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NOVAVAX, INC.
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NOVAVAX, INC.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of Novavax, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), will be held on Wednesday, May 9, 2001 at 9:00 a.m. at the BWI Airport Marriott, 1741 West Nursery Road, Baltimore, Maryland (the Meeting) for the purpose of considering and voting upon the following matters:
1. | To elect three directors as Class III directors to serve on the Board of Directors for a three-year term expiring at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2004. | |
2. | To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as independent auditors of the Company for the current fiscal year ending December 31, 2001. | |
3. | 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.
The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on Friday, March 16, 2000 as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting and at any adjournments thereof.
A copy of the Companys Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2000, which contains financial statements and other information of interest to stockholders, accompanies this Notice and the enclosed Proxy Statement.
By Order of the Board of Directors | |
David A. White, | |
Secretary |
April 6, 2001
WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE PROMPTLY VOTE VIA THE INTERNET OR TELEPHONE AS PER THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD OR COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY IN THE ACCOMPANYING ENVELOPE. NO POSTAGE NEED BE AFFIXED IF THE PROXY IS MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES.
NOVAVAX, INC.
8320 Guilford Road
PROXY STATEMENT
This Proxy Statement is 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 9, 2001 at 9:00 a.m. at BWI Airport Marriott, 1741 West Nursery Road, Baltimore, Maryland, and at any adjournments thereof (the Meeting). The Notice of Meeting, this Proxy Statement, the enclosed proxy and the Companys Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2000 are being mailed to stockholders on or about April 6, 2001.
VOTING PROCEDURE AND QUORUM
The close of business on March 16, 2001 (the Record Date) has been fixed as the record date to determine stockholders entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the Meeting. 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 the Common Stock at the close of business on the Record Date may vote at the Meeting. On the Record Date, there were 22,247,533 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. You may vote by mail, Internet or telephone as directed by the enclosed proxy card.
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 and 2 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. 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) written notice of revocation delivered 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 proxy and vote in person.
The presence in person or by proxy of a majority of the shares of Common Stock outstanding on the record date 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 from time to time, without notice other than an announcement at the Meeting, until a quorum is present. 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 notified. Abstentions and broker non-votes will count in determining whether a quorum is present at the Annual Meeting. A broker non-vote occurs if a broker or other nominee does not have discretionary authority and has not received instructions with respect to a particular item.
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 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 III directors expire at this Meeting. The terms of the Class I and Class II directors will expire at the 2002 and 2003 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 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 predecessor. Directors elected by the stockholders at an annual meeting to succeed those whose terms expire 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. Directors elected by the Board to fill vacancies or newly created directorships are to be assigned to classes by the Board so as to ensure, as nearly as possible, that each class consists of one-third of the total number of members of the Board. 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.
Three directors are to be elected at this Meeting to fill the terms of the Class III directors that expire at this Meeting. The Board of Directors has designated Mitchell J. Kelly, Michael A. McManus and John A. Spears, as nominees for reelection as a Class III directors of the Company at this Meeting. If elected to be Class III directors, such nominees will serve until the expiration of their terms at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2004 and until their successors are elected and qualified. Messrs. Kelly, McManus and Spears are currently directors of the Company and have consented to being named in this Proxy Statement and to serve if elected. The Board of Directors has no reason to believe that any of the nominees will be unable to serve if elected. If any 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.
The election of directors requires the affirmative vote of a plurality of the shares of Common Stock present or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Meeting. Accordingly, abstentions and broker non-votes will not have any effect on the election of a director.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF THE 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 10-K.
2
Nominees for Class III Director
Director | Principal Occupation, Other Business | |||||||||
Name | Age | Since | Experience and Other Directorships | |||||||
Mitchell J. Kelly
|
41 | 1997 | Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Member of Anaconda Capital Management, L.L.C. since 1995. Interim President and Chief Executive Officer of Novavax from September, 1998 to May, 1999. Managing General Partner of Anaconda Capital, L.P. (the General Partner of Anaconda Opportunity Fund, L.P.) since 1993. Managing General Partner of Gallatin Partners, L.P., from 1995 to 1996. General Partner of Junction Partners from 1990 to 1995. President of Junction Advisors, Inc. from 1992 to 1995. Vice President of Junction Advisors, Inc. from 1988 to 1992 and various other positions with the predecessor to Junction Advisors, Inc. from 1985 to 1988. | |||||||
Michael A. McManus, Jr.
