Evaxion granted 180-day compliance extension by Nasdaq as it restores equity above minimum requirement

Rhea-AI Summary

Evaxion Biotech (NASDAQ: EVAX) has secured a 180-day extension from Nasdaq until May 12, 2025, to formally comply with the minimum stockholders' equity requirement of $2.5 million. The company has already restored its equity above the minimum threshold through two key actions: exercise of prefunded warrants and sales through its ATM-facility, which provided $7.8 million and extended its cash runway until Q4 2025.

The company is also in discussions with the European Investment Bank (EIB) regarding the conversion of €3.5 million of its €7 million loan to equity, expected to be completed in Q1 2025. This conversion would increase Evaxion's equity by $3.7 million. The company reports strong progress in ongoing business development discussions and aims to secure at least two new business development agreements in 2025.

Positive

• Secured $7.8 million through warrants and ATM-facility
• Extended cash runway until Q4 2025
• Expected $3.7M equity increase from EIB loan conversion in Q1 2025
• Successfully restored equity above Nasdaq's minimum requirement

Negative

• Risk of potential delisting if unable to maintain compliance
• Pending completion of EIB loan conversion agreement
• Currently operating under temporary Nasdaq compliance extension

Insights

Financial Analyst

The 180-day Nasdaq extension represents a significant development for Evaxion Biotech, particularly as the company has already successfully restored its equity above the $2.5 million minimum requirement. The successful execution of their compliance plan through a $7.8 million capital raise demonstrates proactive management and strengthens their market position.

The extension of cash runway until Q4 2025 is particularly strategic, providing approximately 21 months of operational flexibility. This timeline is important for a clinical-stage biotech company, offering sufficient runway to potentially achieve significant clinical milestones and pursue business development opportunities without immediate financing pressure.

The pending conversion of €3.5 million of the EIB loan to equity, expected in Q1 2025, would add another $3.7 million to stockholders' equity. This debt-to-equity conversion is particularly beneficial as it would improve the balance sheet structure without requiring additional cash outlay, while reducing future debt service obligations.

However, investors should note that the recent capital raising activities through warrant exercises and ATM sales likely resulted in dilution of existing shareholders. The company's ability to maintain its Nasdaq listing is important for:

• Maintaining access to capital markets for future financing needs
• Ensuring continued institutional investor participation
• Supporting potential business development discussions with partners who often prefer listed companies
• Preserving stock liquidity for existing shareholders

The company's indication of strong interest in potential partnerships and a robust pipeline of business development opportunities could provide additional non-dilutive capital sources, which would be particularly valuable given the current equity position.

• Following a constructive Nasdaq hearing panel on January 7, 2025, Evaxion has been granted a 180-day extension in relation to the Nasdaq minimum equity requirement
• Evaxion has currently restored its equity above the minimum requirement through exercise of prefunded warrants and sales through its ATM-facility providing $7.8 million, extending its cash runway until Q4 2025
• The conversion of Evaxion’s EIB-loan to equity is still expected to be completed in Q1, 2025, which is expected to boost equity
• Evaxion continues to see strong progress in ongoing business development discussions which is expected to further support equity going forward

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, January 28, 2025 - Evaxion Biotech A/S (NASDAQ: EVAX) (“Evaxion”), a clinical-stage TechBio company specializing in developing AI-Immunology™ powered vaccines, has received notice from the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) that it has been granted a 180-day extension to comply with Nasdaq’s minimum stockholder’s equity requirement. Meanwhile, Evaxion has already restored its equity above the Nasdaq minimum requirement.

The extension allows Evaxion until May 12, 2025, to formally evidence compliance with Nasdaq listing rule 5550(b)(1) requiring stockholders’ equity of at least $2.5 million. Evaxion requested extension before a Nasdaq hearings panel, presenting the company’s plan to regain and stay in compliance and maintain its Nasdaq listing, which has so far been successfully executed and tracking ahead of plan.

In recent weeks, Evaxion has restored its equity above the $2.5 million minimum through exercise of prefunded warrants and sales of its American Depositary Shares through its ATM-facility. This has also extended the company’s cash runway until the fourth quarter of 2025. In total, Evaxion has secured additional cash and equity amounting to $7.8 million through these means.

