Novavax shares opened 20% down on Thursday: this is why

Novavax Inc (NASDAQ: NVAX) opened about 20% down this morning after the biotech firm announced a stock and debt offering.

Novavax Inc to raise about $250 million

The Gaithersburg-headquartered company says it will sell $125 million worth of its shares in a public offering. Underwriters will have thirty days to exercise an option to purchase up to $18.75 million of additional shares as well.

On top of that, Novavax announced another $125 million sale of convertible debt due in 2027.

Proceeds from these offerings, as per the press release, will be used to repay some of the convertible debt due next year in February. It will also help with the global launch of its COVID vaccine – Nuvaxovid.

Heading into this stock market news, Wall Street had a consensus “hold” rating on Novavax shares that are down more than 90% versus the start of 2022.

Novavax shares down on restated U.K. agreement

J. Wood Capital will act as the financial advisor for the announced offerings while JPMorgan, Jefferies, and Cowen will together serve as the book-running managers, the press release added.

Also on Thursday, the United Kingdom restated its agreement with Novavax Inc. The Nasdaq-listed firm will now deliver 7.5 million conditional doses only versus an agreement for 15 million before.

The stock market news comes a month after Novavax cited waning demand for its COVID vaccine and lowered its guidance for full-year sales. The biotech company now expects roughly $2.0 billion in sales this year.

Its revenue in the latest reported quarter, however, was better than expected.