or entity, or a group of affiliated persons or entities (but excluding any employee benefit plan or related trust sponsored or maintained by the Company or an affiliate) in which such persons or entities that were not shareholders of the Company immediately prior to their acquisition of Company securities as part of such transaction become the owners, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities (a “ Securities Acquisition ”) other than by virtue of a merger, consolidation or similar transaction, or (iv) a dissolution or liquidation of the Company (hereinafter, each of the events described in (i) through (iv) above shall be a “ Corporate Transaction ”), then the Board of Directors of the Company, shall take any one or more of the following actions, as to outstanding Stock Awards:  (i) provide that such Stock Awards shall continue in existence with appropriate adjustments or modifications, if applicable, or provide that such Stock Awards shall be assumed, or equivalent stock awards shall be substituted, by the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof), provided that any such options substituted for Incentive Stock Options shall meet the requirements of Section 424(a) of the Code, (ii) upon written notice to the Participants, provide that all unexercised options, or other Stock Awards to the extent they are unexercised or unvested ( i.e. , in the case of restricted stock, the Company has a reacquisition or repurchase right as to the stock), including Stock Awards that are “out-of-the-money” or “underwater,” will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction unless exercised by the Participant within a specified period following the date of such notice, if applicable, (iii) in the event of a consolidation, merger, combination, reorganization or Securities Acquisition under the terms of which holders of the Common Stock of the Company will receive upon consummation thereof a cash payment for each share surrendered in the transaction (the “ Sale Price ”), make or provide for a cash payment to the Participant equal to the difference between (A) the Sale Price times the number of shares of Common Stock subject to such outstanding Stock Awards (to the extent then vested or exercisable at prices not in excess of the Sale Price), and (B) the aggregate exercise price of all such outstanding Stock Awards in exchange for the termination of such Stock Awards, or (iv) provide that all or any outstanding Stock Awards shall become vested and exercisable in full or part (or any reacquisition or repurchase rights held by the Company shall immediately lapse in full or part) at or immediately prior to such event.  To the extent set forth in any option agreement or other stock award agreement, the Board or its designee may specifically provide, either at the time of grant or thereafter, that any of the preceding actions shall or shall not occur or be taken with respect to an outstanding award.

 
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(b)            Change in the Incumbent Board .  The Board or its designee may provide for the accelerated vesting or exercisability of a Stock Award (including the lapse of any reacquisition or repurchase rights in favor of the Company) upon the occurrence of a Change in the Incumbent Board (as defined below) in any option agreement or other stock award agreement at the time of grant of the Stock Award, or at any time thereafter.  A “ Change in the Incumbent Board ” shall be deemed to occur if the existing members of the Board on the date this Plan is initially adopted by the Board (the “ Incumbent Board ”) cease to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board, provided , however , that any new Board member shall be considered a member of the Incumbent Board for this purpose if the appointment or election (or nomination for such election) of the new Board member was approved or recommended by a majority vote of the members of the Incumbent Board who are then still in office.
 
(c)            Substitute Options .  The Company may grant Stock Awards under the Plan in substitution for Stock Awards held by employees of another corporation who become employees of the Company, or a subsidiary of the Company, as the result of a merger, consolidation, combination or reorganization of the employing corporation with the Company or a subsidiary of the Company, or as the result of the acquisition by the Company, or one of its subsidiaries, of property or stock of the employing corporation.  The Company may direct that substitute Stock Awards be granted on such terms and conditions as the Board of Directors considers appropriate in the circumstances.
 
13.
No Special Employment Rights.
 
Nothing contained in the Plan or in any Stock Award shall confer upon any Participant any right with respect to the continuation of his or her employment by the Company or interfere in any way with the right of the Company at any time to terminate such employment or to increase or decrease the compensation of the Participant.

 
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14.
Other Employee Benefits.
 
Except as to plans which by their terms include such amounts as compensation, the amount of any compensation deemed to be received by an employee as a result of the issuance of a Stock Award, the lapse of any restrictions thereon, or the exercise of an option, or the sale of shares received upon such exercise will not constitute compensation with respect to which any other employee benefits of such employee are determined, including, without limitation, benefits under any bonus, pension, profit-sharing, life insurance or salary continuation plan, except as otherwise specifically determined by the Board of Directors.
 
15.
Amendment of the Plan.
 
(a)           The Board of Directors may at any time, and from time to time, modify or amend the Plan in any respect, except that if at any time the approval of the stockholders of the Company is required under Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision with respect to Incentive Stock Options, or under Rule 16b-3 (if then applicable), the Board of Directors may not effect such modification or amendment without such approval.
 
(b)           Any modification or amendment of the Plan shall not, without the consent of a Participant, adversely affect the Participants rights under a Stock Award previously granted to him or her.  With the consent of the affected Participant, the Board of Directors may amend outstanding Stock Award agreements in a manner not inconsistent with the Plan.  The Board of Directors shall have the right to amend or modify (i) the terms and provisions of the Plan and of any outstanding Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan to the extent necessary to qualify any or all such options for such favorable federal income tax treatment (including deferral of taxation upon exercise) as may be afforded incentive stock options under Section 422 of the Code and (ii) the terms and provisions of the Plan and of any outstanding Stock Award to the extent necessary to ensure the qualification of the Plan under Rule 16b-3 (if then applicable).
 
16.
Withholding.
 
(a)           The Company shall have the right to deduct from payments of any kind otherwise due to a Participant any federal, state or local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to any shares issued pursuant to a Stock Award or upon exercise of options under the Plan, and including the lapse of any restrictions with respect to a Stock Award.  Subject to the prior approval of the Company, which may be withheld by the Company in its sole discretion, a Participant may elect to satisfy such obligations, in whole or in part, (i) by causing the Company to withhold shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable pursuant to the exercise of an option or (ii) by delivering to the Company shares of Common Stock already owned by the Participant.  The shares so delivered or withheld shall have a Fair Market Value equal to such withholding obligation.  The Fair Market Value of the shares used to satisfy such withholding obligation shall be determined by the Company as of the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be determined.  A Participant who has made an election pursuant to this Section 16(a) may only satisfy his or her withholding obligation with shares of Common Stock which are not subject to any repurchase, forfeiture, unfulfilled vesting or other similar requirements.

 
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(b)           Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of a Reporting Person, no election to use shares for the payment of withholding taxes shall be effective unless made in compliance with any applicable requirements of Rule 16b-3 (unless it is intended that the transaction not qualify for exemption under Rule 16b-3).
 
17.
Effective Date and Duration of the Plan.
 
(a)            Effective Date .  The Plan shall become effective when adopted by the Board of Directors, but no Stock Award granted under the Plan shall become exercisable, and no restricted stock award shall be granted, unless and until the Plan shall have been approved by the Company’s stockholders.  If such stockholder approval is not obtained within twelve months after the date of the Board’s adoption of the Plan, options previously granted under the Plan shall not vest and shall terminate and no options shall be granted thereafter.  Amendments to the Plan not requiring stockholder approval shall become effective when adopted by the Board of Directors; amendments requiring stockholder approval (as provided in Section 15) shall become effective when adopted by the Board of Directors, but no option granted after the date of such amendment shall become exercisable (to the extent that such amendment to the Plan was required to enable the Company to grant such option to a particular person) unless and until such amendment shall have been approved by the Company’s stockholders.  If such stockholder approval is not obtained within twelve months of the Board’s adoption of such amendment, any options granted on or after the date of such amendment shall terminate to the extent that such amendment was required to enable the Company to grant such option to a particular optionee.  Subject to this limitation, Stock Awards may be granted under the Plan at any time after the effective date and before the date fixed for termination of the Plan.
 
(b)            Termination .  The Board may suspend or terminate the Plan at any time.  Suspension or termination of the Plan shall not adversely affect a Participant’s rights under a Stock Award previously granted to the Participant while the Plan is in effect except with the consent of the Participant.  Unless sooner terminated in accordance with this Section or Section 12, the Plan shall terminate upon the close of business on the day next preceding the tenth anniversary of the date of its adoption by the Board of Directors.  Stock Awards outstanding on such date shall continue to have force and effect in accordance with the provisions of the instruments evidencing such Awards.
 
18.
Provision for Foreign Participants.
 
The Board of Directors may, without amending the Plan, modify Stock Awards or options granted to Participants who are foreign nationals or employed outside the United States to recognize differences in laws, rules, regulations or customs of such foreign jurisdictions with respect to tax, securities, currency, employee benefit or other matters.
 
Adopted by the Board of Directors originally effective as of February 24, 2005 and as amended effective June 15, 2011.

 
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Exhibit 10.2
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
 
This Employment Agreement (this “Agreement”) is dated as of April 19, 2011, between Novavax, Inc., a Delaware corporation having its principal office at 9920 Belward Campus Drive, Rockville, MD 20850 (“Novavax” or the “Company”), and Stanley C. Erck , an individual (“Executive”).
 
The Company and Executive hereby agree as follows:
 
1.            Employment . The Company hereby employs Executive and Executive hereby accepts employment as President and Chief Executive Officer upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth. As used throughout this Agreement, “Company” shall mean and include any and all of its present and future subsidiaries and any and all subsidiaries of a subsidiary. Executive warrants and represents that he is free to enter into and perform this Agreement and is not subject to any employment, confidentiality, non-competition or other agreement which prohibits, restricts, or would be breached by either his acceptance or his performance of this Agreement.
 
2.            Duties . During the Term (as hereinafter defined), Executive shall devote his full business time to the performance of services as President and Chief Executive Officer of Novavax, performing such services, assuming such responsibilities and exercising such authority as are set forth in the Bylaws of the Company for such offices and assuming such other duties and responsibilities as prescribed by the Board of Directors. During the Term, Executive’s services shall be completely exclusive to the Company and he shall devote his entire business time, attention and energies to the business of the Company and the duties which the Company shall assign to him from time to time. Executive agrees to perform his services faithfully and to the best of his ability and to carry out the policies and directives of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it shall not be a violation of this Agreement for the Executive to serve as a director of any company whose products do not compete with those of the Company and to serve as a director, trustee, officer, or consultant to a charitable or non-profit entity; provided that such service does not adversely affect Executive’s ability to perform his obligations hereunder. Executive agrees to take no action which is in bad faith and prejudicial to the interests of the Company during his employment hereunder. Executive shall be based at the Company’s headquarters, currently in Rockville, Maryland, and he also will be required from time to time to perform duties hereunder for reasonably short periods of time outside of said area.
 
3.            Term . The term of this Agreement shall begin on April 19, 2011 and continue until the anniversary date thereof unless earlier terminated pursuant to Section 7 hereof (the “Term”) and shall be renewed automatically for additional twelve-month periods on the terms set forth herein, as they may be modified from time to time by mutual agreement, unless one of the Company or the Executive provides notice of non-renewal to the other at least 30 days before the expiration of the then current term. The parties acknowledge that the employment hereunder is employment at will.

 
 

 

4.            Compensation .
 
(a)            Base Compensation . For all Executive’s services and covenants under this Agreement, the Company shall pay Executive an annual salary, which initially shall be $400,000 per year as of the date of this Agreement , and the Board of Directors will review and consider for increase annually based on the Executive’s and the Company’s performance. Executive’s salary and benefits will be payable in accordance with the Company’s payroll policy as constituted from, time to time. The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement all required federal, state, city or other taxes and all other deductions as may be required pursuant to any law or government regulation or ruling or as otherwise lawfully authorized by Executive .
 
(b)            Bonus Program . The Company agrees to pay Executive a performance and incentive bonus in respect of Executive’s employment with the Company each year, in an amount determined by the Board of Directors (or any committee of the Board of Directors authorized to make that determination) to be appropriate based upon the Company’s achievement of its annual corporate goals (“Company Goals”). Executive’s target for such bonus shall be 50% of Executive’s base salary during the year to which the bonus relates based on performance, however, Executive’s actual bonus percentage may be adjusted based on the review and determination of the Board of Directors. Any such bonus shall be payable no later than 45 days after the filing of the Company’s Annual Statement on Form 10-K for the year for which the bonus applies. The bonus shall be paid out partly in cash and partly in shares of restricted stock, in the discretion of the Board of Directors.
 
