Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2016

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. The consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2016, the consolidated statements of operations and the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 and the consolidated statements of cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 are unaudited, but include all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) that the Company considers necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, operating results, comprehensive loss and cash flows, respectively, for the periods presented. Although the Company believes that the disclosures in these consolidated financial statements are adequate to make the information presented not misleading, certain information and footnote information normally included in consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted as permitted under the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

The unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Novavax, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, Novavax AB. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars. The functional currency of Novavax AB, which is located in Sweden, is the local currency (Swedish Krona). The translation of assets and liabilities of Novavax AB to U.S. dollars is made at the exchange rate in effect at the consolidated balance sheet date, while equity accounts are translated at historical rates. The translation of the statement of operations data is made at the average exchange rate in effect for the period. The translation of operating cash flow data is made at the average exchange rate in effect for the period, and investing and financing cash flow data is translated at the exchange rate in effect at the date of the underlying transaction. Translation gains and losses are recognized as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The foreign currency translation adjustment balance included in accumulated other comprehensive loss was $7.8 million and $9.1 million at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. Results for this or any interim period are not necessarily indicative of results for any future interim period or for the entire year. The Company operates in one business segment.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents consist of highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less from the date of purchase. Cash and cash equivalents consist of the following at (in thousands):

	March 31, 2016		December 31, 2015
Cash	$	7,182	$	29,569
Money market funds		49,321		14,950
Debt securities of U.S. government agencies		9,994		—
Government-backed security		39,500		20,000
Asset-backed securities		—		8,185
Corporate debt securities		26,228		20,404
Cash and cash equivalents	$	132,225	$	93,108

Cash equivalents are recorded at cost, which approximate fair value due to their short-term nature.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements

The Company applies Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, for financial and non-financial assets and liabilities.

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

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Level 1: Observable inputs such as quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

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Level 2: Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets and quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active.

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Level 3: Unobservable inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions.

Marketable Securities

Marketable Securities

Marketable securities consist of commercial paper, asset-backed securities, U.S. Treasury securities, debt securities of U.S. government agencies and corporate notes. Classification of marketable securities between current and non-current is dependent upon the maturity date at the balance sheet date taking into consideration the Company’s ability and intent to hold the investment to maturity.

Interest and dividend income is recorded when earned and included in investment income in the consolidated statements of operations. Premiums and discounts, if any, on marketable securities are amortized or accreted to maturity and included in investment income in the consolidated statements of operations. The specific identification method is used in computing realized gains and losses on the sale of the Company’s securities.

The Company classifies its marketable securities with readily determinable fair values as “available-for-sale.” Investments in securities that are classified as available-for-sale are measured at fair market value in the consolidated balance sheets, and unrealized holding gains and losses on marketable securities are reported as a separate component of stockholders’ equity until realized. Marketable securities are evaluated periodically to determine whether a decline in value is “other-than-temporary.” The term “other-than-temporary” is not intended to indicate a permanent decline in value. Rather, it means that the prospects for a near term recovery of value are not necessarily favorable, or that there is a lack of evidence to support fair values equal to, or greater than, the carrying value of the security. Management reviews criteria, such as the magnitude and duration of the decline, as well as the Company’s ability to hold the securities until market recovery, to predict whether the loss in value is other-than-temporary. If a decline in value is determined to be other-than-temporary, the value of the security is reduced and the impairment is recorded as other income, net in the consolidated statements of operations.

Restricted Cash

The Company’s current and noncurrent restricted cash includes payments received under the Grant Agreement (See Note 10) and cash collateral accounts under letters of credit that serve as security deposits for certain facility leases. The Company will utilize the Grant Agreement funds as it incurs expenses for services performed under the agreement. At March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the restricted cash balances consist entirely of payments received under the Grant Agreement other than $0.9 million of security deposits recorded in non-current restricted cash on the consolidated balance sheets.

Revenue Recognition

The Company performs research and development for U.S. Government agencies and other collaborators under cost reimbursable and fixed price contracts, including license, grant and clinical development agreements. The Company recognizes revenue under research contracts when a contract has been executed, the contract price is fixed or determinable, delivery of services or products has occurred and collection of the contract price is reasonably assured. Payments received in advance of work performed are recorded as deferred revenue and losses on contracts, if any, are recognized in the period in which they become known.

Under cost reimbursable contracts with U.S. Government agencies, the Company is reimbursed and recognizes revenue as allowable costs are incurred plus a portion of the fixed-fee earned. The Company considers fixed-fees under cost reimbursable contracts to be earned in proportion to the allowable costs incurred in performance of the work as compared to total estimated contract costs, with such costs incurred representing a reasonable measurement of the proportional performance of the work completed. Under its HHS BARDA contract, certain activities must be pre-approved by HHS BARDA in order for their costs to be deemed allowable direct costs. Direct costs incurred under cost reimbursable contracts are recorded as research and development expenses. The Company’s HHS BARDA contract provides the U.S. government the ability to terminate the contract for convenience or to terminate for default if the Company fails to meet its obligations as set forth in the statement of work. The Company believes that if the government were to terminate the HHS BARDA contract for convenience, the costs incurred through the effective date of such termination and any settlement costs resulting from such termination would be allowable costs. Payments to the Company under cost reimbursable contracts with agencies of the U.S. Government, such as the HHS BARDA contract, are provisional payments subject to adjustment upon annual audit by the government. An audit of fiscal years 2013 and 2014 has been initiated, but has not been completed as of the date of this filing. Management believes that revenue for periods not yet audited has been recorded in amounts that are expected to be realized upon final audit and settlement. When the final determination of the allowable costs for any year has been made, revenue and billings may be adjusted accordingly in the period that the adjustments are known and collection is probable.

