CureVac Shareholders Face Critical Deadline in BioNTech Takeover

The fate of CureVac has been sealed. The pioneering mRNA firm is set to lose its independence, becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of its larger German rival, BioNTech. For investors who continue to hold the stock, however, the concluded deal presents a final, urgent challenge. Failing to act swiftly could lead to unnecessary tax liabilities and the eventual disappearance of the shares from public markets.

BioNTech, the Mainz-based vaccine developer, has successfully cleared a decisive threshold by securing control of approximately 82% of CureVac's shares. The initial acceptance period has now closed, paving the way for full integration. Market activity reflects this new reality: trading volatility has largely evaporated, with the share price stabilizing at 4.37 euros as investors treat the transaction as a fait accompli.

The Final Countdown and Tax Implications

Remaining shareholders are now in a race against the clock. A subsequent acceptance period is currently open, but it will conclude on December 18, 2025. This deadline is far more than a mere formality; it carries significant financial consequences. Shareholders who do not tender their holdings within this window face the prospect of a compulsory "squeeze-out" or a liquidation process.

Should investors sell immediately? Or is it worth buying CureVac?

The major risk at this late stage is the potential application of a 15% Dutch withholding tax. This cost can typically be avoided by tendering shares promptly during the ongoing acceptance period. Furthermore, following this process, a definitive delisting from the Nasdaq exchange is anticipated.

Consolidation Reshapes German Biotech

This acquisition marks the conclusion of a strategic realignment within Germany's biotechnology sector. BioNTech, with its robust financial position bolstered by pandemic-era successes, is absorbing CureVac, a company that has recently contended with declining revenues and the expiration of key partnerships. The logic is clear: BioNTech gains valuable intellectual property and manufacturing capabilities to strengthen its oncology pipeline, while CureVac's investors are provided with a certain exit.

All attention is firmly fixed on the December 18 deadline. Investors are strongly advised to contact their brokerage institutions without delay, as the technical process for tendering shares requires time to complete. Once this final period expires, BioNTech is expected to move swiftly to execute the legal merger and finalize the stock's withdrawal from public trading.