(c)            Stock Awards . Subject to approval by the Board of Directors (or any committee of the Board of Directors authorized to make that determination), the Company will grant Executive an option to purchase 850,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock ($.01 par value) at an exercise price equal to the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on the later date of April 19, 2011 or the date of such Board of Directors’ approval.  The option described above will vest as to one-fourth of the award on each of the first four (4) anniversaries of the date of grant.  Executive will be eligible for additional stock awards based upon performance subject to the approval of the Board of Directors.
 
5.            Reimbursable Expenses . Executive shall be entitled to reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred by him in connection with the performance of his duties hereunder in accordance with such procedures and policies for executive officers as the Company has heretofore or may hereafter establish. Any reimbursement for expenses that would constitute nonqualified deferred compensation subject to Section 409A shall be subject to the following additional rules: (i) no reimbursement of any such expense shall affect the Executive’s right to reimbursement of any such expense in any other taxable year; (ii) reimbursement of the expense shall be made, if at all, promptly, but not later than the end of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the expense was incurred; and (iii) the right to reimbursement shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for any other benefit.
 
6.            Benefits .
 
(a)           Executive shall be entitled to five weeks of paid vacation time per year, calculated and administered in accordance with Company policies for executive officers in effect from time to time. The Executive shall be entitled to all other benefits associated with normal full time employment in accordance with Company policies.
 
(b)           Executive shall be entitled to participate in the Company’s Change of Control Severance Benefit Plan adopted August 10, 2005, as amended and restated on July 26, 2006 and further amended on December 31, 2008 (the “Change in Control Plan”).

 
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7.            Termination of Employment .
 
(a)           Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, Executive’s employment may be terminated, without such action constituting a breach of this Agreement:
 
(i)           By the Company, for “Cause,” as defined in Section 7(b) below;
 
(ii)           By the Company, without Cause, or by notice to Executive of its decision not to renew this Agreement;
 
(iii)           By the Company, upon 30 days’ notice to Executive, if he should be prevented by illness, accident or other disability (mental or physical) from discharging his duties hereunder for one or more periods totaling three consecutive months during any twelve-month period;
 
(iv)           By the Executive with “Good Reason”, as defined in Section 7(c) below, within 30 days of the occurrence or commencement of such Good Reason; and
 
(v)           By the event of Executive’s death during the Term.
 
(b)           “Cause” shall mean (i) Executive’s willful failure or refusal to perform in all material respects the services required of him hereby, (ii) Executive’s willful failure or refusal to carry out any proper and material direction by the Board of Directors with respect to the services to be rendered by him hereunder or the manner of rendering such services, (iii) Executive’s willful misconduct in the performance of his duties hereunder, (iv) Executive’s commission of an act of fraud, embezzlement or theft or a felony involving moral turpitude, (v) Executive’s use or disclosure of Confidential Information (as defined in Section 10 of this Agreement), other than for the benefit of the Company in the course of rendering services to the Company or (vi) Executive’s engagement in any activity prohibited by Section 11 of this Agreement. For purposes of this Section 7, the Company shall be required to provide Executive a specific written warning with regard to any occurrence of subsections (b)(i), (ii) and (iii) above, which warning shall include a statement of corrective actions and a 30 day period for the Executive to respond to and implement such actions, prior to any termination of employment by the Company pursuant to Section 7(a)(i) above.
 
(c)           “Good Reason” shall mean: (i) any significant diminution of Executive’s responsibilities and authority, other than in connection with the termination of Executive’s employment for Cause, without his consent, including, for the avoidance of doubt, requiring that Executive report to someone other than the Board of Directors, or ceasing to be the President and Chief Executive Officer of a public company; (ii) any breach of this Agreement by the Company; or (iii) Executive’s annual base salary is reduced below the annual amount set forth in this Agreement.
 
8.            Separation Pay.
 
(a)           Subject to Executive’s execution and delivery to the Company of the Company’s standard form of Separation and Release Agreement, the Company shall pay Executive an amount equal to the Separation Pay as defined here, upon the occurrence of the applicable Separation Event, as defined below, but in no case later than 45 days following Ciompany’s receipt of the executed Seperation and Release Agreement. “Separation Pay” shall mean a lump sum amount equal to eighteen (18) months of Executive’s then effective base salary. Separation Pay shall each be payable in accordance with the Company’s payroll policy as constituted from time to time, and shall be subject to withholding of all applicable federal, state and local taxes and any other deductions required by applicable law. In the event of Executive’s death, the Company’s obligation to pay further compensation hereunder shall cease forthwith, except that Executive’s legal representative shall be entitled to receive his fixed compensation for the period up to the last day of the month in which such death shall have occurred.

 
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(b)           In addition to the Separation Pay, if Executive elects to continue participation in the Company’s medical plans as provided by COBRA, Company will pay 100% of Executive’s COBRA premiums for eighteen (18) months.
 
(c)           In the event of a Separation Event, as defined below, Executive shall be entitled to accelerated vesting of 50% of the unvested portion of each stock option and/or restricted stock grant made by the Company and held by Executive at the time of termination. Executive shall have the right to exercise all outstanding vested stock options held at termination (including those accelerated under this provision) during the twelve (12) month period following the date of termination.
 
(d)           “Separation Event” shall mean:
 
(i)           the Company’s termination of Executive’s employment by the Company without Cause, during the Term; or
 
(ii)           the termination of Executive’s employment by the Executive for Good Reason; or
 
(iii)           the Company elects not to renew this Agreement in accordance with Section 3 above.
 
9.              All Business to be Property of the Company; Assignment of Intellectual Property .
 
(a)           Executive agrees that any and all presently existing business of the Company and all business developed by him or any other employee of the Company including without limitation all contracts, fees, commissions, compensation, records, customer or client lists, agreements and any other incident of any business developed, earned or carried on by Executive for the Company is and shall be the exclusive property of the Company, and (where applicable) shall be payable directly to the Company.
 
(b)           Executive hereby acknowledges that any plan, method, data, know-how, research, information, procedure, development, invention, improvement, modification, discovery, design, process, work of authorship, documentation, formula, technique, trade secret or intellectual property right whatsoever or any interest therein whether patentable or non-patentable, patents and applications therefor, trademarks and applications therefor or copyrights and applications therefor (herein sometimes collectively referred to as “Intellectual Property”) made, conceived, created, invested, developed, reduced to practice and/or acquired by Executive solely or jointly with others during the Term is the sole and exclusive property of the Company, as work for hire, and that he has no personal right in any such Intellectual Property, Executive hereby grants to the Company (without any separate remuneration or compensation other than that received by him from time to time in the course of his employment) his entire right, title and interest throughout the world in and to, all Intellectual Property, which is made, conceived, created, invested, developed, reduced to practice and/or acquired by him solely or jointly with others during the Term.
 

 
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10.            Confidentiality . Executive acknowledges his obligation of confidentiality with respect to all proprietary, confidential and non-public information of the Company, including all Intellectual Property. Executive shall not, either during the Term or thereafter, use for any purpose other than the furtherance of the Company’s business, or disclose to any person other than a person with a need to know such confidential, proprietary or non-public information for the furtherance of the Company’s business who is obligated to maintain the confidentiality of such information, any information concerning any Intellectual Property, or other confidential, proprietary or non-public information of the Company, whether Executive has such information in his memory or such information is embodied in writing or other tangible form. All originals and copies of any of the foregoing, however and whenever produced, shall be the sole property of the Company. Upon the termination of Executive’s employment in any manner or for any reason, Executive shall promptly surrender to the Company all copies of any of the foregoing, together with any documents, materials, data, information and equipment belonging to or relating to the Company’s business and in his possession, custody or control, and Executive shall not thereafter retain or deliver to any other person any of the foregoing or any summary or memorandum thereof.
 
11.            Non-Competition Covenant. As the Executive has been granted options to purchase stock in the Company and as such has a financial interest in the success of the Company’s business and as Executive recognizes that the Company would be substantially injured by Executive competing with the Company, Executive agrees and warrants that within the United States, he will not, unless acting with the Company’s express prior written consent, directly or indirectly, while an employee of the Company and during the Non-Competition Period, as defined below, engage in the development, production, marketing or sale of products that compete (or, upon commercialization, would compete) with products or candidate products that, as of the date of Executive’s termination or any date during the following six (6) months, are in clinical development, awaiting regulatory licensure or being actively marketed or sold by the Company; provided, however, that Executive may own, and exercise rights with respect to, less than one percent of the equity of any publicly traded company. The “Non-Competition Period” shall be a period of eighteen (18) months following termination of employment.
 
Executive and the Company are of the belief that the period of time and the area herein specified are reasonable in view of the nature of the business in which the Company is engaged and proposes to engage, the state of its business development and Executive’s knowledge of this business; however, if such period or such area should be adjudged unreasonable in any judicial proceeding, then the period of time shall be reduced by such number of months or such area shall be reduced by elimination of such portion of such area, or both, as are deemed unreasonable, so that this covenant may be enforced in such area and during such period of time as is adjudged to be reasonable.
 
12.            Non-Solicitation Agreement. Executive agrees and covenants that he will not, unless acting with the Company’s express written consent, directly or indirectly, during the Term of this Agreement or during the Non-Competition Period (as defined in Section 11 above) solicit, entice or attempt to entice away or interfere in any manner with the Company’s relationships or proposed relationships with any customer, officer, employee, consultant, proposed customer, vendor, supplier, proposed vendor or supplier or person or entity or person providing or proposed to provide research and/or development services to, on behalf of or with the Company.

 
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13.            Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given on actual receipt after having been delivered by hand, mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, or sent by Federal Express or similar overnight delivery services, as follows: (a) if to Executive, at the address shown at the head of this Agreement, or to such other person(s) or address(es) as Executive shall have furnished to the Company in writing and, if to the Company, to it at the address set forth in the preamble hereto, or to such other person(s) or address(es) as the Company shall have furnished to Executive in writing.
 
14.            Assignability. In the event of a change of control (as defined in the Change of Control Plan), the terms of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be assumed by, the successor to the Company or the acquiring person in such change in control transaction. This Agreement shall not be assignable by Executive, but it shall be binding upon, and to the extent provided in Section 8, shall inure to the benefit of, his heirs, executors, administrators and legal representatives.
 
15.            Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the Company and Executive with respect to the subject matter hereof and there have been no oral or other prior agreements of any kind whatsoever as a condition precedent or inducement to the signing of this Agreement or otherwise concerning this Agreement or the subject matter hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive acknowledges that he is required as a condition to continued employment, to comply at all times, with the Company’s policies affecting employees, including the Company’s published Code of Ethics, as in effect from time to time. Executive also acknowledges that the Non-Disclosure and Non-Competition Agreement he signed upon becoming an employee remains in full force and effect despite the changes in his employment status with the Company.
 
16.            Equitable Relief. Executive recognizes and agrees that the Company’s remedy at law for any breach of the provisions of Sections 9, 10, 11 or 12 hereof would be inadequate, and he agrees that for breach of such provisions, the Company shall, in addition to such other remedies as may be available to it at law or in equity or as provided in this Agreement, be entitled to injunctive relief and to enforce its rights by an action for specific performance. Should Executive engage in any activities prohibited by this Agreement, he agrees to pay over to the Company all compensation, remuneration or monies or property of any sort received in connection with such activities; such payment shall not impair any rights or remedies of the Company or obligations or liabilities of Executive which such parties may have under this Agreement or applicable law.
 
17.            Amendments. This Agreement may not be amended, nor shall any change, waiver, modification, consent or discharge be effected except by written instrument executed by the Company and Executive.

 
6

 

18.            Severability. If any part of any term or provision of this Agreement shall be held or deemed to be invalid, inoperative or unenforceable to any extent by a court of competent jurisdiction, such circumstances shall in no way affect any other term or provision of this Agreement, the application of such term or provision in any other circumstances, or the validity or enforceability of this Agreement. Executive agrees that the restrictions set forth in Sections 11 and 12 above (including, but not limited to, the geographical scope and time period of restrictions) are fair and reasonable and are reasonably required for the protection of the interests of the Company and its affiliates. In the event that any provision of Section 11 or 12 relating to time period and/or areas of restriction shall be declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to exceed the maximum time period or areas such court deems reasonable and enforceable, said time period and/or areas of restriction shall be deemed to become and thereafter be the maximum time period and/or areas which such court deems reasonable and enforceable.
 
