As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 13, 2013

Registration No. 333-         

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

 

NOVAVAX, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

(State of incorporation)

9920 Belward Campus Drive,
Rockville, Maryland 20850

(Address of principal executive offices)

22-2816046

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

 

 

2013 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

(Full Title of the Plan)

 

JOHN A. HERRMANN III

Vice President, General Counsel &

Corporate Secretary

Novavax, Inc.

9920 Belward Campus Drive

Rockville, Maryland 20850

jherrmann@novavax.com

(240) 268-2000

(Name, Address and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent For Service)

 

with copies to:

PAUL M. KINSELLA

Ropes & Gray LLP

800 Boylston Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02199-3600

pkinsella@ropesgray.com

(617) 951-7000

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

             
Large accelerated filer o   Accelerated filer þ   Non-accelerated filer o   Smaller reporting
company o
        (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

       Proposed   Proposed     
       maximum   maximum     
Title of  Amount to be   offering price   aggregate   Amount of 
securities to be registered  registered   per share   offering price   registration fee 
Common Stock, $0.01 par value   3,000,000(1)  $2.30(2)  $6,900,000   $942 

 

(1)   Plus, pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), such additional number of shares of Novavax, Inc. common stock as may be issued upon a stock split, stock dividend, or similar transaction.
(2)   Pursuant to Rules 457(c) and 457(h)(1) under the Securities Act, the proposed maximum offering price per share and the maximum aggregate offering price for the shares have been calculated solely for the purpose of computing the registration fee on the basis of the average of the high and low prices of Novavax, Inc. common stock as reported by The NASDAQ Global Select Market on August 9, 2013, 2013, which were $2.36 and $2.24, respectively.

 

 
 

 

PART I

 

As permitted by Rule 428 under the Securities Act, this Registration Statement omits the information specified in Part I of Form S-8. The documents containing the information specified in Part I will be delivered to the participants of the Plans as required by Rule 428(b).

 

PART II

 

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

 

Item 3.Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

 

The following documents filed by the Registrant with the Securities and Exchange Commission are hereby incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8:

 

  1.   The Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, filed on March 12, 2013;
       
  2.   The Registrant’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2013, filed on May 9, 2013, and June 30, 2013, filed on August 8, 2013;
       
  3.   The Registrant’s Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on January 30, 2013, April 29, 2013, June 4, 2013, June 17, 2013, June 28, 2013, July 5, 2013, July 8, 2013 and August 2, 2013; and
       
  4.   The description of the Registrant’s Common Stock ($0.01 par value) contained in the Registrant’s Registration Statement No. 0-26770 on Form 10 filed on September 14, 1995 pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

 

All documents filed after the date of this registration statement by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14, and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment that indicates that all shares of Novavax, Inc.’s common stock offered hereunder have been sold or which deregisters all shares of Novavax, Inc. common stock remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part hereof from the date of the filing of such documents.

 

Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this registration statement to the extent that a statement contained herein, or in any other subsequently filed document that also is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this registration statement.

 

Item 4.  Description of Securities.

 

Not applicable.

 

 
 

 

Item 5.Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 6.Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

 

Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware provides as follows:

 

“A corporation shall have the power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interest of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.

 

A corporation shall have the power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made with respect to any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.”

 

The Registrant’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that it will indemnify each person who was or is a party or threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of us) by reason of the fact that he or she is or was, or has agreed to become, our director or officer, or is or was serving, or has agreed to serve, at the Registrant’s request as a director, officer or trustee of, or in a similar capacity with, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise (all such persons being referred to as an “Indemnitee”), or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such action, suit or proceeding and any appeal therefrom, if such Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, our best interests, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, he or she had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.

 

 
 

 

The Registrant’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation also provides that it will indemnify any Indemnitee who was or is a party to an action or suit by or in the right of the Registrant to procure a judgment in the Registrant’s favor by reason of the fact that the Indemnitee is or was, or has agreed to become, a director or officer, or is or was serving, or has agreed to serve, at the Registrant’s request as a director, officer or trustee or, or in a similar capacity with, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees) and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, and any appeal therefrom, if the Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the Registrant’s best interests, except that no indemnification shall be made with respect to any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Registrant, unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery of Delaware determines that, despite such adjudication but in view of all of the circumstances, he or she is entitled to indemnification of such expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that any Indemnitee has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, he or she will be indemnified by the Registrant against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him or her or on his or her behalf in connection therewith. If the Registrant does not assume the defense, expenses must be advanced to an Indemnitee under certain circumstances.

 

The Registrant has entered into indemnification agreements with its directors and certain of its officers, in addition to the indemnification provided for in its amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated by-laws, and intends to enter into indemnification agreements with any new directors and executive officers in the future. The Registrant has purchased and intends to maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director or officer against any loss arising from any claim asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, subject to certain exclusions.

 

Item 8.Exhibits.

 

See Exhibit Index immediately following the signature page.

 

Item 9. Undertakings.

 

(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

 

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

 

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

 

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement.

 

 
 

 

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

 

Provided however, that:

 

A. Paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) of this section do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-8, and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d)of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement; and

 

B. Paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 or Form F-3 and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

 

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

 
 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Rockville, state of Maryland on August 13, 2013.

         
  NOVAVAX, INC.
 		  
  By:    /s/ Stanley C. Erck 
    Stanley C. Erck  
    President and Chief Executive
Officer  and Director		  

 

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Stanley C. Erck and John A. Herrmann III, and each of them singly, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution in each of them singly, for him and in his name, place and stead, and in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of Novavax, Inc., and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting to the attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in or about the premises, as full to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that the attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of each of them or their substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature   Title  Date
       
/s/ Stanley C. Erck  President and Chief Executive Officer  August 13, 2013
Stanley C. Erck  and Director (Principal Executive  Officer)   
       
/s/ Barclay A. Phillips  Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer  August 13, 2013
Barclay A. Phillips  (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)   
       
/s/ James F. Young, Ph.D.  Chairman of the Board of Directors  August 13, 2013
James F. Young, Ph.D.      
       
/s/ Richard H. Douglas  Director  August 13, 2013
Richard H. Douglas      
       
/s/ Gary C. Evans  Director  August 13, 2013
Gary C. Evans      
       
/s/ John O. Marsh, Jr., J.D.  Director  August 13, 2013
John O. Marsh, Jr., J.D.      
       
/s/Rajiv I. Modi, Ph.D.  Director  August 13, 2013
Rajiv I. Modi, Ph.D.      
       
/s/ Michael A. McManus, Jr., J.D.  Director  August 13, 2013
Michael A. McManus, Jr., J.D.      
       

 

 
 

 

INDEX OF EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit    
Number   Description
     
4.1   Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Novavax, Inc., as amended by Certificates of Amendment dated December 18, 2000, July 8, 2004, May 13, 2009 and dated June 13, 2013  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2013, filed August 8, 2013)
     
4.2   By-Laws of the Company (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed March 12, 2013)
     
5*   Opinion of Ropes & Gray LLP
     
10*   Novavax, Inc.’s 2013 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
     
23.1*   Consent of Ropes & Gray LLP (included in Exhibit 5)
     
23.2*   Consent of Grant Thornton LLP
     
23.3*   Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
     
24*   Power of Attorney to file future amendments. Set forth on the signature page of this Registration Statement

 

 

*Filed herewith