Under its grant agreement with BMGF, the Company is reimbursed for certain costs that support development activities, including the Company’s global Phase 3 clinical trial in pregnant women in their third trimester, product licensing efforts and WHO prequalification of the RSV F Vaccine. Payments received under the grant agreement are recognized as revenue in the period in which such research and development activities are performed.

The Company’s collaborative research and development agreements may include upfront payments, payments for research and development services, milestone payments and royalties. Agreements with multiple deliverables are evaluated to determine if the deliverables can be divided into more than one unit of accounting. A deliverable can generally be considered a separate unit of accounting if both of the following criteria are met: (1) the delivered item(s) has value to the customer on a stand-alone basis; and (2) if the arrangement includes a general right of return relative to the delivered item(s), delivery or performance of the undelivered item(s) is considered probable and substantially in control of the Company. Deliverables that cannot be divided into separate units are combined and treated as one unit of accounting. Consideration received is allocated among the separate units of accounting based on the relative selling price method. Deliverables under these arrangements typically include rights to intellectual property, research and development services and involvement by the parties in steering committees. Historically, deliverables under the Company’s collaborative research and development agreements have been deemed to have no stand-alone value and as a result have been treated as a single unit of accounting. In addition, the Company analyzes its contracts and collaborative agreements to determine whether the payments received should be recorded as revenue or as a reduction to research and development expenses. In reaching this determination, management considers a number of factors, including whether the Company is principal under the arrangement, and whether the arrangement is significant to, and part of, the Company’s core operations. Historically, payments received under its contracts and collaborative agreements have been recognized as revenue since the Company acts as a principal in the arrangement and the activities are core to its operations.

When the performance under a fixed price contract can be reasonably estimated, revenue for fixed price contracts is recognized under the proportional performance method and earned in proportion to the contract costs incurred in performance of the work as compared to total estimated contract costs. Costs incurred under fixed price contracts represent a reasonable measurement of proportional performance of the work. Direct costs incurred under collaborative research and development agreements are recorded as research and development expenses. If the performance under a fixed price contract cannot be reasonably estimated, the Company recognizes the revenue on a straight-line basis over the contract term.

Revenue associated with upfront payments under arrangements is recognized over the contract term or when all obligations associated with the upfront payment have been satisfied.

Revenue from the achievement of research and development milestones, if deemed substantive, is recognized as revenue when the milestones are achieved and the milestone payments are due and collectible. If not deemed substantive, the Company would recognize such milestone as revenue upon its achievement on a straight-line basis over the remaining expected term of the research and development period. Milestones are considered substantive if all of the following conditions are met: (1) the milestone is non-refundable; (2) there is substantive uncertainty of achievement of the milestone at the inception of the arrangement; (3) substantive effort is involved to achieve the milestone and such achievement relates to past performance; and (4) the amount of the milestone appears reasonable in relation to the effort expended and all of the deliverables and payment terms in the arrangement.

Net Loss per Share

Net Loss per Share

Net loss per share is computed using the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding. At March 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company had outstanding stock options and unvested restricted stock awards totaling 32,803,931 and 23,250,163, respectively. At March 31, 2016, the Company’s Notes are initially convertible into approximately 47,716,900 shares of the Company’s common stock. These and any shares due to the Company upon settlement of its capped call transactions are excluded from the computation, as their effect is antidilutive.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Adopted

In April 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2015-03, Interest - Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs (“ASU 2015-03”). The new standard requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. This ASU became effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2016. The adoption of ASU 2015-03 did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.

Not Yet Adopted

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (“ASU 2016-02”) that increases transparency and comparability among organizations by requiring the recognition of lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosure of key information about leasing arrangements for both lessees and lessors. The standard will be effective January 1, 2019 for the Company, with early adoption permitted. The standard will be applied using a modified retrospective approach to the beginning of the earliest period presented in the financial statements. The Company is currently evaluating when it will adopt the standard and the expected impact to its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718) (“ASU 2016-09”) that simplifies the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. The standard will be effective January 1, 2017 for the Company, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating when it will adopt the standard and the expected impact to its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) (“ASU 2014-09”), which supersedes nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance under Topic 605, Revenue Recognition. The new standard requires a company to recognize revenue when it transfers goods and services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration that the company expects to receive for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 defines a five-step process that includes identifying the contract with the customer, identifying the performance obligations in the contract, determining the transaction price, allocating the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract and recognizing revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies the performance obligations. In July 2015, the FASB approved a one-year deferral of the effective date of the new standard to 2018 for public companies, with an option that would permit companies to adopt the new standard as early as the original effective date of 2017. Early adoption prior to the original effective date is not permitted. ASU 2014-09 allows for either full retrospective or modified retrospective adoption. The Company is evaluating the potential impact that ASU 2014-09 will have on its consolidated financial position and results of operations.

Reclassification

Reclassifications

For the three months ended March 31, 2015, cost of government contracts revenue of $2.5 million has been reclassified to research and development expenses, accounts receivable - unbilled of $0.9 million has been reclassified to accounts receivable and restricted cash of $0.9 million has been reclassified from other non-current assets to restricted cash (non-current). These reclassifications have been made to conform to the current year presentation.