19.            Paragraph Headings. The paragraph headings used in this Agreement are included solely for convenience and shall not affect, or be used in connection with, the interpretation hereof.
 
20.            Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the law of the State of Maryland, without regard to the principles of conflict of laws thereof.
 
21.            Resolution of Disputes. With the exception of proceedings for equitable relief brought pursuant to Section 16 of this Agreement, any disputes arising under or in connection with this Agreement including, without limitation, any assertion by any party hereto that the other party has breached any provision of this Agreement, shall be resolved by arbitration, to be conducted in Baltimore, Maryland, in accordance with the rules and procedures of the American Arbitration Association. The parties shall bear equally the cost of such arbitration, excluding attorneys’ fees and disbursements which shall be borne solely by the party incurring the same; provided, however, that if the arbitrator rules in favor of Executive on at least one material component of the dispute, Company shall be solely responsible for the payment of all costs, fees and expenses (including without limitation Executive’s reasonable attorney’s fees and disbursements) of such arbitration. The Company shall reimburse Executive for any such fees and expenses incurred by Executive in any calendar year within a reasonable time following Executive’s submission of a request for such reimbursement, which in no case shall be later than the end of the calendar year following the calendar year in which such expenses were incurred. Executive shall submit any such reimbursement request no later than the June 30 th next following the calendar year in which the fees and expenses are incurred. In the event the arbitrator rules against Executive, Executive shall repay the Company the amount of such reimbursed expenses no later than 180 days following the date as of which such arbitrator’s decision becomes final. The provisions of this Section 21 shall survive the termination for any reason of the Term (whether such termination is by the Company, by Executive or upon the expiration of the Term).
 
22.            Indemnification; Insurance. The Executive shall be entitled to liability and expense indemnification, advancement of expenses and reimbursement to the fullest extent permitted by the Company’s By-laws and Certificate of Incorporation, in effect from time to time . During the Term, the Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain in effect directors’ and officers’ liability insurance no less favorable to Executive than that in effect as of the date of this Agreement.
 
23.            Survival. Sections 8 through 22 shall survive the expiration or earlier termination of this Agreement, for the period and to the extent specified therein.

 
7

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed or caused to be executed under seal this Agreement as of the date first above written.
 
 
NOVAVAX, INC.
[SEAL]
   
     
 
By:
/s/ James F. Young
   
James F. Young, Ph.D.
   
Chairman of the Board of Directors
     
 
/s/ Stanley C. Erck
 
Stanley C. Erck
 
 
8

 

Exhibit 14
Code of Business
Conduct and Ethics

Adopted March 2004

Revised June 2011

 
 

 


Dear Colleague:

I am pleased to share with you Novavax’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “Code”).

Our Code is more than a set of rules – it is intended to provide a practical guide to help each of us with the difficult decisions we face everyday. It sets out universal principles which should govern the way we conduct business at Novavax, it provides clarity about the expectations at Novavax, and it identifies the other Novavax resources and policies that you can use to support your decision making. There is nothing “new” in this Code – rather it represents a codification of our existing business policies and practices that govern the conduct of all Novavax officers, directors and employees, as well as our expectations for such conduct.  This Code is founded in our Core Values of Respect, Integrity, and Excellence.

Because it is difficult to communicate the totality of our ethics policies, practices and expectations to each employee personally, this Code is meant to help Novavax employees understand how we do business ethically and with full integrity. Further, this Code should assist all of us as we vigilantly protect the Company’s reputation and, just as importantly, ensure our compliance with the rules and regulations that govern Federal government contractors, as well as those pertaining to public companies trading on The Nasdaq Stock Market.

As Novavax employees, we are all trustees of the investments made in Novavax by our shareholders. We owe it to our shareholders to ensure that Novavax is successful and that its reputation stays strong and unblemished. This Code is a crucial part of our success, our reputation and our future. You have been and will continue to be asked to sign annual acknowledgements of your commitment to this code and to the Company’s policy on Insider Trading. You should know that I sign this document each year, as do all the members of the Management Committee. So, please read the Code carefully, keep it handy for easy reference, and feel free to ask any questions that you may have.

Please remember that Novavax’s reputation is in our hands, everyday.

/s/ Stanley C. Erck

Stanley C. Erck,
President and CEO

 
 

 


CODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT AND ETHICS

TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
1. OBJECT AND SCOPE OF THIS CODE
1
   
2. OUR CORE VALUES
3
   
3. OUR BUSINESS PRACTICES
4
   
What You Can Do If You Have A Concern About Business Practices
5
Our Reporting and Non-Retaliation Policy
7
Our Principles
8
   
4. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
9
   
In General
9
Receiving Gifts
10
Related Party Transactions
11
Outside Directorships
11
Director Transactions
11
Corporate Opportunities
12
Organizational Conflicts of Interest
12
Disclosure of Actual and Potential Conflicts
12
   
5. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
14
   
In General
14
Third-Party Confidential Information
15
   
6. USE OF COMPANY ASSETS
16
   
7. INVENTIONS AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
18
   
8. INSIDER TRADING
19
   
What Are the Limitations on Trading?
19
What is “Material Non-Public Information”?
19
Additional Requirements for “Insiders”
20
   
9. POLITICAL AND GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES
22
   
Political Activities
22
Government Relations and Lobbying
22
   
10. PERSONAL CONDUCT
22
   
Equal Employment Opportunity
23
No Discrimination
23
No Harassment
23
Disability Accommodations
24
Safe Workplace
24
Drug-Free Workplace
25
Human Trafficking
25
   
11. FAIR COMPETITION
26
   
Sales and Marketing Practices
27
Competitive Information
28

 
 

 


12. ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH AND SAFETY
29
   
13. COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS
30
   
Bribes
30
Gratuities
30
Kickbacks
31
Prohibited Payment to Foreign Officials
31
Revolving Door – Discussing Employment with Government Employees
31
Procurement Information
32
Commissions, Percentages and Contingent Fees
32
Products
32
Classified Materials and Facilities
33
Export Laws
33
Boycott Requests
33
   
14. ACCURACY OF BOOKS, RECORDS AND ACCOUNTS
34
   
Record and Integrity
34
Accurate Billing Practices
34
Accurate Information for Investors
34
   
15. DISCLOSURE POLICIES AND COMMUNICATION WITH OUTSIDE PARTIES
36
   
Media and Investment Community
37
Our Investors
37
   
16. ADMINISTRATION OF THIS CODE
38
   
Distribution, Availability and Revisions
38
Approvals and Waivers
38
Signature and Acknowledgement
38
Ongoing Review of Compliance
39
Investigations and Disciplinary Actions
39
Important Disclaimers
41
   
17. NOVAVAX PERSONAL PLEDGE
42

 
 

 


1. Object and Scope of this Code

Novavax (or the “Company”) has a strong commitment to business ethics, and we believe that the Company and every employee must conduct their affairs with honesty, integrity and respect, and in compliance with all applicable laws. Our reputation for integrity and excellence, particularly in today’s business environment, requires careful observance of the spirit and letter of all applicable laws, as well as scrupulous regard for the highest standards of conduct and personal integrity.

The purpose of this Code is to ensure that Novavax has in place a system to focus attention throughout the Company on the obligation of ethical conduct. The policies and practices set forth herein are designed to deter wrongdoing and promote:

 
·
honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships;

 
·
full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that the Company files with, or submits to, regulatory agencies and in other public communications made by the Company;

 
·
compliance with applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations;

 
·
the prompt internal reporting of violations of the Code or applicable law to the appropriate person;

 
·
open communication and dealings with third parties; and

 
·
accountability for adherence to the Code.

We believe that all of you intend and know how to act honestly and will choose to do so when the illegality or unethical nature of your conduct is clear. However, the business world increasingly presents situations in which it is more difficult to decide, without guidance, what conduct is unethical or illegal. This Code is intended to help you identify such situations. Further, Novavax is a contractor with the U.S. Government (“Government”) and working for the Government involves a special trust. Contracting with the Government involves many prohibitions that do not exist in commercial contracting, and violation of these special government contracting rules could lead to severe consequences and penalties not only for the employee but also for the Company as a whole. This Code will alert you to those prohibitions.

The Code applies to all directors, officers and employees of Novavax and any of our subsidiaries.  Ignorance of the Code will not excuse any employee from its requirements.

All employees will have access to this Code and must use the Code as a general guideline for behavior. You are responsible for reading, reviewing and understanding the policies and procedures set forth in this Code, and can obtain advice from or ask questions of your direct supervisor, or a member of our Human Resources Department.

 
- 1 -

 


In addition, Novavax will make the Code publicly available by posting it on the Company’s Internet and intranet sites.

The Code provides a broad statement of certain key policies and procedures regarding business conduct and ethics and conducting business in a legally and ethically appropriate manner. The Code cannot, and is not intended to, anticipate or address every possible situation, cover every topic in detail, or answer every question. You must rely on your good sense and judgment of what is right, including a sense of when it is appropriate to seek guidance from others.

As noted above, if a situation develops for which an employee seeks guidance, the employee should speak with his or her direct supervisor or a member of our Human Resources department. Employees should also refer to Novavax’s Insider Trading Policy and Novavax’s Employee Handbook , which includes more detailed information regarding the Company’s proprietary information, use of Company property, internet usage and similar policies, copies of which can be obtained from the Human Resources department or on the Company intranet.

Note, too, that the Code does not necessarily take into account all local laws or requirements. Where more restrictive local laws or requirements exist, those take precedence. Employees worldwide are expected to comply with all laws and Novavax business policies in the country and area in which they are conducting Company business.

The Code is not an express or implied contract of employment and does not create contractual rights of any kind between Novavax and any employee. In addition, you should understand that this Code does not modify your employment relationship, whether at will or governed by contract, with Novavax.

Finally, it is essential that you keep an eye out for possible violations of this Code – whether they occur in dealings with the government or the private sector, are intentional or due to someone’s inadvertent conduct. Noncompliance with the policies and practices set forth in this Code and applicable laws can result in serious consequences, both to Novavax and our employees, including civil and criminal penalties and adverse employment actions.

Employees who have questions regarding possible violations or who wish to report suspect activities should contact their direct supervisor or a member of our Human Resources department. See also “What You Can Do If You Have A Concern About Business Practices” on page 5.

 
- 2 -

 


2. Our Core Values

These are the fundamental values on which we guide our business:
 
 
 
- 3 -

 


3. Our Business Practices

These are the practices and procedures we use everyday to apply our Core Values. Where we look to exhibit these Core Values in everything we do, how we perform certain business practices is a greater demonstration of the highlighted Core Value:

 

 
- 4 -

 
 

What You Can Do If You Have A Concern About Business Practices

Novavax is committed to creating a workplace conducive to the open discussion of its business practices. If you have a general question about business practices, there are a number of different resources you can go to for advice. The diagram below outlines your options. Please feel free to go to the resource that you are most comfortable with, but keep in mind that your best resource is often your immediate supervisor or manager.
 
 

Our experience has shown that when employees deal openly and directly with supervisors, the work environment is improved, communications can be clear, and attitudes can be positive. We believe that Novavax amply demonstrates its commitment to employees by responding effectively to employee concerns.

 
- 5 -

 


Novavax is also committed to openness in all forms of reporting and providing a workplace free from fear of retribution and retaliation. If any employee knows, reasonably believes or has genuine suspicions regarding any legal violation in work-related issues, or breaches of the principles and standards set forth in this Code, the employee must report them immediately to his or her direct supervisor, Human Resources, or the appropriate Novavax Compliance Official (discussed below), so that we can take any necessary action. If you believe that the supervisor to whom you report is implicated in the violation or potential violation, or you believe that the supervisor to whom you reported the violation or potential violation has not taken appropriate action, you should report such matter directly to one of our Compliance Officials.