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58 | 1998 | President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Misonix, Inc., a developer, manufacturer and marketer of medical, scientific and industrial ultrasonic and air pollution systems, since 1998. President and Chief Executive Officer of N.Y. Bancorp from 1990 to 1998. Vice President of Strategic Planning and Corporate Counsel of Pfizer Inc. from 1985 to 1990. Assistant to President Reagan from 1982 to 1985. Director of Document Imaging Systems, Inc., National Wireless, Inc. and New York Community Bank. | |||||||
John A. Spears
|
51 | 1999 | President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Novavax, Inc. since May, 1999. President and Chief Executive Officer of Vion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biotechnology company, from August 1995 to May, 1999. President and Chief Executive Officer of MelaRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., one of the predecessor companies to Vion, from 1993 to 1995. Senior Vice President of Immunex Corporation from 1989 to 1993. Prior to 1989, Mr. Spears held management and research positions with several large pharmaceutical companies, including Bristol Myers, Lederle and Ayerst Laboratories. |
Directors Continuing as Class I Directors
Director | Principal Occupation, Other Business | |||||||||
Name | Age | Since | Experience and Other Directorships | |||||||
William E. Georges
|
41 | 2000 | Vice President Operations, Fielding Pharmaceutical Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Novavax, Inc. President and Director of The Fielding Pharmaceutical Company from 1987 to December, 2000. |
3
Director | Principal Occupation, Other Business | |||||||||
Name | Age | Since | Experience and Other Directorships | |||||||
Denis M. ODonnell, M.D.
|
47 | 1998 | Chairman of the Board of Directors of Novavax, Inc. since May, 2000. Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Novavax, Inc. from June, 1999 to May, 2000. General Partner at Seaside Partners, LP, a private equity limited partnership, since 1997. 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. Vice President of IGI, Inc. from 1991 to 1995. Director of the Clinical Research Center of MTRA, Inc., a provider of contract pharmaceutical research, from 1986 to 1991. Director of ELXSI Corporation, Ampersand Medical Corporation, Columbia Laboratories, Inc. and American Bio Medica, Inc. | |||||||
Ronald H. Walker
|
63 | 1995 | Chairman of the Board of Directors of Novavax, Inc. from March, 1998 to May, 2000. Senior Partner/ Managing Director of Korn/ Ferry International, an executive search firm from 1978 to 1999. President of Ron Walker & Associates, Inc., a full service consulting company from 1977 to 1978. Associate Director and Tournament Director of World Championship Tennis from 1975 to 1977. Director of the National Park Service from 1972 to 1975. Special Assistant to the President of the United States from 1969 to 1972. |
Directors Continuing as Class II Directors
Director | Principal Occupation, Other Business | |||||||||
Name | Age | Since | Experience and Other Directorships | |||||||
Gary C. Evans
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44 | 1998 | President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of Magnum Hunter Resources, Inc., an oil and gas provider, since December, 1995 and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of all Magnum Hunter Resources, Inc. subsidiaries since their formation or acquisition. In 1985, Mr. Evans formed the predecessor company, Hunter Resources, that was merged into and formed Magnum Hunter Resources, Inc. ten years later. Vice President and Manager of the Energy Division of the Southwestern United States for Mercantile Bank of Canada from 1981 to 1985. Credit Manager and Credit Officer of National Bank of Commerce (now BancTexas, N.A.). Mr. Evans serves as a Trustee of TEL Offshore Trust, an OTC listed oil and gas trust. |
4
Director | Principal Occupation, Other Business | |||||||||
Name | Age | Since | Experience and Other Directorships | |||||||
J. Michael Lazarus, M.D.
|
63 | 1995 | Medical Director and Senior Vice President, Fresenius Medical Care North America, since 1996. Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School from 1979 to 1996. Senior Physician at the Brigham and Womens Hospital from 1992 to 1996. Practicing nephrologist at the Brigham and Womens Hospital since 1971. | |||||||
John O. Marsh, Jr.
|
74 | 1991 | Visiting Professor, George Mason University since January, 2001. Visiting Professor, Virginia Military Institute during 1998. Interim Chief Executive Officer of Novavax, Inc. from July, 1996 to March, 1997 and Chairman of the Board of Directors from July, 1996 to February, 1997. Of Counsel to the law firm of Hazel & Thomas, P.C. from 1995 to 1996 and Member from 1990 through 1994. Chairman of the Secretary of Defense Task Force on Quality of Life since 1995. Chairman of the Reserve Forces Policy Board from 1989 to 1994. Legislative Counsel to Secretary of Defense, 1989. Secretary of the Army from 1981 to 1989. Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict, 1988. Counselor with Cabinet rank to President Ford from 1974 to 1977. Assistant for National Security Affairs to Vice President Ford, 1974. Assistant Secretary of Defense from 1973 to 1974. U.S. Representative in Congress from the Seventh District of Virginia from 1963 to 1971 and member of Appropriations Committee from 1965 to 1971. |
There are no family relationships among any of the directors of Novavax.
Board and Committee Meetings
The Board of Directors met 11 times and acted by unanimous written consent twice during 2000. Each of the directors attended at least 75% of the meetings of the Board of Directors and the committees on which they served, except for J. Michael Lazarus who attended ten of the fifteen meetings of the Board of Directors and the Audit Committee.
