Novavax's Second-Largest Shareholder Sells $32.6 Million in Stock, Ends Activist Push

Novavax Inc. (NASDAQ:NVAX) major shareholder Shah Capital disclosed the sale of 2.87 million shares worth approximately $32.6 million and announced plans to shift away from activist investing as part of a family office restructuring. According to an SEC filing dated Oct. 16, Shah Capital Fund LLC sold the shares at an average price of $11.3486 each as of Oct. 5. The investment firm also withdrew its registration as an investment adviser with the SEC and established a family office structure to manage Himanshu Shah’s family investments. As part of the transition, the shareholders said they no longer intend to influence Novavax’s corporate control and plan to report their holdings under Schedule 13G. Despite the sale, Himanshu Shah retains beneficial ownership of approximately 10.66 million Novavax shares, representing 6.46% of the company. Read Also: A New War on Cancer? NIH's Vaccine Initiative Sparks Biotech Stock Rally Activist Campaign: M&A Push and Opposition In October 2025, Shah Capital pressed Novavax to consider a sale of the biotech firm, citing continued struggles in the rollout of its COVID-19 vaccine. At that time, the hedge fund held a 7.2% stake and was the company’s second-largest shareholder. The fund said in a letter that Novavax’s assets could achieve “far greater potential in the hands of a large, capable pharma entity.” Shah suggested that major pharmaceutical companies, including Sanofi SA (NASDAQ:SNY), Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE:MRK), GSK Plc (NYSE:GSK), and AstraZeneca Plc (NASDAQ:AZN), could be potential buyers for Novavax. In April, Shah Capital said it will vote against the company’s board nominees and executive compensation at the 2026 annual meeting. They cited prolonged shareholder value destruction and weak operational execution. The investor, which held roughly 9% of the company at the time, argued that leadership had failed to translate Novavax’s vaccine platform into meaningful commercial success. Shah Capital, in a letter, highlighted disappointing uptake of Nuvaxovid, projecting only about $22 million in 2025 revenue, or roughly 1% market share, despite what it described as strong efficacy and safety. Commercial Partnership Landscape In August, Novavax’s partners received approvals for the Nuvaxovid formulation to target the SARS-CoV-2 XFG variant for the 2026-2027 vaccination season in major markets including the U.S., European Union, and Japan. Sanofi, Novavax’s largest partner, leads Nuvaxovid commercial activities across most major markets. Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. (NYSE:TAK) commercializes Nuvaxovid in Japan. In the 2025-2026 season, Nuvaxovid was the second-most used COVID-19 vaccine in Japan, with delivery volumes and the number of sites receiving the vaccine increasing significantly year over year. NVAX Price Action: Novavax shares were up 0.36% at $11.30 during premarket trading on Monday, according to Benzinga Pro data. Photo via Shutterstock Read Also: Parent Empties Kids’ College Accounts With About $50K Each To Retire Early, Says They ‘Never Put A Cent In’