Novavax has designated three (3) Compliance Officials for administering to the Company’s reporting and non-retaliation policy. Each Compliance Official is responsible for collecting, reviewing, processing and resolving concerns and reports by employees and others. Employees are encouraged to discuss issues and concerns of the type covered by this policy with their supervisor or manager, who in turn is responsible for informing the appropriate Compliance Official. Again, if the employee prefers not to discuss these sensitive matters with his or her own supervisor or manager, the employee may go directly to Human Resources or appropriate Compliance Official, who will refer complaints submitted, as he or she determines appropriate or required, to the Board of Directors (“Board”) or an appropriate committee of the Board, including the Audit Committee.

Our Compliance Officials are:

Michael McManus, Chairman of the Audit Committee;

Stanley C. Erck, President and Chief Executive Officer; and

Jill Hoyt, Executive Director, HR and Administration.

Concerns about improprieties and wrongdoing involving our Insider Trading Policy and matters involving the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) should be reported directly to our Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”). Concerns about Human Resources related policies, procedures or regulations or matters regarding personal conduct should be brought to the immediate attention of the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”).  Suspected Code violations that relate to financial statement disclosures or accounting, internal control or auditing matters, should be reported directly to the Chairman of the Audit Committee of our Board.

If an employee feels uncomfortable speaking with any of the above resources for any reason, Novavax’s Audit Committee has established a “Whistleblower” procedure by which confidential complaints may be raised anonymously. Complaints submitted through this confidential process will be presented to the Chairman of the Audit Committee if they involve the Company’s accounting, auditing and internal controls and disclosure practices, or our Board for other non-financial related matters. Anyone may utilize this confidential and anonymous process either to raise new concerns or complaints or if they feel that a concern or complaint previously raised has not been appropriately handled.

 
- 6 -

 


In order to make a confidential, anonymous report or complaint, an employee may use our toll-free telephone hotline – at 1-800-591-1044 – which may be dialed into without revealing any caller identification information. The telephone hotline is operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and is staffed by employees of a third-party provider who will take reports directly from the employee. Complaints and reports submitted through this procedure will be collected on a daily basis and presented to the Chairman of our Audit Committee. Complaints regarding the Company’s financial statement disclosures or accounting, internal control or auditing matters may be reported to the Audit Committee as deemed necessary by its Chairman.
 
Our Reporting and Non-Retaliation Policy
 
Novavax wants every employee to feel comfortable raising business practice, ethical and legal issues internally. The Company will listen to all issues raised and respond to all questions asked. Novavax strictly prohibits reprisals or retaliation against anyone who raises a business practice, ethical or legal issue or cooperates in the investigation of such an issue.

Novavax will make appropriate efforts to protect the confidentiality of those who raise good faith concerns. As noted above, the Company will not criticize or retaliate, and will not permit criticism or retaliation by any party, against any individual who speaks up. It is our policy to comply with all applicable laws that protect employees from unlawful discrimination or retaliation as a result of their lawfully reporting information regarding, or their participating in investigations involving, potential or actual corporate fraud or other violations by Novavax or its employees of federal, state, local or foreign laws.

Specifically, Novavax’s policy prevents any employee from being subject to disciplinary or retaliatory action as a result of the employee’s:

 
·
reporting violations or potential violations of this Code, other Company policies and procedures, or applicable law that the employee reasonably believes to have occurred;

 
·
making complaints regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters or voicing concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters that the employee reasonably believes to have occurred;

 
·
disclosing information to a government or law enforcement agency, where the employee has reasonable cause to believe that the information discloses a violation or possible violation of foreign, federal, state or local law or regulation; or

 
·
providing or causing information to be provided, filing or causing to be filed, testifying, participating in a proceeding filed or about to be filed, or otherwise assisting in an investigation or proceeding regarding any conduct that the employee reasonably believes involves a violation of this Code or applicable law, including criminal laws regarding securities law violations or fraud, any rule or regulation of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) or any provision of law relating to fraud against shareholders.

 
- 7 -

 


Novavax will treat any attempt by one employee to prevent another employee from raising concerns or retaliating against the reporting employee for doing so as a serious disciplinary offense.

If any employee believes that he or she has been subject to any action that violates this policy, the employee may file a complaint with his or her supervisor, the Executive Director of Human Resources, or one of the Compliance Officials. If it is determined that an employee has experienced any improper employment action in violation of this policy, such employee will be entitled to prompt appropriate corrective action.

Please note that Novavax employees who file reports or provide evidence which they know to be false or without a reasonable belief in the truth and accuracy of such information will not be protected by this policy, and may be subject to disciplinary action, including termination of employment.

Do not be afraid that your question, concern or issue may not be valid. When it comes to business practices, ethical issues or legal issues, there is no such thing as a dumb question. Use the individuals identified in this Code to ask a question, get clarification, report a suspected violation, or voice a concern. It is important that any potential problem or concern be reviewed as soon as possible to prevent serious issues from developing.

Question:   If I do raise a business conduct or ethics issue, will I get in trouble?
 
Answer:   No - as long as you honestly have a concern or issue, you will not be reprimanded or disciplined for raising an issue. Quite the contrary, as a Novavax employee you have an obligation to question situations with which you are uncomfortable and seek assistance.
 
 
Our Principles
 
The key principles found in Novavax’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics are:

We will avoid any possible conflict of interest, or the appearance of a conflict of interest, between our personal interests and our responsibility to Novavax.

We will maintain the confidentiality, privacy and security of information entrusted to us in accordance with legal and ethical obligations.

We will use Company assets for the legitimate purposes of Novavax’s business.

We will constantly seek to create innovations in our business and notify Novavax when we may have developed something new.

 
- 8 -

 


We will not trade Novavax shares nor advise or inform others to trade in Novavax shares when in possession of material non-public information.

We will not seek to influence any political or governmental process in an inappropriate manner.

We will show genuine concern and respect for other people and treat one another with understanding and appreciation. It is quite acceptable to disagree with a fellow employee, however, it must be done respectfully and constructively.

We will value the diversity of our talented workforce and encourage diversity of thoughts, ideas and opinions.

We will uphold the ideals of free and competitive enterprise in order to conserve and enhance shareholder value.

We will conduct sales and marketing activities in accordance with Novavax’s Core Values, policies and the law.

We will not collect information on our competitors through inappropriate means.

We will operate our business in a safe and healthy manner, we will respect the environment, and we will use our natural resources responsibly.

We will comply with all applicable laws and regulations in the jurisdictions in which we operate.

We will reflect our business accurately in our records.

We will protect the Company’s reputation by allowing only the Company’s designated individuals to deal with inquiries from the media and investors.

4. Conflicts of Interest

Standard:  We will avoid any possible conflict of interest, or the appearance of a conflict of interest,
between our personal interests and our responsibility to Novavax.
 
In General
 
While Novavax does not wish to infringe on the personal lives of its employees, employees must not have personal activities or relationships, including commercial interests, that conflict or appear to conflict with the interests of the Company. A conflict of interest develops any time an employee faces a choice between what is in his or her personal interest (financial or otherwise) and the interest of the Company. Novavax expects that the interests of the Company will take precedence over an employee’s personal interests and that our employees will act only for the benefit of the Company.

 
- 9 -

 


Examples of likely conflicts of interest include:

 
·
unduly using your influence or position to cause Novavax to employ, engage in a business transaction or enter into a contract with your relatives (including your spouse, parents, grandparents, children, siblings, in-laws or life partner), friends, or a company in which you or your relatives or friends has, directly or indirectly, an interest;

 
·
using material, non-public Novavax, vendor, customer, partner or competitor information for personal gain (including securities transactions based on such information);

 
·
serving as a director or advisory board member of any current or likely competitor of Novavax, or accepting such positions with any organization or governmental agency with which we do or may do business;

 
·
soliciting or receiving any gift in violation of this policy;

 
·
making or accepting gifts, loans, meals, entertainment or services from or to vendors, customers, partners, competitors or others seeking to do business with Novavax that are not reasonable and of modest value (generally, not exceeding $100), or that do not support the legitimate business interests of the Company;

 
·
having outside employment that interferes with the employee’s performance, ability to act in Novavax’s best interests, or comply with Company policies, or requires the employee to use confidential information or Company assets, or otherwise creates a conflict or the appearance of impropriety;

 
·
having more than a modest financial interest in Novavax’s vendors, customers, partners or competitors, whether such entities are public or private; and

 
·
competing, or preparing to compete, with the Company while still employed by the Company.

It is not possible to list all conflicts of interests and, therefore, employees should use the above list and accompanying discussion merely as a guide. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of each individual to avoid any situation that is or could appear to present a conflict of interest.  In general, if you have any questions or doubts as to whether any situation gives rise to a conflict of interest, you should consult with any of the resources described beginning at Page 4.
 
Receiving Gifts
 
Neither you nor any member of your family may solicit or receive from vendors, suppliers, customers, distributors, or anyone else doing business, or seeking to do business, with Novavax, money or a gift that could influence or give the appearance of influencing Novavax’s business relationship with that entity. You may accept a gift of nominal value when it is customarily offered to others in the same relationship with the entity. If you have any question about the propriety of accepting a gift, ask your supervisor or Compliance Official.

 
- 10 -

 

 
Related Party Transactions
 
You should not enter into a business relationship on behalf of Novavax with any family member (including not only immediate family but other close relatives, step relations, and in-laws) or significant other, or with any business in which such person has a key role. Any dealings with such a related party must be conducted so as to avoid giving preferential treatment. If a related party transaction is proposed, it must be disclosed, and approved, in writing to our Audit Committee or an independent body of our Board.
 
Outside Directorships
 
It is a conflict of interest to serve as director of any competitor of Novavax.  You may serve on as director of a vendor, supplier, customer, or other business partner of Novavax only if you first obtain written approval from the CEO.  You may serve as director of a charity or non-profit organization without obtaining such approval.
 
Director Transactions
 
In particular, members of our Board have a special responsibility because of their duties to Novavax and our shareholders. Directors are expected to avoid any action, position or interest (including any personal activity, investment or association) that conflicts with an interest of the Company, or gives the appearance of a conflict, and to avoid using their position, power, access to information or other advantage for their own personal benefit, whether to the detriment of Novavax or our constituents.

Novavax will annually solicit information from our directors in order to monitor potential conflicts of interest, and directors are expected to be mindful of their fiduciary duties, including the duty of loyalty, to the Company. Directors must be especially aware of “interested insider transactions” – transactions in which the individual appears on both sides or with respect to which an individual expects to derive a personal benefit, distinct from any benefit that would be derived by Novavax or our shareholders. In addition, an insider may be deemed interested where he or she is controlled by, or obligated or related to, persons or entities that have a material personal financial interest in a particular transaction. If a director has a personal interest in a matter before the Board, the director must disclose the interest to the Board, excuse himself or herself from participation in the discussion, and abstain from voting on the matter.

Directors and executive officers must also be mindful of certain related party transactions and relationships. Our Audit Committee (or other independent body of our Board) will be responsible for approving all transactions or business relationships involving Novavax and any director or executive officer, including any indebtedness of such individuals to the Company and transactions between Novavax and either the director or officer personally, members of their immediate families, or entities in which they have an interest.

 
- 11 -

 


When faced with a situation involving an actual or potential conflict of interest, including interested insider transactions, directors, like all employees, are encouraged to seek advice from the Company’s CEO or CFO and refer to the Company’s policies on conflicts of interest and Avoidance of Insider Trading.
 
Corporate Opportunities
 
Employees may not divert corporate opportunities to themselves. Generally, an opportunity will be deemed a corporate opportunity if it is in Novavax's line of business, is one that the company is financially able to take, is of present or potential advantage or unique value to Novavax, and is one in which the company has an interest or expectancy. More broadly, opportunities may be deemed corporate opportunities if issues of fairness dictate that Novavax, rather than an employee, should be given the opportunity.

You must disclose all potential corporate opportunities of which you are aware to the company first for evaluation, and may not take away from Novavax any opportunity for financial gain that you find out about because of your position at Novavax or through the use of company property or information. You are also prohibited from using company property, information or position for personal gain or competing with Novavax, as discussed elsewhere in this Code.
 