The Board of Directors of Novavax has four standing committees: an Executive Committee, a Compensation and Stock Option Committee (the Compensation Committee), an Audit Committee and a Nominating Committee. The Executive Committee, whose members are Dr. ODonnell (Chairman) and Messrs. Evans, Kelly, McManus and Spears, has the authority to exercise the powers of the Board of Directors between Board meetings. The Compensation Committee, whose members are Messrs. Evans (Chairman), Marsh and McManus, reviews and recommends salaries and other compensatory benefits for the principal officers of Novavax and grants stock options to key employees of Novavax and its subsidiaries. The Audit Committee, whose members are Messrs. McManus (Chairman) and Evans and Dr. Lazarus, meets with the Companys independent public accountants to discuss the scope and results of their examination, reviews the Companys internal control procedures and discusses the adequacy of the Companys accounting and control systems, reviews the audit schedule and considers any issues raised by its members, the independent public accountants and the Companys staff or management. The Nominating Committee, whose members are Dr. Lazarus (Chairman), Dr. ODonnell and Mr. Kelly, reviews the qualifications and nominations of directors. Stockholders who wish to propose qualified candidates to serve as directors of the Company may do
5
During 2000, the Audit Committee met four times, the Compensation Committee met six times and acted by unanimous consent one time. The Nominating Committee met once. The Executive Committee did not meet.
Director Compensation
Each director not employed by Novavax receives $1,000 for each non-telephonic meeting of the Board of Directors he attends and $100 for each telephonic meeting. No other cash compensation is paid to the directors for their services to the Company as directors. For information relating to shares of the Company owned by each of the directors, see Beneficial Ownership of Stock. For information concerning the compensation of directors who are also officers of the Company, see the Summary Compensation Table.
Stock Option Plan. 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 of Novavax on September 13, 1995 (the Plan). In addition, directors of Novavax who were not employees of Novavax or any subsidiary of Novavax were eligible to participate in the 1995 Director Stock Option Plan of Novavax (the Director Plan) adopted by the Board of Directors and approved by the stockholders of Novavax on September 13, 1995. The Director Plan provided for the issuance of up to 500,000 shares of Novavax Common Stock upon the exercise of stock options granted under the Director Plan, all of which have been granted. There will be no future grants made under the Director Plan. On March 7, 2000, all directors of Novavax who were not employees of Novavax or any subsidiary of Novavax as of December 31, 1999 (other than Dr. ODonnell) were granted options to purchase 10,000 shares of Novavax Common Stock under the Director Plan at an exercise price of $5.63 per share. On January 28, 2000, Dr. ODonnell was granted an option to purchase 10,000 shares of Novavax Common Stock under the 1995 Stock Option Plan at an exercise price of $5.63 per share. All such options are exercisable in full beginning on the date which is six months after the date of grant and the option exercise price per share is equal to the fair market value of a share of Novavax Common Stock on December 31, 1999. On January 28, 2000 Dr. ODonnell was granted an option to purchase 100,000 shares of Novavax Common Stock under the 1995 Stock Option Plan at an exercise price of $6.75 per share. The fair market value of a share of Novavax Common Stock on January 28, 2000 was $6.75 and the fair market value of a share of Novavax Common Stock on March 7, 2000 was $10.63. The term of each option granted under the Director Plan is ten years, provided that an option may be exercised only while the director continues to serve as a director of Novavax and for a period of three years after he or she ceases to be a director for any reason. Options are not transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. The 1995 Stock Option Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee under delegation by the Board of Directors.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
Messrs. Evans, Marsh and McManus served on the Compensation Committee during 2000. No executive officer of the Company is, or during 2000 was, 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.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, 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 American Stock Exchange 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 furnished to the Company or written representations that no other reports were required, the Company believes that during 2000 its officers, directors and holders of more than 10% of the Companys Common Stock complied with all Section 16(a) filing requirements, except that Mitchell Kelly
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Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
On October 4, 2000, the Company entered in an Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among the Company, The Fielding Pharmaceutical Company (Fielding), each of the existing stockholders of Fielding and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, which provided for the merger of Fielding with and into that wholly-owned subsidiary. The transaction was closed on December 19, 2000. William E. Georges was an officer, director and stockholder of Fielding at the time of the closing and is now the Vice President Operations of the wholly-owned subsidiary as well as a director of the Company. The Fielding stockholders received cash and shares of Company Common Stock in exchange for shares of common stock of Fielding. In addition, the Fielding stockholders will receive earnout amounts of an additional $5.0 million in Company Common Stock, or cash, at the Companys option. Mr. Georges will be entitled to receive approximately 34.5% of these earnout amounts.
REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
Executive Compensation Policies
The Compensation and Stock Option Committee of the Board of Directors (the Committee) is composed of three non-employee directors and is responsible for the development and administration of the Companys executive compensation policies and programs, subject to review and approval by the full Board of Directors. The Committee reviews and recommends to the Board for its approval the salaries and incentive compensation for the executive officers of the Company and grants stock options to executives and other key employees of the Company and its subsidiaries.
The objectives of the Companys executive compensation program are to: (i) support the achievement of the strategic goals and objectives of the Company; (ii) attract and retain key executives critical to the success of the Company; and (iii) align the executive officers interests with the success of the Company. The Companys executive compensation program currently consists of three principal elements: base salary, annual cash incentive compensation and long-term incentive compensation in the form of stock options.
