prer14a
SCHEDULE 14A
(Rule 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
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Filed by the
Registrantþ
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Filed by a Party other than the
Registranto
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Check the appropriate box:
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þ Preliminary
Proxy Statement
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o Confidential,
for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by
Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
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o Definitive
Proxy Statement
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o Definitive
Additional Materials
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o Soliciting
Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12
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Novavax, Inc.
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement if other than the
Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
þ No fee required.
o Fee computed on table
below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction
applies:
(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction
applies:
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(3) |
Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on
which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was
determined): |
(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
(5) Total fee paid:
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o |
Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by
Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for
which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the
previous filing by registration statement number, or the form or
schedule and the date of its filing. |
(1) Amount previously paid:
(2) Form, schedule or registration statement no.:
(3) Filing party:
(4) Date filed:
This Proxy Statement, dated March 25, 2005, is subject to
completion and is in preliminary form pending the printing and
distribution of a definitive proxy statement and related WHITE
proxy card. In accordance with applicable securities laws, the
WHITE proxy card is not being distributed at this time.
NOVAVAX, INC.
NOTICE OF THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To Be Held May 4, 2005
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders
of Novavax, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
Company), will be held on Wednesday, May 4,
2005 at 9:00 a.m. local time at the corporate headquarters
of the Company, 508 Lapp Road, Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355 (the
Meeting) for the purpose of considering and voting
upon the following matters:
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1. To elect two directors as Class I directors to
serve on the Board of Directors for a three-year term expiring
at the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders; |
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2. To approve the Novavax, Inc. 2005 Stock Incentive Plan; |
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3. To approve the issuance of the shares of Common Stock,
$.01 par value, of the Company issuable with respect to
senior convertible notes in the aggregate principal amount of
$35,000,000 issued to certain qualified institutional buyers and
accredited investors; |
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4. To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP
as the independent registered public accounting firm for the
Company for the current fiscal year ending December 31,
2005; and |
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5. To transact such other business as may properly come
before the Meeting or any adjournment thereof. |
The Board of Directors has no knowledge of any other business to
be transacted at the Meeting other than the matters discussed
under Additional Information Proposed
Items herein.
The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on
Friday, March 11, 2005 as the record date for the
determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote
at the Meeting and any adjournments thereof.
A copy of the Companys Annual Report to Stockholders for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, which contains
financial statements and other information of interest to
stockholders, accompanies this Notice and the attached Proxy
Statement.
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By Order of the Board of Directors |
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David A. White, Secretary |
March , 2005
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT! NO MATTER HOW MANY OR HOW FEW SHARES
YOU OWN, AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING,
PLEASE PROMPTLY COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED
WHITE PROXY CARD IN THE ACCOMPANYING ENVELOPE. NO POSTAGE NEED
BE AFFIXED IF THE PROXY IS MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES.
NOVAVAX, INC.
508 Lapp Road
Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355
PROXY STATEMENT
For the Annual Meeting of Stockholders
To Be Held May 4, 2005
This Proxy Statement is being furnished in connection with the
solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of Novavax,
Inc. (Novavax or the Company) for use at
the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on Wednesday,
May 4, 2005 at 9:00 a.m. local time at the
Companys corporate headquarters, 508 Lapp Road, Malvern,
Pennsylvania 19355 and at any adjournments thereof (the
Meeting). The Notice of Meeting, this Proxy
Statement, the enclosed white proxy and the Companys
Annual Report to Stockholders for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2004 are being mailed to stockholders on or
about March , 2005.
VOTING PROCEDURE AND QUORUM
The Board of Directors has fixed March 11, 2005 as the
record date to determine the stockholders entitled to receive
notice of and to vote at the Meeting (the Record
Date). The only class of stock of the Company entitled to
vote at the Meeting is its common stock, $.01 par value
(the Common Stock). Only the record holders of
shares of Common Stock at the close of business on the Record
Date may vote at the Meeting. On the Record Date, there were
39,553,876 shares of Common Stock outstanding and entitled
to be voted at the Meeting. Each share entitles the holder to
one vote on each of the matters to be voted upon at the Meeting.
A stockholder may vote as directed by the enclosed white proxy.
All properly executed proxies will be voted in accordance with
the instructions of the stockholder. If no contrary instructions
have been indicated, the proxies will be voted in favor
of Proposals 1, 2, 3 and 4 as set forth in the accompanying
Notice of Meeting. The Board of Directors knows of no other
matters to be presented for consideration at the Meeting other
than those discussed under Additional
Information Proposed Items section herein. The
persons named in the Boards form of proxy intend to
exercise their discretionary authority and vote as indicated in
such section on any of such matters presented by the stockholder
at the Meeting.
Stockholders may revoke proxies at any time before they are
exercised at the Meeting by (a) signing and submitting a
later-dated proxy to the Secretary of the Company,
(b) delivering written notice of revocation to the
Secretary of the Company, or (c) voting in person at the
Meeting. Attendance at the Meeting will not itself be deemed to
revoke a proxy unless the stockholder gives affirmative notice
at the Meeting that the stockholder intends to revoke the
stockholders proxy and vote in person.
The presence in person or by proxy of the holders of a majority
of the shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding on the
Record Date and entitled to vote is required to constitute a
quorum at the Annual Meeting. If a quorum is not present, the
stockholders entitled to vote who are present in person or
represented by proxy at the Meeting have the power to adjourn
the Meeting until a quorum is present, without notice other than
an announcement at the Meeting and so long as such adjournment
is less than 30 days and a new record date is not fixed. At
any adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present, any business
may be transacted that might have been transacted at the Meeting
as originally scheduled. Abstentions and broker non-votes will
count in determining whether a quorum is present at the Meeting.
A broker non-vote occurs when a broker or other nominee holds
shares represented by a proxy and has not received voting
instructions with respect to a particular item and does not have
discretionary authority to vote such shares. Brokers and other
nominees will not have discretion to vote shares for which they
have not received voting instructions on Proposals One and Two
described herein.
PROPOSAL ONE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Pursuant to the Companys Amended and Restated Certificate
of Incorporation, the Companys Board of Directors may
consist of no fewer than three directors, with the specific
number to be authorized by the Board of Directors from time to
time at its discretion. The Board of Directors is currently
authorized to consist of nine members. The Board has determined
to fix the number of directors at eight effective as of the
Meeting, following the decision of Ronald H. Walker to retire
from the Board as of such date.
The members of the Companys Board of Directors are divided
into three classes, designated Class I, Class II and
Class III, each serving staggered three-year terms. The
terms of the Class I directors expire at this Meeting. The
terms of the Class II and Class III directors will
expire at the 2006 and 2007 Annual Meetings of Stockholders,
respectively. A director of any class who is elected by the
Board of Directors to fill a vacancy resulting from an increase
in the number of directors holds office for the remaining term
of the class to which he or she is elected. A director who is
elected by the Board to fill a vacancy arising in any other
manner holds office for the remaining term of his or her
predecessor. Directors elected by the stockholders at an annual
meeting to succeed those whose terms expire at such meeting are
of the same class as the directors they succeed and are elected
for a term to expire at the third annual meeting of stockholders
after their election and until their successors are duly elected
and qualified.
In the event of any increase or decrease in the authorized
number of directors, the newly created or eliminated
directorships must be apportioned by the Board among the three
classes so as to ensure that no one class has more than one
director more than any other class. However, no existing
director may be reclassified from one class to another and,
therefore, the number of directors in each class may become
temporarily imbalanced.
Two directors are to be elected at this Meeting to fill the
terms of the Class I directors that expire at this Meeting.
The Board of Directors, by all of its independent directors, has
designated Denis M. ODonnell, M.D. and Nelson M. Sims
as nominees for reelection as Class I directors of the
Company at this Meeting. If elected, such nominees will serve
until the expiration of their terms at the 2008 Annual Meeting
of Stockholders and until their successors are elected and
qualified. Each of Dr. ODonnell and Mr. Sims is
currently a director of the Company and has consented to being
named in this Proxy Statement and to serve if elected. The Board
of Directors has no reason to believe that either of the
nominees will be unable to serve if elected. If a nominee
becomes unavailable to serve as a director, the persons named as
proxies in the accompanying proxy may vote the proxy for a
substitute nominee.
Unless otherwise instructed, the proxy holders named in the
WHITE proxy card will vote such proxies FOR the nominees named
herein and proposed by the Companys Board of Directors.
The two Class I nominees receiving the highest number of
votes of the shares entitled to be voted and cast at the Meeting
will be elected to the Board of Directors. Abstentions, broker
non-votes and votes withheld for a nominee will not have any
effect on the election of a director.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE
FOR THE ELECTION OF THE BOARDS NOMINEES.
Members of the Board of Directors
The following table provides certain information with respect to
the directors of the Company. Comparable information regarding
the executive officers of the Company is provided in the
Companys Annual Report on Form 10K.
Nominees for Class I Directors
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Director | |
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Principal Occupation, Other Business |
Name |
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Since | |
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Experience and Other Directorships |
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Denis M. ODonnell, M.D.
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51 |
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1998 |
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Chairman of the Board of Directors of Novavax since May 2000.
Chief Executive Officer and President of Molecular Diagnostics,
Inc. since February 2004. General Partner at Seaside Partners,
L.P., a private equity firm, from 1997 to 2003. Vice Chairman of
the Board of Directors of Novavax from 1999 to 2000. Senior
Advisor to Novavax from 1997 to 1998. President of Novavax from
1995 to 1997. Vice President, Business Development of Novavax
from 1992 to 1995. Currently a director of Columbia
Laboratories, Inc., ELXSI Corporation and Molecular Diagnostics,
Inc. |
Nelson M. Sims
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57 |
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2003 |
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President and Chief Executive Officer of Novavax since August
2003. Retired from Eli Lilly and Company in June 2001 after
28 years of service. Executive management positions at Eli
Lilly included Executive Director of Strategic Alliance
Management for Eli Lilly and Company from November 1999 to June
2001, President of Eli Lilly Canada Inc. from January 1991 to
November 1999, and Vice President of Hybritech, Inc., a Lilly
subsidiary. Currently a director of MDS Inc. |
Directors Continuing as Class II Directors
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Director | |
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Principal Occupation, Other Business |
Name |
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Experience and Other Directorships |
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Gary C. Evans
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48 |
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1998 |
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President and Chief Executive Officer of Magnum Hunter
Resources, Inc., an oil and gas exploration company, since 1995,
Chairman of the Board of Directors until October 2004, and Chief
Executive Officer of its predecessor, Hunter Resources, Inc.,
since 1985. Currently a trustee of TEL Offshore Trust, an oil
and gas trust. |
J. Michael Lazarus, M.D.
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67 |
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1995 |
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Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President of Fresenius
Medical Care North America since 1996. Professor of Medicine at
Harvard Medical School from 1979 to 1996. |
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Director | |
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Principal Occupation, Other Business |
Name |
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Experience and Other Directorships |
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John O. Marsh, Jr.
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78 |
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1991 |
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Visiting Professor, George Mason University, since 2001.
Visiting Professor, Virginia Military Institute, 1998. Interim
Chief Executive Officer of Novavax from July 1996 to March 1997
and Chairman of the Board of Directors from July 1996 to
February 1997. Secretary of the Army from 1981 to 1989.
Counselor with Cabinet rank to the President of the United
States from 1974 to 1977. Assistant for National Security
Affairs to Vice President of the United States, 1974. Assistant
Secretary of Defense from 1973 to 1974. U.S. Representative
in Congress from 1963 to 1971. |
Directors Continuing as Class III Directors
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Director | |
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Principal Occupation, Other Business |
Name |
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Experience and Other Directorships |
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Susan B. Bayh
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45 |
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2004 |
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Distinguished Visiting Professor in the College of Business
Administration, Butler University, since 1994. Commissioner with
the U.S. Department of State International Commission
between the United States and Canada, from 1994 to 2000.
Attorney, Eli Lilly and Company Pharmaceutical Division, from
1989 to 1994. Attorney, Barnes & Thornburg, from 1984
to 1985. Currently a director of Curis, Inc., Dendreon
Corporation, Wellpoint, Inc., Emmis Communications Corporation
and Dyax, Corp. |
Mitchell J. Kelly
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45 |
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1997 |
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Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and Managing
Member of Anaconda Capital Management, L.L.C., an investment
management firm, since 1995, and in various capacities with
affiliates of Anaconda Capital since 1993. President and Chief
Executive Officer of Novavax from September 2002 to August 2003
and from September 1998 to May 1999. |
Michael A. McManus, Jr.
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62 |
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1998 |
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President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Misonix,
Inc., a medical, scientific and industrial provider of
ultrasonic and air pollution systems, since 1998. President and
Chief Executive Officer of N.Y. Bancorp from 1990 to 1998.
Assistant to the President of the United States from 1982 to
1985. Currently a director of L Q Corporation, Inc., NWH, Inc.
and American Home Mortgage Holdings, Inc. |
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Retiring Class I Director |
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Ronald H. Walker
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67 |
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1995 |
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Currently retired. Chairman of the Board of Directors of Novavax
from 1998 to 2000. Senior Partner/Managing Director of
Korn/Ferry International, an executive search firm, from 1978 to
1999. Director of the National Park Service from 1972 to 1975.
Special Assistant to the President of the United States from
1969 to 1972. |
There are no family relationships among any of the directors (or
any nominee of the Board therefor) or executive officers of
Novavax, and no arrangements exist between any director or
nominee and any other person pursuant to which such director or
nominee was or is to be selected as a nominee. No director,
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executive officer, nominee or any associate of any of the
foregoing has any interest, direct or indirect, in any proposal
of the Board to be considered and acted upon at the Meeting
(other than the election of directors). See Additional
Information Proposed Items below for a
description of other matters that may be presented by a
stockholder at the Meeting. Our Chairman, Denis
M. ODonnell, M.D., has an interest in the matter
proposed relating to changes in the Chairman position.
Board of Directors and Committee Information
The Board of Directors has determined that, with the exception
of Messrs. Kelly and Sims and Dr. ODonnell, each
of whom is or was within the last three fiscal years an employee
or executive officer of the Company, all of the members of the
Board are independent directors, as that term is
defined in Rule 4200(a)(15) of the listing standards of the
National Association of Securities Dealers (the
NASD) and Rule 10A-3 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act).
The Board of Directors met 11 times during 2004, and the
independent members of the Board met once during the same
period. Each of the directors attended at least 75% of the
aggregate of the total number of meetings of the Board of
Directors and the total number of meetings of committees on
which they served.
The Board of Directors of Novavax currently has three standing
committees: a Compensation Committee, an Audit Committee and a
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. In addition to
the descriptions below, please refer to the Report of the
Compensation Committee and Report of the Audit
Committee included in this Proxy Statement.
The Compensation Committee, whose current members are
Mr. Walker (Chairman), Dr. Lazarus and Ms. Bayh,
reviews and recommends salaries and other compensatory benefits
for the employees, officers and directors of Novavax. The
Compensation Committee also administers the option plans of the
Company, pursuant to which the committee recommends stock option
grants and other awards for executive officers, key employees
and directors of Novavax and its subsidiaries. During 2004, the
Compensation Committee met six times. Prior to March 2004, the
Compensation Committee consisted of Messrs. Evans
(Chairman), Marsh, McManus and Walker; Ms. Bayh joined
Mr. Walker and Dr. Lazarus as a member of the
committee effective October 2004. Upon Mr. Walkers
retirement, a new Chair of the Compensation Committee will be
selected and the Board will determine, in consultation with the
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, whether to
appoint one or more new members to the Compensation Committee.
The Compensation Committee acts pursuant to a written charter, a
copy of which is posted on the Companys website at
www.novavax.com.
Effective March 2004, the Audit Committee consisted of
Messrs. McManus (Chairman), Evans and Marsh, each of whom
is a non-employee director and qualifies as independent under
NASD and other applicable rules and regulations. The Board has
determined that Mr. McManus qualifies as the
committees audit committee financial expert as
that term is defined by the rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission, and is financially
sophisticated as required by the listing standards for The
Nasdaq Stock Market.
The Audit Committee acts pursuant to the Audit Committee Charter
as adopted by the Board, which was amended and restated in March
2004; a copy of the revised charter is available on the
Companys website at www.novavax.com. The Audit
Committee reviews and evaluates the charter annually to ensure
its adequacy and accuracy, and is charged with performing an
annual self-evaluation with the goal of continuing improvement.
The Audit Committee is directly responsible for the appointment,
compensation, retention and oversight of the work of the
Companys independent auditor. To this end, the committee
meets with the Companys independent auditor to discuss the
scope and results of its examination and reviews the financial
statements
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and reports contained in the Companys periodic and other
filings. The Audit Committee also reviews the adequacy and
efficacy of the Companys accounting, auditing and
financial control systems, as well as the Companys
disclosure controls and procedures; monitors the adequacy of the
Companys accounting and financial reporting processes and
practices; and considers any issues raised by its members, the
Companys independent auditor, and the Companys
employees. To assist in carrying out its duties, the Audit
Committee is authorized to investigate any matter brought to its
attention, retain the services of independent advisors
(including legal counsel, auditors and other experts), and
receive and respond to concerns and complaints relating to
accounting, internal accounting controls and auditing matters.
During 2004, the Audit Committee met six times. Prior to March
2004, the Audit Committee consisted of Messrs. McManus
(Chairman) and Evans and Dr. Lazarus.
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Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee |
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (the
Governance Committee) consists of Messrs. Evans
(Chairman), Marsh, McManus and Walker, Dr. Lazarus and
Ms. Bayh, each of whom qualifies as independent under NASD
and other applicable rules and regulations. The Governance
Committee was established in March 2004, replacing the
Nominating Committee that consisted of Dr. Lazarus
(Chairman), Mr. Kelly, Dr. ODonnell and
Mr. Walker. The Governance Committee met three times during
2004.
The Governance Committee acts pursuant to a written charter, a
copy of which is available on the Companys website at
www.novavax.com. As provided in the charter, the primary
function of the Governance Committee is to assist the Board in
fulfilling its responsibilities by: reviewing and making
recommendations to the Board regarding the Boards size,
structure and composition; establishing criteria for Board
membership; identifying and evaluating candidates qualified to
become members of the Board, including candidates proposed by
stockholders; selecting, or recommending for selection, director
nominees to be presented for approval at the annual meeting of
stockholders and to fill vacancies on the Board; evaluating
Company policies relating to the recruitment of Board members;
developing and recommending to the Board corporate governance
policies and practices applicable to the Company; monitoring
compliance with the Companys Code of Business Conduct and
Ethics; and handling such other matters as the Board or
committee deems appropriate. The Governance Committees
goal is to contribute to the effective representation of the
Companys stockholders and to play a leadership role in
shaping the Companys corporate governance.
As noted above, it is the Governance Committees
responsibility to review and evaluate director candidates,
including candidates submitted by stockholders. In performing
its evaluation and review, the Governance Committee does not
differentiate between candidates based on the proposing
constituency, but rather applies the same criteria to each
candidate.
Stockholders who wish to nominate qualified candidates to serve
as directors of the Company may do so in accordance with the
procedures set forth in the Companys By-laws, which
procedures did not change during the last fiscal year. As set
forth in the By-laws, a stockholder must notify the Company in
writing, by notice delivered to the attention of the Secretary
of the Company at the address of the Companys principal
executive offices, of a proposed nominee. In order to ensure
meaningful consideration of such candidates, notice must be
received not less than 60 days nor more than 90 days
prior to the meeting. However, if the Company does not give
prior notice or make prior public disclosure of the date of the
meeting at least 70 days prior to the meeting date,
notice will be considered timely if it is received no later than
the close of business on the 10th day following the date on
which such notice was given or public disclosure was made
(whichever occurred first).
The notice must set forth as to each proposed nominee:
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name, age, business address and, if known, residence address, |
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his or her principal occupation or employment, |
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the number of shares of stock of the Company, if any, which are
beneficially owned by such nominee, and |
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any other information concerning the nominee that must be
disclosed as to nominees in proxy solicitations pursuant to
applicable law. |
The notice must also set forth with respect to the stockholder
giving the notice:
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the name and address, as they appear on the Companys
books, of such stockholder, and |
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the number of shares of the Company that are owned by such
stockholder. |
The Company may require any proposed nominee to furnish such
other information as may reasonably be required to determine the
eligibility of the nominee to serve as a director. Submissions
received through this process will be forwarded to the
Governance Committee for review.
When considering candidates, the Governance Committee strives to
achieve a balance of knowledge, experience and achievement such
that the Companys Board reflects a broad range of talent,
age, skill and expertise. While there are no set minimum
requirements, a candidate should:
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be intelligent, thoughtful and analytical, |
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possess superior business-related knowledge, skills and
experience, |
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reflect the highest integrity, ethics and character, |
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have excelled in both academic and professional settings, |
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demonstrate achievement in his or her chosen field, |
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be free of actual or potential conflicts of interest, |
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have the ability to devote sufficient time to the business and
affairs of the Company, and |
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demonstrate the capacity and desire to represent the best
interests of the Companys stockholders as a whole. |
In addition to the above criteria (which may be modified from
time to time), the Governance Committee may consider such other
factors as it deems in the best interests of the Company and its
stockholders and that may enhance the effectiveness and
responsiveness of the Board and its committees. Finally, the
Governance Committee must consider a candidates
independence to make certain that the Board includes at least a
majority of independent directors so as to satisfy
all applicable independence requirements, as well as a
candidates financial sophistication and special
competencies.
The Governance Committee identifies potential candidates through
referrals and recommendations, including by incumbent directors,
management and stockholders, as well as through business and
other organizational networks. To date, the Governance Committee
has not retained or paid any third party to identify or
evaluate, or assist in identifying or evaluating, potential
director nominees, although it reserves the right to engage
executive search firms and other third parties to assist in
finding suitable candidates.
Current members of the Board with the requisite skills and
experience are considered for re-nomination, balancing the value
of the members continuity of service with that of
obtaining a new perspective, and considering each
individuals contributions, performance and level of
participation, the current composition of the Board, and the
Companys needs. The Governance Committee also must
consider the age and length of service of incumbent directors:
in March 2005 the committee recommended, and the
independent members of the Board adopted, a policy pursuant to
which no director may be nominated for re-election if he or she
has already served as a director for 10 years or has reached his
or her 75th birthday, unless the Governance Committee determines
that the service of such director is strategically critical to
the Company. At the same time, it was determined that the
Governance Committee should begin a search for two new
directors, each with significant pharmaceutical company
experience. Specifically, it was determined to add one director
with significant leadership experience in pharmaceutical product
development, and one director with significant leadership
experience as a general manager or in business development. If
any existing members do not wish to continue in service or if it
is decided not to re-nominate a director, new candidates are
identified in accordance with those skills, experience and
characteristics deemed necessary for new nominees, and are
6
evaluated based on the qualifications set forth above. In every
case, the Governance Committee meets (in person or
telephonically) to discuss each candidate, and may require
personal interviews before final approval. Once a slate is
selected, the Governance Committee presents it to the full Board.
Each of this years nominees for director is a current
director of the Company and was selected and approved by the
independent members of the Board of Directors in accordance with
applicable law and listing requirements. Four other candidates
were submitted for consideration by a stockholder of the Company
in early March 2005. For further information, see
Additional Information Proposed Items
below.
The Executive Committee of the Board of Directors was disbanded
in 2004. The Executive Committee, whose members were
Dr. ODonnell (Chairman) and Messrs. Evans,
Kelly, McManus and Sims, had the authority to exercise the
powers of the Board of Directors between Board meetings. The
Executive Committee did not meet in fiscal 2004.
Stockholder Communications
The Board welcomes communications from stockholders and has
adopted a procedure for receiving and addressing such
communications. Stockholders may send written communications to
the entire Board or individual directors, addressing them to
Novavax, Inc., 508 Lapp Road, Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355,
Attention: Secretary. Communications by e-mail should be
addressed to ir@novavax.com and marked Attention:
Secretary in the Subject field. All such
communications will be forwarded to the full Board of Directors
or to any individual director or directors to whom the
communication is directed unless the communication is clearly of
a marketing nature or is unduly hostile, threatening, illegal,
or similarly inappropriate, in which case the Company has the
authority to discard the communication or take appropriate legal
action.
Recognizing that director attendance at the Companys
annual meetings of stockholders can provide stockholders with an
opportunity to communicate with members of the Board, Novavax
strongly encourages (but does not require) members of the Board
to attend such meetings. All of the directors then in office
attended the 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Director Compensation
Commencing the second quarter of 2004, each director not
employed by Novavax and not serving on a committee received an
annual retainer of $10,000; the chairs of the Audit,
Compensation and Governance Committees received annual retainers
of $20,000, $15,000 and $15,000, respectively; and non-employee
directors serving on committees received an annual retainer of
$12,000. Annual retainers are paid quarterly.
Commencing the second quarter of 2004, each non-employee
director received $1,500 for each meeting of the Board of
Directors he or she attended in person and $750 for each meeting
attended telephonically. In addition, each committee member not
employed by Novavax received $500 per committee meeting
attended in person and $250 for each meeting attended
telephonically, except that the chair of each committee received
$1,000 per committee meeting attended in person and $500
for each meeting attended telephonically. In all cases, no fees
are paid for telephonic meetings of the Board or any committee
thereof lasting less than 30 minutes. Directors are also
reimbursed by the Company for reasonable costs and expenses
incurred for attending Board and committee meetings.
No other cash compensation was paid to the directors for their
services to the Company as directors during 2004. For
information relating to shares of the Company owned by each of
the directors, see Beneficial Ownership of Common
Stock below. For information concerning the compensation
of directors who are also officers of the Company, see
Executive Compensation below. For information
concerning a payment made in connection with services rendered
by a director, see Certain Relationships and Related
Transactions below.
7
Prior to the second quarter of 2004, each director not employed
by Novavax received an annual retainer of $10,000, an additional
$1,500 for each meeting of the Board of Directors he or she
attended in person, and $750 for each meeting attended
telephonically. In addition, each committee member not employed
by Novavax received $250 per committee meeting attended,
except that the chair of each committee received $500 per
committee meeting attended.
Directors of Novavax are eligible to participate in the
Companys 1995 Stock Option Plan adopted by the Board of
Directors and approved by the stockholders (the 1995
Plan). The 1995 Plan is administered by the Compensation
Committee under delegation by the Board of Directors. In March
2004, each non-employee director of the Company was awarded a
non-statutory option under the 1995 Plan to
purchase 20,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise
price of $5.95 per share, the closing price of the Common
Stock on March 9, 2004, which options vested in full on
September 9, 2004. Upon her appointment in October 2004,
Ms. Bayh also received a non-statutory option under the
1995 Plan to purchase 20,000 shares of Common Stock at
an exercise price of $3.98 per share, the closing price of
the Common Stock on October 28, 2004, which options vest in
full on April 28, 2005. If approved by stockholders,
directors will also be eligible to participate in the
Companys 2005 Stock Incentive Plan, as discussed in
Proposal Two below. Directors also were eligible to receive
option grants under the Novavax, Inc. 1995 Director Stock
Option Plan, which plan provided for the grant to directors of
options to purchase an aggregate 500,000 shares of the
Companys Common Stock, all of which options have been
granted.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider
Participation
Messrs. Evans, Marsh, McManus and Walker served on the
Compensation Committee until March 2004; Mr. Walker and
Dr. Lazarus served on the Compensation Committee commencing
March 2004 and Ms. Bayh began serving in October 2004. None
of the members of the Compensation Committee was at any time
during fiscal 2004 an officer or employee of Novavax or any
subsidiary; prior to 2004, Mr. Marsh served as interim CEO
of the Company from July 1996 to March 1997. No executive
officer of the Company currently serves, or during 2004 served,
as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee
of any entity that has one or more executive officers serving as
a member of the Companys Board of Directors or
Compensation Committee.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting
Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the
Companys directors, executive officers and holders of more
than 10% of the Companys Common Stock to file with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and the Nasdaq National
Market initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in
ownership of Common Stock and other equity securities of the
Company. Based solely on a review of the copies of such reports
(and any amendments thereto) furnished to the Company during or
with respect to 2004 or written representations that no reports
were required, the Company believes that during fiscal 2004 its
executive officers, directors and holders of more than 10% of
the Companys Common Stock complied with all
Section 16(a) filing requirements, except that in March
2004 five of the Companys non-employee
directors Messrs. Kelly, Marsh, McManus and
Walker and Dr. Lazarus reported the grant of
options to purchase 20,000 shares of Common Stock two
business days late and Mr. Evans reported such grant one
business day late, and each of Nelson M. Sims, Ford R. Lynch,
Denis M. ODonnell, M.D. and D. Craig
Wright, M.D. reported the grant of options to them in March
2004 in their capacities as executive officers of the Company
two business days late, and Dennis W. Genge reported such grant
one business day late. For information on these executive
officer option grants, see Executive
Compensation Stock Options below.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
In March 2002, pursuant to the 1995 Plan, the Company approved
the payment of the exercise price of options by two directors,
Denis M. ODonnell, M.D. and Mitchell J. Kelly,
through the delivery of full recourse, interest-bearing
promissory notes in the amounts of $1,031,668 and $447,600,
respectively, or an
8
aggregate of $1,479,268. The borrowings accrue interest at
5.07% per annum and are secured by 166,667 and
95,000 shares of Common Stock, respectively, or an
aggregate of 261,667 shares of Common Stock owned by the
directors. The notes are payable upon the earlier to occur of
the following: (a) payable in full upon the date on which
the director ceases for any reason to be a director of the
Company, (b) payable in part to the extent of net proceeds,
upon the date on which the director sells all or any portion of
the pledged shares, or (c) payable in full on
March 21, 2007. In addition, during 2002, the Company
executed a conditional guaranty of a brokerage margin account
for Dr. ODonnell in the amount of $500,000.