Organizational Conflicts of Interest
 
Our policy is to identify, avoid, or mitigate the effects of any Organizational Conflict of Interest (“OCI”) to ensure compliance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (“FAR”) and other applicable regulations of any federal agency with which we do business. OCIs arise when, due to other activities, relationships, or contracts, the Company as a Federal contractor may be unable or potentially unable to render impartial assistance or advice to the Government, may be unable to perform their responsibilities in an objective manner, or may have an unfair competitive advantage. To avoid such conflicts, you must disclose any business opportunity, proposal, or contract that contains an OCI provision or that may have the potential to cause an OCI to your direct supervisor or to Human Resources, to allow the Company to determine the best course of action.
 
Disclosure of Actual and Potential Conflicts
 
The proper implementation of this policy implies a continuing requirement that all employees make prompt disclosure to their direct supervisor, or Human Resources, of any fact or circumstance that may involve a conflict of interest. All potential conflicts of interest between Novavax and any employee, or an entity affiliated with an employee, must be disclosed and approved in advance by the Board or Audit Committee and, when approved by the Audit Committee, should be promptly disclosed to the entire Board. Waivers of conflicts of interests involving directors or officers require the approval of the Audit Committee. In the event that a waiver is granted, it will be disclosed by the Company in accordance with law.
 
 
- 12 -

 
 
 
Question:   My spouse’s company is bidding on a contract with a subsidiary of Novavax. Although I select vendors for projects in my own business unit, I have no decision-making authority in the subsidiary where my spouse’s company is competing on the bid. Do I need to report this?
 
Answer:   Yes. Even though you may not have direct control over the outcome of the bid, the fact that your spouse has connections to the Company might give the appearance of a conflict of interest.
 

 
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5. Confidential Information

Standard:  We will maintain the confidentiality, privacy and security of information entrusted to us in accordance with legal and ethical obligations.
 
In General
 
Novavax expects all employees to respect and safeguard all confidential and proprietary information of the Company. Confidential information is both sensitive and a valuable asset: you are expected to protect against its unauthorized use and disclosure. Examples of confidential information include but are not limited to:

·     Financial  information and projections
·     Human resource information, including employee files and salary information
·     Formulations and prototypes
·     License and partnering agreements
·     Regulatory plans
·     Production processes and schedules
·     Customer lists and information
·     Business methods
·     Strategic plans and budgets
·     Planned business acquisitions or divestitures
·     Advertising and marketing strategies
·     Quality data
·     Manufacturing processes, techniques and layouts
·     Competitive information held by the Company
·     Market data
·     R&D information, data, proposals & plans
·     Product ideas
·     Inventions & discoveries, whether patentable or not
·     Pre-Clinical R&D information and data
·     Clinical R&D protocols, information and data
 
 
All employees must exercise caution not to disclose, either intentionally or inadvertently, confidential information to third parties (including customers, competitors, contractors and suppliers) under any circumstances, unless it is a necessary part of your work responsibilities and the receiving party has a business need to know. If you have a need to share information with others outside of Novavax, you must secure the prior approval of your department head, as well as have a confidentiality agreement signed.

In particular, you should not discuss confidential information in public places such as elevators, hallways, restaurants, airplanes, taxis or any other place where they can be overheard. Be particularly careful when discussing confidential information on wireless technologies (e.g., cell phones, cordless phones or personal digital assistants) and when sending confidential information over the Internet, because it may be intercepted. Employees, especially R&D scientists, should guard against unintended disclosures of confidential information when talking to employees of other companies (i.e., in hallway conversations during scientific conferences). Employees should also endeavor not to read confidential documents in public places, discard such documents where others can retrieve them, or be careless with documents such as by leaving them unattended in conference rooms or at photocopy machines and printers. Keep your computer in a safe place and use a password to limit access to the information stored on it.

 
- 14 -

 


Only officials of Novavax with written authorization are permitted to respond to inquiries for Company information from the media, the financial community, investors and others. Written authorization must be signed by the President & CEO. All employees are to promptly refer all such inquiries to the appropriate officials. For guidance, refer to the Disclosures section of this Code.

Every employee may only use such confidential information in furtherance of the Company’s business purposes. Employees will be asked to sign an employee proprietary information agreement as a condition of employment, although the non-disclosure and use obligations apply whether or not the agreement is executed.

If you have a question regarding whether certain information is confidential, material and/or has been adequately disclosed, you should contact the Company’s CFO  and abstain from acting, including trading in Novavax’s common stock or disclosing such information, until you have been informed that the information is not confidential or material, or has been appropriately disclosed.

Further, unintended disclosure of Company confidential information by an employee should be immediately reviewed with your supervisor and the CFO to determine if further action is appropriate.

Employees should also remember that their obligation to protect the Company’s confidential information continues even after their employment with Novavax ends. Employees and former employees who improperly use or disclose confidential information will be subject to disciplinary action and legal action, even if they do not actually benefit from the disclosed information.
 
Third-Party Confidential Information
 
We are also often in receipt or possession of the confidential information of other parties, including our vendors, customers, business partners and competitors. Often this information is protected, and its use governed, by confidentiality agreements with those parties. You must treat this information in the same way you treat Novavax’s confidential information.

Remember, however, that the above confidentiality provisions apply to all Company vendor, customer, partner and competitor information, whether or not provided pursuant to the terms of a confidentiality agreement. In particular, the receipt of sensitive business or technical information from competitors carries significant risks, as the Company’s own internal development activities in such areas may be foreclosed. Inappropriate handling of sensitive information from competitors and other third parties can also lead to loss of trust and liability for damages. You therefore should refuse unsolicited third-party confidential information or, if inadvertently received, should return such information unopened to the third party or transfer it to the CFO for appropriate disposition.

 
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6. Use of Company Assets

Standard: We will use Company assets for the legitimate purposes of Novavax’s business.

Novavax provides you with a place to work and with the tools to do your jobs. In return, you are expected to use these assets in a responsible and ethical manner, maintain them with the utmost care and respect, and guard them against waste and abuse. Company property includes:

·     Office supplies, including telephones and cell phones
·     Computers, including software and computer files
·     Office and laboratory equipment
·     Facilities
·     Building access cards
·     Confidential information
·     Communications systems (including voicemail, e-mail, the Internet and the Novavax intranet)
·     An employee’s time at work and work-product

Every employee must use Novavax’s property and assets for Company business. Of course, occasional or incidental personal use is inevitable and acceptable – you are permitted to use Novavax assets for occasional personal use as long as your use:

 
·
does not affect your job performance or disrupt others;

 
·
is truly occasional in nature;

 
·
does not result in any additional expense to Novavax;

 
·
does not knowingly access or transmit material containing derogatory, racial, gender or religious comments, sexual content, offensive language, material which would negatively reflect upon Novavax or be likely to offend co-workers, or contents prohibited by law or regulation; and

 
·
is not used to carry on any form of business activity outside of the course of your duties with Novavax - without Novavax approval.

Overall, employees need to demonstrate a sense of responsibility and not abuse the privilege.

 
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Novavax also believes that every employee is responsible for appropriately securing all Company property within his or her control to prevent its unauthorized use. You must not allow Company property to be used to help carry out illegal or improper activities such as outside employment. Novavax requires a workplace free of harassment and strives to be sensitive to the diversity of its employees. Therefore, the Company also prohibits the use of all computers and communication systems in ways that are disruptive, offensive to others, or harmful to morale. Email is intended as a business tool to provide rapid, efficient and economical communication and sharing of information and/or data, related to business situations. Email is not intended, for example, to conduct “arguments,” attempt to disparage or degrade others, supply or pass along confidential information to those who do not have a business need to know, or display or transmit sexually explicit images, messages or cartoons. Other such misuse includes transmitting ethnic slurs, racial comments, off-color jokes, or anything that may be construed as harassment or showing disrespect for others, or attempting to access files for which an employee has not been authorized. Any suspected incident of improper use or operation, fraud or theft of Novavax property or assets should be reported immediately. Any employee found to be abusing the privilege of Company-facilitated access to electronic media or services including, but not limited to, those outlined in this Code and the Employee Handbook, will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment.

Remember, your personal privacy on the Company’s communications systems is not protected and you should not expect it to be. Novavax reserves the right to access or monitor all of its communication systems (including computers). Remember, too, that all Internet data that is composed, transmitted, or received via our computer communications systems is considered to be part of the official records of Novavax and, as such, is subject to disclosure to law enforcement or other third parties.

When your employment with Novavax ends, it is your responsibility to return all Company property to Novavax.

If you have specific questions regarding the use of Company property, refer to the Company’s Employee Handbook, which includes specific policies regarding Internet usage (Policy # 510), chat rooms (Policy # 509), software licensing (Policy # 509), and Company vehicles and equipment (Policy #505), among others.

Question:   My co-worker uses Company e-mail to arrange her social life. I think this is an inappropriate use of Company assets but she disagrees. Who is right?
 
Answer:   It depends. If your friend occasionally uses e-mail to contact friends or schedule social events, this is not a violation of policy or an abuse of Novavax resources. However, if her use of e-mail for personal reasons is prolonged and affecting her productivity, it is inappropriate and she should stop.
 

 
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7. Inventions and Intellectual Property

Standard:  We will constantly seek to create innovations in our business and notify Novavax when
we may have developed something new.

One of Novavax’s most valuable assets is its intellectual property – patents, trade secrets, trademarks, copyrights and other proprietary information. It is Novavax’s policy to establish, protect, maintain and defend its rights in all commercially significant intellectual property and to use those rights in responsible ways. All employees must take steps to safeguard these assets.

Intellectual property rights consist of the following:

 
·
Patents – protect inventions by permitting inventors to exclude or prevent others from making, using or selling their inventions. Employees should report the unauthorized use of the Company’s patents and notify the Company if they have an invention that needs patent protection.

 
·
Copyrights – protect works of original authorship such as articles, drawings, photographs, video, music, audiotapes and software. Generally, copyrights prohibit others from copying or downloading the works without consent. Employees should ensure that other parties’ use of Novavax’s copyrights is only pursuant to the proper authorization.

 
·
Trademarks and service marks – protect words, names and symbols that help consumers recognize a product or service and distinguish it from those of competitors. The use of Novavax’s trademarks and service marks must be properly authorized or licensed.

 
·
Trade secrets – include valuable information that creates a competitive advantage for Novavax by being kept confidential. Examples include information about customers, research and development data, and financial, planning, marketing or strategic information. Employees should treat trade secrets as confidential information and safeguard them from unauthorized disclosure or use.

Novavax respects the intellectual property rights of others. Unauthorized use of the intellectual property rights of others may expose Novavax to civil lawsuits and damages. Therefore, do not use the patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets or other intellectual property of third parties without first ensuring that Novavax has obtained permission to do so, whether pursuant to a license or otherwise.

Ideas, inventions, discoveries and improvements conceived, created, developed or reduced to practice in the course of your employment or association with Novavax are the property of Novavax. If you believe that you have created something new, you have an obligation to notify the Company.

 
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8. Insider Trading

Standard: We will not trade Novavax shares when in possession of material non-public information.

Novavax is proud when our employees choose to invest in the Company. Personal investment is an effective way to align the interests of employees with the interests of our shareholders.

When buying or selling Company shares, all employees, directors, officers and other “insiders” should be mindful of the legal and policy limitations on trading. Set forth below is a brief summary of the legal requirements and Company policies with respect to insider trading. For more detailed information regarding our insider trading policies, see our Insider Trading Policy (# 115).
 
What Are the Limitations on Trading?
 
Applicable law and Company policy forbid employees from both trading in Company securities while aware of, and disclosing or “tipping”, material non-public information about the Company. These regulations apply not only to employees, officers and directors, but also to agents of Novavax, internal and external consultants to the Company, family members, and any outsiders who are designated as “insiders” because they have access to material non-public information concerning Novavax, as well as any person who has satisfied the definition of “insider” for the six months preceding any subject transaction. These insider trading restrictions also may apply to the shares of companies negotiating, competing, doing business or seeking to do business with Novavax about which you may have material non-public information.  In addition to raising ethical considerations, any such trading subjects the users to legal risks, including civil and criminal penalties. It could also prove embarrassing and harmful to Novavax.

This policy applies to all transactions (including, without limitation, any purchase, sale or other disposition) by “insiders” – defined below – and those tipped by insiders and others. Transactions that may be necessary or justifiable for independent reasons, such as the need to raise money for an emergency expenditure, are no exception. Even the appearance of an improper transaction must be avoided to protect the Company’s reputation for adhering to the highest standards of conduct.
 
