Moderna Secures $1.5B Five-Year Loan from Ares Management Ahead of Strategy Update

Group 1 - Moderna Inc. has secured a five-year loan of $1.5 billion from Ares Management Corp, with plans to draw $600 million upfront and retain optional access to an additional $400 million through November 2027 and $500 million through November 2028 [1][2][3] - The loan provides Moderna with flexibility to fund business development opportunities or manage risk, as the company targets up to 10% revenue growth in 2026 following a significant decline in revenue from $18.4 billion in 2022 to an expected $1.6 to $2 billion in 2025 [2][3] - Projected revenue growth for 2026 is contingent upon partnerships in the UK, Canada, and Australia, as well as US demand for its next-generation COVID vaccine, mNEXSPIKE, with further growth anticipated in 2027 and 2028 from new product rollouts [3] Group 2 - Moderna is a biotechnology company that provides messenger RNA medicines in the US, Europe, and internationally, although there are opinions suggesting that certain AI stocks may offer greater upside potential with less downside risk [4]