On July 19, 2004, the Company closed an exchange agreement
and related termination agreement with King Pharmaceuticals,
Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary Parkedale Pharmaceuticals,
Inc., which terminated substantially all agreements among the
parties, including an agreement with King for the exclusive
right to promote certain of the Companys products and
product candidates within the United States and Puerto Rico and
an agreement with King for the exclusive right to promote,
market, distribute and sell these products outside the United
States. The exchange and termination agreements provided for the
return to the Company of all rights worldwide for these
products, as well as all rights to any other products that
Novavax may successfully develop utilizing its micellar
nanoparticle technology. In addition, as part of the exchange
agreement, Novavax hired 50 of Kings womens health
sales representatives to provide competitive sales force
coverage for Novavaxs products and redeemed all
$40 million in aggregate face amount of outstanding
convertible notes held by King at an agreed-upon discount to
face value.
The Company issued 3,775,610 shares of Common Stock to King
in exchange for cash and the termination of substantially all
agreements with King and Parkedale as noted above, and agreed
pursuant to a registration rights agreement entered into in
connection with such transaction to register such shares for
resale by King. Following the closing of these transactions,
King held 4,100,931 shares of our Common Stock, or
approximately 10.4% of the outstanding Common Stock.
In August 2004, the Board approved the payment of $75,000 to
Anaconda Capital Management, L.L.C., of which Mitchell J. Kelly,
a member of the Board, is Chairman, CEO and Managing Member, in
connection with Mr. Kellys assistance and services
furnished to the Company in support of the transactions with
King and Parkedale described above, as well as a debt financing
by the Company as described under Proposal Three in this
Proxy Statement.
9
REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
Compensation Committee
The Compensation Committee (the Committee) is
appointed by the Board of Directors of the Company to assist the
Board with its responsibilities relating to the compensation of
the Companys employees, officers and directors and the
development and administration of the Companys
compensation plans. The goal of the Committee is to support the
development of compensation programs that achieve the strategic
goals and objectives of the Company, attract, motivate and
retain key executives critical to the success of the Company and
align executive officers interests with the success of the
Company.
As set forth in its charter, the Committees authority and
responsibilities include but are not limited to:
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providing advice and guidance with respect to the Companys
compensation strategy and philosophy; |
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evaluating and providing recommendations regarding executive
compensation programs tied to the strategic and financial
objectives of the Company and which will motivate and
incentivize executives by tying their compensation to the
Companys performance and stockholder returns; |
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reviewing and providing input on the goals and objectives
relevant to the compensation of the Companys Chief
Executive Officer, annually evaluating the CEOs
performance, and recommending to the independent members of the
Board the CEOs total compensation package; |
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annually reviewing and making recommendations regarding senior
management compensation; and |
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evaluating and making recommendations annually regarding the
appropriate level and form of compensation for members of the
Board and its committees. |
The Committee must consist of at least two members of the Board
of Directors, each of whom shall be a non-employee
director as defined by Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange
Act, and an outside director as defined in
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the Code). The Board appoints members to
the Committee upon the recommendation of the Companys
Nominating and Governance Committee. Committee members serve
until they resign or are removed or until their successors are
elected and qualified.
The Committee is tasked with meeting at least four times a year,
and more frequently if necessary. It may request that any
officer or employee of the Company, outside counsel or
consultant attend Committee meetings or confer with any members
of, or consultants to, the Committee. The Committee has sole
authority for and may retain compensation consultants as it
deems appropriate to assist the Committee with the performance
of its duties and responsibilities, including sole authority to
approve the fees and other retention terms for such consultants.
The Committee is supported in its efforts by the Companys
human resources team, to which the Committee delegates authority
for certain administrative functions.
Novavax Compensation Philosophy
The philosophy underlying the Companys compensation
program is to be both market competitive and internally
equitable, such that individuals are compensated at a level
commensurate with their industry colleagues outside the Company
in comparable positions and fairly when compared to their
colleagues within the Company.
With this philosophy and the objectives of the Companys
compensation programs in mind, in the fall of 2003 the Company
conducted an internal benchmark study to analyze the
Companys compensation programs and practices. This study
involved an evaluation by the human resources team and
functional vice presidents of each position at Novavax and a
determination of each positions category, based on an
analysis of job description, according to a nationally
recognized compensation survey. An analysis was then performed
of the surveys compensation data and Novavaxs
compensation levels, the result of which was a decision to
benchmark compensation for all Company positions to the 50th
percentile of similar size companies in the
pharmaceutical/biotechnology industry.
10
Compensation Components
Traditionally and for fiscal year 2004, the components of
employee compensation at Novavax included (i) base salary,
(ii) annual discretionary bonuses or commissions for sales
personnel, and (iii) stock option grants (both for new
hires and annual discretionary grants based upon company and
individual performance). Every employee at every level within
the Company is eligible to receive bonuses or commissions and
equity compensation awards.
In 2004, the Committee determined to administer base salaries at
plus or minus 25% of the 50th percentile for office, lab and
factory-based employees. Base salaries for sales personnel are
administered at plus or minus 35% of the 50th percentile, and
brought in line based upon performance within 24 months.
General base salary levels for the Companys executive
officers, therefore, are based on a review of compensation for
competitive positions in the market; individual salaries within
the permitted range reflect the executives job skills and
experience, as well as judgments as to past and future
contributions of the executives to the Companys success.
The companies whose compensation practices are studied are not
limited to the peer group listed in the stock performance chart,
but include the full range of companies with which the Company
believes it competes for executive talent. The Board deferred
any decision regarding salary increases for all officers of the
Company until the second quarter of 2005; increases for all
other employees, approved in February 2005, ranged from zero to
7% of current salaries.
Annual bonuses are tiered based upon the individuals level
in the Company, e.g. manager or individual contributor. In
addition, for directors and officers with the title of senior
vice president or vice president, there are additional bonus
levels to reflect the relative importance of such positions and
to reward individual performance at those levels.
In 2004, the Company determined annual bonuses for 2003 for each
employee based on a performance factor that took
into account each individuals overall performance rating
from their annual performance appraisal. Only employees whose
overall performance rating was at or above the required
meets expectations rating were eligible for a bonus.
The range of bonuses awarded in 2004 for 2003 performance was 20
to 40% of base salary for senior management and 10 to 15% for
directors. Bonuses for managers and individual contributors were
targeted at 7.5% and 5% of base salary, respectively. Target
bonuses in the full amount were awarded to employees who met
100% of their individual objectives and had been with the
Company all year, were prorated for employees who had been with
the Company less than a full year, and were decreased
proportionately in cases where employees met less than 100% of
their individual objectives.
In the early part of 2004, individual objectives were developed
for that year; the bonus for each employee was then determined
based on the individuals achievement of 100% of those
objectives as well as their overall performance. Bonus awards
were prorated based upon the employees date of hire. In
order to be eligible to receive a bonus for 2004, employees had
to have joined the Company by November 1 and performed at a
level of at least meets expectations.
Bonuses are designed to tie annual awards to Company and
individual executive performance and motivate and reward
employees for their contributions to Company performance. The
Committee considers a number of factors in determining whether
annual incentive awards should be paid, most importantly the
achievement by the Company of specified strategic objectives and
the achievement by the employees of their individual objectives.
For 2004, the strategic priorities for the Company against which
performance was measured included but were not limited to:
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Successfully launch ESTRASORB, including: |
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Complete, validate and FDA-qualify the manufacturing facility; |
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Build inventory and stock the retail market; |
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Hire and train the sales organization; and |
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Develop a marketing launch plan; |
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Support legacy products; |
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Build a pipeline of new products, including: |
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Refocus vaccine and drug delivery product development; |
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Improve the infrastructure for research and development; and |
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Formulate new MNP products; |
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Improve the Companys cost structure, including: |
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Implement a facility strategy; and |
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Improve manufacturing costs; |
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Strengthen the organization and improve organizational
effectiveness; |
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Ensure compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; and |
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Meet business development objectives and cash flow requirements. |
Individual objectives are drawn up by each employee by reference
to the Companys overall objectives and in consultation
with each such employees functional vice president. The
goal of individual objectives is to support the achievement of
the Companys objectives and align individual performance
with those objectives.
The Board deferred making a decision regarding annual bonuses
for officers until the second quarter of 2005. Bonuses for
employees who are not officers ranged from $281 to $20,278 for
fiscal 2004, which included bonuses prorated for partial-year
employment.
The granting of stock options has been analyzed and benchmarked
to the 50th percentile of grants at comparable surveyed
companies. Similar to base salary and bonus or commission
determinations, the Committee evaluated equity compensation
awards at comparable companies both generally and for individual
job categories. Based on this data, it developed target awards
for each position within the Company for both initial and annual
discretionary stock option grants. Deviations from the range may
occur based on performance, and no individual is eligible to
receive an award unless he or she receives the minimum required
meets expectations performance rating in his or her
annual performance appraisal.
The primary goal of the equity compensation component is to
align management and stockholder interests for the long-term
enhancement of stockholder value: when the market price of a
share of Common Stock declines, the value of the grant to the
employee declines. Employees are consequently motivated to
improve their performance in support of improved Company
performance.
As noted above, in selecting executives eligible to receive
option grants and determining the size of such grants, the
Committee reviews a variety of factors, including:
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the job level of the executive, |
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option grants awarded by competitors to executives at a
comparable job level, and |
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past, current and prospective services rendered, or to be
rendered, to the Company by the executive. |
The Company administers two plans under which stock options are
granted to eligible participants. The Novavax, Inc. 1995 Stock
Option Plan provides for the grant of stock options
both incentive and non-statutory to officers,
employees, consultants and directors of the Company and any
present or future subsidiaries to purchase a maximum of
9,000,000 shares of Common Stock. The Company also
administers
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the Novavax, Inc. 1995 Director Stock Option Plan, which
provides for the issuance of up to 500,000 shares of Common
Stock to directors of the Company, all of which options have
been granted.
The exercise price for the options granted to executives to date
has been equal to at least 100% of the fair market value per
share on the date of grant, and the Committee intends to
continue to fix the exercise price of option grants at no less
than 100% of the fair market value per share on the date of
grant. During 2004, the Committee awarded options for a total of
1,168,150 shares to all employees, including options to
purchase 308,000 shares awarded to all individuals who
served as executive officers of the Company during the year.
Procedure
The process of determining annual compensation packages begins
in advance of the Committees first meeting in the new
year. Prior to that meeting, the Companys human resources
team performs an analysis, keeping in mind the goals of market
competitiveness and internal equity and benchmarking against the
50th percentile, of each position within the Company, matched
against current salary survey data, both for the industry and
geographically. Once a budget is determined for the year,
modeling is performed to assess which individuals are being paid
outside the permissible range of the Companys salary
administration guidelines. Individual performance is evaluated
against achievement of each of the Companys and the
individuals strategic priorities. No adjustment is made if
the individual did not receive the minimum required performance
rating in his or her annual performance appraisal.
Compensation packages for vice presidents and above are analyzed
and discussed individually at the Committees first
meeting. At this and subsequent meetings, the Committee may
request additional information from the human resources team.
Once the Committee has obtained all of the information it deems
necessary, it approves or rejects the compensation
recommendations presented. These recommendations are then
presented to the Board of Directors, and decisions regarding CEO
and executive officer compensation are made by the independent
members of the Board.
Chief Executive Officer Compensation
Nelson M. Sims was elected President and Chief Executive Officer
of the Company effective August 2003. The criteria used to
establish Mr. Sims initial compensation included,
among other things, the compensation packages of executive
officers of comparable companies of similar size in the
specialty pharmaceutical industry and the factors described
above for all executive officers. Pursuant to
Mr. Sims employment agreement with the Company, he is
entitled to receive an initial base salary of $400,000, subject
to merit-based increases commencing January 1, 2005. In
addition, he is entitled to receive performance and incentive
bonuses, beginning in respect of his employment with the Company
through December 31, 2004, payable on or before
March 31, 2005, in an amount to be determined by the Board
or any committee thereof authorized to make such determination.
Mr. Sims employment agreement specifies that such
bonus will be based on his achievement of certain specified
goals, and shall be at least $139,000 and not greater than
$347,000. Upon hire, Mr. Sims was granted stock options to
purchase 900,000 shares of the Common Stock of the
Company at $5.63 per share, which price was the fair market
value on the date of grant. The options vest in three equal
increments on the first three anniversaries of the date of the
grant. Mr. Sims is also eligible to receive additional
stock options annually, based on job performance, to purchase
that number of shares of Common Stock equal to not less than
three percent of the total number of shares of Common Stock
issued by the Company during the most recent fiscal year in
private or public offerings or pursuant to conversions of
convertible securities issued after commencement of his
employment with the Company.
As noted above, Mr. Sims annual base salary for each
of 2003 and 2004 was $400,000. His annual base salary has not
been increased for 2005 due to a decision, based on the
financial condition and performance of the Company during the
2004 fiscal year, to defer compensation decisions regarding
salary adjustments for all officers of the Company until the
second quarter of the 2005 fiscal year. Similarly, the Board
deferred the decision as to whether to grant Mr. Sims or
any other officer of the Company a bonus for 2004 performance.
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In March 2004, Mr. Sims was awarded options to
purchase 135,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise
price of $5.95, the closing price of the Common Stock on the
date of grant. In February 2005, the Committee recommended and
the independent members of the Board approved the grant to
Mr. Sims of options to purchase 142,000 shares of
Common Stock at an exercise price of $2.21 per share, the
fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant. This
incentive award was based on Mr. Sims efforts to:
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Ensure successful financing to fund operations; |
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Strengthen the Companys corporate leadership team,
including the addition of key personnel in sales, marketing,
research and development, manufacturing, finance and business
development; |
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Prepare the Company to launch ESTRASORB, including: |
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Manufacturing; and |
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Sales and marketing; |
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Improve the Companys cost structure, including: |
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Facility consolidation; |
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Manufacturing costs; and |
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Operational effectiveness; |
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Refocus new product development, including: |
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Vaccines; and |
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Drug delivery; |
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Develop and meet our business development strategy; and |
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Meet Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 requirements. |
Tax Considerations
Section 162(m) of the Code generally disallows a tax
deduction to public companies for compensation over $1,000,000
paid to certain employees, generally the Chief Executive Officer
and the four other most highly compensated executive officers.
Qualifying performance-based compensation will not be subject to
the deduction limit if certain requirements are met. In 2004, no
compensation paid by the Company was nondeductible as a result
of the $1,000,000 limitation. Furthermore, the Committee
believes that, given the general range of salaries and bonuses
for executive officers of the Company, the $1,000,000 threshold
of Section 162(m) will not be reached by any executive
officer of the Company in the foreseeable future. Accordingly,
the Committee has not formulated a policy to address
non-qualifying compensation.
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Compensation Committee |
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Ronald H. Walker, Chairman |
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Susan B. Bayh |
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J. Michael Lazarus, M.D. |
14
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors is comprised of
three members, each of whom is a non-employee director and
satisfies all applicable independence requirements. The
responsibilities and duties of the Audit Committee, summarized
below, are more fully set forth in the committees charter,
a copy of which is available on the Companys website at
www.novavax.com.
The primary purpose of the Audit Committee is to represent and
assist the Board of Directors in fulfilling its responsibilities
for oversight of: the Companys accounting and financial
reporting processes; the preparation, presentation and integrity
of the financial reports and other financial information
provided by the Company to any governmental or regulatory body,
the public or other users thereof; the adequacy and efficacy of
the Companys systems of internal accounting, auditing and
financial controls; the Companys compliance with legal and
regulatory requirements; the conduct, independence and
qualifications of the Companys independent auditor; and
the performance of the annual independent audit of the
Companys financial statements. In 2004, the Audit
Committee also actively participated in the evaluation of the
Companys internal control over financial accounting and
the implementation of the components of the Companys
internal control system as required by Section 404 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The Audit Committee also played an
active role in monitoring, and supporting management in its
assessment of the effectiveness, of such system and its
components.
In discharging its oversight role, the Audit Committee is
empowered to investigate any matter brought to its attention
with full access to all books, records, facilities and personnel
of the Company, and to retain outside counsel, auditors and
other experts for this purpose. The Board and the Audit
Committee are in place to represent the Companys
stockholders. Accordingly, the independent auditor is ultimately
accountable to the Audit Committee and the Board.
In keeping with its responsibilities, the Audit Committee has
reviewed and discussed the Companys audited financial
statements with management. The Audit Committee has discussed
with Ernst & Young LLP, the Companys independent
auditor, the matters required to be discussed by Statement of
Auditing Standards No. 61, Communication with Audit
Committees (as currently in effect), which includes, among
other items, matters related to the conduct of the audit of the
Companys financial statements. The Audit Committee meets
with the independent auditor, with and without management
present, to discuss the results of its examinations, its
evaluations of the Companys internal controls, and the
overall quality of the Companys financial reporting. The
Audit Committee has also received written disclosures and the
letter from Ernst & Young LLP required by Independence
Standards Board Standard No. 1, Independence
Discussions with Audit Committees (as currently in effect)
relating to the auditors independence from the Company and
its related entities, discussed with Ernst & Young LLP
its independence from the Company, and considered the
compatibility of the auditors provision of non-audit
services with maintaining the auditors independence.
Based on the review and discussions referred to above, the Audit
Committee recommended to the Companys Board of Directors,
and the Board has approved, that the Companys audited
financial statements be included in the Companys Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2004. The Audit Committee has selected,
subject to stockholder ratification, Ernst & Young LLP
as the Companys independent auditor for the current fiscal
year ending December 31, 2005.
The Audit Committee pre-approved all audit and permissible
non-audit services provided to the Company by the independent
auditor during fiscal 2004. It is the Audit Committees
policy to pre-approve the audit and permissible non-audit
services (both the type and amount) performed by the
Companys independent auditor in order to ensure that the
provision of such services does not impair the auditors
independence, in appearance or fact.
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Audit Committee |
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Michael A. McManus, Jr., Chairman |
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Gary C. Evans |
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John O. Marsh, Jr. |
15
PROPOSAL TWO APPROVAL OF THE 2005 STOCK
INCENTIVE PLAN
On February 24, 2005, the Board of Directors approved the
adoption of the Novavax, Inc. 2005 Stock Incentive Plan (the
2005 Plan) in response to the pending expiration of
the 1995 Plan and to better address the Companys changing
business needs. The 2005 Plan is subject to stockholder approval
at the Meeting.
Set forth below is a summary of the key provisions of the 2005
Plan and a general description of the U.S. Federal income
tax treatment applicable to the receipt of awards under such
plan. The text of the 2005 Plan is set forth in an appendix to
this Proxy Statement. The following is intended to be a summary,
and does not purport to be a complete statement, of the
principal terms of the 2005 Plan. This summary is subject to and
qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the
2005 Plan as set forth in such appendix.
General
Purpose; Term. The 2005 Plan provides for the grant to
employees, officers and directors of, as well as consultants and
advisors to, the Company, its parents and subsidiaries of stock
options (non-statutory and incentive), restricted stock awards,
stock appreciation rights (SARs) and restricted
stock units. The stated purpose of the 2005 Plan is to secure
for the Company and its stockholders the benefits arising from
capital stock ownership by eligible participants who are
expected to contribute to the Companys future growth and
success. Unless sooner terminated in accordance with its terms,
the 2005 Plan will terminate upon the close of business on
February 23, 2015.
Administration. The 2005 Plan is administered by the
Board of Directors, which may, as permitted by and consistent
with applicable law, delegate any or all of its powers under the
plan to a committee it appoints. Subject to the terms of the
2005 Plan, the Board (or such committee) has the authority to
determine the individuals to whom, and the time or times at
which, awards are made, the size of each award, and the other
terms and conditions of each award (which need not be identical
across recipients). The Board also has the authority, subject to
the express provisions of the 2005 Plan, to construe the
respective agreements under the plan, proscribe, amend and
rescind rules and regulations relating to the plan, accelerate
or extend the dates options may be exercised or other stock
awards may vest, and make all other determinations which are in
the Boards judgment necessary or desirable for the
administration of the plan. The Boards construction and
interpretation of the terms and provisions of the 2005 Plan are
final and conclusive.
Initial Stock Subject to 2005 Plan; Transfer of Shares from
1995 Plan. The number of shares of Common Stock which are
initially set aside and reserved for issuance under the 2005
Plan is 2,000,000 shares (which amount is subject to
adjustment as described herein). In addition,
565,724 shares held in reserve under the 1995 Plan, but
which are unused (i.e., not subject to outstanding stock
options), will be transferred to the 2005 Plan upon stockholder
approval. There will, therefore, be a total of
2,565,274 shares available for issuance under the 2005 Plan
if stockholders approve such plan.
The 1995 Plan will continue to exist, and stock options
previously granted under the 1995 Plan will remain in existence
in accordance with their terms. However, if the 2005 Plan is
approved, no new awards will be made under the 1995 Plan. If any
existing stock options granted under the 1995 Plan should for
any reason expire or otherwise terminate, in whole or in part,
in the future without having been exercised in full, the shares
of Common Stock that are not acquired shall revert to and become
available for issuance under the 2005 Plan. There are currently
5,746,468 shares of Common Stock subject to existing
options under the 1995 Plan.
Reversion of Shares. There are certain circumstances
under which shares of Common Stock that are already subject to
an outstanding award under the 2005 Plan may revert to such plan
and become available for reissuance. Specifically, if a stock
award shall for any reason expire or otherwise terminate, in
whole or in part, without having been exercised in full
(i.e., in the case of a stock option, SAR or restricted
stock unit), or if any shares of Common Stock issued to a
recipient pursuant to an award are forfeited back to or are
repurchased by the Company (i.e., in the case of
restricted stock), then the shares not acquired shall revert to
and again become available for issuance under the 2005 Plan. A
forfeiture or repurchase of stock may occur, for example, as a
result of a recipients failure to satisfy a contingency or
condition that is required for the vesting
16
of such shares. Restricted stock that has been issued, and which
is then repurchased by the Company, shall only be reissued in
the form of awards other than incentive stock options.
Effect on Share Reserve of Use of Shares to Cover Tax
Withholding. The Board has discretion under the 2005 Plan to
allow a recipient of a stock option to use shares of Common
Stock to satisfy the tax withholding requirement that may arise
upon exercise of such option. The shares may be shares
previously owned by the recipient, or may be the shares acquired
from the exercise of the option. Any shares of Common Stock that
are not delivered to a recipient because those shares are used
to satisfy the payment of taxes will revert to the share reserve
under the 2005 Plan and shall again become available for
issuance in the future.
Effect on Share Reserve of a Net Exercise or
Cashless Exercise of Stock Options. Payment of the exercise
price of a stock option may be made in cash or check payable to
the Company. The Board may also provide in the applicable stock
option agreement under the 2005 Plan that a recipient may use
shares of already-owned Common Stock to satisfy payment of the
exercise price, or any other means approved by the Board
(including a net exercise in which the Company
withholds a number of shares that would otherwise be issued to a
recipient upon the exercise of the option that have a fair
market value equal to the option exercise price). Any shares of
Common Stock that are not delivered to a recipient because those
shares are used to satisfy the payment of the exercise price
will revert to the share reserve under the 2005 Plan and shall
again become available for issuance in the future.
Maximum Number of Shares Issued through Incentive Stock
Options. The maximum aggregate number of shares that may be
issued under the 2005 Plan through the exercise of incentive
stock options is 8,312,192.
Eligible Participants. Subject to certain limitations,
awards under the 2005 Plan of non-statutory options
(NSOs), restricted stock awards, restricted stock
units and SARs may be granted to any employee, officer,
director, consultant or advisor to the Company and its parents
and subsidiaries. Only employees of the Company and its parents
and subsidiaries may be granted incentive stock options
(ISOs) under the 2005 Plan. As of March 11,
2005, the Company had 160 full-time employees, four of whom are
also current executive officers. As of March 11, 2005,
there were seven members of the Board of Directors who were not
employees of the Company.
Plan Amendments and Termination. The Board of Directors
may at any time, and from time to time, modify or amend the 2005
Plan in any respect, provided that no such modification
or amendment may adversely affect the rights of a recipient
under an existing stock award. In addition, 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 ISOs, or under Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act
(if then applicable) or other applicable rules and regulations,
the Board of Directors may not effect such modification or
amendment without such approval.
The Board may at any time suspend or terminate the 2005 Plan,
provided that any such suspension or termination shall
not adversely affect the rights of a recipient under any award
previously granted while the 2005 Plan is in effect except with
the consent of the recipient.
Options
The following is a description of the permissible terms of stock
options under the 2005 Plan. Individual option grants may be
more restrictive as to all or any of the permissible terms
described below.
Option Duration. The term of each ISO shall be
10 years from the date of grant or such shorter term as the
Board determines, except that in the case of an ISO that is
awarded to an employee who, at the time of grant, owns stock
possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of
all classes of stock of the Company or any parent or subsidiary,
the term of the ISO must be five years or such shorter period as
the Board determines. The term of each NSO is as determined by
the Board. The term of any option granted under the 2005 Plan,
and all other materials terms and conditions of such option,
will be evidenced by an option agreement between the Company and
the recipient.
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Exercise Price. The exercise price for any NSO granted
under the 2005 Plan shall be as determined by the Board of
Directors, and may be less than the Fair Market
Value of the Common Stock on the date of grant if the
Board so provides. The exercise price for any ISO may not be
less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on
the date of grant. If such ISO is granted to an employee who at
the time of grant owns stock possessing more than 10% of the
total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the
Company or any of its parents or subsidiaries, the exercise
price may not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value on the
date of grant.
Fair Market Value. If the Common Stock is listed on an
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. In the absence
of such markets for the Common Stock, the Fair Market Value
shall be determined in good faith by the Board.
Exercise of Option and Payment for Stock. Stock options
are exercisable at such time or times and subject to such
conditions as set forth in the agreement evidencing such option,
subject to the provisions of the 2005 Plan.
Under the current form of stock option agreement approved by the
Board for use under the 2005 Plan (which is subject to change),
options vest and become exercisable in accordance with the
following schedule: (a) 25% on each of the first four
anniversaries of the date of grant for employees below the Vice
President level, and
(b) 331/3%
on each of the first three anniversaries of the date of grant
for employees at or above the Vice President level. The Board
has authority to accelerate the time at which an option may vest
or be exercised.
The consideration to be paid for shares to be issued upon
exercise of an option may be made by (a) delivery of cash
or a check to the Company; (b) to the extent permitted by
the applicable option agreement, delivery to the Company of
shares of Common Stock already owned by the recipient having a
Fair Market Value on the date of surrender equal to the
aggregate exercise price of the shares being purchased; or
(c) by any other means approved by the Board, including
through a broker-assisted, same-day sale program.