What is “Material Non-Public Information”?
 
Information is “material” if it would be expected to affect the investment or voting decisions of the reasonable shareholder, or if disclosure of the information would be expected to significantly alter the total mix of information in the marketplace about Novavax. The “materiality” of the information must be viewed in light of the impact the information could have on the Company as a whole. While it may be difficult under this definition to determine whether any particular information is material, there are various categories of information that are particularly sensitive and, as a general rule, should always be considered material. Examples of such information include, but are not limited to:

 
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·
financial results for the quarter or year
 
·
financial forecasts and budgets
 
·
possible mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures or business development transactions
 
·
gain or loss of a substantial customer,  supplier or contract
 
·
major financing developments
 
·
major personnel changes
 
·
major patent or product developments
 
·
major litigation developments
 
·
information and results regarding pre-clinical & clinical trials
 
·
inventions & discoveries, whether patentable or not

Either positive or negative information may be material. Information that is likely to affect the price of securities is almost always material.

Information is considered to be non-public unless it has been effectively disclosed to the public by widespread dissemination through major newswire services, national news services and financial news services, or public filings with the SEC and Novavax press releases. A speech to a small audience, a television or radio appearance, or publication of an article in a limited circulation magazine do not constitute effective disclosure.

For information to be considered public, it must not only be disclosed publicly, but adequate time must have passed for the market as a whole to assess the information. For the purposes of Company policy, information is not considered public until twenty-four (24) hours after Novavax discloses it.
If material non-public information is inadvertently disclosed by any Novavax insider, no matter what the circumstances, the person making or discovering such disclosure should immediately report the facts of such disclosure to the Company’s CFO.
 
Additional Requirements for “Insiders”
 
An “insider” is a person who possesses, or has access to, material information concerning Novavax that is non-public. The people who are most likely to be in receipt of “material non-public information” and therefore constitute insiders, include members of Novavax’s board of directors, our executive officers and certain other corporate employees; all insiders are required to comply with the Code and the Company’s policy on Avoidance of Insider Trading . In essence, the policy prohibits the trading of Novavax shares during those periods of time where “material non-public information” is most likely to be circulating.

Remember, a person can be an insider for a limited time, even though he or she is not an officer or director, because the person possesses or has access to material non-public information. For example, an advisor to Novavax who knows that a large contract has just been received or that an acquisition is about to occur may be an insider with respect to such information until the news has been fully disclosed to the public.

 
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If you have any questions at all about the trading of Novavax shares, please contact the Company’s CFO, who has been designated as Novavax’s insider trading compliance official with respect to its policy on Avoidance of Insider Trading and as a matter of corporate policy announces the opening and closing of the trading window of Novavax shares.

Question:   What if an insider has material non-public information about Novavax?
 
Answer:   When any Novavax insider knows material information about the Company that has not been made public, they are prohibited from three activities:
 
·        trading in Novavax’s securities for their own account or for the account of another (including any trust of which they are a trustee);
 
·        having anyone else trade for them in Novavax’s securities; and
 
·        disclosing the information to anyone else who might then trade or in turn “tip” another person who trades.
 
Neither the insiders nor anyone acting on their behalf nor anyone who learns the information from them can trade. This prohibition continues whenever and for as long as the information continues to be material and non-public.  This prohibition extends not just to securities of Novavax but also to those of other companies with which we are involved.
 

 
- 21 -

 


9. Political and Government Activities

Standard:  We will not seek to influence any political or governmental process in an inappropriate
manner.
 
Political Activities
 
Novavax encourages employees to be involved personally in political affairs by voting, volunteering time or contributing money to candidates of your own choosing. These decisions and choices are personal and so any donation of time, money or other resources must also be personal and in no way affiliated with Novavax. Do not give the impression that you are speaking on behalf or representing Novavax while personally involved in the political process.

Volunteer work for political campaigns must not be done on Company time, and Novavax funds or assets must not be contributed to any political party, candidate or campaign except in compliance with law. Similarly, Novavax’s name may not be used in conjunction with any political issue.
 
Government Relations and Lobbying
 
Novavax will deal with all government agencies in a direct, open and honest manner.

Any contact with government personnel for the purpose of influencing legislation or rule-making, including such activity in connection with marketing or procurement matters, is considered lobbying. Some laws also define lobbying even more broadly to include our normal marketing activities. If your job responsibility is to make marketing contacts on behalf of Novavax, you are responsible for knowing and adhering to all the relevant lobbying laws and associated gift laws, if applicable, and for compliance with all reporting requirements.

You must obtain the prior written approval from the CEO to lobby or authorize anyone else (for example, a consultant or agent) to lobby on Novavax’s behalf. A copy of this written approval must be forwarded to the CFO and Chief Legal Officer.

10. Personal Conduct

Standard:  We will show genuine concern and respect for other people and treat one another with
understanding and appreciation.

Novavax believes that our business success is directly related to our philosophy of ensuring that   everyone with whom we interact is treated with respect. We have an ongoing goal to provide a work environment that is free from discrimination and where all employees are provided with the opportunity to realize their fullest potential.

 
- 22 -

 


Novavax also believes that equality of opportunity and fairness of treatment for all individuals are basic human values. In commitment to that belief, Novavax stresses its fundamental value of “respect the individual,” which entails treating people as individuals with the same understanding and appreciation that we seek for ourselves. We value the diversity of our employees and encourage their diversity of thoughts, ideas and opinions. As a Novavax employee, you should treat people the way that you want to be treated.

To assist us in creating a great work environment, we have adopted a number of human resources policies, some of which are outlined below. To obtain a copy of any of these policies, ask a question, or voice a concern about discrimination in the workplace, please contact a member of our Human Resources department.
 
Equal Employment Opportunity
 
In order to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals, employment decisions at Novavax will be based on merit, qualifications, and abilities. We conduct business with respect for all people and provide equal employment opportunities without regard to differences or similarities.
 
No Discrimination
 
Novavax does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, political or religious affiliation, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, family relationship, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.
 
No Harassment
 
Sexual and other types of harassment are a form of discrimination prohibited by law and Novavax’s policies. Any appearance or intent to commit sexual or other harassment in the workplace, whether physical or verbal, committed by any manager, co-worker or third-party over whom we have control, such as vendors, clients or customers, is strictly prohibited. Our policy also prohibits conduct that, although perhaps not unwelcome to the participants, creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment for others who observe the conduct. In addition, Novavax strictly prohibits reprisals or retaliation against anyone who raises a business practice, ethical or legal issue, files a complaint of harassment or cooperates in the investigation of such an issue.

 
- 23 -

 

 
Disability Accommodations
 
Novavax is committed to complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act and other applicable laws, and ensuring equal opportunity in employment for qualified persons with disabilities. All employment practices and activities are conducted on a non-discriminatory basis. We will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities unless doing so would result in a hardship for Novavax.

Question:   A member of my team often makes disparaging remarks about other team members, in particular one who suffers from a physical disability. She does not believe this it is a problem because she never makes the remarks in the person’s presence, but I have to work with her on a daily basis and I find it offensive. What should I do?
 
Answer:   Every member of your team deserves respect. The preferred course of action is to clearly tell the co-worker that you find the remarks offensive and ask her to stop. Novavax considers such remarks inappropriate for our professional work environment. If she does not cease the conduct, you can ask a member of management to take appropriate action.
 
 
Safe Workplace
 
Every employee is responsible for, and shares in the benefits of, a safe and healthy workplace. You have an obligation to follow the rules of conduct and practices regarding a safe and healthy work environment.

All employees, including supervisors and temporary employees, should be treated with courtesy and respect at all times. Employees are expected to refrain from fighting, “horseplay,” or other conduct that may be dangerous to others. Firearms, explosives, and other dangerous, hazardous or illegal devices and substances are prohibited on the premises of Novavax.

Conduct by a Novavax employee that threatens, intimidates, or coerces another will not be tolerated. This prohibition includes all acts of harassment, including harassment that is based on an individual’s sex, race, age, or any characteristic protected by law.

All threats of (or actual) violence, both direct and indirect, should be reported as soon as possible to your immediate supervisor or any other member of management. This includes threats by employees, as well as threats by customers, vendors, solicitors, or other members of the public. In addition, only authorized visitors are allowed in the workplace and solicitation is prohibited – all suspicious individuals or activities on or near the workplace should be reported as soon as possible. Do not place yourself in peril. If you see or hear a commotion or disturbance near your workstation, do not try to intercede or see what is happening.

 
- 24 -

 


Novavax will promptly and thoroughly investigate all reports of threats of (or actual) violence and of suspicious individuals or activities. Anyone determined to be responsible for actual or threatened violence or other conduct that is in violation of these guidelines will be subject to prompt disciplinary action, up to and including termination.
 
Drug-Free Workplace
 
Novavax is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace. Employees who use illegal drugs may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination.
 
Human Trafficking
 
Neither Novavax nor the Government will countenance human trafficking. No employee, or subcontractor or subcontractor employee involved in the performance of a federal contract, shall: (1) procure a commercial sex act involving an adult or child; (b) recruit, harbor, transport, provide, or obtain a person for labor or services through the use of force, fraud, or coercion; (c) violate a specific United States directive regarding trafficking in persons, including general orders or listings of “off-limits” establishments; or (d) use forced labor in the performance of a contract.

* * * * *

For further discussion with respect to employee conduct and work rules, including our policies regarding drug and alcohol use, sexual and other unlawful harassment and employee conduct, refer to Novavax’s Employee Handbook .

 
- 25 -

 


11. Fair Competition

Standard: We will uphold the ideals of free and competitive enterprise.

Novavax expects openness, honesty and courtesy from all employees in their business dealings. Every employee must act ethically and with respect for others, and endeavor to deal fairly and honestly with the Company’s customers, vendors, partners and competitors.

Each employee is also responsible for creating and sustaining a pleasant, secure and productive working environment. No employee should take unfair advantage of anyone through manipulation, concealment, abuse or disclosure of privileged information, misrepresentation or any other unfair dealing practice.

Novavax also abides by and adheres to fair competition standards that are a matter of law in virtually every jurisdiction in which we conduct business. Novavax expects employees to act in accordance with such standards, which include compliance with:

 
·
all antitrust rules and regulations, including rules against agreements or understandings between Novavax and its competitors that affect the process, terms or conditions of sale;

 
·
prohibitions against unfair methods of competition and unfair and deceptive acts or practices in commerce;

 
·
all foreign corrupt practices laws, including those making illegal any offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization to pay any money, gift or anything of value to foreign officials, political parties or candidates for improper purposes; and

 
·
laws governing trade, boycotts, customs, embargoes and export controls.

These standards mean that, among other things, you may not:

 
·
agree with a competitor to fix prices or share pricing information;

 
·
illegally favor one customer over another; or

 
·
attend trade association meetings held for improper purposes, such as to discuss setting prices or allocating markets or territories among competitors.

 
- 26 -

 


Question:   If I do not talk about specific price levels, can I agree with a competitor not to engage in a price war?
 
Answer:   No. Any agreement between competitors that directly relates to the prices they charge is a violation of fair competition laws, regardless of whether specific prices are a part of the agreement.
 
 
Sales and Marketing Practices
 
Standard:  We will conduct sales and marketing activities in accordance with Novavax’s Core
Values, policies and the law.

Every employee must preserve Novavax’s reputation as a leading company whose products and services are desired for their quality and value and whose people are respected for their integrity and high performance. The long-term success of Novavax and each of us depends on our ability to build long-term trusting relationships with our customers.

When communicating with customers or potential customers you should always honestly and accurately describe the features of Novavax’s products and services. All literature and public statements must be true and you may not misstate facts or create misleading impressions. Also, you must not unfairly criticize or denigrate a competitor’s products or services. You must only use another party’s confidential information for the purposes that the information was provided to us  and even then only with their consent. Importantly, all safety and adverse events should be reported to the Company in a timely manner so that the Company can remain in compliance with all FDA guidelines.

Stricter and more specific rules generally apply when Novavax is doing business with governmental agencies and officials. There are many laws and specific agency regulations governing our relationships with local, state and federal governments. Those of you who work with governmental officials at any level must ensure that you understand and follow the laws, regulations and policies that apply to those relationships.