Cash Compensation
The Committees policy is to set base salary levels for each of the Companys executive officers based on a review of compensation for competitive positions in the market, the executives job skills and experience, and judgments as to past and future contributions of the executives to the Companys success. The corporations whose compensation practices have been 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 competes for executive talent. The annual cash incentive compensation is designed to tie annual awards to Company and individual executive performance. The Committee considers a number of factors in determining whether annual incentive awards should be paid, including the achievement by the Company of approved budgets, new product introductions and progress in the development of new products, and the achievement by the executives of their individual assigned objectives. In considering individual performance, as contrasted to Company performance, the Committee relies more on subjective evaluations of executive performance than on quantitative data or objective criteria.
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company seeks to provide its executives with opportunities for substantially higher compensation through stock option awards. The Committee believes that stock ownership by executive officers is important in aligning management and stockholder interests for the long-term enhancement of stockholder value. In selecting executives eligible to receive option grants and determining the amount of such grants, the Committee evaluates a variety of factors including (i) the job level of the executive, (ii) option grants
7
Chief Executive Officer Compensation
John A. Spears was elected President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company effective May 7, 1999. Based on negotiations with Mr. Spears, the Board of Directors agreed to pay Mr. Spears an annual base salary of $250,000 in order to attract him to join the Company. The criteria used to establish Mr. Spears salary included recognition of his responsibilities, Mr. Spears experience and qualifications and a comparison of salaries of other officers in comparable companies. Mr. Spears was given a bonus in the amount of $200,000 on May 9, 2000. On May 9, 2000 the Board granted Mr. Spears options to purchase 200,000 shares of the Companys Common Stock under the terms of the Companys 1995 Stock Option Plan. These options have an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Companys Common Stock on the date of grant and vest in equal one-third increments on the first three anniversaries of the date of grant.
Tax Considerations
Section 162(m) of the Code generally disallows a tax deduction to public companies for compensation over $1,000,000 paid to its Chief Executive Officer or its 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 2000, 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.
Compensation and Stock Option Committee | |
Gary C. Evans, Chairman | |
John O. Marsh, Jr. | |
Michael A. McManus |
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REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
The following is the report of the Audit Committee with respect to the Companys audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000.
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 accountants, the matters required to be discussed by Statement of Auditing Standards No. 61, Communication with Audit Committees 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 auditors, with and without management present, to discuss the results of their examinations, their 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 the Independence Standards Board which relates to the accountants independence from the Company and its related entities, and has discussed with Ernst & Young LLP their independence from the Company and has considered the compatibility of nonaudit services with the auditors independence.
The Audit Committee acts pursuant to the Audit Committee Charter, a copy of which is attached as Appendix 1 to this Proxy Statement. Each of the members of the Audit Committee qualifies as an independent Director as defined in Section 121(A) of the American Stock Exchange listing standards.
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, 2000. The Audit Committee and the Board have also recommended, subject to stockholder approval, the selection of the Companys independent auditors.
Audit Committee | |
Michael A. McManus, Jr., Chairman | |
Gary C. Evans | |
J. Michael Lazarus, M.D. |
9
PROPOSAL TWO RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS
Independent Public Accountants
On July 18, 2000, the Company dismissed PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as its independent certified public accountants. The Board of Directors participated in and approved the decision to change independent accountants. The reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP on the financial statements for the past two fiscal years contained no adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principle. In connection with its audits for the two most recent fiscal years and through July 18, 2000, there have been no disagreements with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements if not resolved to the satisfaction of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP would have caused them to make reference thereto in their report on the financial statements for such years. During the two most recent fiscal years and through July 18, 2000, there have been no reportable events (as defined in Regulation S-K Item 304(a)(1)(v)).
On September 19, 2000, the Company engaged Ernst & Young LLP to act as the Companys independent certified public accountants. The Company did not consult with Ernst & Young LLP during the Companys two most recent fiscal years and any subsequent interim period prior to engaging them regarding matters that were or should have been subject to Statement on Auditing Standard No. 50 or any subject matter of a disagreement or reportable event with the Companys former accountant.
The Board of Directors has selected Ernst & Young LLP as the independent auditor of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2000, subject to ratification by stockholders at the Meeting. Fees paid during 2000 to Ernst & Young LLP include $20,000 for the fiscal 2000 audit and $17,020 for all other services, consisting of audit related services. Fees paid during 2000 to the Companys prior auditors include $40,605 for the fiscal 1999 audit and $67,025 for other audit related services. Audit related services generally include fees for pension and statutory audits, business acquisitions, accounting consultations, internal audit and SEC registration statements. If this proposal is not approved at the Meeting, the Board of Directors will reconsider this selection. A representative of Ernst & Young LLP is expected to be present at the Meeting to respond to appropriate questions and to make a statement if he so desires. In addition to examining and reporting upon the Companys financial statements, Ernst & Young LLP also reviews the Companys filings with the SEC and provides consultations on financial statement implications of matters under consideration by the Company.