Effect of Recipients Termination of Employment or other
Service, Death or Disability. The Board has the power to
determine the period of time during which a recipient (or, if
applicable, the recipients estate or representative) may
exercise a stock option under the 2005 Plan following the
termination of the recipients employment or other
relationship with the Company, including upon the death or
disability (within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the
Code) of the recipient. Such periods must be set forth in the
agreement evidencing the option. The current form of option
agreement under the 2005 Plan provides in general that a
recipient shall have three months to exercise the vested portion
of the option following termination of service with the Company,
after which time the option shall expire and is no longer
exercisable. The unvested portion of the stock option cannot be
exercised and is forfeited on the date of termination. However,
under the form of option agreement, if a recipients
employment or other service on behalf of the Company or an
affiliate is terminated because of his or her death (which
occurs while the recipient is either actively providing such
services or within three months after the recipients
termination for a reason other than cause), then the exercise
period is extended to one year after the date of death. If the
recipient is terminated because of a disability, the exercise
period is also extended to one year after the date of
termination. In no event, however, may a stock option be
exercised after the expiration date of the option. In the case
of a termination for cause under the form of stock
option agreement (as defined therein), the option cannot be
exercised and is forfeited both as to the vested and unvested
shares subject to the option. The Board in its discretion may in
the future change the form of option agreement to provide for
shorter or longer exercise periods upon termination of service
than the periods described above.
For an option to retain its status as an ISO, the recipient must
have been in the continuous employment of the Company or an
affiliate since the date of grant of the ISO, and the ISO must
be exercised within three
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months after the date the recipient ceases to be an employee of
the Company or an affiliate. An option shall be considered an
NSO if these requirements are not met.
Transferability. Options are not 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
recipient, shall be exercisable only by the recipient. NSOs may,
however, be transferred pursuant to a qualified domestic
relations order (as defined in Rule 16b-3) or as otherwise
expressly permitted in the agreement evidencing such NSO.
Repricing. The 2005 Plan does not affirmatively give the
Board authority, in the event of a decline in the value of the
Companys Common Stock, to replace outstanding higher
priced options with new lower priced options, nor does it give
the Board authority to reprice any out-of-the-money options.
Restricted Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Units and SARs
Generally. As a condition to the grant of a restricted
stock award, restricted stock unit or SAR, each recipient must
execute an agreement evidencing such award not inconsistent with
the 2005 Plan. The terms and conditions of each such agreement
may change from time to time and agreements need not be
identical, with certain exceptions noted below.
Restricted Stock Awards. The Board will determine the
purchase price per share at the time of grant of a restricted
stock award, which may not be less than the par value of the
Common Stock. A restricted stock award may be awarded as a stock
bonus with no cash purchase price to be paid by a recipient to
the extent permitted under applicable law. At the time of the
grant, the Board will also determine the permitted consideration
for the payment of the purchase price, if any, which may be:
(a) cash at the time of purchase; (b) services
rendered or to be rendered to the Company; or (c) any other
form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Board,
subject to applicable law (including Delaware corporate law).
Shares of Common Stock acquired under a restricted stock award
may be subject to a share repurchase option in favor of the
Company or an affiliate in accordance with a vesting schedule as
determined by the Board.
Transferability. Rights to purchase or receive shares of
Common Stock granted under a restricted stock award are
transferable by the recipient 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 the Common Stock awarded then remains subject to the
terms of the restricted stock award agreement. Transferability
of other awards will be as determined by the Board.
Restricted Stock Units. A restricted stock unit is a
promise by the Company to issue shares of Common Stock
equivalent to the number of units covered by the award at or
after vesting of the Common Stock underlying the units. The
Board will determine the consideration, if any, to be paid by
the recipient upon delivery of each share of Common Stock
subject to an award of a restricted stock unit which, to the
extent required by applicable law, may not be less than par
value. A recipient may settle a restricted stock unit by
delivery of shares of Common Stock, their cash equivalent or any
combination of the two. At the time of grant, the Board may also
determine any restrictions or conditions to the vesting of the
shares subject to the award or any other restrictions or
conditions that delay delivery of such shares. Dividend
equivalents may be credited in respect of restricted stock units
as the Board determines. If the recipients service with
the Company terminates for any reason, unvested restricted stock
units will be forfeited unless the applicable award agreement
provides otherwise.
SARs. A stock appreciation right entitles the recipient
to a payment equal in value to the appreciation in the value of
the underlying share of the Companys Common Stock for a
predetermined number of shares over a specified period. SARs
will be denominated in shares of Common Stock equivalents.
Payment may be made in shares of Common Stock, cash or any
combination of the two, as the Board deems appropriate. The
amount payable on the exercise of a SAR may not be greater than
an amount equal to the excess of (1) the aggregate Fair
Market Value on the date of the exercise of the SAR of a number
of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of shares of
Common Stock equivalents in which the recipient is vested under
such SAR (and with respect to which the recipient is exercising
the SAR on such date), over (2) an amount that is
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determined by the Board at the time of grant. The Board may
impose any restrictions it deems appropriate on the vesting of
SARs. If the recipients service with the Company
terminates for any reason, unvested SARs will be forfeited and
vested SARs will automatically be redeemed by the Company.
Corporate Changes
Adjustment Provisions. Transactions not involving receipt
of consideration by the Company, such as certain mergers,
consolidations, reorganizations, stock dividends or stock
splits, may change the type, class and number of shares of
Common Stock subject to the 2005 Plan and outstanding awards. In
such event, the 2005 Plan will be appropriately adjusted as to
the type, class and the maximum number of shares of Common Stock
subject to the plan, and outstanding awards will be adjusted as
to the type, class, number of shares and price per share of
Common Stock subject to such awards.
Change in Control. In the event of certain specified
organizational changes, including but not limited to (a) a
consolidation, merger, combination or reorganization of the
Company, (b) the sale, lease or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the assets, or a dissolution or
liquidation, of the Company, or (c) a transaction or series
of related transactions in which persons who were not
stockholders of the Company immediately prior to acquiring
Company capital stock as part of such transaction(s) become the
owners of capital stock of the Company that represents more than
50% of the combined voting power of the Companys
outstanding capital stock, then the Board of Directors of the
Company or the board of any corporation assuming the
Companys obligations may take any one or more actions as
to outstanding awards under the 2005 Plan, including:
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providing that such awards will continue in existence with
appropriate adjustments or modifications, if applicable, |
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providing that such awards will be assumed, or equivalent awards
substituted, by the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an
affiliate thereof), |
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upon written notice to the participants, providing that all
unexercised options, or other awards to the extent they are
unexercised or unvested, will terminate immediately prior to the
consummation of such transaction unless exercised within a
specified period, |
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in the event of a consolidation, merger, combination,
reorganization or similar transaction under the terms of which
holders of the Common Stock of the Company will receive a cash
payment per share surrendered in the transaction, making or
providing for an equivalent cash payment in exchange for the
termination of such awards, or |
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providing that all or any outstanding 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. |
Changes to Incumbent Board. The Board or its designee may
also provide for the accelerated vesting or exercisability of an
award under the 2005 Plan (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 an option agreement or other stock award agreement at
the time of grant of the award, or at any time thereafter. A
change in the incumbent board is deemed to occur if
the existing members of the Board on the date the 2005 Plan is
initially adopted by the Board cease to constitute at least a
majority of the members of the Board, with certain exceptions.
In that regard, any person that becomes a new Board member after
the adoption of the 2005 Plan shall be deemed a member of the
incumbent board for this purpose if his or her election or
appointment was approved or recommended by a majority vote of
the members of the existing incumbent board who are then still
in office.
Tax Matters
Incentive Stock Options. In general, taxable income is
recognized with respect to an ISO only upon the sale of Common
Stock acquired through the exercise of the ISO (ISO
Stock) and not in connection with
20
the grant or exercise of such ISO. However, the exercise of an
ISO may subject the recipient to the alternative minimum tax.
The tax consequences of selling ISO Stock will vary with the
length of time that the recipient has owned the ISO Stock at the
time it is sold. If the recipient sells ISO Stock after having
owned it for the greater of (a) two years from the date the
option was granted, and (b) one year from the date the
option was exercised, then the recipient will recognize a
long-term capital gain in an amount equal to the excess of the
amount realized by the recipient on the sale price of the ISO
Stock over the exercise price. If the recipient sells ISO Stock
for more than the exercise price prior to having owned it for at
least two years from the grant date and one year from the
exercise date (a Disqualifying Disposition), then
all or a portion of the gain recognized by the recipient will be
ordinary compensation income and the remaining gain, if any,
will be a capital gain. Any capital gain realized by the
recipient from the sale of ISO Stock will be a long-term capital
gain if the recipient has held the ISO Stock for more than one
year prior to the date of sale. If a recipient sells ISO Stock
for less than the exercise price, then the recipient will
recognize a capital loss equal to the excess of the exercise
price over the sale price of the ISO Stock. This capital loss
will be a long-term capital loss if the recipient has held the
ISO Stock for more than one year to the date of sale.
Nonstatutory Stock Options. As with ISOs, the grant of
NSOs with an exercise price per share that is at least equal to
the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of
grant does not result in the recognition of taxable income to
the recipient. The exercise of an NSO results in the recognition
of ordinary income to the recipient in the amount by which the
fair market value of the Common Stock acquired through the
exercise of the NSO (NSO Stock) on the exercise date
exceeds the exercise price. Because of this tax consequence,
NSOs are typically exercised simultaneously with the sale of the
NSO Stock. If the NSO stock is not sold upon exercise, the
recipient acquires a tax basis in the NSO Stock equal to the
effective fair market value of the stock on the day of exercise
(i.e., the exercise price plus any income recognized upon
the exercise of the option). The sale of NSO Stock generally
will result in the recognition of a capital gain or loss in an
amount equal to the excess of the sale price of the NSO Stock
over the recipients tax basis in the NSO Stock. This
capital gain or loss will be a long-term gain or loss if the
recipient has held the NSO Stock for more than one year prior to
the date of the sale and any such capital gain may be eligible
for the lower capital gains rate if held for more than a year.
Notwithstanding the above, in the case of an award of an
in-the-money NSO (i.e., an NSO with a below-Fair Market
Value exercise price on the date of grant), this will be deemed
to result in a deferral of compensation for purposes of
Section 409A of the Code. Non-compliance with
Section 409A can result in the imposition of income tax and
penalties on a recipient at the time of grant of the option or
upon later vesting.
Federal Income Tax Consequences to the Company in connection
with Stock Options. The grant and exercise of ISOs and NSOs
generally have no direct tax consequences to the Company. The
Company generally will be entitled to a compensation deduction
with respect to any ordinary income recognized by a recipient,
including income that results from the exercise of a NSO or a
Disqualifying Disposition of an ISO. Any such deduction will be
subject to the limitations of Section 162(m) of the Code.
The Company has a statutory obligation to withhold appropriate
income taxes from the ordinary income that is realized from the
exercise of NSOs by employees.
Restricted Stock Awards and Stock Bonuses. Restricted
stock awards and stock bonuses granted under the 2005 Plan
generally have the following federal income tax consequences.
Upon acquisition of the stock, the recipient normally will
recognize taxable ordinary income equal to the excess, if any,
of the stocks Fair Market Value on the acquisition date
over the purchase price. However, to the extent the stock is
subject to certain types of vesting restrictions, the taxable
event will be delayed until the vesting restrictions lapse
unless the recipient elects to be taxed on receipt of the stock.
With respect to employees, the Company is generally required to
withhold from regular wages or supplemental wage payments an
amount based on the ordinary income recognized. Subject to the
requirement of reasonableness, the provisions of
Section 162(m) of the Code and the satisfaction of a tax
reporting obligation, the Company will generally be entitled to
a business expense deduction equal to the taxable ordinary
income realized by the recipient.
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Upon disposition of the stock, the recipient will recognize a
capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the selling
price and the sum of the amount paid for such stock plus any
amount recognized as ordinary income upon acquisition (or
vesting) of the stock. Such gain or loss will be long-term or
short-term depending on whether the stock was held for more than
one year. Slightly different rules may apply to recipients who
acquire stock subject to certain repurchase options or who are
subject to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.
Stock Appreciation Rights. No taxable income is realized
upon the receipt of a SAR, but upon exercise of the SAR the Fair
Market Value of the shares (or cash in lieu of shares) received
must be treated as compensation taxable as ordinary income to
the recipient in the year of such exercise. Generally, with
respect to employees, the Company is required to withhold from
the payment made on exercise of the SAR or from regular wages or
supplemental wage payments an amount based on the ordinary
income recognized. Subject to the requirement of reasonableness,
Section 162(m) of the Code and the satisfaction of a
reporting obligation, the Company will be entitled to a business
expense deduction equal to the taxable ordinary income
recognized by the recipient.
Notwithstanding the above, a SAR is considered deferred
compensation for purposes of Section 409A of the Code
unless the following criteria are met: (1) the SAR can be
settled only in stock of the recipient, (2) the stock
underlying the SAR is publicly traded on an established
securities market, (3) the recipient cannot elect upon
exercise of the SAR to defer payout of the stock to a later
date, and (4) the SAR pays only the excess in value of the
underlying stock on the exercise date over the value of such
stock on the grant date. Non-compliance with Section 409A
can result in the imposition of income tax and penalties on a
recipient at the time of grant of the SAR or upon later vesting.
Restricted Stock Units. A recipient does not have taxable
ordinary income upon the grant of a restricted stock unit.
Ordinary income arises on the actual or constructive receipt of
the restricted stock underlying the units (or upon receipt of
cash, if the restricted stock unit is settled in cash), which
generally occurs when the restricted stock units vest. The Board
may permit deferral of the payout of the restricted stock or
cash to a date beyond the vesting date, in which case the
recognition of ordinary income is delayed until the date of
receipt (assuming that Section 409A of the Code does not
require earlier recognition of income).
Section 409A of the Code provides that a restricted stock
unit does not result in the deferral of compensation if the
stock must be issued shortly after vesting occurs. If the
recipient has the right to elect to defer payout of the stock to
a future taxable year, this will be considered a deferred
compensation arrangement under Section 409A. Non-compliance
with Section 409A can result in the imposition of income
tax and penalties on a recipient at the time of grant of the
restricted stock unit or upon later vesting.
Potential Limitation on Company Deductions.
Section 162(m) of the Code denies a deduction to any
publicly-held corporation for compensation paid to certain
covered employees in a taxable year to the extent
that compensation to such covered employee exceeds
$1 million. It is possible that compensation attributable
to awards, when combined with all other types of compensation
received by a covered employee from the Company, may cause this
limitation to be exceeded in any particular year.
Certain kinds of compensation, including qualified
performance-based compensation, are disregarded for
purposes of the deduction limitation. In accordance with
Treasury Regulations issued under Section 162(m),
compensation attributable to stock options and SARs will qualify
as performance-based compensation if the award is granted by a
compensation committee comprised solely of outside
directors and either (i) the plan contains a
per-employee limitation on the number of shares for which such
awards may be granted during a specified period, the
per-employee limitation is approved by the stockholders, and the
exercise price of the award is no less than the Fair Market
Value of the stock on the date of grant, or (ii) the award
is granted (or exercisable) only upon the achievement (as
certified in writing by the compensation committee) of an
objective performance goal established in writing by the
compensation committee while the outcome is substantially
uncertain, and the award is approved by stockholders.
Awards to purchase restricted stock and stock bonus awards will
qualify as performance-based compensation under the Treasury
Regulations only if (i) the award is granted by a
compensation committee
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comprised solely of outside directors, (ii) the
award is granted (or exercisable) only upon the achievement of
an objective performance goal established in writing by the
compensation committee while the outcome is substantially
uncertain, (iii) the compensation committee certifies in
writing prior to the granting (or exercisability) of the award
that the performance goal has been satisfied and (iv) prior
to the granting (or exercisability) of the award, stockholders
have approved the material terms of the award (including the
class of employees eligible for such award, the business
criteria on which the performance goal is based, and the maximum
amount or formula used to calculate the
amount payable upon attainment of the performance
goal).
The foregoing is only a summary of the effect of federal income
taxation upon the recipient and the Company with respect to
awards granted under the 2005 Plan. It does not purport to be
complete and does not discuss the tax consequences arising in
the event of a recipients death or the income tax laws of
the municipality, state or foreign country under which the
recipients income may be taxable.
New Plan Benefits
Awards of stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock
units and SARs made to eligible participants under the 2005 Plan
are subject to the discretion of the Board and/or the
Compensation Committee and, therefore, are not determinable at
this time, except that in the first quarter of fiscal 2005 the
Board approved the grant under the 2005 Plan to two
non-executive officers and to Dennis W. Genge, the
Companys Chief Financial Officer, of restricted stock
awards valued at $50,000 each. In the event the 2005 Plan is not
approved, each such officer shall instead receive a $50,000 cash
payment. The awards, whether payable in restricted stock or
cash, shall vest and be payable over a four-year period. These
three awards are the only awards that have been made under the
2005 Plan and are subject to approval of the plan by
stockholders.
Each grant of an ISO under the 2005 Plan will be made at Fair
Market Value on the date of grant; the Company expects that each
grant other than for ISOs will be made with an exercise price at
or near the Fair Market Value of the Companys Common Stock
on the day of grant. Prices and consideration for restricted
stock awards, restricted stock units and SARs under the 2005
Plan will be as determined by the Board. The value of each such
grant and award may depend on the market value of the
Companys Common Stock on the day of exercise and therefore
cannot be determined or estimated at this time. The market value
of the Companys Common Stock on March 11, 2005 was
$2.28 per share.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
In addition to the 2005 Plan, the Company also has in place the
1995 Plan, under which options may be granted to officers,
employees, consultants and directors of the Company and any
present or future subsidiaries to purchase a maximum of
9,000,000 shares of Common Stock. Both ISOs and NSOs may be
granted under the 1995 Plan. The 1995 Plan was approved by
stockholders following its adoption by the Board in 1995.
The Company also administers the Novavax, Inc.
1995 Director Stock Option Plan (the Director
Plan), which provides for the issuance of up to
500,000 shares of Common Stock to directors of the Company.
The exercise price for grants under the Director Plan is the
fair market value on the date of grant, and all grants are
exercisable in full beginning six months from the date of grant
and expire 10 years from the date of grant. All options
under the Director Plan have been granted. The Director Plan was
approved by stockholders following its adoption by the Board in
1995. The table below presents information about the 1995
23
Plan and the Director Plan, as well as any plans not approved by
stockholders, as of fiscal year-end December 31, 2004.
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Number of | |
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|
Securities To Be | |
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Issued upon | |
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|
|
Exercise | |
|
Weighted Average | |
|
Number of | |
|
|
of Outstanding | |
|
Exercise Price of | |
|
Securities Remaining | |
|
|
Options, Warrants | |
|
Outstanding Options, | |
|
Available for | |
Plan Category |
|
and Rights | |
|
Warrants and Rights | |
|
Future Issuance | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Equity compensation plans approved by stockholders
|
|
|
5,331,968 |
|
|
$ |
5.41 |
|
|
|
980,224 |
|
Equity compensation plans not approved by stockholders
|
|
|
70,000 |
(1) |
|
$ |
6.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
5,401,968 |
|
|
$ |
5.42 |
|
|
|
980,224 |
|
|
|
(1) |
Amount relates to a warrant issued to a consultant in 2002 to
purchase 70,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise
price of $6.00 per share. The warrant expires in August
2005. |
Approval of the 2005 Plan requires the affirmative vote of the
holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock present in
person or represented by proxy and voting on the matter.
Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted as shares
voting on such matter and accordingly will have no effect on the
approval of this Proposal Two.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE
FOR ADOPTION OF THE 2005 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN.
24
PROPOSAL THREE APPROVAL OF THE ISSUANCE OF
SHARES OF COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE WITH RESPECT TO SENIOR
CONVERTIBLE NOTES
On July 19, 2004, the Company issued senior convertible
notes in the aggregate principal amount of $35 million (the
Notes) to a group of qualified institutional buyers
and accredited investors, such Notes being initially convertible
into 5,691,057 shares of Common Stock at an initial
conversion price of $6.15 per share.
As part of the transaction, the Company agreed to provide a
proxy statement to each stockholder entitled to vote at the
Companys next annual stockholder meeting soliciting
approval of the issuance of the shares of Common Stock issuable
upon conversion or redemption of the Notes (such shares, the
Conversion Shares). In most instances in which our
Board of Directors authorizes the issuance of securities, we are
not required to seek the approval of our stockholders. However,
significant dilution could result from the issuance of the
Conversion Shares upon conversion or redemption of the Notes and
the rules of our principal trading market, the Nasdaq National
Market, require issuers to solicit stockholder approval in
connection with certain issuances or potential issuances of
securities. In particular, NASD rules require stockholder
approval (i) in connection with a transaction other than a
public offering involving the sale, issuance or potential
issuance by an issuer of common stock (or securities convertible
into or exercisable for common stock) (a) at a price less
than the greater of book or market value which, together with
sales by officers, directors or substantial stockholders of the
issuer, equals 20% or more of the common stock or 20% or more of
the voting power outstanding before the issuance or
(b) equal to 20% or more of the common stock or 20% or more
of the voting power outstanding before the issuance for less
than the greater of book or market value of the stock, and
(ii) of any transaction that may be deemed to be a change
of control of the issuer.
Given such requirements, the Company agreed as part of the Notes
offering to obtain stockholder approval, in accordance with
applicable law and the rules and regulations of the
Companys principal market, because the conversion or
redemption, as applicable, of the Notes in accordance with their
terms could result in the issuance of more than 20% of our
Common Stock and the effect of such issuance could be deemed for
purposes of applicable NASD rules to be a change of control of
the Company.
Set forth below is a summary of the rights of holders of the
Common Stock and certain key provisions of the Notes. A form of
Note is set forth in an appendix to this Proxy Statement. The
following is intended to be a summary, and does not purport to
be a complete statement, of the principal terms of the Notes.
This summary is subject to and qualified in its entirety by
reference to the full text of the Notes as set forth in such
appendix.
The Conversion Shares
On March 11, 2005, the Company had a total of
39,553,876 shares of Common Stock outstanding,
5,331,968 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance upon
exercise of stock options outstanding under its stock option
plans, and 70,000 shares of Common Stock reserved for
issuance under outstanding warrants. In addition, the Company is
required to reserve no less than the number of shares of Common
Stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes, without regard to
any limitations set forth in the Notes on their conversion. As
noted above, the Notes were initially convertible into
5,691,057 shares of Common Stock at an initial conversion
price of $6.15 per share and the Company subsequently
registered 130% of the number of shares initially issuable upon
conversion, or 7,398,374 shares of Common Stock, for resale
by the Note holders.
If stockholders approve the issuance of the Conversion Shares in
accordance with the terms of the Notes, such shares of Common
Stock would be available for issuance upon conversion or
redemption of the Notes and, in certain cases, in partial
payment of amounts due under the Notes. The issuance of
Conversion Shares in any such case would be as the Board of
Directors then deemed advisable and as permitted or required by
the Notes, without the necessity of further stockholder action
except as may be required by applicable law, rules and
regulations. Shares of the Common Stock, including the
Conversion Shares, do not have pre-emptive or similar rights;
this means that current stockholders do not have the right to
purchase any new shares in order to maintain their proportionate
ownership in the Company. Holders of shares of Common Stock are
not entitled to dividends except as and when declared by the
Board. The Company has not paid cash
25
dividends on the Common Stock in the past and has no plans to
pay such dividends in the foreseeable future. The Common Stock
is the only class of capital stock of the Company entitled to
vote, and each share of Common Stock entitles the holder to one
vote.
While the issuance of the Notes had no immediate effect on
stockholders of the Company, the future issuance of Conversion
Shares, for example upon conversion of the Notes, would have the
effect of diluting the Companys then-existing stockholders
and could have the effect of making it more difficult for a
third party to acquire, or of discouraging a third party from
attempting to acquire, control of the Company. Other than in
connection with the Companys existing equity compensation
plans, the Company has no present intention or plans to issue
any shares of Common Stock other than as required or permitted
by the terms of the Notes.
As noted in the discussion of Proposal One set forth in
this Proxy Statement, the Companys Board of Directors is
divided into three classes with the terms of the directors in
each class expiring over a three-year period. A staggered board
may have the effect of making it more difficult for a third
party to acquire control of the Company by limiting the number
of directors the third party can replace at a meeting of
stockholders. The Company also has in place a stockholders
rights plan that may have the effect of deterring a potential
acquiror and/or making the Company a less attractive candidate
for an acquisition or other business combination or transaction.
The Notes
Maturity. The Notes were originally issued on
July 19, 2004 and mature on July 15, 2009. The
maturity date may be extended at the option of the holder in the
event and for so long as an event of default exists, as well as
through the date that is 10 days after the consummation of
a Change in Control (as such term is defined in the
Notes) of the Company.
Upon maturity, the Company must repay all outstanding principal,
accrued and unpaid interest and accrued and unpaid late charges
(if any) on the Notes. The Company may pay up to one-half of the
amount due at maturity in shares of Common Stock, so long as the
Company provides sufficient advance notice of its intent to pay
in shares and so long as certain Equity Conditions
(outlined below under the caption Companys Right of
Mandatory Conversion) are satisfied, which Equity
Conditions include stockholder approval of the Conversion
Shares. The portion of the payment to be made at maturity in
shares of Common Stock is that number of shares equal to the
quotient of (a) the amount to be paid in shares and
(b) the redemption conversion price on the maturity date.
The redemption conversion price is computed as 95% of the
arithmetic average of the weighted average price of the Common
Stock.
Interest. Interest on the Notes accrues at the rate of
4.75% per year and is payable in arrears in cash on each
January 15 and July 15 during the term of the Notes. The
interest rate increases to 15% after the occurrence and during
the continuance of an event of default.
Conversion. Subject to limitations on beneficial
ownership and market rules and regulations, at any time after
the date of issuance, a holder may convert any portion of the
outstanding principal, unpaid and accrued interest and unpaid
and accrued late charges (together, the Conversion
Amount) into shares of Common Stock of the Company. The
initial conversion price was $6.15 per share, and such
conversion price is subject to adjustment as set forth in the
Notes, including the issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock
at a price less than the then-applicable conversion price. See
Anti-dilution Rights below.
Penalties. If the Company fails to timely convert or
redeem any Conversion Amount, then the Company is liable to the
holder for damages for each day of such failure to convert or
redeem. In addition, if the Company fails to timely convert or
redeem a Conversion Amount and the holder is required to
purchase shares of Common Stock in satisfaction of a sale by the
holder of shares such holder anticipated it would receive from
the Company, the Company must either reimburse the holder for
the purchase price of such shares (including brokerage
commissions, if any) or promptly honor its obligation to deliver
the shares and pay the difference (if any) between the purchase
price and the product of the number of shares of Common Stock
and the closing bid price on the conversion date or other date
the Company was required to originally deliver the shares.
26
Events of Default. The following events, among others,
constitute events of default under the Notes:
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the Companys failure to pay when due amounts owing under
the Notes or any other transaction document entered into in
connection with the issuance of the Notes; |
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any default, redemption or acceleration prior to maturity of any
material indebtedness of the Company or its subsidiaries; |
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the Companys or a subsidiarys commencement of a
voluntary bankruptcy case, consent to the entry of an order for
relief in an involuntary case, consent to the appointment of a
receiver, trustee, liquidator or similar official, general
assignment for the benefit or creditors, or admission in writing
of its inability to pay debts when due; |
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entry of a final, non-appealable judgment for the payment of
money aggregating in excess of $2,000,000 (not including amounts
covered by insurance or indemnity) against the Company or any
subsidiary which is not within 60 days bonded, discharged
or stayed pending appeal or discharged within 60 days after
the expiration of any such stay; |
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any breach (which, if applicable, remains uncured beyond any
applicable cure period) by the Company of any representation,
warranty, covenant or other term or condition of any document
entered into in connection with the issuance of the Notes in a
manner that could result in a material adverse effect; |
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any event of default occurring with respect to any other Note in
the series; or |
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any breach or failure to comply with the provisions of the Notes
relating to prohibitions against the incurrence of additional
indebtedness and the existence of liens. (See Rank,
Indebtedness and Liens below.) |
The Notes do not require the Company to provide periodic
evidence of the absence of an event of default.
Redemption Rights upon an Event of Default. Upon the
occurrence of any event of default, the Company must deliver
notice thereof to the holders. A holder thereafter has the right
to require the Company to redeem all or any portion of such
holders Note upon delivery of written notice of
redemption. Redemptions shall occur at a price equal to the
greater of (a) the product of (1) the Conversion
Amount to be redeemed and (2) the applicable redemption
premium, and (b) the product of (1) the conversion
rate with respect to such Conversion Amount then in effect and
(2) the closing sale price of the shares of Common Stock
immediately preceding such event of default. Redemption premiums
range from 100% to 125% depending on the type of event of
default and when the event of default occurs during the term of
the Notes.