Because of the sensitive nature of these relationships, you should also always talk to your supervisor or manager before offering gifts or incentives of any nature to any government or other public sector employees. In particular, no employee may offer, make or authorize any payment of money or anything of value, directly or indirectly, to:

 
·
illegally influence the judgment or conduct, or ensure a desired outcome or action, of any individual, customer, company or company representative;

 
·
win or retain business, or influence any act or decision of any government official, political party, candidate for political office or official of a public or international organization; or

 
- 27 -

 


 
·
gain an improper advantage.
 
Competitive Information
 
Standard:  We will not collect information on our competitors through inappropriate means.

In any competitive business, information is valuable and it is useful to us to learn more about our competitors, vendors and customers. However, we must be ethical about how we acquire that information and must not improperly seek information about our competitors or their products and services.

When collecting information, our actions must be honest and fair and within the law. Do not request or use information that violates laws regulating:

 
·
fair competition,

 
·
antitrust policies,

 
·
proprietary information and data, and

 
·
confidential relationships between employees and employers.

Examples of appropriate sources of competitive information include:

 
·
tradeshows and medical conferences

 
·
literature searches

 
·
discussions with customers

 
·
competitive brochures and other widely distributed information

 
·
market data

 
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12. Environment, Health and Safety

Standard:  We will operate our business in a safe and healthy manner, we will respect the
environment, and we will use our natural resources responsibly.

As embodied in our Core Values, Novavax believes that the continued protection of our personnel and the implementation of sound environmental practices are crucial to accomplishing our strategic goals.

In support of these beliefs Novavax strives to:

 
·
provide and maintain facilities and operations where health and safety are promoted and hazards are controlled;

 
·
manage facilities and operations such that their potential impacts on the environment are controlled and minimized;

 
·
comply with applicable environmental, health and safety legal requirements; and

 
·
provide environmental, health and safety training and education for all Novavax employees as appropriate.

Sound environmental, health and safety management and performance are the responsibility of everyone at Novavax. Individually and collectively we should work together to build programs and to achieve performance in environmental, health and safety matters that serve as a positive example for other organizations.

Remember, promptly report any environmental issues or violations of environmental, health and safety rules, regulations and practices, and report accidents, injuries and unsafe equipment, practices or conditions, to your supervisor, facility safety officer or the Company’s Human Resources department.

 
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13. Compliance with Laws

Standard: We will comply with all applicable laws and regulations in the jurisdictions in which we
operate.

Obeying the law, both in letter and spirit, is one of the foundations on which the Company’s ethical standards are built. All employees must respect and obey the laws, rules and regulations of the jurisdictions in which the Company operates. Although not all employees are expected to know the details of these laws, it is important to know enough to determine when to seek advice from supervisors, Human Resources, or a member of the executive management team.

Failure to comply with applicable laws, rules and regulations, as well as our legal and ethical standards, can have severe consequences for both the individuals involved and the Company, including damaging Novavax’s name, trade and customer relationships, market value and business opportunities. It is our policy to prevent the occurrence of both illegal and unethical behavior, to halt any such behavior that may occur as soon as reasonably practicable after its discovery, and to discipline those who engage in such behavior, including those individuals who fail to exercise appropriate supervision and oversight, thereby permitting such behavior by their subordinates to go undetected.

Violations can subject the perpetrators to prosecution, fines and/or imprisonment. Novavax also may be subject to prosecution, fines and other penalties, including criminal penalties. Employees also could be subject to discipline at work, including termination of employment.

There are many laws and regulations governing the conduct of government contractors, and some of the most important are summarized here.
 
Bribes
 
No Novavax employee can give, or cause to be given, any money, gift, gratuity, or anything of value to any public official (federal, state, local, or foreign), in return for favorable treatment. The term “public official” means, broadly, any person acting on behalf of any government or government agency in an official function, including not only government employees but all members of the military and, in fact, anyone in a position of public trust, with government responsibilities.
 
Gratuities
 
Federal, state, and local employees are prohibited from accepting, and Novavax employees are prohibited from offering, any gratuities, which can be entertainment, meals, gifts, or other things of value.  While a bribe is something offered with intent to influence, gratuities are prohibited regardless of your intent in offering them, and even if you have a personal or social relationship with the government employee.
 
 
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The only exception to this general rule is that you can offer the following inexpensive items to government employees: (1) social courtesies, such as coffee, soft drinks, doughnuts, and refreshments, as long as these are not part of a meal; (2) promotional items of nominal value, such as pens, mugs, and the like; and (3) presentation items, such as plaques, certificates, and trophies.  The value of any single gift can never exceed $20, and the total value of all gifts offered to one person – from one or more Novavax employee – can never exceed $50 over a one-year period.
 
Thus, while extending business courtesies is often part of building business relationships, offering such a courtesy to a government employee or their family members may violate the law.  Any Novavax employee who deals with a government agency is expected to know and abide by all applicable guidelines and to exercise good judgment in evaluating his or her actions.  Unless a proposed gift is clearly permissible under applicable laws and regulations, assume the gift is prohibited.  If you have any questions, ask.
 
Kickbacks
 
Novavax prohibits its employees, officers, agents, and anyone acting on its behalf from offering, providing, soliciting, or receiving kickbacks.  A “kickback” is money, fees, commissions, gifts, or anything of value given by a subcontractor, vendor, or supplier for the purpose of obtaining award of a contract or favorable treatment under a contract.  In addition, federal law and Novavax policy prohibits including, even indirectly, the amount of any kickback in the contract price charged to the Government or to any higher-tier contractor.
 
Prohibited Payment to Foreign Officials
 
The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act prohibits giving, or offering to give, money or anything of value to foreign public officials, political parties, party officials, candidates for offices, and employees of certain public international organizations, in return for obtaining or maintaining business or gaining a competitive advantage.
 
Revolving Door – Discussing Employment with Government Employees
 
You may not discuss potential employment with Novavax with any current government employee, including members of the armed forces, without first obtaining written approval from Human Resources or the CEO.  You also would be doing a disservice to the government employee, as the law may require the government employee to disclose the contact and take certain steps to prevent preferential treatment.  If a government employee initiates a contact with you concerning future employment, do not respond, but report the contact immediately to Human Resources.

Government employees, including members of the armed forces, who do business with or who have been in a position to affect Novavax, cannot accept compensation from, or employment with, Novavax for periods after termination of their government employment that depend on the circumstances. If you become aware that Novavax has hired, or is considering hiring, such a government employee, please notify Human Resources.

 
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Procurement Information
 
Novavax prohibits its employees, or anyone acting on its behalf, from knowingly obtaining another company’s bid and proposal information, or source selection information of any kind, before award of a contract.

“Bid or proposal information” is information submitted to any government agency in connection with a quote, offer, bid or proposal that relates to cost or pricing, indirect costs, direct labor rates, proprietary information about manufacturing processes, operations, or techniques, or any other information so marked by the bidder/offeror.

“Source selection information” is information not previously disclosed that is prepared for use by a government agency in evaluating bids or proposals.  It includes bid prices, proposed costs, source selection plans, technical evaluation plans, technical or cost/price evaluations, competitive range information, rankings of bidders/offerors, reports and evaluations of source selection panels, and any other information marked as “source selection information.”

If you are involved in seeking government contracts, you must understand these laws and regulations.  If you have any questions, contact Human Resources.  Further, if you are aware of any violation of these prohibitions, immediately contact your supervisor, Human Resources, or a Compliance Official.
 
Commissions, Percentages and Contingent Fees
 
Novavax prohibits the solicitation or payment of a commission or fee to any outside party that is not an established commercial selling agency retained by Novavax, when payment of the commission is contingent on obtaining a government contract.  You must obtain prior written approval from the CEO before offering or paying any commission to any outside party.
 
Products
 
No employee may knowingly misrepresent the condition or status of products being prepared for inspection, testing, or delivery.

 
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Classified Materials and Facilities
 
Government classified materials will be maintained in accordance with the law governing these materials, and any employee with a government security clearance will safeguard classified material in accordance with the regulations governing such material.
 
Export Laws
 
Novavax will comply with all laws and regulations governing export or import of commodities and technical data, and it will obtain export licenses and other government approvals as required prior to exporting controlled products and technology. Failure to comply with these laws could not only result in civil or criminal penalties but also result in the loss or restriction of Novavax’s ability to export or import. If you have any questions about export or import controls, ask your supervisor.
 
Boycott Requests
 
Novavax will comply with laws prohibiting U.S. companies from participating in or cooperating with restrictive trade practices or economic boycotts imposed by other nations, such as the Arab League’s boycott of Israel.  Any request for a contractual or other restriction that may be part of a boycott must be referred to the CEO.

****

For information on how to report suspect activity or violations, see “What You Can Do If You Have A Concern About Business Practices” on page 5.

 
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14. Accuracy of Books, Records and Accounts

Standard: We will reflect our business accurately in our records.
 
Record and Integrity
 
Novavax has a responsibility to ensure that its records are accurate when produced for auditing or investigation.  We also are required by law to retain certain records and follow certain rules in managing them.  “Records” can include information in either written or electronic form.  Altering or concealing documents can result in civil and criminal liability for Novavax and for the employees responsible.  You must follow Novavax’s records retention policies.  You may not falsify or destroy records to hide non-compliance or falsely demonstrate compliance with laws, regulations, or contract requirements. Time records and other charges must accurately reflect actual time worked.
 
Accurate Billing Practices
 
In government contracts, subcontracts, or grants, only costs properly chargeable to the contract or grant can be billed to the Government.  You must take care to avoid cross-charging costs between contracts, charging direct costs as indirect costs, or any other mischarging of costs.  You are responsible for diligently and accurately recording your time.  If you have a question about how to charge your time, ask your supervisor or Human Resources. You must also correctly identify the nature of all your expenses so that they can be correctly characterized as “allowable” or “unallowable” costs in accordance with government accounting rules.
 
Accurate Information for Investors
 
Further, as a publicly traded company, all employees have a responsibility to ensure that the Company provides the investing public with information that reflects the Company’s business transactions. Therefore, all of our public disclosures that are filed with government agencies or communicated to the public must be complete, fair, accurate, timely and understandable. In addition, they must be prepared, reported and maintained in accordance with all applicable laws and accounting standards. This obligation applies to all employees, including all executives, with any responsibility for preparing such reports, including drafting, reviewing, and signing or certifying the information they contain. The Company must communicate to the extent required by government agencies about its operations, without compromising proprietary and confidential information.
 
You may be called upon to provide information to finance, members of management and/or the Company’s financial auditors or consultants to ensure that the Company’s financial reports are accurate, complete and reliable. Novavax expects that all employees will take this responsibility seriously and provide prompt and accurate answers to inquiries related to our public reports and disclosure documents.

 
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Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Management is responsible for assessing the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. In making this assessment, management uses the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control-Integrated Framework . Management is responsible for developing and maintaining corporate financial policies and procedures to support its internal control environment. All employees must comply with corporate financial policies.

Additionally, management bears responsibility for promoting integrity throughout the Company, with responsibilities to stakeholders both inside and outside Novavax. Management has a responsibility to adhere to these policies and procedures themselves and to ensure that a culture exists throughout Novavax as a whole that ensures the fair and timely reporting of the Company’s financial results and condition and maintains adequate internal control over financial reporting

The CEO and the CFO, along with all members of the Company’s finance department, are bound by the following financial code of ethics, and by accepting the Code, each of you agrees that you will:

 
·
provide information in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) that is accurate, complete, reliable, objective, relevant and timely for data and disclosures in reports and documents that Novavax files with, or submits to, government and regulatory authorities, internal management review and in other public communications;

 
·
to the best of your knowledge, conduct business in compliance with the laws, rules and regulations of applicable governments, and other appropriate private and public regulatory agencies;

 
·
act in good faith, responsibly, with due care, competence and diligence, and without allowing one’s independent judgment to be subordinated in the execution of your financial duties;

 
·
respect the confidentiality of information acquired in the course of your work except when authorized or otherwise legally obligated to disclose, and do not use confidential information for personal advantage;

 
·
to the extent estimates and accruals are necessary in Company reports and records, ensure they are based on good faith judgment and supported by appropriate documentation.