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock cast is required for the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as independent auditors 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 Proposal Two.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP AS THE COMPANYS INDEPENDENT AUDITORS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2001.
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BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF COMMON STOCK
The following table sets forth information as of March 16, 2001 with respect to the beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock by (i) each person known to the Company to beneficially own more than 5% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, (ii) the current directors of the Company, (iii) the Chief Executive Officer and the other named executive officers of the Company during 2000 as identified in the Summary Compensation Table below, and (iv) all current directors and executive officers of the Company as a group. Unless otherwise noted, the persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of Common Stock shown as beneficially owned by them.
Shares of | Percent | ||||||||
Common Stock | of Class | ||||||||
Beneficial Owner | Beneficially Owned | Outstanding | |||||||
Mitchell J. Kelly
|
2,452,901 | (1) | 11.0 | % | |||||
265 E. 66th Street, #18C
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|||||||||
New York, NY 10021
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Anaconda Opportunity Fund, L.P.
|
2,353,762 | (2) | 10.6 | % | |||||
730 Fifth Avenue
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New York, NY 10019
|
|||||||||
King Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
|
2,000,000 | (3) | 8.2 | % | |||||
501 Fifth Street
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Bristol, Tennessee 37620
|
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SAFECO Corporation
|
1,327,000 | (4) | 5.9 | % | |||||
4333 Brooklyn Avenue, NE
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Seattle, WA 98185
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|||||||||
Edward B. and Jane E. Hager
|
1,249,000 | (5) | 5.6 | % | |||||
Pinnacle Mountain Farms
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|||||||||
Lyndeboro, NH 03082
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Gary C. Evans
|
126,125 | (6) | * | ||||||
William E. Georges
|
1,040,615 | (7) | 4.6 | % | |||||
J. Michael Lazarus, M.D.
|
70,000 | (8) | * | ||||||
John O. Marsh, Jr.
|
224,000 | (9) | 1.0 | % | |||||
Michael A. McManus, Jr.
|
45,000 | (10) | * | ||||||
Denis M. ODonnell, M.D.
|
365,889 | (11) | 1.6 | % | |||||
John A. Spears
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343,334 | (12) | 1.5 | % | |||||
Ronald H. Walker
|
106,380 | (13) | * | ||||||
D. Craig Wright, M.D.
|
555,050 | (14) | 2.5 | % | |||||
James R. Mirto
|
50,200 | (15) | * | ||||||
Donald J. MacPhee
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50,000 | (16) | * | ||||||
All executive officers and directors, as a group (13 Persons)
|
5,429,494 | (17) | 22.5 | % |
* | Less than 1% of the Common Stock outstanding. |
(1) | Includes 2,353,762 shares (listed below) beneficially owned by Anaconda Opportunity Fund, L.P., of which Mitchell J. Kelly, a director of the Company, is the general partner of the general partner. Also includes 80,000 shares that may be acquired by Mr. Kelly pursuant to options exercisable within 60 days of March 16, 2001. | |
(2) | Includes 2,295,570 shares owned by Anaconda Opportunity Fund, L.P. and 58,192 shares that it may acquire pursuant to warrants exercisable within 60 days of March 16, 2001. Excludes shares directly owned by Mitchell J. Kelly, a director of the Company and the general partner of the general partner of Anaconda Opportunity Fund, L.P. | |
(3) | As reported on a Schedule 13D dated December 29, 2000 and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Consists of 2,000,000 shares which may be acquired |
11
pursuant the terms of a convertible note and an Investor Rights Agreement each dated as of December 19, 2000, convertible within 60 days of March 16, 2001. | ||
(4) | As reported on a Schedule 13G dated January 23, 2001 and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by SAFECO Corporation and SAFECO Asset Management Company and information provided to the Company in a questionnaire completed by SAFECO Corporation in February, 2001. SAFECO Corporations wholly-owned subsidiary, SAFECO Asset Management Company, is an investment advisor which holds these shares on behalf of two of its investment company clients: SAFECO Growth Fund, a series of SAFECO Common Stock Trust, which holds 764,100 shares of Common Stock and warrants exercisable within 60 days of March 16, 2001 to acquire an additional 175,000 shares and SAFECO RST Growth Portfolio, a series of the SAFECO Resource Series Trust, which holds 312,900 shares of Common Stock and warrants exercisable within 60 days of March 16, 2001 to acquire an additional 75,000 shares. SAFECO Corporation has shared voting power and investment discretion with SAFECO Asset Management Company with respect to all such shares. | |
(5) | As reported on two Schedules 13G dated February 10, 1999 and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Edward B. Hager and Jane E. Hager, respectively, as adjusted by information provided to the Company in questionnaires completed by the stockholders in February, 2001. Includes 459,363 shares held in the Jane E. Hager 1990 Trust and 444,567 shares held in the Hager Family Trust. Also includes 285,000 shares and 60,000 shares which Dr. Hager and Mrs. Hager, respectively, may acquire pursuant to stock options exercisable within 60 days of March 16, 2001. | |