Rights upon Fundamental Transactions and Changes of
Control. The Company may not enter into a Fundamental
Transaction (as such term is defined in the Notes) unless
the successor entity agrees in writing to assume all of the
Companys obligations under the Notes and other transaction
documents and, other than in connection with a transaction for
cash, the successor entity is a public company whose common
stock is listed or quoted on an eligible market.
In the event of a Change of Control (as defined in
the Notes), the Company must deliver notice to Note holders,
which notice triggers the holders right to require the
Company to redeem all or any portion of the Notes. The Notes
being redeemed will be redeemed at a price equal to the greater
of (a) the product of (1) the Conversion Amount to be
redeemed and (2) the quotient determined by dividing
(x) the closing sale price of the Common Stock immediately
following the announcement of the Change in Control and
(y) the conversion price, and (b) the product of
(1) the Change of Control redemption premium and
(2) the Conversion Amount to be redeemed.
The redemption premium upon a Change of Control is 120% for the
first nine months following issuance, 115% for the period
between nine and 21 months after issuance, 110% for the
period between 21 and 34 months after issuance, and 105%
thereafter.
If a Cash Transaction is announced, the Company has
the right to require that all (but not less than all) of the
outstanding Notes be redeemed at a price equal to the Change of
Control redemption price. A
27
Cash Transaction means any Change of Control with a
successor entity that is unaffiliated with the Company at the
time of the proposed Change of Control and that neither such
successor nor its parent is a publicly-traded entity whose
common stock or equivalent equity security is quoted or listed
for trading on an eligible market, which Cash Transaction is
consummated on an arms length basis at a time that the
Equity Conditions are satisfied (which Equity Conditions include
stockholder approval of the Conversion Shares), and pursuant to
which the holders of the Common Stock are to receive
consideration consisting solely of cash. The Cash Transaction
redemption price is calculated in the same manner as the price
paid on a Change of Control, described above.
Anti-Dilution Rights. If at any time during the term of
the Notes the Company issues or sells, or is deemed to have
issued or sold (for example, in connection with the issuance of
options exercisable for shares of Common Stock), shares of
Common Stock at a price less than the then-applicable conversion
price of the Notes, then the conversion price of the Notes then
in effect will be reduced on a weighted average basis. The
applicable conversion price will also be proportionately
increased or decreased in the event that the Company subdivides
or combines one or more classes of its outstanding shares of
Common Stock or any similar event.
Companys Right of Mandatory Conversion. If at any
time after the third anniversary of the issue date of the Notes,
the weighted average price of a share of Common Stock exceeds
$10.76 (subject to the adjustments described above) for 15
trading days out of any 30 consecutive trading days, and
the Equity Conditions have been satisfied or waived (which
Equity Conditions include stockholder approval of the Conversion
Shares), the Company has the right to require the holders to
convert all or any portion of the Conversion Amount then
remaining under each such holders Note into shares of
Common Stock. The Company may only require such mandatory
conversion of all Notes at the same time, must do so on a pro
rata basis if it requires conversion of less than all
outstanding amounts, and may deliver only one mandatory
conversion notice, which notice is irrevocable. Conversions made
at the Companys election are made at the conversion rate
as of the date of the mandatory conversion, calculated as the
applicable Conversion Amount divided by $6.15 (as adjusted).
The weighted average price of a share of Common Stock means the
dollar volume-weighted average price on the Nasdaq National
Market during the period beginning at 9:30:01 a.m., New
York Time (or such other time as such market publicly announces
is the official open of trading), and ending at
4:00:00 p.m., New York Time (or such other time as the
market publicly announces is the official close of trading) as
reported by Bloomberg through its Volume at Price
functions.
The Equity Conditions referred to herein include but
are not limited to the following:
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on each day during the measurement period, the shares of Common
Stock are designated for quotation on the Nasdaq National Market
and have not been suspended from trading (other than suspensions
of not more than two days and occurring prior to the applicable
date of determination due to business announcements by the
Company) nor shall delisting or suspension by such market have
been threatened or pending either in writing or by falling below
the minimum listing maintenance requirements; |
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during the measurement period, the Company shall have timely
delivered all shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion or
redemption of the Notes; |
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any applicable shares of Common Stock to be issued in connection
with the event requiring determination may be issued in full
without violating the terms of the Notes; |
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the Company shall have obtained stockholder approval as required
and defined in the purchase agreement for the Notes; |
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during the measurement period, there shall not have occurred
either (x) other than in connection with a Cash
Transaction, the public announcement of a pending, proposed or
intended Fundamental Transaction which has not been abandoned,
terminated or consummated or (y) an event of default or an
event that with the passage of time or giving of notice would
constitute an event of default; |
28
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the Company otherwise shall have been in material compliance
with and shall not have materially breached any provision,
covenant, representation or warranty of any transaction
document; and |
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other than in connection with a mandatory conversion or a Cash
Transaction, the weighted average price of the Common Stock on
each day of the measurement period shall be in excess of $2.00
(subject to adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends and
other similar transactions), with certain exceptions. |
Optional Redemption Right of Holders. Holders of the
Notes have the right to require that the Company redeem the
Notes if the weighted average price of the Common Stock is less
than the then-applicable conversion price on each of 30 trading
days out of the 40 consecutive trading days immediately
preceding either the third or fourth anniversary of the issue
date, provided that such redemption right ceases once the
Company meets the
ESTRASORBTM
revenue target (as defined in the Notes). The Company may
elect to pay up to one-half of the redemption price in shares of
Common Stock, but only so long as the Equity Conditions are
satisfied or waived in accordance with the Notes (which Equity
Conditions include stockholder approval of the Conversion
Shares). The price paid in shares is calculated by dividing the
amount to be paid in shares of Common Stock by the redemption
conversion price as of such redemption date, such price defined
as 95% of the arithmetic average of the weighted average price
of the Common Stock on each of the trading days during the
measurement period.
Rank, Indebtedness and Liens. All payments due under a
Note rank pari passu with all other Notes in the series,
and are senior to all other indebtedness of the Company and its
subsidiaries other than permitted acquisition indebtedness. So
long as the Notes are outstanding, the Company has agreed that
it will not and it will not permit its subsidiaries to directly
or indirectly (a) incur, guarantee, assume or suffer to
exist any indebtedness other than the Notes and as expressly
permitted, (b) allow or suffer to exist any mortgage, lien,
pledge, charge, security interest or other encumbrance upon or
in any property or assets other than as expressly permitted, or
(c) redeem, defease, repurchase, repay or make any payments
in respect of, by the payment of cash or cash equivalents (in
whole or in part, whether by way of open market purchases,
tender offers, private transactions or otherwise), all or any
portion of any permitted indebtedness, whether by way of payment
in respect of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on
such indebtedness, if at the time such payment is due or is
otherwise made or, after giving effect to such payment, an event
of default has occurred and is continuing. Indebtedness
permitted by the terms of the Notes includes indebtedness
incurred in connection with acquisitions or construction, and
certain indebtedness of the Company existing at the time of
issuance of the Notes.
Participation. Holders of the Notes are entitled to
dividends paid and distributions made to holders of the
Companys Common Stock to the same extent as if such Note
holders had converted their Notes into shares of Common Stock
(without regard to any limitations on conversion) and had held
such shares of Common Stock on the record date for such
dividends and/or distributions.
Voting, Transfer and Other Provisions. Holders of the
Notes have no voting rights in their capacities as holders of
the Notes, except as required by law and as expressly provided
in the Notes. The approval of the holders of the Notes
representing at least a majority of the aggregate principal
amount of the Notes then outstanding is required in order to
change or amend the Notes. The Notes may be offered, sold,
transferred or assigned without the consent of the Company,
provided that the holders comply with all applicable
laws, rules and regulations on resale.
Issuance of the Notes and Registration of Conversion Shares,
Effect on Stockholders and Approval Rights
As noted above, the Notes were issued on July 19, 2004 to a
group of institutional buyers and accredited investors and were
initially convertible into 5,691,057 shares of Common Stock
at an initial conversion price of $6.15 per share. The
Company received $35 million in gross proceeds from the
sale of the Notes and agreed to use such proceeds to effect the
series of transactions with King and Parkedale (discussed under
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions in
Proposal One above), and for general working capital
purposes. Of such proceeds, approximately $14 million was
used to repay King (net of payments the Company received from
King), leaving approximately $18 million available from the
issuance of the Notes (after deducting approximately
$3 million for transaction expenses) for working capital
purposes. The Company also agreed,
29
pursuant to a registration rights agreement entered into in
connection with such transaction, to register for resale by the
Note holders 130% of the number of shares of Common Stock
initially issuable upon conversion or redemption of the Notes.
The Company filed such registration statement covering 7,398,374
Conversion Shares on August 13, 2004, which registration
statement (No. 333-118210) was declared effective on
August 24, 2004.
As discussed above, the issuance of the Notes had no immediate
effect on stockholders of the Company. If the Company elected or
was required to effect the conversion or redemption of the
Notes, however, a potentially substantial number of shares of
Common Stock could be issued, thereby causing dilution of
then-existing stockholders percentage ownership of the
Company. It could also have the effect of making it more
difficult for a third party to acquire, or of discouraging a
third party from attempting to acquire, control of the Company.
The purchase agreement relating to the Notes included a covenant
whereby the Company agreed to provide each stockholder a proxy
statement and solicit each such stockholders affirmative
vote with respect to the issuance of the Conversion Shares at
the Companys next annual meeting of stockholders following
the issue date of the Notes. If stockholders fail to approve the
issuance of the Conversion Shares, the Company will not be
deemed to have satisfied all of the Equity Conditions described
above and consequently may be prevented from using shares of
Common Stock to repay amounts due at maturity, upon redemption
at the option of holders or upon the election by the Company to
utilize its right to cause mandatory redemptions.
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares
of Common Stock present in person or represented by proxy at the
Meeting and voting on the matter is required for the approval of
the issuance of the Conversion Shares. Abstentions and broker
non-votes will not be counted as shares voting on such matter
and accordingly will have no effect on the approval of this
Proposal Three.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE
FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE ISSUANCE OF THE SHARES OF COMMON
STOCK ISSUABLE WITH RESPECT TO ITS SENIOR CONVERTIBLE NOTES.
30
PROPOSAL FOUR RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Independent Auditor
The Audit Committee has selected Ernst & Young LLP as
the independent auditor of the Company for the fiscal year
ending December 31, 2005, subject to ratification by
stockholders at the Meeting. A representative of
Ernst & Young is expected to be present at the Meeting
to respond to appropriate questions and to make a statement if
he or she so desires.
Fees
Audit Fees. The aggregate fees billed by Ernst &
Young LLP in each of fiscal 2004 and 2003 for professional
services rendered for the audit of the Companys annual
financial statements and the reviews of the financial statements
included in the Companys Forms 10-Q were
approximately $340,130 and $263,628, respectively. These amounts
included fees billed for annual financial statement and internal
control audits, quarterly reviews, and registration statement
filings and consents.
Audit-Related Fees. The aggregate fees billed by
Ernst & Young LLP in each of fiscal 2004 and 2003 for
assurance and related services that were reasonably related to
the performance of the independent auditors audit or
review of the Companys financial statements were
approximately $47,010 and $4,034, respectively. The fees
incurred during 2004 related to the provision of internal
control consulting services and consulting services related to
the King transaction discussed in Proposal One herein. The
fees incurred during 2003 related to the provision of internal
control consulting services.
Tax Fees. The aggregate fees billed by Ernst &
Young LLP in each of fiscal 2004 and 2003 for professional
services rendered for tax compliance, tax advice and tax
planning for the Company were approximately $54,100 and $35,311,
respectively. These amounts represent those billed for tax
return preparation for the Company and its subsidiaries.
All Other Fees. The aggregate fees billed by
Ernst & Young LLP in each of fiscal 2004 and 2003 for
products and services provided other than those otherwise
described above were approximately $0 and $15,540, respectively.
Services for such other fees for 2003 included audits in
connection with a federal grant from the National Institutes of
Health.
Pre-Approval Policies
As contemplated by applicable law and as provided by the Audit
Committees charter, the Audit Committee is responsible for
the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the
work of the Companys independent auditor. In connection
with such responsibilities, the Audit Committee is required, and
it is the Audit Committees policy, to pre-approve the
audit and permissible non-audit services (both the type and
amount) performed by the Companys independent auditor in
order to ensure that the provision of such services does not
impair the auditors independence, in appearance or fact.
Under the policy, unless a type of service to be provided by the
independent auditor has received general pre-approval (which
services are detailed in an appendix to the policy and
periodically reassessed), it will require separate pre-approval
by the Audit Committee. If fees for a proposed service of a type
that has been pre-approved approach or exceed pre-determined fee
triggers, the Audit Committee and the independent auditor must
confer and the Audit Committee must grant its approval before
further work may be performed.
For audit services (including the annual financial statement
audit, required quarterly financial statement reviews,
subsidiary audits, and other procedures required to be performed
by the independent auditor to be able to form an opinion on the
Companys consolidated financial statements), the
independent auditor must provide to the Audit Committee in
advance an engagement letter, outlining the scope of audit
services proposed to be performed with respect to the audit for
that fiscal year and associated fees. If agreed to by the Audit
Committee, the engagement letter is formally accepted by the
committee at its next regularly scheduled meeting.
31
All permissible non-audit services not specifically approved in
advance must be separately pre-approved by the Audit Committee,
as noted above. Requests or applications to provide services
must be in writing and include a description of the proposed
services, the anticipated costs and fees, and the business
reasons for engaging the independent auditor to perform the
services. The request must also include a statement as to
whether the request or application is consistent with the
SECs rules on auditor independence.
To ensure prompt handling of unexpected matters, the Audit
Committee has delegated authority to pre-approve audit and
permissible non-audit services between regularly scheduled
meetings of the committee to its Chairman, who is responsible
for reporting any pre-approval decisions to the Audit Committee
at its next scheduled meeting. The Audit Committee has not and
will not delegate to management of the Company the Audit
Committees responsibilities to pre-approve services
performed by the independent auditor.
The Audit Committee pre-approved all audit and permissible
non-audit services provided to the Company by the independent
auditor during fiscal 2004.
Ratification
Stockholder ratification of the appointment of the independent
auditor is not required by the Companys By-laws or
otherwise, but is being done as a matter of good corporate
governance. If stockholders fail to ratify the selection, the
Audit Committee will reconsider this selection. Even if the
selection is ratified, the Audit Committee in its discretion may
direct the appointment of a different independent auditing firm
at any time during the year if it determines that such a change
would be in the best interests of Novavax and its stockholders.
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares
of Common Stock present in person or represented by proxy at the
Meeting and voting on the matter is required for the
ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as
the independent auditor of the Company. Abstentions and broker
non-votes will not be counted as shares voting on such matter
and accordingly will have no effect on the approval of this
Proposal Four.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS
VOTE
FOR THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF
ERNST & YOUNG LLP
AS THE COMPANYS INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC
ACCOUNTING FIRM
FOR FISCAL YEAR 2005.
32
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF COMMON STOCK
The following table sets forth information as of March 11,
2005 with respect to the beneficial ownership of shares of
Common Stock by (i) each person (including any group) known
to the Company to beneficially own more than 5% of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock, (ii) the directors of
the Company and nominees, (iii) the Chief Executive Officer
and the other Named Executive Officers of the Company as
identified in the Summary Compensation Table below,
and (iv) all directors and executive officers of the
Company as a group.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares of | |
|
Percent | |
|
|
Common Stock | |
|
of Class | |
Beneficial Owner |
|
Beneficially Owned(1) | |
|
Outstanding | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
SJ Strategic Investments LLC
|
|
|
5,772,339 |
(2) |
|
|
14.6 |
% |
|
340 Edgemont Ave., Suite 500
Bristol, TN 37620 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
King Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
|
|
|
4,100,931 |
(3) |
|
|
10.4 |
% |
|
501 Fifth Street
Bristol, Tennessee 37620 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mitchell J. Kelly
|
|
|
2,365,101 |
(4) |
|
|
5.9 |
% |
|
c/o Anaconda Opportunity Fund, L.P.
730 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10019 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anaconda Opportunity Fund, L.P.
|
|
|
2,000,101 |
(5) |
|
|
5.1 |
% |
|
730 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10019 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Susan B. Bayh
|
|
|
20,000 |
(6) |
|
|
* |
|
Gary C. Evans
|
|
|
210,800 |
(7) |
|
|
* |
|
J. Michael Lazarus, M.D.
|
|
|
129,427 |
(8) |
|
|
* |
|
John O. Marsh, Jr.
|
|
|
253,500 |
(9) |
|
|
* |
|
Michael A. McManus, Jr.
|
|
|
142,500 |
(10) |
|
|
* |
|
Denis M. ODonnell, M.D.
|
|
|
692,519 |
(11) |
|
|
1.7 |
% |
Nelson M. Sims
|
|
|
370,000 |
(12) |
|
|
* |
|
Ronald H. Walker
|
|
|
158,880 |
(13) |
|
|
* |
|
Dennis W. Genge
|
|
|
206,400 |
(14) |
|
|
* |
|
Ford R. Lynch
|
|
|
66,968 |
(15) |
|
|
* |
|
D. Craig Wright, M.D.
|
|
|
456,817 |
(16) |
|
|
1.1 |
% |
All executive officers and directors, as a group
(12 persons)
|
|
|
5,072,912 |
(17) |
|
|
12.1 |
% |
|
|
|
|
* |
Less than 1% of the Common Stock outstanding. |
|
|
(1) |
Unless otherwise indicated, each of the persons named in the
table has sole voting and investment power with respect to the
shares set forth opposite such persons name. With respect
to each person or group, percentages are calculated based on the
number of shares beneficially owned, including shares that may
be acquired by such person or group within 60 days of
March 11, 2005 upon the exercise of stock options or other
purchase rights, but not the exercise of options or warrants
held by any other person. The address of each director, nominee
and Named Executive Officer of the Company is c/o Novavax,
Inc., 508 Lapp Road, Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355. |
|
(2) |
As reported on Schedule 13D dated February 18, 2003
and Form 4 dated February 27, 2003. While SJ Strategic
Investments believes it possesses sole voting and investment
power over such shares, John M. Gregory may be deemed to also
have voting and investment power over such shares due to his
position as Managing Member and Chief Manager of SJ Strategic
Investments, pursuant to the entitys Operating Agreement.
While SJ Strategic Investments disclaims the existence of a
group, due to the indirect beneficial ownership of its members,
such members may be deemed to constitute a group. |
33
|
|
(3) |
As reported on Schedule 13D/ A filed August 26, 2004
and Form 4 filed July 20, 2004. |
|
(4) |
Includes 270,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of
options. Also includes 2,000,101 shares (listed below)
beneficially owned by Anaconda Opportunity Fund, L.P., of which
Mitchell J. Kelly is the general partner of the general partner. |
|
(5) |
Excludes shares directly owned by Mitchell J. Kelly, the general
partner of Anaconda Capital, L.P., the general partner of
Anaconda Opportunity Fund, L.P. |
|
(6) |
Consists of 20,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of
options. |
|
(7) |
Includes 102,500 shares issuable upon the exercise of
options. Also includes 12,500 shares owned of record by
Mr. Evans as trustee of the Evans 1997 Trust.
Mr. Evans disclaims control or beneficial ownership of
shares held by the Evans 1997 Trust. |
|
(8) |
Includes 117,500 shares issuable upon the exercise of
options. |
|
(9) |
Includes 222,500 shares issuable upon the exercise of
options. |
|
|
(10) |
Includes 102,500 shares issuable upon the exercise of
options. |
|
(11) |
Includes 289,469 shares issuable upon the exercise of
options and 2,000 shares owned of record by
Dr. ODonnell as custodian for the benefit of his
minor children. |
|
(12) |
Includes 345,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of
options. |
|
(13) |
Includes 152,500 shares issuable upon the exercise of
options. |
|
(14) |
Includes 200,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of
options. |
|
(15) |
Includes 62,668 shares issuable upon the exercise of
options. |
|
(16) |
Includes 405,191 shares issuable upon the exercise of
options. |
|
(17) |
Includes 2,289,828 shares issuable upon the exercise of
options. |
34
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Summary of Compensation
The following table sets forth the cash and non-cash
compensation earned, awarded or paid during each of the last
three fiscal years to (i) each of the individuals who
served as the Companys Chief Executive Officer during the
last completed fiscal year, (ii) the three other most
highly compensated individuals who were serving as executive
officers of the Company at the end of the last completed fiscal
year and who received compensation in excess of $100,000 during
fiscal 2004 for services provided to the Company, and
(iii) one additional officer who was no longer serving as
an executive officer as of the end of fiscal 2004 (collectively,
the Named Executive Officers).
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long Term | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Compensation | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Awards(1) | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual Compensation | |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Securities Underlying | |
|
All Other | |
Name and Principal Position |
|
Year | |
|
Salary ($) | |
|
Bonus ($) | |
|
Options (#) | |
|
Compensation(2)($) | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Nelson M. Sims(3)
|
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
400,004 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
135,000 |
|
|
|
41,222 |
|
|
President and Chief |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
157,692 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
900,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Executive Officer |
|
|
2002 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dennis W. Genge
|
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
178,689 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
21,885 |
|
|
Vice President, Treasurer and |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
171,600 |
|
|
|
75,210 |
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
2,873 |
|
|
Chief Financial Officer |
|
|
2002 |
|
|
|
165,000 |
|
|
|
75,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,374 |
|
Ford R. Lynch(4)
|
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
220,005 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13,000 |
|
|
|
29,497 |
|
|
Senior Vice President |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
55,000 |
|
|
|
12,375 |
|
|
|
175,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sales and Marketing |
|
|
2002 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Denis M. ODonnell, M.D.
|
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
125,003 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
75,000 |
|
|
|
741 |
|
|
Chairman of the Board |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
125,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
75,000 |
|
|
|
414 |
|
|
of Directors |
|
|
2002 |
|
|
|
125,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
213 |
|
D. Craig Wright, M.D.
|
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
254,225 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
35,000 |
|
|
|
2,527 |
|
|
Chief Scientific Officer |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
248,400 |
|
|
|
62,744 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,715 |
|
|
|
|
|
2002 |
|
|
|
225,867 |
|
|
|
11,223 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,309 |
|
|
|
(1) |
During fiscal year 2004, Novavax did not have a long-term
compensation program that included long-term incentive payouts,
restricted stock awards, SARs or other forms of long-term
compensation. The numbers in this column represent the number of
shares that may be acquired pursuant to options granted in the
particular year. For more information on option grants, see
Stock Options in the next section. |
|
(2) |
The amounts shown in this column include (a) reimbursed
relocation expenses, (b) Company contributions to its
401(k) plan, (c) premiums paid for disability insurance,
(d) premiums paid for general term life insurance, and
(e) premiums paid for excess life insurance policies. The
amounts paid for relocation expenses in 2004 were $2,643 and
$18,040 for Messrs. Sims and Genge, respectively. The
Companys contributions to its 401(k) plan in 2004 were
$3,250, $2,795, $2,502 and $1,372 for Messrs. Sims, Genge
and Lynch and Dr. Wright, respectively. The Company does
not make any contributions to its 401(k) plan on behalf of
Dr. ODonnell. Premiums paid for disability insurance
in 2004 were $189 for each of the Named Executive Officers.
Premiums for general term life insurance in 2004 were $1,806,
$861, $1,806, $552 and $966 for Messrs. Sims, Genge and
Lynch and Drs. ODonnell and Wright, respectively. The
Company also paid premiums for excess life insurance policies
for each of Mr. Sims and Mr. Lynch in the amounts of
$33,334 and $25,000, respectively. |
|
(3) |
Mr. Sims was elected President and Chief Executive Officer
in August 2003. |
|
(4) |
Mr. Lynch was elected Senior Vice President of Sales and
Marketing in October 2003. |
35
Stock Options
The following tables summarize option grants and exercises
during 2004 to or by the Named Executive Officers, and the value
of the options held by such persons at the end of fiscal 2004.
No SARs were granted or exercised during 2004. All options
listed below were granted at an exercise price equal to the fair
market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant.
Option Grants in Last Fiscal Year
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Individual Grants | |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Potential Realizable | |
|
|
|
|
Percent of | |
|
|
|
Value at Assumed Annual | |
|
|
Number of | |
|
Total | |
|
|
|
Rates of Stock Price | |
|
|
Securities | |
|
Options | |
|
|
|
Appreciation For | |
|
|
Underlying | |
|
Granted to | |
|
Exercise or | |
|
|
|
Option Term(3) | |
|
|
Options | |
|
Employees in | |
|
Base Price | |
|
Expiration | |
|
| |
Name |
|
Granted(1)(#) | |
|
2004(2) | |
|
($/Share) | |
|
Date | |
|
5% | |
|
10% | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Nelson M. Sims
|
|
|
135,000 |
|
|
|
11.6 |
% |
|
$ |
5.95 |
|
|
|
3/9/14 |
|
|
$ |
505,160 |
|
|
$ |
1,280,174 |
|
Dennis W. Genge
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
4.3 |
% |
|
$ |
5.95 |
|
|
|
3/9/14 |
|
|
$ |
187,096 |
|
|
$ |
474,138 |
|
Ford R. Lynch
|
|
|
13,000 |
|
|
|
1.1 |
% |
|
$ |
5.95 |
|
|
|
3/9/14 |
|
|
$ |
48,645 |
|
|
$ |
123.276 |
|
Denis M. ODonnell, M.D.
|
|
|
75,000 |
|
|
|
6.4 |
% |
|
$ |
5.95 |
|
|
|
3/9/14 |
|
|
$ |
280,644 |
|
|
$ |
711,208 |
|
D. Craig Wright, M.D.
|
|
|
35,000 |
|
|
|
3.0 |
% |
|
$ |
5.95 |
|
|
|
3/9/14 |
|
|
$ |
130,967 |
|
|
$ |
331,897 |
|
|
|
(1) |
These options were awarded under the 1995 Plan and vest in three
equal increments on the first three anniversaries of the date of
the grant. |
|
(2) |
A total of 1,168,150 options were granted to all employees,
including executive officers, in 2004. |
|
(3) |
Amounts represent hypothetical gains (net of exercise price)
that could be achieved for the respective options if exercised
at the end of the option term. These gains are based on assumed
rates of stock price appreciation of 5% and 10% compounded
annually from the date the respective options were granted. |
Aggregated Option Exercises in Last Fiscal Year and Fiscal
Year-End Option Values
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Securities Underlying | |
|
Value of Unexercised | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unexercised Options at | |
|
In-The-Money Options at | |
|
|
Shares | |
|
|
|
Fiscal Year-End (#)(1) | |
|
Fiscal Year-End ($)(1) | |
|
|
Acquired on | |
|
Value | |
|
| |
|
| |
Name |
|
Exercise (#) | |
|
Realized ($) | |
|
Exercisable | |
|
Unexercisable | |
|
Exercisable | |
|
Unexercisable | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Nelson M. Sims
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
300,000 |
|
|
|
735,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dennis W. Genge
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
166,667 |
|
|
|
83,333 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ford R. Lynch
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
58,334 |
|
|
|
129,666 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Denis M. ODonnell, M.D.
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
239,469 |
|
|
|
125,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. Craig Wright, M.D.
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
393,524 |
|
|
|
35,000 |
|
|
$ |
569,801 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
Value based on the closing price of the Companys Common
Stock on the NASDAQ National Market at the end of fiscal 2004
($3.26 per share) minus the exercise price. |
Employment Contracts and Change of Control Provisions
The Company has entered into an employment agreement with
Mr. Sims pursuant to which he receives an initial base
salary of $400,000, subject to merit-based increases commencing
January 1, 2005. In addition, he is entitled to receive a
performance and incentive bonus in respect of his employment
with the Company through December 31, 2004, payable on or
before March 31, 2005, in an amount to be determined by the
Board or any committee thereof authorized to make such
determination. Such bonus will be based on Mr. Sims
achievement of certain specified goals, and shall be at least
$139,000 and not greater than $347,000. Thereafter, he is
entitled to receive an annual performance bonus in such amount
as is deemed appropriate, with an annual target performance
bonus of $250,000 beginning January 1, 2005. In addition to
his cash compensation, upon his hiring in August 2003
Mr. Sims received stock options, with a term of
10 years, to purchase 900,000 shares of the
Common Stock of the Company at $5.63 per share, the closing
price on the date of grant. The options vest one-third on each
of the first three anniversaries of their date of grant.