Further, Evaxion are in discussions with the European Investment Bank (EIB) about conversion of €3.5 million out of Evaxion’s €7 million loan with EIB, which is expected to increase Evaxion’s equity by $3.7 million (€3.5 million) immediately upon completion and help Evaxion continue to remain in compliance. An agreement between Evaxion and EIB would be subject to certain conditions and is still expected to be finalized and implemented in the first quarter of 2025, e.g. before the new deadline set by Nasdaq.

“We welcome the extension by Nasdaq and will work to formally evidence compliance with the equity requirement and thus maintain our listing. Already, our equity and cash position has been significantly strengthened, and we continue to pursue other strategies to further increase our stockholder’s equity. We continue to see a strong interest in potential partnerships from external parties and has a strong pipeline of potential business development agreements making us confident in meeting our 2025 milestone of at least two new business development agreements”, says Christian Kanstrup, CEO of Evaxion.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, there can be no assurance that Evaxion will be able to meet the deadlines or conditions imposed by the Nasdaq hearings panel or regain compliance with all applicable requirements for continued listing. Additionally, the Nasdaq Listing and Hearing Review Council may, on its own motion, determine to review any hearing panel decision within 45 calendar days after issuance of the written decision. If the Listing Council determines to review the hearing panel’s decision, it may affirm, modify, reverse, dismiss or remand the decision to the hearing panel.

Background
Following a deficiency letter from Nasdaq received on May 7, 2024, for failure to maintain stockholders’ equity of at least $2.5 million, Evaxion presented a plan to Nasdaq for how to regain compliance and was granted on June 13, 2024, a 180-day extension to comply with the equity requirement. This extension expired on November 4, 2024, prompting a delisting determination from Nasdaq as per standard procedure.

Evaxion appealed the delisting determination immediately by requesting a hearing on the matter and seeking another extension. Following a constructive Nasdaq hearing panel on January 7, 2025, the extension has now been granted as per Evaxion’s request.

Contact information 
Evaxion Biotech A/S
Mads Kronborg
Vice President, Investor Relations & Communication
+45 53 54 82 96
mak@evaxion.ai

About EVAXION
Evaxion Biotech A/S is a pioneering TechBio company based upon its AI platform, AI-Immunology™. Evaxion’s proprietary and scalable AI prediction models harness the power of artificial intelligence to decode the human immune system and develop novel immunotherapies for cancer, bacterial diseases, and viral infections. Based upon AI-Immunology™, Evaxion has developed a clinical-stage oncology pipeline of novel personalized vaccines and a preclinical infectious disease pipeline in bacterial and viral diseases with high unmet medical needs. Evaxion is committed to transforming patients’ lives by providing innovative and targeted treatment options. For more information about Evaxion and its groundbreaking AI-Immunology™ platform and vaccine pipeline, please visit our website.

Forward-looking statement 
This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The words “target,” “believe,” “expect,” “hope,” “aim,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “anticipate,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “estimate,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “will,” “can have,” “likely,” “should,” “would,” “could,” and other words and terms of similar meaning identify forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, risks related to: our financial condition and need for additional capital; our development work; cost and success of our product development activities and preclinical and clinical trials; commercializing any approved pharmaceutical product developed using our AI platform technology, including the rate and degree of market acceptance of our product candidates; our dependence on third parties including for conduct of clinical testing and product manufacture; our inability to enter into partnerships; government regulation; protection of our intellectual property rights; employee matters and managing growth; our ADSs and ordinary shares, the impact of international economic, political, legal, compliance, social and business factors, including inflation, and the effects on our business from other significant geopolitical and macro-economic events; and other uncertainties affecting our business operations and financial condition. For a further discussion of these risks, please refer to the risk factors included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F and other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which are available at www.sec.gov. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required by law. 

FAQ

What is the new Nasdaq compliance deadline for Evaxion (EVAX)?

Evaxion (EVAX) has been granted an extension until May 12, 2025, to formally evidence compliance with Nasdaq's minimum stockholders' equity requirement of $2.5 million.

How much funding did Evaxion (EVAX) secure through warrants and ATM facility?

Evaxion secured $7.8 million through the exercise of prefunded warrants and sales through its ATM-facility.

What is the expected impact of the EIB loan conversion on EVAX's equity?

The conversion of €3.5 million of EIB loan to equity is expected to increase Evaxion's equity by $3.7 million upon completion in Q1 2025.

How long does Evaxion's (EVAX) current cash runway extend?

Evaxion's current cash runway extends until the fourth quarter of 2025.

What business development goals has EVAX set for 2025?

Evaxion has set a milestone to secure at least two new business development agreements in 2025.