(6) | Includes 40,000 shares which may be acquired pursuant to stock options exercisable within 60 days of March 16, 2001. Also includes 12,500 shares owned of record by Mr. Evans as trustee of the Evans 1997 Trust and warrants to acquire an additional 3,125 shares owned of record by Mr. Evans as trustee of the Evans 1997 Trust that are exercisable within 60 days of March 16, 2001. | |
(7) | Includes 340,169 shares beneficially owned by Mr. Georges as one of four trustees of the Credit Shelter Trust A of the George P. Georges Revocable Trust. | |
(8) | Includes 60,000 shares which may be acquired pursuant to stock options exercisable within 60 days of March 16, 2001. | |
(9) | Includes 220,000 shares which may be acquired pursuant to stock options exercisable within 60 days of March 16, 2001. |
(10) | Includes 40,000 shares which may be acquired pursuant to stock options exercisable within 60 days of March 16, 2001. |
(11) | Includes 334,334 shares which may be acquired pursuant to stock options exercisable within 60 days of March 16, 2001 and 2,000 shares owned of record by Dr. ODonnell, as custodian for the benefit of his minor children. |
(12) | Includes 333,334 shares which may be acquired pursuant to stock options exercisable within 60 days of March 16, 2001. |
(13) | Includes 100,000 shares which may be acquired pursuant to stock options exercisable within 60 days of March 16, 2001. |
(14) | Includes 488,524 shares which may be acquired pursuant to stock options exercisable within 60 days of March 16, 2001. |
(15) | Includes 50,000 shares which may be acquired pursuant to stock options exercisable within 60 days of March 16, 2001. |
(16) | Consists of 50,000 shares which may be acquired pursuant to stock options exercisable within 60 days of March 16, 2001. |
(17) | Includes 1,796,192 shares which may be acquired pursuant to stock options exercisable within 60 days of March 16, 2001. Also includes 61,317 shares which may be acquired pursuant to warrants exercisable within 60 days of March 16, 2001. |
12
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Summary of Compensation
The following table sets forth the cash and noncash compensation paid during each of the last three fiscal years to the person who served as the Companys Chief Executive Officer during 2000 and the four other most highly compensated executive officers of the Company who received compensation in excess of $100,000 during fiscal 2000 for services provided to the Company (collectively, the Named Executive Officers).
Summary Compensation Table
Long Term | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Compensation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Awards(1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Annual Compensation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Securities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other Annual | Underlying | All Other | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Name and Principal Position | Year | Salary($) | Bonus($) | Compensation | Options(#) | Compensation(2)($) | |||||||||||||||||||
John A. Spears
|
2000 | 250,000 | 200,000 | | 200,000 | 2,968 | |||||||||||||||||||
President and Chief
|
1999 | 156,250 | | 50,000 | 400,000 | 921 | |||||||||||||||||||
Executive Officer
|
1998 | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||
D. Craig Wright, M.D.
|
2000 | 190,000 | 35,857 | | | 2,791 | |||||||||||||||||||
Chief Scientific Officer
|
1999 | 170,000 | 38,626 | | 15,000 | 3,127 | |||||||||||||||||||
1998 | 170,000 | 3,750 | | 60,000 | 2,712 | ||||||||||||||||||||
James R. Mirto(3)
|
2000 | 129,615 | | | 150,000 | 1,198 | |||||||||||||||||||
Senior Vice President
|
1999 | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||
and Chief Operating Officer
|
1998 | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||
Donald J. MacPhee
|
2000 | 125,000 | 7,500 | 17,007 | (4) | | 1,836 | ||||||||||||||||||
Vice President, Contracts
|
1999 | 82,613 | 25,000 | | 100,000 | 1,116 | |||||||||||||||||||
1998 | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||
Denis ODonnell, M.D.
|
2000 | 125,000 | | | 110,000 | 180 | |||||||||||||||||||
Chairman of the Board
|
1999 | 20,800 | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||
of Directors
|
1998 | 42,173 | | | | |
(1) | Novavax does not have a long-term compensation program that includes long-term incentive payouts, restricted stock awards, stock appreciation rights or other forms of long-term compensation. |
(2) | The amounts shown in this column represent premiums for term life insurance and Company contributions to its 401(k) plan. The Company contributions under a 401(k) plan made for Mr. Spears, Dr. Wright, Mr. Mirto and Mr. MacPhee during fiscal 2000 were $2,692, $2,515, $897, and $1,656 respectively. There were no Company contributions under a 401(k) plan for Dr. ODonnell during fiscal 2000. The insurance premiums paid for each of Mr. Spears, Dr. Wright, Mr. Mirto, Mr. MacPhee and Dr. ODonnell during fiscal 2000 were $276, $276, $301, $180 and $180, respectively. |
(3) | Mr. Mirto was elected Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in May, 2000. |
(4) | The amount shown represents reimbursement of commuting expenses for Mr. MacPhee in 2000. No amounts are shown in this column if the executive officers perquisites are less than the lesser of $50,000 or 10% of his or her annual salary and bonus. |
13
Stock Options
The following tables summarize option grants and exercises during 2000 to or by the Named Executive Officers, and the value of the options held by such persons at the end of 2000. No SARs were granted or exercised during 2000. All options listed below were granted at an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the stock on the date of grant except for the option to purchase 10,000 shares which was granted to Dr. ODonnell on January 28, 2000 at an exercise price of $5.63 (the closing price of the Company stock on that date was $6.75).
Option Grants in Last Fiscal Year
Potential Realizable | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Individual Grants | Value at Assumed | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Annual Rates of | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number of | % of Total | Stock Price | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Securities | Options | Exercise | Appreciation for | |||||||||||||||||||||
Underlying | Granted to | or Base | Option Term(2) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Options | Employees in | Price | Expiration | |||||||||||||||||||||
Name | Granted(#) | 2000(1) | ($/Share) | Date | 5% | 10% | ||||||||||||||||||
John A. Spears
|
200,000 | (3) | 20.7 | % | $ | 6.19 | 5/9/10 | $ | 778,572 | $ | 1,973,053 | |||||||||||||
James R. Mirto
|
150,000 | (3) | 15.5 | 6.19 | 5/9/10 | 583,929 | 1,479,790 | |||||||||||||||||
Denis ODonnell, M.D.
|
100,000 | (3) | 10.3 | 6.75 | 1/28/10 | 424,504 | 1,075,776 | |||||||||||||||||
10,000 | (4) | | 5.63 | 1/28/10 | 35,407 | 89,728 |
(1) | A total of 967,000 options were granted to officers and employees in 2000. |
(2) | 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. |
(3) | These options were awarded under the 1995 Stock Option Plan. They vest in three equal increments on the first three anniversaries of the date of grant. |
(4) | These options were awarded under the 1995 Stock Option Plan. Dr. ODonnell was granted these options in his capacity as a director of the Company. They vested on July 28, 2000. |
Aggregate Option Exercises in Last Fiscal Year and Fiscal Year-End Option Value
Number of | Value of Unexercised | |||||||||||||||
Securities Underlying | In-the-Money | |||||||||||||||
Unexercised Options at | Options at Fiscal | |||||||||||||||
Shares | Fiscal Year-End(#) | Year-End(1)($) | ||||||||||||||
Acquired on | Value | |||||||||||||||
Name | Exercise(#) | Realized($) | (Exercisable/Unexercisable) | (Exercisable/Unexercisable) | ||||||||||||
John A. Spears
|
| | 133,334/466,666 | 650,003/1,761,987 | ||||||||||||
D. Craig Wright, M.D.
|
| | 463,524/ 30,000 | 3,248,341/ 129,950 | ||||||||||||
James R. Mirto
|
| | 0/150,000 | 0/ 346,500 | ||||||||||||
Donald J. MacPhee
|
| | 50,000/ 50,000 | 200,000/ 156,250 | ||||||||||||
Denis ODonnell, M.D.
|
| | 301,000/100,000 | 1,259,710/ 175,000 |
(1) | Value based on the closing price of the Companys Common Stock on the American Stock Exchange at the end of fiscal 2000 ($8.50 per share) minus the exercise price. |
Employment Contracts
The Company has entered into employment agreements with Mr. Spears and Dr. Wright pursuant to which each of these officers receives a base annual salary of $250,000, and $190,000 respectively, during the period of employment with the Company. Mr. Spears is employed for successive one-year periods which are automatically renewed unless advance notice of termination is given by either party 30 days in advance of such renewal. Mr. Spears is also entitled to receive a performance bonus based on achieving goals established by the
14
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 AMEX Composite Index and a peer group over the same period (assuming the investment of $100 in the Companys Common Stock, the AMEX Composite Index and the peer group on December 31, 1995, and reinvestment of all dividends). The Companys peer group consists of the Company, Aquila Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., Cellegy Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Columbia Laboratories, Inc. and Noven Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
COMPARE CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
LINE GRAPH
NOVAVAX, INC. | Peer Group | AMEX Market Index | ||||||||||
1995
|
$ | 100.00 | $ | 100.00 | $ | 100.00 | ||||||
1996
|
91.67 | 142.54 | 105.52 | |||||||||
1997
|
133.33 | 130.30 | 126.97 | |||||||||
1998
|
51.87 | 43.92 | 125.25 | |||||||||
1999
|
150.00 | 118.60 | 156.15 | |||||||||
2000
|
226.67 | 182.65 | 154.23 |
ASSUMES $100 INVESTED ON DEC. 31, 1995
15
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 that described above. However, if any other business should come before the Meeting, 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 will also request brokerage houses, custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to forward copies of the proxy material 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.
Stockholder Proposals for 2002 Annual Meeting
Any proposal that a stockholder intends to present at the 2002 Annual Meeting of Stockholders must be submitted to the Secretary of the Company at its offices, 8320 Guilford Road, Columbia, MD 21046, no later than December 7, 2001 in order to be considered for inclusion in the Proxy Statement relating to that meeting.
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 PROXY IN THE ACCOMPANYING ENVELOPE. 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.
By Order of the Board of Directors | |
David A. White, | |
Secretary |
April 6, 2001
16
Appendix 1
NOVAVAX, INC.
Purpose
The primary purpose of the Audit Committee (the Committee) is to assist the Board of Directors (the Board) in fulfilling its responsibilities to oversee managements conduct of the Companys financial reporting process, including by overviewing the financial reports and other financial information provided by the Company to any governmental or regulatory body, the public or other users thereof, the Companys systems of internal accounting and financial controls and the annual independent audit of the Companys financial statements.
In discharging its oversight role, the 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 the power to retain outside counsel, auditors or other experts for this purpose. The Board and the Committee are in place to represent the Companys stockholders; accordingly, the outside auditor is ultimately accountable to the Board and the Committee.
The Committee shall review the adequacy of this Charter on an annual basis.
Membership
The Committee shall be comprised of not less than three members of the Board, and the Committees composition will meet the requirements of the Audit Committee Policy of the American Stock Exchange. Accordingly, all of the members will be directors:
1. | Who have no relationship to the Company that may interfere with the exercise of their independence from management and the Company; and | |
2. | Who are financially literate or who become financially literate within a reasonable period of time after appointment to the Committee. In addition, at least one member of the Committee will have accounting or related financial management expertise. |
Key Responsibilities
The Committees job is one of oversight and it recognizes that the Companys management is responsible for preparing the Companys financial statements and that the outside auditors are responsible for auditing those financial statements. In addition, the Committee recognizes that financial management, as well as the outside auditors, have more time, knowledge and more detailed information on the Company than do Committee members; consequently, in carrying out its oversight responsibilities, the Committee is not providing any expert or special assurance as to the Companys financial statements or any professional certification as to the outside auditors work.
The following functions shall be the common recurring activities of the Committee in carrying out its oversight function. These functions are set forth as a guide with the understanding that the Committee may diverge from this guide as appropriate given the circumstances.
| The Committee shall review with management and the outside auditors the audited financial statements to be included in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K (or the Annual Report to Stockholders if distributed prior to the filing of Form 10-K) and review and consider with the outside auditors the matters required to be discussed by Statement of Auditing Standards (SAS) No. 61. | |
| As a whole, or through the Committee chair, the Committee shall review with the outside auditors the Companys interim financial results to be included in the Companys quarterly reports to be |
17
filed with Securities and Exchange Commission and the matters required to be discussed by SAS No. 61; this review will occur prior to the Companys filing of the Form 10Q. | ||
| The Committee shall discuss with management and the outside auditors the quality and adequacy of the Companys internal controls. | |
| The Committee shall: |
| request from the outside auditors annually, a formal written statement delineating all relationships between the auditor and the Company consistent with Independence Standards Board Standard Number 1; | |
| discuss with the outside auditors any such disclosed relationships and their impact on the outside auditors independence; and | |
| recommend that the Board take appropriate action to oversee the independence of the outside auditor. |
| The Committee, subject to any action that may be taken by the full Board, shall have the ultimate authority and responsibility to select (or nominate for stockholder approval), evaluate and, where appropriate, replace the outside auditor. |
18
NOVAVAX, INC.
Annual Meeting of Stockholders
May 9, 2001
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned stockholder of Novavax, Inc. hereby appoints John A. Spears, 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 BWI Airport Marriott, 1741 West Nursery Road, Baltimore, Maryland, on May 9, 2001 at 9:00 a.m., and 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 III DIRECTOR, (2) THE RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP AS AUDITORS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2001, AND (3) IN THE DISCRETION OF THE PROXYHOLDER, ANY OTHER MATTERS WHICH MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING.
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|
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|
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[X] PLEASE MARK VOTES
RECORD DATE SHARES:
Please be sure to sign and date this Proxy.
Date
Stockholder sign here
Co-owner sign here
1. To elect the following nominees as
Class III
Directors to serve on the Board of
Directors for a
three year term expiring at the Annual Meeting
of Stockholders in 2004.
FOR ALL WITH- FOR ALL
NOMINEES HOLD EXCEPT
[]
[]
[]
NOTE: If you do not wish your shares voted "For" a particular
nominee,
mark the "For All Except" box and strike a line through the
nominee(s)
name(s). Your shares will be voted "For" the
remaining nominee(s).
2. To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP
as independent auditors of the Company
for the
current fiscal year ending December
31, 2001.
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
[]
[]
[]
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properly come
before the meeting or any adjournment
thereof.
Mark box at right if you plan to attend
the meeting.
[]
Mark box at right if an address change or comment
has been
noted on the reverse side of
this card.
[]
AS IN THIS EXAMPLE
NOVAVAX, INC.
(01) Mitchell J. Kelly
(02) Michael A. McManus, Jr.
(03) John A. Spears
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