 
·
never falsify any document, distort the true nature of any transaction or manipulate financial accounts, records or reports, whether that of Novavax, a customer, a partner or other third-party;

 
·
include supporting documentation for all transactions;

 
·
cooperate with any investigations or inquiries into the accuracy and timeliness of financial records;

 
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·
promptly report to the CFO or Chairman of the Audit Committee any material information of which you may become aware that affects the disclosures made by the Company in our public filings, or that concerns either deficiencies in the design or operation of internal control which could adversely affect Novavax’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data, material weaknesses in internal controls, or fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s financial reporting, disclosures or internal controls; and

 
·
promptly report to the Chairman of the Audit Committee of the Board (in the case of the CEO or the CFO) or to your supervisor  (in the case of other employees with financial reporting responsibilities) any activity that the individual believes to be a violation of law, business ethics or of any provisions of this Code, including any transaction or relationship that reasonably could be expected to give rise to a conflict of interest.

Violations of this policy will result in disciplinary action including, but not limited to, reprimands, warnings, probation or suspension without pay, demotions, reductions in salary, discharge and restitution. Certain violations of this Code may require the Company to refer the matter to the appropriate governmental or regulatory authorities for investigation or prosecution. Moreover, any supervisor who directs or approves of any conduct in violation of this Code, or who has knowledge of such conduct and does not immediately report it, also will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including discharge. If you become aware of any action related to record-keeping, accounting or financial reporting that you believe may be improper, you must immediately tell the Company (see page 6). This can be done through any of the channels identified in this Code.

Question:    I do not have the time to check all of the invoices and expense reports that come across my desk. Surely, it is the responsibility of the individual who prepared them or the employee who submitted them to me to make sure that they are correct. Am I right in my assumption?
 
Answer:   No. Accurate records are everyone’s responsibility. If you are approving an invoice or expense report, you are responsible for its accuracy.
 

15. Disclosure Policies And Communication With Outside Parties

Standard:  We will protect the Company’s reputation by allowing the Company’s designated individuals to deal with inquiries from analysts, the media and current or potential investors.

 
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Media and Investment Community
 
What is said or written about the Company obviously has an impact on Novavax’s reputation. We place great importance on maintaining effective relationships with the news media, analysts and investment community. To be consistent with our beliefs, we try to maintain the Company’s credibility by providing information to our audiences in accordance with disclosure policies and in a timely, accurate and non-discriminating manner.

As such, all communications with the news media and members of the investment community, including analysts and investment bankers, should be handled or coordinated by the Company’s Investor Relations department, our CEO or CFO.

Questions about legal matters should be referred to our Chief Legal Officer; questions about employees or former employees, including requests for references and related personnel information, should be referred to Human Resources.

Question:   I received a call from a reporter who is looking for information that is within the scope of my job. What should I do?
 
Answer:   The prudent course of action in this case is to redirect the reporter to the Company’s Investor Relations department, CEO or CFO.
 
 
Our Investors
 
We are required under U.S. federal securities laws to provide our shareholders and the public with periodic disclosure regarding our business and financial condition (such as quarterly and annual reports and materials for our annual stockholders meeting). We provide additional disclosures through our quarterly earnings calls and press releases. All Novavax employees who participate in the preparation or dissemination of these disclosures, or who provide information that they know may be used in the preparation of these disclosures, have a legal and ethical duty to ensure that the content of the disclosures is accurate, complete and timely.

We have developed disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that all public disclosures are accurate, complete and timely. If you become aware that our public disclosures are not accurate, complete and timely, or become aware of a transaction or development you believe may require disclosure, you should report the matter immediately to your supervisor or manager, our CFO or the appropriate Compliance Official.

 
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16. Administration of this Code
 
Distribution, Availability and Revisions
 
All Novavax employees will receive a copy of this Code at the time they join the Company and will receive periodic updates.

A copy of this Code will be made publicly available in compliance with law and is available on the Company’s internet and intranet sites.
 
Approvals and Waivers
 
As described in this Code, certain persons at the Company must review and approve in writing any circumstance requiring special permission. Copies of these approvals will be maintained by the Company and made available to auditors or investigators.

Waivers of any provision of this Code for directors and executive officers must be approved by our Audit Committee and will be disclosed promptly in accordance with law.

Given the important position of trust and authority that they occupy, our CEO and CFO (collectively, the “Financial Executives”) should act extremely cautiously in interpreting and applying this Code. Financial Executives should consult with the Chairman of the Audit Committee with respect to any proposed actions or arrangements that are not clearly consistent with the Code. In the event that a Financial Executive wishes to engage in a proposed action or arrangement that is not consistent with the Code, the Financial Executive must obtain a waiver of the relevant Code provisions in advance from our Audit Committee.

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 imposes certain reporting requirements on Novavax with respect to our Financial Executives’ compliance with the Code. In accordance with these requirements, we will publicly report on a Current Report on Form 8-K any waivers of any provision of the Code granted by our Audit Committee to any Financial Executive. Violations of the Code by our Financial Executives may also be immediately reported on Form 8-K.
 
Signature and Acknowledgement
 
All employees must sign the Novavax Personal Pledge set forth at the end of this Code, confirming that they have read this Code and understand its provisions. Failure to read the Code or to sign the pledge, however, does not excuse an employee from the duty to comply with its terms.

This Code may be revised, changed or amended at any time by our Board. Following any material revisions or updates, an updated version of this Code will be distributed to you, and will supersede the prior version of the Code effective upon distribution. We may ask you to sign an acknowledgement confirming that you have read and understood the revised version of the Code and that you agree to comply with its provisions.

 
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Ongoing Review of Compliance
 
We require all Novavax employees, officers and directors to comply with this Code. As noted above, upon your receipt of this Code, and also from time to time as we deem to be necessary, we will require you to sign an acknowledgement confirming that you have read and understood the Code and agree to comply with its provisions. We reserve the right to monitor your continuing compliance with the provisions of this Code and to investigate any suspected violations. If substantiated, these violations could result in disciplinary action, as described more fully in the following sections.
 
Investigations and Disciplinary Actions
 
Novavax expects that its employees will bring to the attention of their supervisors or one of our Compliance Officials (or any people that such officers designate) information about suspected violations of this Code. If you have information about suspected improper accounting or auditing matters, or have information about suspected violations of this Code involving any of our Compliance Officers, you may also bring such information to the attention of a member of our Audit Committee. To contact our Audit Committee or to submit a report to them, please contact our CFO or Michael McManus, Chairman of our Audit Committee, who will make sure that your information is conveyed to the Audit Committee.

If you are not comfortable revealing your identity when making a report, you can also make an anonymous report as discussed in the “What You Can Do If You Have A Concern About Business Practices” section of this Code (see page 5).

You should feel safe in reporting this information, without regard to the identity or position of the suspected offender. Complaints and requests for information will be handled promptly, discreetly and professionally. Discussions and inquiries will be kept in strict confidence to the extent appropriate or permitted by policy or law. If the employee desires, he or she can be informed of any follow-up action implemented by the Company.

Novavax will not take, and will not permit others under our control to take, any acts of retribution or retaliation against you for making a report.

Retaliation in any form against anyone who reports a violation of this Code (even if the report is mistaken but was submitted in the good faith belief it was correct) or who assists in the investigation of a reported violation is itself a serious violation of this Code. Acts of retaliation should be reported immediately and may result in severe disciplinary action.

Because failure to report criminal activity can itself be understood to condone the crime, we emphasize the importance of reporting. For both criminal activity and other violations of this Code, failure to report knowledge of wrongdoing may result in disciplinary action against those who fail to report.

 
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Investigations will be conducted by and under the supervision of Novavax’s CEO, CFO, Human Resources, the Chairman of the Audit Committee or their designee depending on the issue, as they deem appropriate. It is imperative that employees who make reports and persons to whom such reports are made do not conduct their own preliminary investigations unless authorized to do so by our CEO. You are expected to cooperate in the investigation of reported violations to the extent possible.

You should be aware that our CEO and CFO are legally obligated to act in the best interests of Novavax as a company. They do not act as personal representatives for any individual Novavax employee, including members of our senior management team. Our Chief Legal Officer is also legally obligated to act in the best interests of Novavax as a company and may not act as a lawyer for any individual Novavax employee or Director. Our Board has ultimate responsibility for final interpretation of this Code and for determining whether any violations of this Code have occurred.

Novavax will investigate any matter reported and may take appropriate corrective and disciplinary actions, if, in our good faith discretion, it is determined that a violation has occurred.  Disciplinary actions may include, alone or in combination, a warning or letter of reprimand, demotion, loss of merit increase or bonus, suspension without pay or termination of employment. We may also seek civil remedies or refer criminal misconduct to law enforcement agencies.

Among other things, individuals may be disciplined for:

 
·
committing, authorizing or directing an illegal act or violation of this Code;

 
·
failing to exercise proper compliance oversight or tolerating illegal conduct, if acting as a supervisor.

 
·
failing to report illegal or improper conduct of which he or she directly knows or observes.

 
·
refusing to cooperate with an investigation, including deliberately withholding relevant information or knowingly providing false information concerning a violation of this Code or applicable laws and regulations.

 
·
discouraging another individual from reporting a violation of law or this Code.

 
·
retaliating against or condoning retaliation against an individual who reports a violation or assists in an investigation of a suspected violation.

 
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Important Disclaimers
 
This Code reflects general principles to guide you in making ethical decisions and cannot, and is not intended to address every specific situation in which we may find it appropriate to take disciplinary action. This Code is not intended to create any contract (express or implied) with you, including without limitation any employment contract, or to constitute any promise that your employment will not be terminated except for cause.

 
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17. Novavax Personal Pledge
As an employee of Novavax or one of its subsidiaries, we all share the responsibility to maintain the Company’s reputation. Therefore, it is critical that all employees not only read and understand the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics but also formally acknowledge their commitment to abide by the Code. Accordingly, as a Novavax person I acknowledge:

 
·
I have received a copy of Novavax’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “Code”);

 
·
I have read, understand and will act consistent with the Code and any of its future revisions;

 
·
If I have questions regarding the content or interpretation of the Code, I will bring them to the attention of my supervisor; and

 
·
If I observe or suspect a violation of the Code or any business practice or legal or ethical standard, I will report it in accordance with this Code.

Employee Signature:
    
 
Date: 
    
 
           
Employee Name:
    
       
 
 
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Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

I, Stanley C. Erck, certify that:

1.           I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Novavax, Inc.;
 
2.           Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
 
3.           Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
 
4.           The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and we have:
 
 
a)
designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
 
 
b)
designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
 
 
c)
evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluations; and
 
 
d)
disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
 
5.           The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
 
a)           all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
 
 
 

 
 
b)          any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: August 9, 2011
By:
/s/ Stanley C. Erck
 
President and Chief Executive Officer

 
 

 
Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL AND ACCOUNTING OFFICER

I, Frederick W. Driscoll, certify that:

1.           I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Novavax, Inc.;
 
2.           Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
 
3.           Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
 
4.           The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and we have:
 
a)           designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
 
b)           designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
 
c)           evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluations; and
 
d)           disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
 
5.           The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
 
a)           all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 
 

 
 
b)           any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
Date: August 9, 2011
By:
/s/ Frederick W. Driscoll
 
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and
Treasurer
 
 
 

 
Exhibit 32.1

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER PURSUANT
TO 18 UNITED STATES C. §1350
(SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002)

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Novavax, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the fiscal period ended June 30, 2011 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Stanley C. Erck, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, hereby certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, to the best of my knowledge, that:
 
1)           The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and
 
2)           The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company for the dates and periods covered by this Report.

Date: August 9, 2011
By:
/s/ Stanley C. Erck
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
 
 

 
Exhibit 32.2

CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL AND ACCOUNTING OFFICER PURSUANT
TO 18 UNITED STATES C. §1350
(SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002)

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Novavax, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the fiscal period ended June 30, 2011 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Frederick W. Driscoll, Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, hereby certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, to the best of my knowledge, that:
 
1)           The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and
 
2)           The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company for the dates and periods covered by this Report.

Date: August 9, 2011
By:
/s/ Frederick W. Driscoll
 
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer