On May 11, 2021 Dynavax Technologies Corporation ("Dynavax") (Nasdaq: DVAX) reported the pricing of $200.0 million aggregate principal amount of 2.50% convertible senior notes due 2026 (the "notes") in a private placement to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") (Press release, Dynavax Technologies, MAY 11, 2021, View Source [SID1234579684]). Dynavax also granted the initial purchasers of the notes an option to purchase up to an additional $30.0 million aggregate principal amount of notes. The sale of the notes is expected to close on May 13, 2021, subject to customary closing conditions.

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The notes will be general unsecured obligations of Dynavax and will accrue interest payable semiannually in arrears on May 15 and November 15 of each year, beginning on November 15, 2021, at a rate of 2.50% per year. The notes will mature on May 15, 2026, unless earlier converted, redeemed or repurchased. The initial conversion rate of the notes will be 95.5338 shares of Dynavax’s common stock per $1,000 principal amount of notes (equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $10.47 per share of Dynavax’s common stock). The initial conversion price of the notes represents a premium of approximately 32.5% over the last reported sale price of Dynavax’s common stock on May 10, 2021. The notes will be convertible by the holders thereof into cash, shares of Dynavax’s common stock or a combination of cash and shares of Dynavax’s common stock, at Dynavax’s election.

Dynavax may redeem for cash all or any portion of the notes, at its option on or after May 20, 2024 and prior to the 31st scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date, if the last reported sale price of Dynavax’s common stock has been at least 130% of the conversion price then in effect for at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) during any 30 consecutive trading day period (including the last trading day of such period) ending on, and including, the trading day immediately preceding the date on which Dynavax provides notice of redemption, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date.

If Dynavax undergoes a "fundamental change" (as defined in the indenture governing the notes), subject to certain conditions and exceptions, noteholders may require Dynavax to repurchase for cash all or any portion of their notes at a fundamental change repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the fundamental change repurchase date. In addition, following certain corporate events that occur prior to the maturity date or if Dynavax delivers a notice of redemption, Dynavax will, in certain circumstances, increase the conversion rate for a noteholder who elects to convert its notes in connection with such a corporate event or convert its notes called (or deemed called) for redemption in connection with such notice of redemption, as the case may be.

Dynavax estimates that the net proceeds from the offering of the notes will be approximately $195.1 million (or approximately $224.4 million if the initial purchasers exercise their option to purchase additional notes in full), after deducting the initial purchasers’ discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by Dynavax. Dynavax expects to use the net proceeds from the offering of the notes, together with cash on hand, to repay in full the outstanding debt and other obligations under Dynavax’s term loan agreement and to pay the costs of the capped call transactions described below. Dynavax expects that approximately $190.2 million will be needed to repay the outstanding debt and other obligations under the term loan agreement and approximately $24.2 million will be needed to pay the cost of the capped call transactions.

If the initial purchasers exercise their option to purchase additional notes in full, Dynavax expects to use approximately $3.6 million of the net proceeds from the sale of such additional notes to enter into additional capped call transactions. Dynavax expects to use any remaining net proceeds from the sale of such additional notes for general corporate purposes.

In connection with the pricing of the notes, Dynavax entered into capped call transactions with one of the initial purchasers and other financial institutions (the "option counterparties"). The capped call transactions will cover, subject to customary adjustments, the number of shares of Dynavax’s common stock that initially underlie the notes. The capped call transactions are expected to offset the potential dilution to Dynavax’s common stock as a result of any conversion of notes, with such offset subject to a cap initially equal to $15.80 (which represents a premium of 100% over the last reported sale price of Dynavax’s common stock on May 10, 2021).

In connection with establishing their initial hedges of the capped call transactions, Dynavax has been advised that the option counterparties and/or their respective affiliates expect to enter into various derivative transactions with respect to Dynavax’s common stock concurrently with or shortly after the pricing of the notes and/or purchase shares of Dynavax’s common stock concurrently with or shortly after the pricing of the notes. This activity could increase (or reduce the size of any decrease in) the market price of Dynavax’s common stock or the trading price of the notes at that time.

In addition, the option counterparties and/or their respective affiliates may modify their hedge positions by entering into or unwinding various derivatives with respect to Dynavax’s common stock and/or purchasing or selling Dynavax’s common stock or other securities of Dynavax in secondary market transactions following the pricing of the notes and prior to the maturity of the notes (and are likely to do so on each exercise date of the capped call transactions, which are expected to occur during the 30 trading day period beginning on the 31st scheduled trading day prior to the maturity date of the notes, or following any termination of any portion of the capped call transactions in connection with any repurchase, redemption or early conversion of the notes). This activity could also cause or avoid an increase or a decrease in the market price of Dynavax’s common stock or the notes, which could affect a noteholder’s ability to convert its notes and, to the extent the activity occurs during any observation period related to a conversion of notes, it could affect the amount and value of the consideration that a noteholder will receive upon conversion of such notes.

Neither the notes, nor any shares of Dynavax’s common stock issuable upon conversion of the notes, have been registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws, and unless so registered, may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and other applicable securities laws.

This press release is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall it constitute an offer, solicitation or sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.