Mr. Sims is also eligible to receive additional stock
options annually, based on job performance, to purchase that
number of shares of Common Stock equal to not less than three
percent of the total number of shares of Common
36
Stock issued by the Company during the most recent fiscal year
in private or public offerings or pursuant to conversions of
convertible securities issued after commencement of his
employment with the Company. Mr. Sims is also entitled to
reimbursement for certain expenses, including relocation
expenses up to $20,000, and benefits that shall include the
purchase of a long-term disability insurance policy and
contributions of up to $33,334 per year for each of his
first three years of employment towards the purchase of a whole
life insurance policy.
Mr. Sims has agreed to maintain the confidentiality of the
Companys proprietary information, and all work product
discovered or developed by him in the course of his employment
will belong to the Company. In addition, he has agreed not to
compete with the Company, directly or indirectly, within the
United States or interfere with or solicit the Companys
contractual relationships for a period of one year following the
termination of his employment. In the event of a termination
without cause or Mr. Sims termination of his
employment for good reason (defined as the Companys
material reduction or diminution of his responsibilities and
authority, other than for cause, without his consent),
Mr. Sims is entitled to a lump-sum payment in an amount
equal to six months of his then-effective salary plus the
payment of an amount equal to his salary in effect at the time
of termination for a period of 12 months thereafter. In the
event of a change of control, Mr. Sims is entitled to a
lump sum payment in an amount equal to 24 months of his
then-effective salary plus two times the then-applicable target
bonus, which bonus may not be less than $250,000.
The Company has entered into an employment agreement with
Mr. Genge pursuant to which he receives a base salary of
$165,000 during the period of his employment with the Company,
subject to annual review by the Board. In addition, he is
entitled to participate in the Companys bonus program, if
any. He has agreed to maintain the confidentiality of the
Companys proprietary information, and all work product
discovered or developed by him in the course of his employment
will belong to the Company. In addition, he has agreed not to
compete with the Company within the United States or interfere
with or solicit the Companys contractual relationships for
a period of one year following the termination of his
employment. In the event of a termination without cause or
Mr. Genges termination of his employment for good
reason (defined as the dilution of his responsibilities and
authority other than for cause in any material way without his
consent or his relocation to an office or facility more than
50 miles from Columbia, Maryland without his consent), the
Company has agreed, in addition to any unpaid bonus with respect
to the prior year and any accrued vacation pay, to pay severance
in an amount equal to one years salary, plus a pro-rated
performance bonus based upon the previous years bonus
amount.
The Company has entered into an employment agreement with
Mr. Lynch pursuant to which he receives a base salary of
$220,000 during the period of his employment with the Company,
subject to annual adjustments. In addition, he is entitled to
participate in the Companys bonus program, if any, with a
target/maximum bonus for each of 2003 and 2004 of $100,000,
prorated with respect to 2003. In addition to his cash
compensation, upon his hiring in September 2003 Mr. Lynch
received stock options, with a term of 10 years, to
purchase 175,000 shares of the Common Stock of the
Company at $7.45 per share, the closing price on the date
of grant. The options vest one-third on each of the first three
anniversaries of their date of grant. Mr. Lynch is also
entitled to reimbursement for certain expenses, including
expenses incurred in connection with his relocation, up to an
aggregate $15,000, and benefits that shall include contributions
of up to $25,000 per year for each of his first two years
of employment towards the purchase of a life insurance policy.
Mr. Lynch has agreed to maintain the confidentiality of the
Companys proprietary information, and all work product
discovered or developed by him in the course of his employment
will belong to the Company. In addition, he has agreed not to
compete with the Company within the United States or interfere
with or solicit the Companys contractual relationships for
a period of one year following the termination of his
employment. In the event of a termination without cause or
Mr. Lynchs termination of his employment for good
reason (defined as the Companys significant reduction or
diminution of his material responsibilities and authority, other
than for cause, without his consent), Mr. Lynch is entitled
to a lump-sum payment in an amount equal to six months
salary at the time of termination. In the event of a change of
control, Mr. Lynch is entitled to a lump sum payment in an
amount equal to 24 months base salary at the time of
termination.
37
Comparative Stock Performance
The graph below compares the cumulative total stockholder return
on the Common Stock of the Company for the last five fiscal
years, with the cumulative total return on the NASDAQ Stock
Market (U.S. and Foreign) Index and the NASDAQ Pharmaceutical
Index (which includes Novavax) over the same period, assuming
the investment of $100 in the Companys Common Stock, the
NASDAQ Stock Market (U.S. and Foreign) Index and the NASDAQ
Pharmaceutical Index on December 31, 1999, and reinvestment
of all dividends.
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12/31/99 | |
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12/31/00 | |
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12/31/01 | |
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12/31/02 | |
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12/31/03 | |
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12/31/04 | |
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Novavax, Inc.
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$ |
100.00 |
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151.11 |
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250.67 |
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46.22 |
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106.67 |
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57.78 |
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NASDAQ Stock Market (U.S. and Foreign) Index
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$ |
100.00 |
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88.24 |
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70.62 |
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53.78 |
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75.07 |
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77.14 |
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NASDAQ Pharmaceutical Index
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$ |
100.00 |
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120.50 |
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109.11 |
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72.38 |
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104.08 |
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111.76 |
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This section is not soliciting material, is not
deemed filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission and is not to be incorporated by reference in any
filing of the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, or the Exchange Act, whether made before or after the
date hereof and irrespective of any general incorporation
language in any such filing.
38
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Transaction of Other Business
The Board of Directors knows of no other business that will be
presented for consideration at the Meeting other than the
Proposals described above and as set forth in Proposed
Items below. If any business other than the Proposals
described above or the matters described below should come
before the Meeting, however, it is the intention of the persons
named in the enclosed proxy to vote, or otherwise act, in
accordance with their best judgment on such matters.
Solicitations
The Company will bear the cost of soliciting proxies. In
addition to solicitations by mail, the Companys directors,
officers and regular employees may, without additional
remuneration, solicit proxies by telephone, telegraph, facsimile
and personal interviews. The Company has also engaged the
services of The Altman Group, Inc., a proxy solicitation firm,
in conjunction with the Meeting, and such firm may solicit your
proxy in person or by telephone, mail, facsimile or other
communication. The Company paid The Altman Group a retainer in
the amount of $10,000, and additional fees up to $50,000 may be
paid, which fees include compensation for call center activities
on behalf of Novavax. The Company will also reimburse The Altman
Group for its reasonable out-of-pocket fees and expenses.
Approximately 15 employees of The Altman Group will solicit
stockholders. The Company will also request brokerage houses,
custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to forward copies of the
proxy materials to those persons for whom they hold shares and
request instructions for voting the proxies. The Company will
reimburse such brokerage houses and other persons for their
reasonable expenses in connection with this distribution.
The Company anticipates that the total cost of its proxy
solicitation in connection with the Meeting will be
approximately $150,000 $200,000, all of which will be
borne by the Company and which amount does not include the
amount normally spent by the Company to solicit in an
uncontested election of directors or amounts for salaries and
wages of regular Company employees. Total expenditures to date
have been
$ .
Please also see Appendix C to this Proxy Statement for
additional information regarding persons who may assist in the
Companys solicitation of proxies for the Meeting.
Proposed Items
In the beginning of March 2005, the Board of Directors
received notice from a stockholder that such stockholder may
propose an alternate slate of directors at the Meeting as well
as certain other matters. Specifically, the notice proposed the
following matters:
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1. |
to put to a vote an alternate slate of directors; |
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2. |
to modify the Companys By-laws so as to implement term
limits that will prevent a director from serving past his or her
67th birthday; |
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3. |
to force the current Chairman of the Board into a non-executive
title, removing his salary, and setting the compensation of the
Chairman of the Board to a monetary value commensurate with
market rates for non- executive chairmen; |
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4. |
to seek remuneration for the stockholders efforts to
propose an alternate proxy; and |
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5. |
to propose modifications to the By-laws that permit shareholders
more active involvement in the governance of the Company. |
The notice included the names of four alternate candidates for
nomination to the Board and brief biographies for three of such
candidates. Subsequent to the Companys receipt of such
notice, the Committee to Save Novavax (the Dissident
Committee) filed a preliminary proxy statement (the
Opposition Filing) proposing two alternate
candidates for election to the Board of Directors, two of whom
had been proposed as candidates in the original notice. The
Dissident Committee is comprised of two stockholders of
Novavax including the stockholder who sent the
original notice who together own less than 1% of the
Companys
39
outstanding Common Stock. As discussed herein, the
Companys Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
considered all four of the proposed alternate candidates and,
rather than nominate any such candidate, reconfirmed the
Boards nominees for election to the Board. The Opposition
Filing did not solicit proxies or advise stockholders how to
vote with respect to the other items raised in the initial
notice described above. The form of proxy included with this
Proxy Statement and solicited by our Board of Directors confers
discretionary authority on the proxies named therein to vote on
any matter that may be presented by the stockholder or the
Dissident Committee at the Meeting. A description of each
matter, and how the Boards named proxies intend to
exercise their discretionary authority and vote with respect
thereto, is set forth below.
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Alternate Slate of Directors |
As noted above, the stockholder originally submitted for
consideration four alternate candidates, and the Dissident
Committee has proposed two of such candidates for election at
the Meeting. The Governance Committee considered each candidate
in accordance with the Companys director nominations
procedures (discussed in Proposal One Election of
Directors above), and determined that none of the alternate
candidates proposed by the stockholder satisfied the most
important qualification identified by the committee for new
directors namely, having significant pharmaceutical
company experience. In addition, it was determined that no
alternate candidate was a better candidate than the
Companys Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the
Board, who are the only two candidates nominated by the Board
and, in the absence of voting instructions to the contrary, the
persons named in the Boards form of proxy will vote for
the Companys nominees.
The stockholder proposes amending the Companys By-laws to
institute director term limits such that directors could not
serve on the Board past their 67th birthday. The Board believes
this proposal should be rejected both because the age proposed
would prevent qualified and dedicated individuals over the age
of 67 from serving on our Board and because the Board, upon the
recommendation of the Governance Committee, recently adopted a
policy pursuant to which no director will be nominated for
re-election if he or she has already served as a director for
10 years or has reached his or her 75th birthday. The
stockholders proposal, therefore, is unnecessarily
duplicative of a governance action already adopted by the Board.
The persons named in the Boards form of proxy intend,
therefore, to exercise their discretionary authority and vote
against this matter, if and when presented at the Meeting.
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Chairman of the Board Changes |
Under the stockholders third possible proposal, the
Companys current Chairman of the Board would be
forced into a non-executive title and his
compensation would presumably be reduced from its current level
to a monetary value commensurate with market rate[s] for
non-executive chairmen. The Board of Directors believes
that the role of Chairman should evolve to a non-executive
position and expects that by the end of fiscal year 2005 the
Company will have a new Chairman. A proposal to terminate one
employees employment with the Company, however, is not
recommended by the Board. The persons named in the Boards
form of proxy intend, therefore, to exercise their discretionary
authority and vote against this matter, if and when presented at
the Meeting.
Given the Companys current financial condition, the Board
cannot recommend to stockholders that they approve any matter
that authorizes the payment of any amount of money to a
stockholder for such stockholders efforts to propose an
alternate slate of directors or otherwise. The persons named in
the Boards form of proxy intend, therefore, to exercise
their discretionary authority and vote against this matter, if
and when presented at the Meeting.
40
The proposing stockholder did not provide any specificity with
regard to the By-law amendments such stockholder believed would
permit more active involvement of shareholders in the governance
of the Company. The persons named in the Boards form of
proxy intend, therefore, to exercise their discretionary
authority and vote against this matter, if and when presented at
the Meeting.
The two nominees who receive the most votes for directors will
be elected as Class I directors. Approval of any of the
matters (other than the election of directors) proposed by the
stockholder and presented at the Meeting requires the
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of
Common Stock present in person or represented by proxy and
voting on the matter. Because abstentions and broker non-votes
are not votes on such matters, they will have no effect on the
outcome of any such proposal.
Stockholder Proposals for 2006 Annual Meeting
Proposals of stockholders for inclusion in the Proxy Statement
and form of proxy for the 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
must be submitted to the Secretary of the Company in writing and
be received by the Company at its principal executive offices no
later than November 21, 2005. Stockholder proposals for
consideration at the meeting but not inclusion in the Proxy
Statement will be considered untimely if the Company is not
provided written notice in accordance with the advance notice
provisions set forth in the Companys By-laws. The By-laws
state that in order to be timely, a stockholders notice
must be delivered or mailed by first class U.S. mail,
postage prepaid, and received at the Companys principal
executive office no less than 60 days and no more than
90 days prior to the date of the meeting. However, if less
than 70 days prior notice or prior public disclosure
of the date of the meeting is given or made to stockholders,
notice will be considered timely if it is received no later than
the close of business on the 10th day following the date on
which such notice was mailed or public disclosure was made of
the meeting date (whichever occurred first). In order to curtail
controversy as to the date on which the Company received a
proposal, it is suggested that proponents submit their proposals
by certified mail, return receipt requested.
In addition to being timely, a stockholders notice to the
Secretary must set forth as to each matter the stockholder
proposes to bring before the annual meeting:
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a brief description of the business desired to be brought before
the meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the
annual meeting, |
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the name and address, as they appear on the Companys
books, of the stockholder proposing such business, |
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the number of shares of the Company which are beneficially owned
by the stockholder, and |
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any material interest of the stockholder in such proposal. |
If the stockholders business relates to the election of
directors of the Company, the procedures described under the
caption Proposal One Election of
Directors herein relating to director nominations must be
followed instead.
41
Annual Report on Form 10-K
The Company will provide, upon written request and without
charge to each stockholder entitled to a vote at the Meeting, a
copy of the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K as
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2004. A request for copies of such
report should be addressed to the Company at 508 Lapp Road,
Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355 or by requesting a copy on our
website at www.novavax.com.
Information Incorporated by Reference
The financial statements, schedules and notes thereto,
supplementary financial information, managements
discussion and analysis, information about the Companys
independent auditor, quantitative and qualitative information
about market risk and other information required in connection
with Proposal Three to be considered at the Meeting are
hereby incorporated by reference to the Companys Annual
Report on Form 10-K as contained in the Companys
Annual Report to Stockholders for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2004 accompanying this Proxy Statement.
* * *
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HOPES THAT STOCKHOLDERS WILL ATTEND
THE MEETING. WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND, YOU ARE URGED TO
COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED WHITE PROXY IN THE
ACCOMPANYING ENVELOPE. YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE WILL GREATLY
FACILITATE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE MEETING AND YOUR COOPERATION IS
APPRECIATED. STOCKHOLDERS WHO ATTEND THE MEETING MAY VOTE THEIR
STOCK PERSONALLY EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE SENT IN THEIR PROXIES.
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By Order of the Board of Directors |
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David A. White, Secretary |
March , 2005
42
Appendix A
NOVAVAX, INC.
2005 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
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 Companys 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).
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 Companys 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).
A-1
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.
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 Companys 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 8,312,192 shares.
A-2
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 in the
case of an Incentive Stock Option, the exercise price 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:
(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.
(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 Companys Common Stock or other
non-cash consideration which may be 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 may be 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.
A-3
(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 optionees 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;
(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 may be specified in the applicable option
agreement).
(v) 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.
A-4
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, commitments to pay cash bonuses, to make,
arrange for or guaranty loans or to transfer other property to
optionee upon exercise of options; 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.
(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.
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:
(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 Stocks 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
Participants
Service. In the event that
a Participants 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.
A-5
(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.
(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 any
combination of the two, as the Board deems appropriate.
(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.
(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.
(vi) Termination of
Participants
Service. Except as
otherwise provided in the applicable Stock Award agreement,
restricted stock units that have not vested will be forfeited
upon the Participants 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) an amount that
will be determined by the Committee at the time of grant of the
stock appreciation right.
(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.
A-6
(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
Participants
Service. If a
Participants 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.
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.
A-7
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
Companys 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, or the board of directors of any corporation assuming
the obligations 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), 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.
(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 Boardshall
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.
A-8
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.
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.
(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).
A-9
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 Companys
stockholders. If such stockholder approval is not obtained
within twelve months after the date of the Boards 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 Companys
stockholders. If such stockholder approval is not obtained
within twelve months of the Boards 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
Participants 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 effective as of
February 24, 2005
A-10
Appendix B
NOVAVAX, INC.
FORM OF SENIOR CONVERTIBLE NOTE
NEITHER THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED
BY THIS CERTIFICATE NOR THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THESE
SECURITIES ARE CONVERTIBLE HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR APPLICABLE STATE
SECURITIES LAWS. THE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE,
SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED (I) IN THE ABSENCE OF
(A) AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR THE SECURITIES
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR (B) AN
OPINION OF COUNSEL, IN A FORM REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE TO NOVAVAX,
INC., THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER SAID ACT OR
(II) UNLESS SOLD PURSUANT TO RULE 144 OR
RULE 144A UNDER SAID ACT. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING,
THE SECURITIES MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE
MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN OR FINANCING ARRANGEMENT SECURED BY
THE SECURITIES. ANY TRANSFEREE OF THIS NOTE SHOULD CAREFULLY
REVIEW THE TERMS OF THIS NOTE, INCLUDING SECTIONS 3(c)(iii)
AND 19(a) HEREOF. THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT REPRESENTED BY THIS NOTE
AND, ACCORDINGLY, THE SECURITIES ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION HEREOF
MAY BE LESS THAN THE AMOUNTS SET FORTH ON THE FACE HEREOF
PURSUANT TO SECTION 3(c)(iii) OF THIS NOTE.
NOVAVAX, INC.
Senior Convertible
Note
|
|
Issuance Date: July , 2004 |
Principal: U.S. $ |
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, NOVAVAX, INC., a Delaware corporation
(the Company), hereby promises to pay to the
order of [BUYER] or registered assigns
(Holder) the amount set out above as the
Principal (as reduced pursuant to the terms hereof pursuant to
redemption, conversion or otherwise, the
Principal) when due, whether upon the
Maturity Date (as defined below), acceleration, redemption or
otherwise (in each case in accordance with the terms hereof) and
to pay interest (Interest) on any outstanding
Principal at a rate per annum equal to the Interest Rate (as
defined below), from the date set out above as the Issuance Date
(the Issuance Date) until the same becomes
due and payable, whether upon an Interest Date (as defined
below), the Maturity Date, acceleration, conversion, redemption
or otherwise (in each case in accordance with the terms hereof).
This Senior Convertible Note (including all Senior Convertible
Notes issued in exchange, transfer or replacement hereof, this
Note) is one of an issue of Senior
Convertible Notes (collectively, the Notes
and such other Senior Convertible Notes, the Other
Notes) issued on the Issuance Date pursuant to the
Securities Purchase Agreement (as defined below). Certain
capitalized terms are defined in Section 29.
(1) MATURITY. On
the Maturity Date, the Company shall pay to the Holder (the
Maturity Date Payment) an amount in cash or,
at the option of the Company, in a combination of cash and
shares of Common Stock (Repayment Shares),
representing all outstanding Principal, accrued and unpaid
Interest and accrued and unpaid Late Charges, if any; provided
that (x) only up to half of the Maturity Date Payment may
be made in Repayment Shares and (y) any portion of the
Maturity Date Payment may be payable in Repayment Shares only if
(i) the Company delivers written notice of such election
(Maturity Date Payment Election Notice) to
each holder of the Notes at least thirty (30) Trading Days
prior to the Maturity Date (a Maturity Payment Election
Date) indicating the amount of the Maturity Date
Payment to be made in Repayment Shares and (ii) the Equity
Conditions are satisfied (or waived by the Holder) from and
including the Maturity Payment Election Date through and
including the Maturity Date. The Company shall be required to
make Maturity Date Payments in the same proportion with respect
to the Other Notes as designated in any Maturity Date Payment
Election Share Notice delivered under this Note. The
Maturity
B-1
Date shall be July 15, 2009, as may be
extended at the option of the Holder (i) in the event that,
and for so long as, an Event of Default (as defined in
Section 4(a)) shall have occurred and be continuing and
(ii) through the date that is ten (10) days after the
consummation of a Change of Control in the event that a Change
of Control is publicly announced or a Change of Control Notice
(as defined in Section 5) is delivered prior to the
Maturity Date. The portion, if any, of the Maturity Date Payment
to be made on the Maturity Date in Repayment Shares shall be
paid in a number of fully paid and nonassessable shares (rounded
to the nearest whole share in accordance with Section 3(a))
of Common Stock equal to the quotient of (a) the amount of
the Maturity Date Payment to be made on the Maturity Date in
Repayment Shares and (b) the Redemption Conversion
Price on the Maturity Date. If any Repayment Shares are to be
paid on the Maturity Date, then the Company shall
(X) provided that the Companys transfer agent (the
Transfer Agent) is participating in the
Depository Trust Company (DTC) Fast
Automated Securities Transfer Program, credit such aggregate
number of Repayment Shares to which the Holder shall be entitled
to the Holders or its designees balance account with
DTC through its Deposit Withdrawal Agent Commission system or
(Y) if the Transfer Agent is not participating in the DTC
Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program, issue and deliver on
the Maturity Date, to such address of the Holder as is set forth
in the Securities Purchase Agreement or such other address as
specified by the Holder in writing to the Company on or prior to
the Maturity Date, a certificate, registered in the name of the
Holder or its designee, for the number of Repayment Shares to
which the Holder shall be entitled. The Company shall pay any
and all taxes that may be payable with respect to the issuance
and delivery of Repayment Shares.
(2) INTEREST; INTEREST
RATE. Interest on this Note
shall commence accruing on the Issuance Date and shall be
computed on the basis of a 365-day year and actual days elapsed
and shall be payable in arrears on each January 15 and July 15
during the period beginning on the Issuance Date and ending on,
and including, the Maturity Date and on the Maturity Date (each,
an Interest Date) with the first Interest
Date being January 15, 2005. Interest shall be payable on
each Interest Date in cash. Prior to the payment of Interest on
an Interest Date, Interest on this Note shall accrue at the
Interest Rate and be payable by way of inclusion of the Interest
in the Conversion Amount in accordance with
Section 3(b)(i). From and after the occurrence of an Event
of Default, the Interest Rate shall be increased to fifteen
percent (15%). In the event that such Event of Default is
subsequently cured, the adjustment referred to in the preceding
sentence shall cease to be effective as of the date of such
cure; provided that the Interest as calculated at such increased
rate during the continuance of such Event of Default shall
continue to apply to the extent relating to the days after the
occurrence of such Event of Default through and including the
date of cure of such Event of Default.
(3) CONVERSION OF
NOTES. This Note shall be
convertible into shares of Common Stock of the Company, par
value $.01 per share (the Common Stock), on
the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 3.
(a) Conversion
Right. Subject to the
provisions of Section 3(d), at any time or times on or
after the Issuance Date, the Holder shall be entitled to convert
any portion of the outstanding and unpaid Conversion Amount (as
defined below) into fully paid and nonassessable shares of
Common Stock in accordance with Section 3(c), at the
Conversion Rate (as defined below). The Company shall not issue
any fraction of a share of Common Stock upon any conversion. If
the issuance would result in the issuance of a fraction of a
share of Common Stock, the Company shall round such fraction of
a share of Common Stock up to the nearest whole share. The
Company shall pay any and all taxes that may be payable with
respect to the issuance and delivery of shares of Common Stock
upon conversion of any Conversion Amount.
(b) Conversion
Rate. The number of shares
of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of any Conversion
Amount pursuant to Section 3(a) shall be determined by
dividing (x) such Conversion Amount by (y) the
Conversion Price (the Conversion Rate).
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(i) Conversion
Amount means the sum of
(A) the portion of the Principal to be converted, redeemed
or otherwise with respect to which this determination is being
made, (B) accrued and unpaid Interest with respect to such
Principal and (C) accrued and unpaid Late Charges with
respect to such amount being converted. |
B-2
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(ii) Conversion
Price means, as of any
Conversion Date (as defined below) or other date of
determination, and subject to adjustment as provided herein,
U.S.$ (1) |
(c) Mechanics of Conversion.
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(i) Optional
Conversion. To convert any
Conversion Amount into shares of Common Stock on any date (a
Conversion Date), the Holder shall
(A) transmit by facsimile (or otherwise deliver), for
receipt on or prior to 11:59 p.m., New York Time, on such
date, a copy of an executed notice of conversion in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit I (the
Conversion Notice) to the Company and
(B) if required by Section 3(c)(iii), surrender this Note
to a common carrier for delivery to the Company as soon as
practicable on or following such date (or an indemnification
undertaking with respect to this Note in a form reasonably
acceptable to the Company in the case of its loss, theft or
destruction). On or before the first Business Day following the
date of receipt of a Conversion Notice, the Company shall
transmit by facsimile a confirmation of receipt of such
Conversion Notice to the Holder and the Transfer Agent. On or
before the third Business Day following the date of receipt of a
Conversion Notice (the Share Delivery Date),
the Company shall (X) provided the Transfer Agent is
participating in the Depository Trust Company
(DTC) Fast Automated Securities Transfer
Program credit such aggregate number of shares of Common Stock
to which the Holder shall be entitled to the Holders or
its designees balance account with DTC through its Deposit
Withdrawal Agent Commission system or (Y) if the Transfer
Agent is not participating in the DTC Fast Automated Securities
Transfer Program, issue and deliver to such address of the
Holder as is set forth in the Securities Purchase Agreement or
such other address as specified in the Conversion Notice, a
certificate, registered in the name of the Holder or its
designee, for the number of shares of Common Stock to which the
Holder shall be entitled. If this Note is physically surrendered
for conversion as required by Section 3(c)(iii) and the
outstanding Principal of this Note is greater than the Principal
portion of the Conversion Amount being converted, then the
Company shall as soon as practicable and in no event later than
three Business Days after receipt of this Note and at its own
expense, issue and deliver to the holder a new Note (in
accordance with Section 19(d)) representing the outstanding
Principal not converted. The Person or Persons entitled to
receive the shares of Common Stock issuable upon a conversion of
this Note shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder
or holders of such shares of Common Stock on the Conversion Date. |
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(ii) Companys Failure
to Timely Convert or Redeem. If the Company shall fail
to issue a certificate to the Holder or credit the Holders
balance account with DTC for the number of shares of Common
Stock to which the Holder is entitled upon conversion or
redemption of any Conversion Amount on or prior to the date
which is five (5) Business Days after the Conversion Date
or other applicable date of determination (a Conversion
Failure), then (A) the Company shall pay damages
to the Holder for each date of such Conversion Failure in an
amount equal to 0.5% of the product of (I) the sum of the
number of shares of Common Stock not issued to the Holder on or
prior to the Share Delivery Date or other applicable date of
determination and to which the Holder is entitled, and
(II) the Closing Sale Price of the shares of Common Stock
on the Share Delivery Date or other applicable date of
determination and (B) the Holder, upon written notice to
the Company, may void its Conversion Notice or right to receive
shares upon a redemption hereunder with respect to, and retain
or have returned, as the case may be, any portion of this Note
that has not been converted or redeemed pursuant to such
Conversion Notice or other applicable redemption notice;
provided that the voiding of a Conversion Notice or other
applicable redemption notice shall not affect the Companys
obligations to make any payments which have accrued prior to the
date of such notice pursuant to this Section 3(c)(ii) or
otherwise. In addition to the foregoing, if within three
(3) Trading Days after the Companys receipt of the
facsimile copy of a Conversion Notice or any other applicable
date on which the Company is required to deliver shares of
Common Stock hereunder the Company shall fail to issue and
deliver a certificate to the Holder or credit the Holders
balance account with DTC for the number of shares of Common
Stock to which the Holder is entitled upon such holders
conversion or the Companys redemption of any |
1Insert amount equal to the greater of (x) $6.15 and
(y) 110% of the Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock on
the Trading Day immediately preceding the Issuance Date.
B-3
Conversion Amount, and if on or after such Trading Day the
Holder purchases (in an open market transaction or otherwise)
shares of Common Stock to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by
the Holder of shares of Common Stock issuable upon such
conversion or redemption that the Holder anticipated receiving
from the Company (a Buy-In), then the Company
shall, within three Business Days after the Holders
request and in the Holders discretion, either (i) pay
cash to the Holder in an amount equal to the Holders total
purchase price (including brokerage commissions, if any) for the
shares of Common Stock so purchased (the Buy-In
Price), at which point the Companys obligation
to deliver such certificate (and to issue such shares of Common
Stock) shall terminate, or (ii) promptly honor its
obligation to deliver to the Holder a certificate or
certificates representing such shares of Common Stock and pay
cash to the Holder in an amount equal to the excess (if any) of
the Buy-In Price over the product of (A) such number of
shares of Common Stock, times (B) the Closing Bid Price on
the Conversion Date or other applicable date on which the
Company was required to deliver shares of Common Stock.
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(iii) Book-Entry. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary set forth herein, upon conversion or
redemption of any portion of this Note in accordance with the
terms hereof, the Holder shall not be required to physically
surrender this Note to the Company unless (A) the full
Conversion Amount represented by this Note is being converted or
redeemed or (B) the Holder has provided the Company with
prior written notice (which notice may be included in a
Conversion Notice) requesting physical surrender and reissue of
this Note. The Holder and the Company shall maintain records
showing the Principal, Interest and Late Charges converted and
the dates of such conversions and redemption or shall use such
other method, reasonably satisfactory to the Holder and the
Company, so as not to require physical surrender of this Note
upon conversion or redemption. |
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(iv) Pro Rata Conversion;
Disputes. In the event that
the Company receives a Conversion Notice from more than one
holder of Notes for the same Conversion Date and the Company can
convert some, but not all, of such portions of the Notes
submitted for conversion, the Company, subject to
Section 3(d), shall convert from each holder of Notes
electing to have Notes converted on such date a pro rata amount
of such holders portion of its Notes submitted for
conversion based on the principal amount of Notes submitted for
conversion on such date by such holder relative to the aggregate
principal amount of all Notes submitted for conversion on such
date. In the event of a dispute as to the number of shares of
Common Stock issuable to the Holder in connection with a
conversion of this Note, the Company shall issue to the Holder
the number of shares of Common Stock not in dispute and resolve
such dispute in accordance with Section 24. |
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(i) Beneficial
Ownership. The Company
shall not effect any conversion or redemption of this Note or
otherwise issue shares of Common Stock pursuant hereto, and the
Holder of this Note shall not have the right to convert or
redeem any portion of this Note or otherwise receive any shares
of Common Stock pursuant hereto, to the extent that after giving
effect to such conversion or redemption or issuance or receipt
of shares of Common Stock pursuant hereto, the Holder (together
with the Holders affiliates) would beneficially own in
excess of 4.99% of the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding immediately after giving effect to such conversion
or redemption or other receipt of shares of Common Stock
pursuant hereto. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the
number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the
Holder and its affiliates shall include the number of shares of
Common Stock issuable upon conversion or redemption of this Note
or other issuance shares of Common Stock pursuant hereto with
respect to which the determination of such sentence is being
made, but shall exclude the number of shares of Common Stock
which would be issuable upon (A) conversion or redemption or
other issuance with respect to the remaining portion of this
Note beneficially owned by the Holder or any of its affiliates
and (B) exercise or conversion of or other issuance with
respect to the unexercised or nonconverted portion of any other
securities of the Company (including, without limitation, any
Other Notes or warrants) subject to a limitation on conversion
or exercise or other issuance analogous to the limitation
contained herein beneficially owned by the Holder or any of its
affiliates. Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, for
purposes of this Section 3(d)(i), beneficial ownership
shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, |
B-4
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as amended. For purposes of this Section 3(d)(i), in
determining the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock,
the Holder may rely on the number of outstanding shares of
Common Stock as reflected in (x) the Companys then
most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q, as applicable, (y) a more recent
public announcement by the Company or (z) any other notice by
the Company or the Transfer Agent setting forth the number of
shares of Common Stock outstanding. For any reason at any time,
upon the written or oral request of the Holder, the Company
shall within one Business Day confirm orally and in writing to
the Holder the number of shares of Common Stock then
outstanding. In any case, the number of outstanding shares of
Common Stock shall be determined after giving effect to the
conversion, redemption, exercise or other issuance of securities
of the Company, including this Note, by the Holder or its
affiliates since the date as of which such number of outstanding
shares of Common Stock was reported. |
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(ii) Principal Market
Regulation. The Company shall not be obligated to issue
any shares of Common Stock upon conversion or redemption of or
otherwise with respect to this Note if the issuance of such
shares of Common Stock would exceed that number of shares of
Common Stock which the Company may issue upon conversion or
redemption of or other issuance with respect to the Notes
without breaching the Companys obligations under the rules
or regulations of the Principal Market (the Exchange
Cap), except that such limitation shall not apply in the
event that the Company obtains the approval of its stockholders
as required by the applicable rules of the Principal Market for
issuances of shares of Common Stock in excess of such amount.
Until such approval is obtained, no purchaser of the Notes
pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement (the
Purchasers) shall be issued, upon conversion or
redemption of or other issuance with respect to any Notes,
shares of Common Stock in an amount greater than the product of
the Exchange Cap multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of
which is the Principal amount of Notes issued to such Purchaser
pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement on the Issuance
Date and the denominator of which is the aggregate Principal
amount of Notes issued to all Purchasers pursuant to the
Securities Purchase Agreement on the Issuance Date (with respect
to each Purchaser, the Exchange Cap Allocation). In
the event that any Purchaser shall sell or otherwise transfer
any of such Purchasers Notes, the transferee shall be
allocated a pro rata portion of such Purchasers Exchange
Cap Allocation, and the restrictions of the prior sentence shall
apply to such transferee with respect to the portion of the
Exchange Cap Allocation allocated to such transferee. In the
event that any holder of Notes shall convert all of such
holders Notes into a number of shares of Common Stock
which, in the aggregate, is less than such holders
Exchange Cap Allocation, then the difference between such
holders Exchange Cap Allocation and the number of shares
of Common Stock actually issued to such holder shall be
allocated to the respective Exchange Cap Allocations of the
remaining holders of Notes on a pro rata basis in proportion to
the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then held by each
such holder. |
(4) RIGHTS UPON EVENT OF
DEFAULT.
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(a) Event of
Default. Each of the
following events shall constitute an Event of
Default: |
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(i) the failure of the applicable
Registration Statement required to be filed pursuant to the
Registration Rights Agreement to be declared effective by the
SEC on or prior to the date that is 60 days after the
applicable Effectiveness Deadline (as defined in the
Registration Rights Agreement), or, while the applicable
Registration Statement is required to be maintained effective
pursuant to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, the
effectiveness of the applicable Registration Statement lapses
for any reason (including, without limitation, the issuance of a
stop order) or is unavailable to any holder of the Notes for
sale of all of such holders Registrable Securities (as
defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) in accordance with
the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, and such lapse
or unavailability continues for a period of 10 consecutive days
or for more than an aggregate of 30 days in any 365-day period
(other than days during an Allowable Grace Period (as defined in
the Registration Rights Agreement)); |
B-5
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(ii) the suspension from trading or
failure of the shares of Common Stock to be listed on an
Eligible Market for a period of five consecutive days or for
more than an aggregate of 10 days in any 365-day period; |
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(iii) the Companys
(A) failure to cure a Conversion Failure by delivery of the
required number of shares of Common Stock within ten (10)
Business Days after the applicable Conversion Date or
(B) notice, written or oral, to any holder of the Notes,
including by way of public announcement or through any of its
agents, at any time, of its intention not to comply with a
request for conversion of any Notes into shares of Common Stock
that is tendered in accordance with the provisions of the Notes; |
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(iv) upon the Companys
receipt of a Conversion Notice, the Company is not obligated to
issue shares of Common Stock upon such conversion due to the
provisions of Section 3(d)(ii); |
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(v) at any time following the tenth
consecutive Business Day that the Holders Authorized Share
Allocation is less than the number of shares of Common Stock
that the Holder would be entitled to receive upon a conversion
of the full Conversion Amount of this Note (without regard to
any limitations on conversion set forth in Section 3(d) or
otherwise); |
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(vi) the Companys failure to
pay to the Holder any amount of Principal, Interest, Late
Charges or other amounts when and as due under this Note or any
other Transaction Document (as defined in the Securities
Purchase Agreement), except, in the case of a failure to pay
Interest and Late Charges when and as due, in which case only if
such failure continues for a period of at least three
(3) Business Days; |
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(vii) any default under, redemption
of or acceleration (subject to applicable cure periods) prior to
maturity of any material Indebtedness (as defined in
Section 3(s) of the Securities Purchase Agreement) of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries (as defined in
Section 3(a) of the Securities Purchase Agreement) other
than with respect to any Other Notes; |
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(viii) the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, pursuant to or within the meaning of
Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar Federal, foreign, state
or local law for the relief of debtors (collectively,
Bankruptcy Law), (A) commences a
voluntary case, (B) consents to the entry of an order for
relief against it in an involuntary case, (C) consents to
the appointment of a receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or
similar official (a Custodian),
(D) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its
creditors or (E) admits in writing that it is generally
unable to pay its debts as they become due; |
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(ix) a court of competent
jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law
that (A) is for relief against the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries in an involuntary case, (B) appoints a
Custodian of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or
(C) orders the liquidation of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries and such order or decree is incapable of being
dismissed or, if capable of being dismissed, shall continue
undismissed for a period of 30 days; |
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(x) a final, non-appealable
judgment or judgments for the payment of money aggregating in
excess of $2,000,000 are rendered against the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries and which judgments are not, within 60 days
after the entry thereof, bonded, discharged or stayed pending
appeal, or are not discharged within 60 days after the
expiration of such stay; provided, however, that any judgment
which is covered by insurance or an indemnity from a credit
worthy party shall not be included in calculating the $2,000,000
amount set forth above so long as the Company provides the
Holder as promptly as practicable with a written statement from
such insurer or indemnity provider (which written statement
shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Holder) to the effect
that such judgment is covered by insurance or an indemnity and
the Company will receive the proceeds of such insurance or
indemnity in the time frame provided under the applicable
insurance policy; |
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(xi) the Company breaches any
representation, warranty, covenant or other term or condition of
any of the Transaction Documents in a manner that could result
in a Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Securities
Purchase Agreement), except, in the case of a breach of a
covenant which is curable, only if such breach continues for a
period of at least fifteen (15) consecutive Business Days; |
B-6
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(xii) any breach or failure in any
respect to comply with Section 15 of this Note; or |
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(xiii) any Event of Default (as
defined in the Other Notes) occurs with respect to any Other
Notes. |
(b) Redemption Right. Promptly
after the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to this
Note or any Other Note, the Company shall deliver written notice
thereof via facsimile and overnight courier (an Event
of Default Notice) to the Holder. At any time after
the earlier of the Holders receipt of an Event of Default
Notice and the Holder becoming aware of an Event of Default, the
Holder may require the Company to redeem all or any portion of
this Note by delivering written notice thereof (the
Event of Default Redemption Notice) to
the Company, which Event of Default Redemption Notice shall
indicate the portion of this Note the Holder is electing to
redeem. Each portion of this Note subject to redemption by the
Company pursuant to this Section 4(b) shall be redeemed by
the Company at a price equal to the greater of (i) the
product of (x) the Conversion Amount to be redeemed and
(y) the Redemption Premium and (ii) the product
of (A) the Conversion Rate with respect to such Conversion
Amount in effect at such time as the Holder delivers an Event of
Default Redemption Notice and (B) the Closing Sale
Price of the shares of Common Stock on the date immediately
preceding such Event of Default (the Event of Default
Redemption Price). Redemptions required by this
Section 4(b) shall be made in accordance with the
provisions of Section 12.
(5) RIGHTS UPON FUNDAMENTAL
TRANSACTION AND CHANGE OF CONTROL.
(a) Assumption. The
Company shall not enter into or be party to a Fundamental
Transaction unless (i) the Successor Entity assumes in
writing all of the obligations of the Company under this Note
and the other Transaction Documents in accordance with the
provisions of this Section 5(a) pursuant to written
agreements in form and substance satisfactory to the Required
Holders and approved by the Required Holders prior to such
Fundamental Transaction, including agreements to deliver to each
holder of Notes in exchange for such Notes a security of the
Successor Entity evidenced by a written instrument substantially
similar in form and substance to the Notes, including, without
limitation, having a principal amount and interest rate equal to
the principal amounts and the interest rates of the Notes held
by such holder and having similar ranking to the Notes, and
satisfactory to the Required Holders and (ii) other than in
connection with a Cash Transaction, the Successor Entity
(including its Parent Entity) is a publicly traded corporation
whose common stock is quoted on or listed for trading on an
Eligible Market. Upon the occurrence of any Fundamental
Transaction, the Successor Entity shall succeed to, and be
substituted for (so that from and after the date of such
Fundamental Transaction, the provisions of this Note referring
to the Company shall refer instead to the Successor
Entity), and may exercise every right and power of the Company
and shall assume all of the obligations of the Company under
this Note with the same effect as if such Successor Entity had
been named as the Company herein. Upon consummation of the
Fundamental Transaction, the Successor Entity shall deliver to
the Holder confirmation that there shall be issued upon
conversion or redemption of this Note at any time after the
consummation of the Fundamental Transaction, in lieu of the
shares of the Companys Common Stock (or other securities,
cash, assets or other property) purchasable upon the conversion
or redemption of the Notes prior to such Fundamental
Transaction, such shares of stock, securities, cash, assets or
any other property whatsoever (including warrants or other
purchase or subscription rights) which the Holder would have
been entitled to receive upon the happening of such Fundamental
Transaction had this Note been converted immediately prior to
such Fundamental Transaction, as adjusted in accordance with the
provisions of this Note. The provisions of this Section shall
apply similarly and equally to successive Fundamental
Transactions and shall be applied without regard to any
limitations on the conversion or redemption of this Note.
(b) Redemption Right of
the Holder Upon a Change of
Control. No sooner than
15 days nor later than 7 days prior to the
consummation of a Change of Control, but not prior to the
Companys public announcement of such Change of Control,
the Company shall deliver written notice thereof via facsimile
and overnight courier to the Holder (a Change of
Control Notice). At any time during the period
beginning after the Holders receipt of a Change of Control
Notice and ending on the date of the consummation of such Change
of Control (or, in the event a Change of Control Notice is not
delivered at least 7 days prior to a
B-7
Change of Control, at any time beginning after the Holders
receipt of a Change of Control Notice and ending 10 days
after the consummation of such Change of Control), the Holder
may require the Company to redeem all or any portion of this
Note by delivering written notice thereof (Change of
Control Redemption Notice) to the Company, which
Change of Control Redemption Notice shall indicate the
Conversion Amount the Holder is electing to redeem. The portion
of this Note subject to redemption pursuant to this
Section 5 shall be redeemed by the Company at a price equal
to the greater of (i) the product of (x) the
Conversion Amount being redeemed and (y) the quotient
determined by dividing (A) the Closing Sale Price of the
shares of Common Stock immediately following the public
announcement of such proposed Change of Control by (B) the
Conversion Price and (ii) the product of (x) the
Change of Control Redemption Premium and (y) the
Conversion Amount being redeemed (the Change of Control
Redemption Price). Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary in this Section 5(b), but subject to
Section 3(d), until the Change of Control
Redemption Price is paid in full, the Conversion Amount
submitted for redemption under this Section 5(b) may be
converted, in whole or in part, by the Holder into Common Stock
pursuant to Section 3. Redemptions required by this
Section 5(b) shall be made in accordance with the
provisions of Section 12 and shall have priority to
payments to stockholders in connection with a Change of Control.
(c) Redemption at the
Companys Election Upon Cash
Transaction. On the date a
pending, proposed or intended Cash Transaction is publicly
disclosed, the Company shall have the right, in its sole
discretion, to require that all, but not less than all, of the
outstanding Notes be redeemed (a Cash Transaction
Redemption Election) at a price equal to the
Change of Control Redemption Price (such price in
connection with a Cash Transaction Redemption Election, the
Cash Transaction Redemption Price). The
Company shall exercise its right to make a Cash Transaction
Redemption Election by providing each holder of Notes
written notice (the Cash Transaction
Redemption Notice) by facsimile and overnight
courier, concurrently with the public disclosure of a proposed,
pending or intended Cash Transaction and at least ten
(10) Trading Days prior to the date of consummation of the
Cash Transaction (the Cash Transaction Election
Redemption Date), which Cash Transaction Election
Redemption Date shall be the date of the consummation of
the Cash Transaction. The Cash Transaction
Redemption Notice shall indicate the anticipated Cash
Transaction Election Redemption Date. If the Company has
exercised its right of Cash Transaction Redemption Election
then all Notes outstanding at the time of the consummation of
the Cash Transaction shall be redeemed on the Cash Transaction
Election Redemption Date by payment by or on behalf of the
Company to each holder of Notes of the Cash Transaction
Redemption Price for such Notes concurrent with the closing
of the Cash Transaction. If the Company fails to pay the full
Cash Transaction Redemption Price with respect to any Notes
concurrently with the closing of the Cash Transaction, then the
Cash Transaction Redemption Election shall be null and void
with respect to such Notes and the holder of such Notes shall be
entitled to all the rights of a holder of outstanding Notes set
forth herein. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this
Section 5(c), but subject to Section 3(d), until the
Cash Transaction Redemption Price is paid in full, the
Conversion Amount subject to redemption hereunder may be
converted, in whole or in part, by the Holder into Common Stock
pursuant to Section 3. Redemptions required by this
Section 5(c) shall be made in accordance with the
provisions of Section 12 and shall have priority to
payments to stockholders in connection with a Cash Transaction.
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(6) |
RIGHTS UPON ISSUANCE OF PURCHASE RIGHTS AND OTHER
CORPORATE EVENTS. |
(a) Purchase
Rights. If at any time the
Company grants, issues or sells any Options, Convertible
Securities or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or
other property pro rata to the record holders of any class of
shares of Common Stock (the Purchase Rights),
then the Holder will be entitled to acquire, upon the terms
applicable to such Purchase Rights, the aggregate Purchase
Rights which the Holder could have acquired if the Holder had
held the shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete
conversion of this Note (without taking into account any
limitations or restrictions on the convertibility of this Note)
immediately before the date on which a record is taken for the
grant, issuance or sale of such Purchase Rights, or, if no such
record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of
shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the grant, issue
or sale of such Purchase Rights.
(b) Other Corporate
Events. In addition to and
not in substitution for any other rights hereunder, prior to the
consummation of any Fundamental Transaction pursuant to which
holders of shares of Common
B-8
Stock are entitled to receive securities or other assets with
respect to or in exchange for shares of Common Stock (a
Corporate Event), the Company shall make
appropriate provision to insure that the Holder will thereafter
have the right to receive upon a conversion of this Note,
(i) in addition to the shares of Common Stock receivable
upon such conversion, such securities or other assets to which
the Holder would have been entitled with respect to such shares
of Common Stock had such shares of Common Stock been held by the
Holder upon the consummation of such Corporate Event (without
taking into account any limitations or restrictions on the
convertibility of this Note) or (ii) in lieu of the shares
of Common Stock otherwise receivable upon such conversion, such
securities or other assets received by the holders of shares of
Common Stock in connection with the consummation of such
Corporate Event in such amounts as the Holder would have been
entitled to receive had this Note initially been issued with
conversion rights for the form of such consideration (as opposed
to shares of Common Stock) at a conversion rate for such
consideration commensurate with the Conversion Rate. Provision
made pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be in a form and
substance satisfactory to the Required Holders. The provisions
of this Section shall apply similarly and equally to successive
Corporate Events and shall be applied without regard to any
limitations on the conversion or redemption of this Note.
(7) RIGHTS UPON ISSUANCE OF
OTHER SECURITIES.
(a) Adjustment of Conversion
Price upon Issuance of shares of Common Stock. If and
whenever during the period beginning on after the Subscription
Date and ending on the second anniversary of the Subscription
Date, the Company issues or sells, or in accordance with this
Section 7(a) is deemed to have issued or sold, any shares
of Common Stock (including the issuance or sale of shares of
Common Stock owned or held by or for the account of the Company,
but excluding shares of Common Stock deemed to have been issued
or sold by the Company in connection with any Excluded Security)
for a consideration per share less than a price (the
Applicable Price) equal to the Conversion
Price in effect immediately prior to such issue or sale (the
foregoing a Dilutive Issuance), then
immediately after such Dilutive Issuance, the Conversion Price
then in effect shall be reduced to an amount equal to the
product of (A) the Applicable Price and (B) the
quotient determined by dividing (1) the sum of (I) the
product derived by multiplying the Applicable Price and the
number of shares of Common Stock Deemed Outstanding immediately
prior to such Dilutive Issuance plus (II) the
consideration, if any, received by the Company upon such
Dilutive Issuance, by (2) the product derived by
multiplying (I) the Applicable Price by (II) the
number of shares of Common Stock Deemed Outstanding immediately
after such Dilutive Issuance. For purposes of determining the
adjusted Conversion Price under this Section 7(a), the
following shall be applicable:
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(i) Issuance of
Options. If the Company in
any manner grants or sells any Options and the lowest price per
share for which one share of Common Stock is issuable upon the
exercise of any such Option or upon conversion or exchange or
exercise of any Convertible Securities issuable upon exercise of
such Option is less than the Applicable Price, then such share
of Common Stock shall be deemed to be outstanding and to have
been issued and sold by the Company at the time of the granting
or sale of such Option for such price per share. For purposes of
this Section 7(a)(i), the lowest price per share for which
one share of Common Stock is issuable upon the exercise of any
such Option or upon conversion or exchange or exercise of any
Convertible Securities issuable upon exercise of such
Option shall be equal to the sum of the lowest amounts of
consideration (if any) received or receivable by the Company
with respect to any one share of Common Stock upon granting or
sale of the Option, upon exercise of the Option and upon
conversion or exchange or exercise of any Convertible Security
issuable upon exercise of such Option. No further adjustment of
the Conversion Price shall be made upon the actual issuance of
such share of Common Stock or of such Convertible Securities
upon the exercise of such Options or upon the actual issuance of
such share of Common Stock upon conversion or exchange or
exercise of such Convertible Securities. |
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(ii) Issuance of Convertible
Securities. If the Company
in any manner issues or sells any Convertible Securities and the
lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is
issuable upon such conversion or exchange or exercise thereof is
less than the Applicable Price, then such share of Common Stock
shall be deemed to be outstanding and to have been issued and
sold by the Company at the time of the issuance of sale of such
Convertible Securities for such price per share. For the purposes |
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of this Section 7(a)(ii), the price per share for
which one shares of Common Stock is issuable upon such
conversion or exchange or exercise shall be equal to the
sum of the lowest amounts of consideration (if any) received or
receivable by the Company with respect to any one share of
Common Stock upon the issuance or sale of the Convertible
Security and upon the conversion or exchange or exercise of such
Convertible Security. No further adjustment of the Conversion
Price shall be made upon the actual issuance of such share of
Common Stock upon conversion or exchange or exercise of such
Convertible Securities, and if any such issue or sale of such
Convertible Securities is made upon exercise of any Options for
which adjustment of the Conversion Price had been or are to be
made pursuant to other provisions of this Section 7(a), no
further adjustment of the Conversion Price shall be made by
reason of such issue or sale. |
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(iii) Change in Option Price
or Rate of Conversion. If
the purchase price provided for in any Options, the additional
consideration, if any, payable upon the issue, conversion,
exchange or exercise of any Convertible Securities, or the rate
at which any Convertible Securities are convertible into or
exchangeable or exercisable for shares of Common Stock changes
at any time, the Conversion Price in effect at the time of such
change shall be adjusted to the Conversion Price which would
have been in effect at such time had such Options or Convertible
Securities provided for such changed purchase price, additional
consideration or changed conversion rate, as the case may be, at
the time initially granted, issued or sold. For purposes of this
Section 7(a)(iii), if the terms of any Option or
Convertible Security that was outstanding as of the Issuance
Date are changed in the manner described in the immediately
preceding sentence, then such Option or Convertible Security and
the shares of Common Stock deemed issuable upon exercise,
conversion or exchange thereof shall be deemed to have been
issued as of the date of such change. No adjustment shall be
made if such adjustment would result in an increase of the
Conversion Price then in effect. |
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(iv) Calculation of
Consideration Received. In
case any Option or Convertible Securities are issued in
connection with the issue or sale of other securities of the
Company, together comprising one integrated transaction in which
no specific consideration is allocated to such Options or
Convertible Securities by the parties thereto, the Options or
Convertible Securities will be deemed to have been issued for a
consideration of $.01. If any shares of Common Stock, Options or
Convertible Securities are issued or sold or deemed to have been
issued or sold for cash, the consideration received therefor
will be deemed to be the net amount received by the Company
therefor. If any shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible
Securities are issued or sold for a consideration other than
cash, the amount of the consideration other than cash received
by the Company will be the fair value of such consideration,
except where such consideration consists of securities, in which
case the amount of consideration received by the Company will be
the Closing Sale Price of such securities on the date of
receipt. If any shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible
Securities are issued to the owners of the non-surviving entity
in connection with any merger in which the Company is the
surviving entity, the amount of consideration therefor will be
deemed to be the fair value of such portion of the net assets
and business of the non-surviving entity as is attributable to
such shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities,
as the case may be. The fair value of any consideration other
than cash or securities will be determined jointly by the
Company and the Required Holders. If such parties are unable to
reach agreement within ten (10) days after the occurrence of an
event requiring valuation (the Valuation Event), the
fair value of such consideration will be determined within five
(5) Business Days after the tenth day following the
Valuation Event by an independent, nationally recognized
appraiser jointly selected by the Company and the Required
Holders. The determination of such appraiser shall be deemed
binding upon all parties absent manifest error. The fees and
expenses of such appraiser shall be borne by the party whose
determination or fair value most differs from such
appraisers determination. |
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(v) Record
Date. If the Company takes
a record of the holders of shares of Common Stock for the
purpose of entitling them (A) to receive a dividend or
other distribution payable in shares of Common Stock, Options or
in Convertible Securities or (B) to subscribe for or
purchase shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible
Securities, then such record date will be deemed to be the date
of the issue or sale of the shares of Common Stock deemed to
have been issued or sold upon the |
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declaration of such dividend or the making of such other
distribution or the date of the granting of such right of
subscription or purchase, as the case may be. |
(b) Adjustment of Conversion
Price upon Subdivision or Combination of shares of Common
Stock. If the Company at
any time on or after the Subscription Date subdivides (by any
stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization or otherwise) one
or more classes of its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a
greater number of shares, the Conversion Price in effect
immediately prior to such subdivision will be proportionately
reduced. If the Company at any time on or after the Subscription
Date combines (by combination, reverse stock split or otherwise)
one or more classes of its outstanding shares of Common Stock
into a smaller number of shares, the Conversion Price in effect
immediately prior to such combination will be proportionately
increased.
(c) Other
Events. If any event occurs
of the type contemplated by the provisions of this
Section 7 but not expressly provided for by such provisions
(including, without limitation, the granting of stock
appreciation rights, phantom stock rights or other rights with
equity features), then the Companys Board of Directors
will make an appropriate adjustment in the Conversion Price so
as to protect the rights of the Holder under this Note; provided
that no such adjustment will increase the Conversion Price as
otherwise determined pursuant to this Section 7.
(8) COMPANYS RIGHT OF
MANDATORY CONVERSION.
(a) Mandatory
Conversion. If at any time
from and after the third anniversary of the Issuance Date (the
Mandatory Conversion Eligibility Date),
(i) the Weighted Average Price of the shares of Common
Stock exceeds 175% of the Conversion Price as of the Issuance
Date (subject to appropriate adjustments for stock splits, stock
dividends, stock combinations and other similar transactions
after the Issuance Date) for each of fifteen (15) Trading
Days out of any thirty (30) consecutive Trading Days
following the Mandatory Conversion Eligibility Date (the
Mandatory Conversion Measuring Period) and
(ii) the Equity Conditions shall have been satisfied or
waived in writing by the Holder from and including the Mandatory
Conversion Notice Date through and including the Mandatory
Conversion Date (each, as defined below), the Company shall have
the right to require the Holder to convert all or any portion of
the Conversion Amount then remaining under this Note as
designated in the Mandatory Conversion Notice (as defined below)
into fully paid, validly issued and nonassessable shares of
Common Stock in accordance with Section 3(c) hereof at the
Conversion Rate as of the Mandatory Conversion Date (as defined
below) (a Mandatory Conversion). The Company
may exercise its right to require conversion under this
Section 8(a) by delivering within not more than two Trading
Days following the end of such Mandatory Conversion Measuring
Period a written notice thereof by facsimile and overnight
courier to all, but not less than all, of the holders of Notes
and the Transfer Agent (the Mandatory Conversion
Notice and the date all of the holders received such
notice is referred to as the Mandatory Conversion
Notice Date). The Company may deliver one Mandatory
Conversion Notice hereunder and the Mandatory Conversion Notice
shall be irrevocable.
(b) Pro Rata Conversion
Requirement. If the Company
elects to cause a conversion of all or any portion of the
Conversion Amount of this Note pursuant to Section 8(a),
then it must simultaneously take the same action with respect to
the Other Notes. If the Company elects to cause the conversion
of this Note pursuant to Section 8(a) (or similar
provisions under the Other Notes) with respect to less than all
of the Conversion Amounts of the Notes then outstanding, then
the Company shall require conversion of a Conversion Amount from
each of the holders of the Notes equal to the product of
(I) the aggregate Conversion Amount of Notes which the
Company has elected to cause to be converted pursuant to
Section 8(a), multiplied by (II) the fraction, the
numerator of which is the sum of the aggregate principal amount
of the Notes purchased by such holder pursuant to the Securities
Purchase Agreement and the denominator of which is the sum of
the aggregate principal amount of the Notes purchased by all
holders pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement (such
fraction with respect to each holder is referred to as its
Allocation Percentage, and such amount with
respect to each holder is referred to as its Pro Rata
Conversion Amount). In the event that the initial
holder of any Notes shall sell or otherwise transfer any of such
holders Notes, the transferee shall be allocated a pro
rata portion of such holders Allocation Percentage. The
Mandatory Conversion Notice shall state (i) the Trading Day
selected for the Mandatory Conversion in
B-11
accordance with Section 8(a), which Trading Day shall be at
least twenty (20) Business Days but not more than sixty
(60) Business Days following the Mandatory Conversion
Notice Date (the Mandatory Conversion Date),
(ii) the aggregate Conversion Amount of the Notes which the
Company has elected to be subject to mandatory conversion from
all of the holders of the Notes pursuant to this Section 8
(and analogous provisions under the Other Notes),
(iii) each holders Pro Rata Conversion Amount of the
Conversion Amount of the Notes the Company has elected to cause
to be converted pursuant to this Section 8 (and analogous
provisions under the Other Notes) and (iv) the number of
shares of Common Stock to be issued to the Holder as of the
Mandatory Conversion Date. All Conversion Amounts converted by
the Holder after the Mandatory Conversion Notice Date shall
reduce the Conversion Amount of this Note required to be
converted on the Mandatory Conversion Date. If the Company has
elected a Mandatory Conversion, the mechanics of conversion set
forth in Section 3(c) shall apply, to the extent
applicable, as if the Company and the Transfer Agent had
received from the Holder on the Mandatory Conversion Date a
Conversion Notice with respect to the Conversion Amount being
converted pursuant to the Mandatory Conversion.
(9) HOLDERS RIGHT OF
OPTIONAL REDEMPTION.
(a) Holder
Redemption Option. If
the Weighted Average Price of the Common Stock is less than the
then applicable Conversion Price on each of thirty
(30) Trading Days out of the forty (40) consecutive
Trading Days immediately preceding either Applicable Trigger
Date, the Holder shall have the right, in its sole discretion,
to require that the Company redeem all or any portion of this
Note (a Holder Optional Redemption) by
delivering written notice thereof (a Holder Optional
Redemption Notice) to the Company at any time
within fifteen (15) Business Days after the Applicable
Trigger Date; provided, however, that from and after the
date the Estrasorb Revenue Target (as defined in
Section 9(c)) has been met, the Holder shall no longer be
able to effect a Holder Optional Redemption. The Holder Optional
Redemption Notice shall indicate the Conversion Amount the
Holder is electing to redeem. The portion of this Note subject
to redemption pursuant to this Section 9(a) shall be
redeemed by the Company at a price equal to the Conversion
Amount being redeemed (the Holder Optional
Redemption Price). The Holder Optional
Redemption Price shall be paid on the twenty-fifth (25th)
Business Day after the date of the Holder Optional
Redemption Notice (the Holder Optional
Redemption Date). Within one Business Day of
receipt of a Holder Optional Redemption Notice, the Company
shall inform in writing all holders of Other Notes that such a
Holder Optional Redemption Notice has been received by the
Company. The Company may elect, by written notice (the
Company Redemption Share Notice)
delivered to the Holder, to pay up to 50% of the Holder Optional
Redemption Price in shares of Common Stock (the
Optional Redemption Shares) by dividing
the amount to be paid in shares of Common Stock set forth in the
Company Redemption Share Notice by the
Redemption Conversion Price as of the Holder Optional
Redemption Date. The Company Redemption Share Notice
must be delivered within two (2) Business Days of receipt
of a Holder Optional Redemption Notice. If the Company
receives Holder Optional Redemption Notices from one or
more holders of Other Notes under analogous provisions of the
Other Notes, the Company shall redeem the same percentage of the
Holder Optional Redemption Price in Optional
Redemption Shares with respect to such Other Notes as
designated in any Company Redemption Share Notice delivered
under this Note. If any of the Holder Optional
Redemption Price is to be paid in Optional
Redemption Shares, then, on the Holder Optional
Redemption Date, the Company shall (X) credit such
aggregate number of Optional Redemption Shares to which the
Holder shall be entitled to the Holders or its
designees balance account with DTC through its Deposit
Withdrawal Agent Commission system or (Y) if the Transfer
Agent is not participating in the DTC Fast Automated Securities
Transfer Program, issue and deliver to such address of the
Holder as is set forth in the Securities Purchase Agreement or
such other address as specified by the Holder in writing to the
Company at least two Business Days prior to the Holder Optional
Redemption Date, a certificate, registered in the name of
the Holder or its designee, for the number of Optional
Redemption Shares to which the Holder shall be entitled
hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not
be entitled to pay any of the Holder Optional
Redemption Price in Optional Redemption Shares and
shall be required to pay such Holder Optional
Redemption Price entirely in cash if the Equity Conditions
are not satisfied (or waived by the Holder) from and including
the Applicable Trigger Date through and including the Holder
Optional Redemption Date. Redemptions required by this
Section 9(a) shall be made in accordance with the
provisions of Section 12.
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(b) Holder CEO
Redemption Option. If
on or prior to the four (4) month anniversary of the
Issuance Date, Nelson Sims is no longer the President and Chief
Executive Officer of the Company (other than solely as a result
of medical disability) (the CEO Trigger Optional
Redemption Right), the Holder shall have the
right, in its sole discretion, to require that the Company
redeem any portion up to half of the Conversion Amount of this
Note by delivering written notice thereof (a CEO
Trigger Optional Redemption Notice) to the
Company at any time within sixty (60) Business Days after
the public announcement by the Company that Nelson Sims is no
longer the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
The CEO Trigger Optional Redemption Notice shall indicate
the Conversion Amount the Holder is electing to redeem. The
portion of this Note subject to redemption pursuant to this
Section 9(b) shall be redeemed by the Company at a price
equal to the Conversion Amount being redeemed (the CEO
Trigger Optional Redemption Price). The CEO
Trigger Optional Redemption Price shall be paid in cash on
the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date of the CEO Trigger
Optional Redemption Notice (the CEO Trigger
Optional Redemption Date). Within one Business
Day of receipt of a CEO Trigger Optional Redemption Notice,
the Company shall inform in writing all holders of Other Notes
that such a CEO Trigger Optional Redemption Notice has been
received by the Company. Redemptions required by this
Section 9(b) shall be made in accordance with the
provisions of Section 12.
(c) Definitions.
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(i) 2006 Annual
Report means the Companys Annual Report on Form
10-K for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2006. |
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(ii) Applicable Trigger Date means
either of the third anniversary of the Issuance Date and the
fourth anniversary of the Issuance Date. |
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(iii) Estrasorb Revenue Target means the
recognition by the Company of revenue, as certified by the
Company pursuant to a certificate executed by the Companys
Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer and
delivered to the Holder, from the sales of Estrasorb of (i) not
less than $40 million for the twelve month period ending
December 31, 2006, as set forth in the audited financial
statements of the Company included in the 2006 Annual Report,
and (ii) not less than $25 million for the six month
period ending December 31, 2006, as set forth in the
audited financial statements of the Company included in the 2006
Annual Report. |
(10) NONCIRCUMVENTION. The
Company hereby covenants and agrees that the Company will not,
by amendment of its Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws or
through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation,
merger, scheme of arrangement, dissolution, issue or sale of
securities, or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to
avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of this
Note, and will at all times in good faith carry out all of the
provisions of this Note and take all action as may be required
to protect the rights of the Holder of this Note.
(11) RESERVATION OF
AUTHORIZED SHARES.
(a) Reservation. The
Company initially shall reserve out of its authorized and
unissued shares of Common Stock a number of shares of Common
Stock for each of the Notes equal to the Conversion Rate with
respect to the Conversion Amount of each such Note as of the
Issuance Date. So long as any of the Notes are outstanding, the
Company shall take all action necessary to reserve and keep
available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Common
Stock, solely for the purpose of effecting the conversion of the
Notes, the number of shares of Common Stock as shall from time
to time be necessary to effect the conversion of all of the
Notes then outstanding; provided that at no time shall the
number of shares of Common Stock so reserved be less than the
number of shares required to be reserved by the previous
sentence (without regard to any limitations on conversions) (the
Required Reserve Amount). The initial number
of shares of Common Stock reserved for conversions of the Notes
and each increase in the number of shares so reserved shall be
allocated pro rata among the holders of the Notes based on the
principal amount of the Notes held by each holder at the time of
Issuance Date or increase in the number of reserved shares, as
the case may be (the Authorized Share
Allocation). In the event that a holder shall sell or
otherwise transfer any of such holders Notes, each
transferee shall be allocated a pro rata portion of such
holders Authorized
B-13
Share Allocation. Any shares of Common Stock reserved and
allocated to any Person which ceases to hold any Notes shall be
allocated to the remaining holders of Notes, pro rata based on
the principal amount of the Notes then held by such holders.
(b) Insufficient Authorized
Shares. If at any time
while any of the Notes remain outstanding the Company does not
have a sufficient number of authorized and unreserved shares of
Common Stock to satisfy its obligation to reserve for issuance
upon conversion of the Notes at least a number of shares of
Common Stock equal to the Required Reserve Amount (an
Authorized Share Failure), then the Company
shall immediately take all action necessary to increase the
Companys authorized shares of Common Stock to an amount
sufficient to allow the Company to reserve the Required Reserve
Amount for the Notes then outstanding. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing sentence, as soon as practicable
after the date of the occurrence of an Authorized Share Failure,
but in no event later than 60 days after the occurrence of
such Authorized Share Failure, the Company shall take all
necessary actions to obtain stockholder approval of an increase
in the number of authorized shares of Common Stock. In
connection with a meeting of stockholders, the Company shall
provide each stockholder with a proxy statement and shall use
its reasonable best efforts to solicit its stockholders
approval of such increase in authorized shares of Common Stock
and to cause its board of directors to recommend to the
stockholders that they approve such proposal.
(12) HOLDERS
REDEMPTIONS.
(a) Mechanics. The
Company shall deliver the applicable Event of Default
Redemption Price to the Holder within five
(5) Business Days after the Companys receipt of the
Holders Event of Default Redemption Notice. If the
Holder has submitted a Change of Control Redemption Notice
in accordance with Section 5(b), the Company shall deliver
the applicable Change of Control Redemption Price to the
Holder concurrently with the consummation of such Change of
Control if such notice is received prior to the consummation of
such Change of Control and within five Business Days after the
Companys receipt of such notice otherwise. If the Company
has delivered a Cash Transaction Redemption Notice in
accordance with Section 5(c), the Company shall deliver the
applicable Cash Transaction Redemption Price to the Holder
concurrently with the consummation of such Cash Transaction. In
the event of a redemption of less than all of the Conversion
Amount of this Note, the Company shall promptly cause to be
issued and delivered to the Holder a new Note (in accordance
with Section 19(d)) representing the outstanding Principal
which has not been redeemed. In the event that the Company does
not pay the Redemption Price to the Holder within the time
period required, at any time thereafter and until the Company
pays such unpaid Redemption Price in full, the Holder shall
have the option, in lieu of redemption, to require the Company
to promptly return to the Holder all or any portion of this Note
representing the Conversion Amount that was submitted for
redemption and for which the applicable Redemption Price
(together with any Late Charges thereon) has not been paid. Upon
the Companys receipt of such notice, (x) the
Redemption Notice shall be null and void with respect to
such Conversion Amount, (y) the Company shall immediately
return this Note, or issue a new Note (in accordance with
Section 19(d)) to the Holder representing such Conversion
Amount and (z) the Conversion Price of this Note or such
new Notes shall be adjusted to the lesser of (A) the
Conversion Price as in effect on the date on which the
Redemption Notice is voided and (B) the lowest Closing
Bid Price during the period beginning on and including the date
on which the Redemption Notice is delivered to the Company
and ending on and including the date on which the
Redemption Notice is voided. The Holders delivery of
a notice voiding a Redemption Notice and exercise of its
rights following such notice shall not affect the Companys
obligations to make any payments of Late Charges which have
accrued prior to the date of such notice with respect to the
Conversion Amount subject to such notice.
(b) Redemption by Other
Holders. Upon the
Companys receipt of notice from any of the holders of the
Other Notes for redemption or repayment as a result of an event
or occurrence substantially similar to the events or occurrences
described in Section 4(b) or Section 5(b) (each, an
Other Redemption Notice), the Company
shall promptly forward to the Holder by facsimile a copy of such
notice. If the Company receives or delivers a
Redemption Notice and one or more Other
Redemption Notices, during the period beginning on and
including the date which is three Business Days prior to the
Companys receipt or delivery of the Holders
Redemption Notice and ending on and including the date
which is three Business Days after the Companys receipt or
delivery of the Holders Redemption Notice and the
Company is unable
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to redeem all principal, interest and other amounts designated
in such Redemption Notice and such Other
Redemption Notices received or delivered during such seven
Business Day period, then the Company shall redeem a pro rata
amount from each holder of the Notes (including the Holder)
based on the principal amount of the Notes submitted for
redemption pursuant to such Redemption Notice and such
Other Redemption Notices received or delivered by the
Company during such seven Business Day period.
(13) RESTRICTION ON
REDEMPTION. Until all of
the Notes have been converted, redeemed or otherwise satisfied
in accordance with their terms, the Company shall not, directly
or indirectly, redeem or repurchase its capital stock without
the prior express written consent of the Required Holders.
(14) VOTING
RIGHTS. The Holder shall
have no voting rights as the holder of this Note, except as
required by law, including but not limited to applicable laws of
the State of Delaware, and as expressly provided in this Note.
(15) RANK; ADDITIONAL
INDEBTEDNESS; LIENS.
(a) Rank. All
payments due under this Note (a) shall rank pari passu
with all Other Notes and (b) shall be senior to all
other Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries other
than Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness.
(b) Incurrence of
Indebtedness. So long as
this Note is outstanding, the Company shall not, and the Company
shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or
indirectly, incur or guarantee, assume or suffer to exist any
Indebtedness, other than (i) the Indebtedness evidenced by
this Note and the Other Notes and (ii) Permitted
Indebtedness.
(c) Existence of
Liens. So long as this Note
is outstanding, the Company shall not, and the Company shall not
permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, allow
or suffer to exist any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security
interest or other encumbrance upon or in any property or assets
(including accounts and contract rights) owned by the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries (collectively, Liens)
other than Permitted Liens.
(d) Restricted
Payments. The Company shall
not, and the Company shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries
to, directly or indirectly, redeem, defease, repurchase, repay
or make any payments in respect of, by the payment of cash or
cash equivalents (in whole or in part, whether by way of open
market purchases, tender offers, private transactions or
otherwise), all or any portion of any Permitted Indebtedness,
whether by way of payment in respect of principal of (or
premium, if any) or interest on, such Indebtedness if at the
time such payment is due or is otherwise made or, after giving
effect to such payment, an Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing.
(16) PARTICIPATION. The
Holder, as the holder of this Note, shall be entitled to such
dividends paid and distributions made to the holders of shares
of Common Stock to the same extent as if the Holder had
converted this Note into shares of Common Stock (without regard
to any limitations on conversion herein or elsewhere) and had
held such shares of Common Stock on the record date for such
dividends and distributions. Payments under the preceding
sentence shall be made concurrently with the dividend or
distribution to the holders of shares of Common Stock.
(17) VOTE TO ISSUE, OR CHANGE
THE TERMS OF, NOTES. The
affirmative vote at a meeting duly called for such purpose or
the written consent without a meeting of the Required Holders
shall be required for any change or amendment to this Note or
the Other Notes.
(18) TRANSFER. This
Note may be offered, sold, assigned or transferred by the Holder
without the consent of the Company, subject only to the
provisions of Section 2(f) of the Securities Purchase
Agreement.
(19) REISSUANCE OF THIS
NOTE.
(a) Transfer. If
this Note is to be transferred, the Holder shall surrender this
Note to the Company, whereupon the Company will forthwith issue
and deliver upon the order of the Holder a new Note (in
accordance with Section 19(d)), registered as the Holder
may request, representing the outstanding Principal being
transferred by the Holder and, if less then the entire
outstanding Principal is being transferred,
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a new Note (in accordance with Section 19(d)) to the Holder
representing the outstanding Principal not being transferred.
The Holder and any assignee, by acceptance of this Note,
acknowledge and agree that, by reason of the provisions of
Section 3(c)(iii) and this Section 19(a), following
conversion or redemption of any portion of this Note, the
outstanding Principal represented by this Note may be less than
the Principal stated on the face of this Note.
(b) Lost, Stolen or Mutilated
Note. Upon receipt by the
Company of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company of
the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Note, and, in
the case of loss, theft or destruction, of any indemnification
undertaking by the Holder to the Company in customary form and,
in the case of mutilation, upon surrender and cancellation of
this Note, the Company shall execute and deliver to the Holder a
new Note (in accordance with Section 19(d)) representing
the outstanding Principal.
(c) Note Exchangeable
for Different
Denominations. This Note is
exchangeable, upon the surrender hereof by the Holder at the
principal office of the Company, for a new Note or Notes (in
accordance with Section 19(d) and in principal amounts of
at least $100,000) representing in the aggregate the outstanding
Principal of this Note, and each such new Note will represent
such portion of such outstanding Principal as is designated by
the Holder at the time of such surrender.
(d) Issuance of New
Notes. Whenever the Company
is required to issue a new Note pursuant to the terms of this
Note, such new Note (i) shall be of like tenor with this
Note, (ii) shall represent, as indicated on the face of
such new Note, the Principal remaining outstanding (or in the
case of a new Note being issued pursuant to Section 19(a)
or Section 19(c), the Principal designated by the Holder
which, when added to the principal represented by the other new
Notes issued in connection with such issuance, does not exceed
the Principal remaining outstanding under this Note immediately
prior to such issuance of new Notes), (iii) shall have an
issuance date, as indicated on the face of such new Note, which
is the same as the Issuance Date of this Note, (iv) shall
have the same rights and conditions as this Note, and
(v) shall represent accrued Interest and Late Charges on
the Principal and Interest of this Note, from the Issuance Date.
(20) REMEDIES,
CHARACTERIZATIONS, OTHER OBLIGATIONS, BREACHES AND INJUNCTIVE
RELIEF. The remedies
provided in this Note shall be cumulative and in addition to all
other remedies available under this Note and the other
Transaction Documents at law or in equity (including a decree of
specific performance and/or other injunctive relief), and
nothing herein shall limit the Holders right to pursue
actual and consequential damages for any failure by the Company
to comply with the terms of this Note. Amounts set forth or
provided for herein with respect to payments, conversion and the
like (and the computation thereof) shall be the amounts to be
received by the Holder and shall not, except as expressly
provided herein, be subject to any other obligation of the
Company (or the performance thereof). The Company acknowledges
that a breach by it of its obligations hereunder will cause
irreparable harm to the Holder and that the remedy at law for
any such breach may be inadequate. The Company therefore agrees
that, in the event of any such breach or threatened breach, the
Holder shall be entitled, in addition to all other available
remedies, to an injunction restraining any breach, without the
necessity of showing economic loss and without any bond or other
security being required.
(21) PAYMENT OF COLLECTION,
ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER
COSTS. If (a) this
Note is placed in the hands of an attorney for collection or
enforcement or is collected or enforced through any legal
proceeding or the Holder otherwise takes action to collect
amounts due under this Note or to enforce the provisions of this
Note or (b) there occurs any bankruptcy, reorganization,
receivership of the Company or other proceedings affecting
Company creditors rights and involving a claim under this
Note, then the Company shall pay the costs incurred by the
Holder for such collection, enforcement or action or in
connection with such bankruptcy, reorganization, receivership or
other proceeding, including, but not limited to, attorneys
fees and disbursements.
(22) CONSTRUCTION;
HEADINGS. This Note shall
be deemed to be jointly drafted by the Company and all the
Purchasers and shall not be construed against any person as the
drafter hereof. The headings of this Note are for convenience of
reference and shall not form part of, or affect the
interpretation of, this Note.
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(23) FAILURE OR INDULGENCE
NOT WAIVER. No failure or
delay on the part of the Holder in the exercise of any power,
right or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof,
nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such power,
right or privilege preclude other or further exercise thereof or
of any other right, power or privilege.
(24) DISPUTE
RESOLUTION. In the case of
a dispute between the Company and the Holder as to the
determination of the Closing Bid Price, the Closing Sale Price
or the Weighted Average Price or the arithmetic calculation of
the Conversion Rate or the Redemption Price, the Holder and
the Company shall submit promptly via facsimile (a) the
disputed determination of the Closing Bid Price, the Closing
Sale Price or the Weighted Average Price to an independent,
nationally recognized investment bank selected by the Company
and approved by the Holder or (b) the disputed arithmetic
calculation of the Conversion Rate or the Redemption Price
to the Companys independent, outside accountant. The
Company and the Holder shall cause the investment bank or the
accountant, as the case may be, to perform the determinations or
calculations and notify the Company and the Holder of the
results no later than five Business Days from the time it
receives the disputed determinations or calculations. Such
investment banks or accountants determination or
calculation, as the case may be, shall be binding upon all
parties absent demonstrable error. The expenses of the
investment bank or accountant shall be borne by the party whose
determination or calculation most differs from such investment
banks or accountants determination or calculation,
as the case may be.
(25) NOTICES;
PAYMENTS.
(a) Notices. Whenever
notice is required to be given under this Note, unless otherwise
provided herein, such notice shall be given in accordance with
Section 9(f) of the Securities Purchase Agreement. The
Company shall provide the Holder with prompt written notice of
all actions taken pursuant to this Note, including in reasonable
detail a description of such action and the reason therefore.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company
will give written notice to the Holder (i) immediately upon
any adjustment of the Conversion Price, setting forth in
reasonable detail, and certifying, the calculation of such
adjustment and (ii) at least twenty (20) days prior to
the date on which the Company closes its books or takes a record
(A) with respect to any dividend or distribution upon the
shares of Common Stock, (B) with respect to any pro rata
subscription offer to holders of shares of Common Stock or
(C) for determining rights to vote with respect to any
Fundamental Transaction, dissolution or liquidation, provided in
each case that such information shall be made known to the
public prior to or in conjunction with such notice being
provided to the Holder.
(b) Payments. Whenever
any payment of cash is to be made by the Company to any Person
pursuant to this Note, such payment shall be made in lawful
money of the United States of America by a check drawn on the
account of the Company and sent via overnight courier service to
such Person at such address as previously provided to the
Company in writing (which address, in the case of each of the
Purchasers, shall initially be as set forth on the Schedule of
Buyers attached to the Securities Purchase Agreement); provided
that the Holder may elect to receive a payment of cash via wire
transfer of immediately available funds by providing the Company
with prior written notice setting out such request and the
Holders wire transfer instructions. Whenever any amount
expressed to be due by the terms of this Note is due on any day
which is not a Business Day, the same shall instead be due on
the next succeeding day which is a Business Day and, in the case
of any Interest Date which is not the date on which this Note is
paid in full, the extension of the due date thereof shall not be
taken into account for purposes of determining the amount of
Interest due on such date. Any amount of Principal which is not
paid when due shall result in a late charge being incurred and
payable by the Company in an amount equal to interest on such
amount at the rate of 15% per annum from the date such amount
was due until the same is paid in full (Late
Charge).
(26) CANCELLATION. After
all Principal, accrued Interest and other amounts at any time
owed on this Note has been paid in full, this Note shall
automatically be deemed canceled, shall be surrendered to the
Company for cancellation and shall not be reissued.
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(27) WAIVER OF
NOTICE. To the extent
permitted by law, the Company hereby waives demand, notice,
protest and all other demands and notices in connection with the
delivery, acceptance, performance, default or enforcement of
this Note and the Securities Purchase Agreement.
(28) GOVERNING
LAW. This Note shall be
construed and enforced in accordance with, and all questions
concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and
performance of this Note shall be governed by, the internal laws
of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of
law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State
of New York or any other jurisdictions) that would cause the
application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the
State of New York.
(29) CERTAIN
DEFINITIONS. For purposes
of this Note, the following terms shall have the following
meanings:
|
|
|
(a) Approved Stock
Plan means any employee benefit plan which has been
approved by the Board of Directors of the Company, pursuant to
which the Companys securities may be issued to any
employee, officer, director or consultant for services provided
to the Company. |
(b) Bloomberg
means Bloomberg Financial Markets.
(c) Business Day
means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which
commercial banks in The City of New York are authorized or
required by law to remain closed.
(d) Cash
Transaction means any Change of Control with a
Successor Entity that is unaffiliated with the Company at the
time of the proposed Change of Control and that neither such
Successor Entity nor its Parent Entity is a publicly traded
entity whose common stock or equivalent equity security is
quoted or listed for trading on an Eligible Market, which Cash
Transaction is consummated on an arms length basis at a
time that the Equity Conditions are satisfied and pursuant to
which the holders of the Common Stock are to receive
consideration consisting solely of cash.
(e) Change of
Control means any Fundamental Transaction other than
(A) a Fundamental Transaction pursuant to which
(i) the Successor Entity or its Parent Entity is a publicly
traded corporation whose common stock is quoted on or listed for
trading on an Eligible Market, (ii) this Note is
convertible into such publicly traded common stock,
(iii) holders of the Common Stock immediately prior to the
Fundamental Transaction continue after the Fundamental
Transaction to hold a majority of the publicly traded securities
of the Successor Entity or its Parent Entity and
(iv) holders of the Common Stock immediately prior to the
Fundamental Transaction continue after the Fundamental
Transaction to hold, directly or indirectly, the voting power of
the surviving entity or entities necessary to elect a majority
of the members of the board of directors (or their equivalent if
other than a corporation) of such entity or entities, or
(B) pursuant to a migratory merger effected solely for the
purpose of changing the jurisdiction of incorporation of the
Company.
(f) Change of Control
Redemption Premium means (i) from and after
the Issuance Date through the nine (9) month anniversary of
the Issuance Date, 120%; (ii) after the nine (9) month
anniversary of the Issuance Date through the twenty-one
(21) month anniversary of the Issuance Date, 115%;
(iii) after the twenty-one (21) month anniversary of
the Issuance Date through the thirty-four (34) month
anniversary of the Issuance Date, 110%; and (iv) after the
thirty-four (34) month anniversary of the Issuance Date
through the Maturity Date, 105%.
(g) Closing Bid Price and
Closing Sale Price means, for any security as
of any date, the last closing bid price and last closing trade
price, respectively, for such security on the Principal Market,
as reported by Bloomberg, or, if the Principal Market begins to
operate on an extended hours basis and does not designate the
closing bid price or the closing trade price, as the case may
be, then the last bid price or last trade price, respectively,
of such security prior to 4:00:00 p.m., New York Time, as
reported by Bloomberg, or, if the Principal Market is not the
principal securities exchange or trading market for such
security, the last closing bid price or last trade price,
respectively, of such security on the principal securities
exchange or trading market where such security is listed or
traded as reported by Bloomberg, or if the foregoing do not
apply, the last closing bid price or last trade price,
respectively, of such security in the over-the-counter market on
the electronic bulletin board for such security as reported by
Bloomberg, or, if no closing bid price or last
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trade price, respectively, is reported for such security by
Bloomberg, the average of the bid prices, or the ask prices,
respectively, of any market makers for such security as reported
in the pink sheets by Pink Sheets LLC (formerly the
National Quotation Bureau, Inc.). If the Closing Bid Price or
the Closing Sale Price cannot be calculated for a security on a
particular date on any of the foregoing bases, the Closing Bid
Price or the Closing Sale Price, as the case may be, of such
security on such date shall be the fair market value as mutually
determined by the Company and the Holder. If the Company and the
Holder are unable to agree upon the fair market value of such
security, then such dispute shall be resolved pursuant to
Section 24. All such determinations to be appropriately
adjusted for any stock dividend, stock split, stock combination
or other similar transaction during the applicable calculation
period.
(h) Common Stock Deemed Outstanding
means, at any given time, the number of shares of Common Stock
actually outstanding at such time, plus the number of shares of
Common Stock deemed to be outstanding pursuant to
Sections 7(a)(i) and 7(a)(ii) hereof regardless of whether
the Options or Convertible Securities are actually exercisable
at such time, but excluding any shares of Common Stock owned or
held by or for the account of the Company or issuable upon
conversion of the Notes.
(i) Convertible Securities means any
stock or securities (other than Options) directly or indirectly
convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of
Common Stock.
(j) EBITDA means, for any four calendar
quarter period, the net income (or net loss) of such Person and
its consolidated Subsidiaries, determined in accordance with
GAAP, plus (i) any provision for (or less any benefit from)
income taxes, (ii) any deduction for interest expense, net
of interest income, and (iii) depreciation and amortization
expense. All determinations of the components of EBITDA shall be
derived from the Companys then most recently filed Annual
Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q,
as applicable.
(k) Eligible Market means the Principal
Market or The New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
(l) Equity Conditions means: (i) on
each day during the period beginning six months prior to the
applicable date of determination and ending on and including the
applicable date of determination (the Equity Conditions
Measuring Period), either (x) the Registration
Statement filed pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement
shall be effective and available for the resale of all remaining
Registrable Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights
Agreement) in accordance with the terms of the Registration
Rights Agreement and there shall not have been any Grace Periods
(as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) or
(y) all shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion and
redemption of the Notes shall be eligible for sale without
restriction and without the need for registration under any
applicable federal or state securities laws; (ii) the
Company shall have no knowledge of any fact that would cause
(x) the Registration Statements required pursuant to the
Registration Rights Agreement not to be effective and available
for the resale of all remaining Registrable Securities in
accordance with the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement
or (y) any shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion
and redemption of the Notes not to be eligible for sale without
restriction pursuant to Rule 144(k) and any applicable
state securities laws; (iii) on each day during the Equity
Conditions Measuring Period, the shares of Common Stock are
designated for quotation on the Principal Market and shall not
have been suspended from trading on such exchange or market
(other than suspensions of not more than two days and occurring
prior to the applicable date of determination due to business
announcements by the Company) nor shall delisting or suspension
by such exchange or market been threatened or pending either
(A) in writing by such exchange or market or (B) by
falling below the minimum listing maintenance requirements of
such exchange or market; (iv) during the Equity Conditions
Measuring Period, the Company shall have delivered all shares of
Common Stock issuable upon conversion or redemption of the Notes
to the holders of the Notes on a timely basis; (v) any
applicable shares of Common Stock to be issued in connection
with the event requiring determination may be issued in full
without violating Section 3(d)(i) hereof; (vi) the
Company shall have obtained the Stockholder Approval (as defined
in the Securities Purchase Agreement); (vii) during the
Equity Conditions Measuring Period, there shall not have
occurred either (A) other than in connection with a Cash
Transaction, the public announcement of a pending, proposed or
intended Fundamental Transaction which has not been abandoned,
terminated or consummated or (B) an Event of Default or an
event that with the passage of time or giving of
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notice would constitute an Event of Default; (viii) the
Company otherwise shall have been in material compliance with
and shall not have materially breached any provision, covenant,
representation or warranty of any Transaction Document and
(ix) other than in connection with a Mandatory Conversion
or a Cash Transaction, the Weighted Average Price of the Common
Stock on each day of the applicable Measuring Period shall be in
excess of the Required Price; provided, however, that in
the event that the Weighted Average Price of the Common Stock
falls below the Required Price on any Trading Day during the
applicable Measuring Period (a Failure Day),
this condition shall be deemed satisfied and the Company shall
be entitled to deliver any applicable Repayment Shares or
Optional Redemption Shares, as the case may be, so long as
the number of shares of Common Stock so delivered does not
exceed the number of shares otherwise deliverable reduced by the
product of (I) 0.05 and (II) the number of Failure
Days in such Measuring Period (with the applicable cash portion
of the Maturity Date Payment or Optional Redemption Price,
as the case may be, deliverable on the applicable Maturity Date
or Optional Redemption Date, as the case may be, being
correspondingly increased by the resulting reduction in the
number of Repayment Shares or Optional Redemption Shares,
as the case may be).
(m) Excluded Securities means any shares
of Common Stock (or Options or Convertible Securities) issued or
issuable: (i) in connection with any Approved Stock Plan;
(ii) upon conversion or redemption of the Notes;
(iii) in connection with the transactions set forth on
Schedule 3(u) in the Company Disclosure Letter;
(iv) pursuant to a bona fide firm commitment underwritten
public offering with a nationally recognized underwriter which
generates gross proceeds to the Company in excess of $25,000,000
(other than an at-the-market offering as defined in
Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, and equity lines); (v) in connection
with any bona fide, good faith strategic partnership or joint
venture (including, without limitation, technology licensing or
development arrangements, distribution, supply or manufacturing
arrangements, and commercial credit arrangements, equipment
financings, commercial property lease transactions and similar
arrangements and transactions) with a Person who is not engaged
in the business of investing in companies and the primary
purpose of which is not to raise capital for the Company or any
Subsidiary; (vi) in connection with a bona fide, good-faith
acquisition by the Company not constituting a Change of Control
of all or substantially all the assets or a majority of the
voting power of an unaffiliated business or business segment not
for capital raising purposes; and (vii) upon conversion of
any Options or Convertible Securities which are outstanding on
the day immediately preceding the Subscription Date, provided
that the economic terms of such Options or Convertible
Securities are not amended, modified or changed on or after the
Subscription Date.
(n) Fundamental Transaction means that
the Company shall, directly or indirectly, in one or more
related transactions, (i) consolidate or merge with or into
(whether or not the Company is the surviving corporation)
another Person, or (ii) sell, assign, transfer, convey or
otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the properties
or assets of the Company to another Person, or (iii) allow
another Person to make a purchase, tender or exchange offer that
is accepted by the holders of more than the 50% of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock (not including any shares of
Common Stock held by the Person or Persons making or party to,
or associated or affiliated with the Persons making or party to,
such purchase, tender or exchange offer), or
(iv) consummate a stock purchase agreement or other
business combination (including, without limitation, a
reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off or scheme of
arrangement) with another Person whereby such other Person
acquires more than the 50% of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock (not including any shares of Common Stock held by the
other Person or other Persons making or party to, or associated
or affiliated with the other Persons making or party to, such
stock purchase agreement or other business combination), or
(v) reorganize, recapitalize or reclassify its Common Stock.
(o) GAAP means
United States generally accepted accounting principles,
consistently applied.
(p) Interest
Rate means 4.75%, subject to adjustment pursuant to
Section 2.
(q) Measuring
Period means the twenty (20) consecutive Trading
Days ending on and including the second (2nd) Trading Day
immediately preceding the Maturity Date or the Holder Optional
Redemption Date, as the case may be.
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(r) Options
means any rights, warrants or options to subscribe for or
purchase shares of Common Stock or Convertible Securities.
(s) Parent
Entity of a Person means an entity that, directly or
indirectly, controls the applicable Person and whose common
stock or equivalent equity security is quoted or listed on an
Eligible Market, or, if there is more than one such Person or
Parent Entity, the Person or Parent Entity with the largest
public market capitalization as of the date of consummation of
the Fundamental Transaction.
(t) Permitted Acquisition
Indebtedness means the incurrence by the Company of
Indebtedness in an amount not to exceed at any one time in the
aggregate the Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness Threshold;
provided that such Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness is
(i) received from a national banking association as part of
an asset back commercial revolving or term credit facility,
(ii) incurred in connection with the bona fide purchase or
sale of a product, product line, business or assets not for
purposes of incurrence of Indebtedness, (iii) not incurred
prior to the first anniversary of the Issuance Date and
(iv) not incurred at any time that revenues for the Company
as set forth in the financial statements contained in the
Companys then most recently filed Annual Report on
Form 10-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or report on
Form 8-K, as applicable, are less than $30 million for
the twelve month period prior to the period covered by such
Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q or report on Form 8-K, as applicable.
(u) Permitted Acquisition
Indebtedness Threshold means an amount equal to
(i) the greater of (x) $25,000,000 and (y) 300% of
EBITDA (the Initial Acquisition Indebtedness
Threshold) and (ii) after the third anniversary
of the Issuance Date, the sum of (x) the Initial
Acquisition Indebtedness Threshold and (y) the principal
amount of Notes converted or redeemed.
(v) Permitted Construction
Indebtedness means the incurrence by the Company of
Indebtedness in an amount not to exceed at any one time
$25,000,000 in the aggregate; provided that such Permitted
Construction Indebtedness is (i) incurred in connection
with the bona fide building or acquisition of a new, material
manufacturing or laboratory facility of the Company that is
unsecured or only secured by, and with recourse solely to, such
manufacturing or laboratory facility, (ii) incurred in
connection with the lease of a manufacturing or laboratory
facility where such lease is considered Indebtedness hereunder
solely by virtue of the application of clause (F) of the
definition of Indebtedness and (iii) evidenced solely by a
mortgage on, and with recourse solely to, such manufacturing or
laboratory facility or by an Industrial Revenue Bond (or similar
financing) solely for the benefit of, and with recourse solely
to, such manufacturing or laboratory facility.
(w) Permitted
Indebtedness means Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness,
Permitted Construction Indebtedness and Indebtedness set forth
on Schedule 29(w) hereto.
(x) Permitted
Liens means (i) any Lien for taxes not yet due or
delinquent or being contested in good faith by appropriate
proceedings for which adequate reserves have been established in
accordance with GAAP, (ii) any statutory Lien arising in
the ordinary course of business by operation of law with respect
to a liability that is not yet due or delinquent, (iii) any
Lien created by operation of law, such as materialmens
liens, mechanics liens and other similar liens, arising in
the ordinary course of business with respect to a liability that
is not yet due or delinquent, and (iv) any Lien created in
connection with the incurrence of Permitted Indebtedness.
(y) Person means
an individual, a limited liability company, a partnership, a
joint venture, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated
organization, any other entity and a government or any
department or agency thereof.
(z) Principal
Market means the Nasdaq National Market.
(aa) Redemption Conversion
Price means that price which shall be computed as 95%
of the arithmetic average of the Weighted Average Price of the
Common Stock on each of the Trading Days during the Measuring
Period. All such determinations to be appropriately adjusted for
any stock split, stock dividend, stock combination or other
similar transaction during such period.
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(bb) Redemption Notice
means any of an Event of Default Redemption Notice, a
Change of Control Redemption Notice, a Cash Transaction
Redemption Notice, a Holder Optional Redemption Notice
or a CEO Trigger Optional Redemption Notice.
(cc) Redemption Premium
means (i) in the case of the Events of Default described in
Section 4(a)(i) (vii) and (x)
(xiv), the Redemption Premium Percentage or (ii) in
the case of the Events of Default described in
Section 4(a)(viii) (ix), 100%.
(dd) Redemption Premium
Percentage means (i) from and after the Issuance
Date through the first anniversary of the Issuance Date, 125%;
(ii) after the first anniversary of the Issuance Date
through the second anniversary of the Issuance Date, 120%;
(iii) after the second anniversary of the Issuance Date
through the third anniversary of the Issuance Date, 115%;
(iv) after the third anniversary of the Issuance Date
through the fourth anniversary of the Issuance Date, 110%; and
(v) after the fourth anniversary of the Issuance Date
through the Maturity Date, 105%.
(ee) Redemption Price
means any of the Event of Default Redemption Price, the
Change of Control Redemption Price, the Cash Transaction
Redemption Price, the Holder Optional Redemption Price
or the CEO Trigger Optional Redemption Price.
(ff) Registration Rights
Agreement means that certain registration rights
agreement dated the Subscription Date by and among the Company
and the initial holders of the Notes relating to, among other
things, the registration of the resale of the shares of Common
Stock issuable upon conversion or redemption of the Notes.
(gg) Required
Holders means the holders of Notes representing at
least a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes
then outstanding.
(hh) Required
Price means $2.00, subject to appropriate adjustments
for stock splits, stock dividends, stock combinations,
reclassifications, reorganizations and other similar
transactions after the Issuance Date.
(ii) SEC means
the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
(jj) Securities Purchase
Agreement means that certain securities purchase
agreement dated the Subscription Date by and among the Company
and the initial holders of the Notes pursuant to which the
Company issued the Notes.
(kk) Subscription
Date means July 16, 2004.
(ll) Successor
Entity means the Person, which may be the Company,
formed by, resulting from or surviving any Fundamental
Transaction or the Person with which such Fundamental
Transaction shall have been made, provided that if such Person
is not a publicly traded entity whose common stock or equivalent
equity security is quoted or listed for trading on an Eligible
Market, Successor Entity shall mean such Persons Parent
Entity.
(mm) Trading Day
means any day on which the shares of Common Stock are traded on
the Principal Market, or, if the Principal Market is not the
principal trading market for the shares of Common Stock, then on
the principal securities exchange or securities market on which
the shares of Common Stock are then traded; provided that
Trading Day shall not include any day on which the
shares of Common Stock are scheduled to trade on such exchange
or market for less than 4.5 hours or any day that the shares of
Common Stock are suspended from trading during the final hour of
trading on such exchange or market (or if such exchange or
market does not designate in advance the closing time of trading
on such exchange or market, then during the hour ending at
4:00:00 p.m., New York Time).
(nn) Weighted Average
Price means, for any security as of any date of
determination, the dollar volume-weighted average price for such
security on the Principal Market during the period beginning at
9:30:01 a.m., New York Time (or such other time as the
Principal Market publicly announces is the official open of
trading), and ending at 4:00:00 p.m., New York Time (or
such other time as the Principal Market publicly announces is
the official close of trading) as reported by Bloomberg through
its Volume at Price
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functions, or, if the foregoing does not apply, the dollar
volume-weighted average price of such security in the
over-the-counter market on the electronic bulletin board for
such security during the period beginning at 9:30:01 a.m.,
New York Time (or such other time as such market publicly
announces is the official open of trading), and ending at
4:00:00 p.m., New York Time (or such other time as such
market publicly announces is the official close of trading) as
reported by Bloomberg, or, if no dollar volume-weighted average
price is reported for such security by Bloomberg for such hours,
the average of the highest closing bid price and the lowest
closing ask price of any of the market makers for such security
as reported in the pink sheets by Pink Sheets LLC
(formerly the National Quotation Bureau, Inc.). If the Weighted
Average Price cannot be calculated for a security on a
particular date on any of the foregoing bases, the Weighted
Average Price of such security on such date shall be the fair
market value as mutually determined by the Company and the
Holder in good faith. If the Company and the Holder are unable
to agree upon the fair market value of such security, then such
dispute shall be resolved pursuant to Section 24. All such
determinations to be appropriately adjusted for any stock
dividend, stock split, stock combination or other similar
transaction during the applicable calculation period.
B-23
Appendix C
INFORMATION CONCERNING PERSONS WHO MAY ASSIST IN THE
COMPANYS
SOLICITATION OF PROXIES
To the extent not included in our Proxy Statement to which this
Appendix C relates (the Proxy Statement), set
forth below are the names, principal business addresses and the
present principal occupations or employment of the directors,
director nominees, officers, employees and other representatives
of the Company who may assist in the Companys solicitation
of proxies in connection with its 2005 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders and any adjournments thereof (the
Meeting), and the name, principal business and
address of any corporation or other organization at which they
are principally employed. To the extent they assist the Company
in its solicitation of proxies for the Meeting, these persons
may be deemed participants under the rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. For ease
of reference, we sometimes refer to these persons as
potential participants in this Appendix C to
our Proxy Statement.
Directors and Director Nominees
The principal occupations and other information regarding the
Companys directors and director nominees is set forth in
Proposal One Election of Directors in the Proxy
Statement. The names and business addresses of the principal
employers of the Companys directors and director nominees
are as set forth below.
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Name and Business Address |
Name |
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of Principal Employer |
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Susan B. Bayh
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Butler University
College of Business Administration
4600 Sunset Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46208
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Gary C. Evans
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Magnum Hunter Resources, Inc.
600 East Las Colinas Boulevard
Suite 1100
Irving, TX 75039
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Mitchell J. Kelly
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Anaconda Opportunity Fund, L.P.
730 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10019
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J. Michael Lazarus, M.D.
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Fresenius Medical Care North America
95 Hayden Avenue
Lexington, MA 02420
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John O. Marsh, Jr.
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George Mason University
4400 University Drive
Fairfax, VA 22030
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Michael A. McManus, Jr.
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Misonix, Inc.
1938 New Highway
Farmingdale, NY 11735
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Denis M. ODonnell, M.D.
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Molecular Diagnostics, Inc.
414 N. Orleans
Suite 510
Chicago, IL 60610
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Nelson M. Sims
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Novavax, Inc.
508 Lapp Road
Malvern, PA 19355
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Ronald H. Walker
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Retired
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C-1
Executive Officers, Officers and Employees
The principal occupations of the Companys executive
officers (other than executive officers who are also directors,
which individuals are included in the table above), officers and
employees who may be deemed participants in the Companys
solicitation of proxies for the Meeting are set forth below.
Unless otherwise indicated, the principal occupation refers to
the potential participants position with the Company, and
the business address is Novavax, Inc., 508 Lapp Road, Malvern,
Pennsylvania 19355.
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Name |
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Principal Occupation |
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Dennis W. Genge
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Chief Financial Officer, Vice President and Treasurer |
Rita M. Freedman
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Manager, Investor Relations |
Information Regarding Ownership of Novavaxs Securities
by Director, Director Nominee, Executive Officer, Officer and
Employee Potential Participants
None of the persons listed above under Directors and
Director Nominees or Executive Officers, Officers
and Employees owns any Novavax securities of record but
not beneficially.
The number of shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value, directly
or indirectly beneficially owned as of March 11, 2005 by
directors, director nominees and the Named Executive Officers is
set forth in the Beneficial Ownership of Common
Stock section of the Proxy Statement. Except as disclosed
in such section, no other potential participant identified
herein owns, beneficially or of record, shares of our Common
Stock.
In addition to the information set forth herein and in the Proxy
Statement, the individuals named under Directors and
Director Nominees and Executive Officers, Officers
and Employees above are each parties to stock option
agreements pursuant to which they have been awarded options to
purchase shares of the Companys Common Stock under the
Companys equity compensation plan as approved by its
stockholders. The exercise price under each of these options was
equal to the closing price of the Common Stock on the date of
grant. Each of these options was granted in connection with
employment or other services rendered for or on behalf of the
Company and contains terms and conditions consistent with stock
options regularly granted by the Company under its equity
compensation plans to employees, consultants and directors of
the Company.
Information Regarding Transactions in Novavax Securities by
Novavax, Director, Director Nominee, Executive Officer, Officer
and Employee Potential Participants
The following table sets forth purchases and sales during the
past two years of shares of Common Stock by (i) Novavax and
(ii) the persons listed above under Directors and
Director Nominees, and Executive Officers, Officers
and Employees. Unless otherwise indicated, all
transactions were open market purchases and neither the purchase
price nor the market value of such shares is represented by
funds borrowed or otherwise obtained for the purpose of
acquiring and holding such securities. To the extent that any
part of the purchase price or market value of such shares is
represented by funds borrowed or otherwise obtained for the
purpose of acquiring and holding such securities, the amount of
the indebtedness as of
March , 2005 is set forth
below. If funds were borrowed or obtained otherwise than
pursuant to a margin account or bank loan in
C-2
the regular course of business of a bank, broker or dealer, a
brief description of the transaction (including the names of the
parties) is set forth below.
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Name |
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Date | |
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Type of Transaction | |
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No. of Shares | |
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The Company
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Novavax, Inc.
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Directors and Director Nominees
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Susan B. Bayh
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Gary C. Evans
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5/30/2003 |
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Purchase |
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10,000 |
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6/2/2003 |
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Purchase |
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5,000 |
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9/13/2004 |
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Purchase |
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8,697 |
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9/10/2004 |
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Purchase |
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1,603 |
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9/27/2004 |
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Purchase |
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10,000 |
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Mitchell J. Kelly
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12/20/2004 |
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Indirect Sale(1) |
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13,000 |
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12/21/2004 |
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Sale |
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19,139 |
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12/21/2004 |
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Indirect Sale(1) |
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7,861 |
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12/28/2004 |
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Indirect Sale(1) |
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33,500 |
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12/29/2004 |
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Indirect Sale(1) |
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1,000 |
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12/30/2004 |
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Indirect Sale(1) |
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25,500 |
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J. Michael Lazarus, M.D.
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1/23/2003 |
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Purchase(2) |
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1,445 |
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John O. Marsh, Jr.
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12/1/2003 |
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Purchase |
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10,000 |
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Michael A. McManus, Jr.
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8/16/2004 |
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Purchase |
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10,000 |
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Denis M. ODonnell, M.D.
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Nelson M. Sims
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7/26/2004 |
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Purchase(3) |
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13,500 |
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10/8/2004 |
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Purchase |
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11,500 |
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Ronald H. Walker
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Executive Officers, Officers and Employees
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Dennis W. Genge
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Rita M. Freedman
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(1) |
Sales by Anaconda Capital Management LLC, of which
Mr. Kelly is the general partner of its general partner. |
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(2) |
Shares were purchased on the open market by the spouse of Dr.
Lazarus. The shares were later transferred to an account jointly
held by Dr. Lazarus and his spouse. |
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(3) |
Purchases made for The Nelson M. Sims Flint Trust. |
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Miscellaneous Information Concerning Potential
Participants
Except as described in this Appendix C or elsewhere in the
Proxy Statement, to the knowledge of the Company, none of the
persons listed under Directors and Director Nominees
or Executive Officers, Officers and Employees is, or
within the past year was, a party to any contract, arrangement
or understanding with any person with respect to any Novavax
securities, including, but not limited to, joint ventures, loan
or option arrangements, puts or calls, guarantees against loss
or guarantees of profit, division of losses or profits, or the
giving or withholding of proxies.
Except as described in this Appendix C or elsewhere in the
Proxy Statement, to the knowledge of the Company, no person
listed above under Directors and Director Nominees
or Executive Officers, Officers and Employees or any
of his or her associates beneficially owns (within
the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly
or indirectly, any shares or other securities of the Company or
any of its subsidiaries.
C-3
Except as described in this Appendix C or elsewhere in the
Proxy Statement, to the knowledge of the Company, there have
been no transactions or series of similar transactions since
January 1, 2004, or any currently proposed transaction or
series of similar transactions, (i) to which the Company or
any of its subsidiaries was or is to be a party, (ii) in
which the amount involved exceeds $60,000 and (iii) in
which (a) any person listed above under Directors and
Director Nominees or Executive Officers, Officers
and Employees or any of such persons associates,
(b) any security holder known to the Company to own of
record or beneficially more than 5% of Novavax voting
securities, or (c) any member of the immediate family of
any person specified in (a) or (b), had or will have a
direct or indirect material interest.
Except as described in this Appendix C or elsewhere in the
Proxy Statement, and specifically with the exception of
Messrs. Sims and Genges employment agreements
with the Company as disclosed in the Employment Contracts
and Change of Control Provisions section of the Proxy
Statement, to the knowledge of the Company, no person listed
above under Directors and Director Nominees or
Executive Officers, Officers and Employees or any of
their associates has entered into any arrangement or
understanding with any person with respect to (i) any
future employment with the Company or its affiliates or
(ii) any future transactions to which the Company or any of
its affiliates will or may be a party.
Except as described in this Appendix C or elsewhere in the
Proxy Statement, to the knowledge of the Company, no persons
listed under Directors and Director Nominees or
Executive Officers, Officers and Employees has any
substantial interest, direct or indirect, by security holdings
or otherwise, in any matter to be acted upon at the Meeting (and
no other person who is a party to an arrangement or
understanding pursuant to which a nominee for election as
director is proposed to be elected has any such interest).
C-4
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT, NO MATTER HOW MANY OR HOW FEW
SHARES YOU OWN.
Please complete, sign, date and mail the WHITE Proxy Card
above in the postage-paid envelope provided.
Even if you have already voted the
Green proxy card, you can still vote
for your Boards nominees by signing and returning a later dated WHITE proxy card. Only your
latest dated proxy card will count.
If you have any question or need
help voting your shares, please call our proxy solicitor:
[ALTMAN GROUP LOGO]
Toll Free: 800-357-1072
Call Collect: 201-460-1200
Fax: 201-460-0050
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Please mark |
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x |
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votes as in
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this example. |
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The Board of Directors recommends that you vote FOR all proposals
listed below.
1.
To elect two directors as Class I Directors to serve on the Board of
Directors for a three year term expiring at the 2008 Annual Meeting
of Stockholders.
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Nominees: |
(01) |
Denis M. ODonnell, M.D.,
(02) Nelson M. Sims
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FOR ALL NOMINEES |
o
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o
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WITHELD FROM ALL NOMINEES |
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o
__________________________________ |
For
all nominee(s) except as written
above |
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FOR |
AGAINST |
ABSTAIN |
2. |
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To approve the Novavax, Inc. 2005 Stock Incentive Plan.
|
o |
o |
o |
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3. |
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To approve the issuance of the shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value, of the Company issuable with respect to the senior
convertible notes in the aggregate principal amount of $35,000,000 issued to certain qualified institutional buyers and
accredited investors.
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o |
o |
o |
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4. |
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To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as Independent
Registered Public Accounting Firm of the Company for the current fiscal year ending
December 31, 2005.
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o |
o |
o |
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5. |
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To transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
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Mark box at right if you plan to attend the meeting.
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o |
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Mark box at right if an address change or comment has been noted on
the reverse side of this card.
Please be sure to sign and date this
Proxy.
|
o |
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Sign exactly as your name appears hereon. (If shares are held by joint tenants,
both should sign. If signing as Attorney, Executor, Administrator, Trustee or Guardian,
please give your title as such. If the signer is a corporation,
please sign in the full corporate name by a duly
authorized officer.) Votes must be Indicated [X] in black or blue ink.
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Signature: ________________________ Date:
___________________________ Signature: ________________________ Date:
_________________
Title:
_____________________________________________________________ Title:
___________________________________________________
PRELIMINARY COPY
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
DATED MARCH 25, 2005
PROXY
NOVAVAX, INC.
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON MAY 4, 2005
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned stockholder of Novavax, Inc. hereby appoints Nelson M.
Sims, Dennis W.
Genge and David A. White and each of them, attorneys, agents and proxies, with the power of
substitution to each, to vote all shares of Common Stock that the undersigned is entitled to vote
at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Novavax, Inc., to be held at the Companys headquarters,
508 Lapp Road, Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355 on Wednesday May 4, 2005 at 9:00 a.m., local time, and
at any adjournments thereof.
The shares represented by this proxy will be voted as directed by the
undersigned. IF NO
CONTRARY INSTRUCTIONS ARE INDICATED, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR (1) THE ELECTION OF EACH OF THE
NOMINEES NAMED IN THIS PROXY FOR CLASS I DIRECTORS, (2) APPROVAL OF THE NOVAVAX, INC. 2005 STOCK
INCENTIVE PLAN, (3) APPROVAL OF THE ISSUANCE OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE WITH RESPECT TO
THE COMPANYS SENIOR CONVERTIBLE NOTES, (4) RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP
AS THE INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR FISCAL YEAR 2005, AND (5) IN THE DISCRETION OF THE PROXYHOLDER AS TO ANY OTHER
MATTERS WHICH MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING.
PLEASE VOTE, DATE AND SIGN ON REVERSE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
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HAS YOUR ADDRESS CHANGED?
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DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS? |
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