Etsy Announces Proposed Private Offering of $1.0 Billion of Convertible Senior Notes

Rhea-AI Summary

Etsy, Inc. plans to offer $1.0 billion of convertible senior notes due 2028 through a private placement. The notes will be unsecured obligations, convertible into cash, shares, or a combination. Proceeds will fund stock repurchases, capped call transactions, and general corporate purposes. Etsy aims to repurchase up to $150 million in common stock concurrently with the offering. The offering may impact stock prices due to hedge activities by option counterparties, with potential risks if capped call transactions fail. None of the securities have been registered under the Securities Act.

Positive

• Intended use of proceeds includes up to $150 million for stock repurchase, potentially boosting shareholder value.
• Capped call transactions may reduce dilution of common stock upon conversion of the notes.

Negative

• Offering could lead to dilution for existing shareholders.
• If capped call transactions fail, it may adversely affect the value of common stock.

BROOKLYN, N.Y., June 7, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Etsy, Inc. (Nasdaq: ETSY), which operates two-sided online marketplaces that connect millions of passionate and creative buyers and sellers around the world, today announced that it intends to offer, subject to market conditions and other factors, $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes due 2028 (the "notes") in a private placement to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act").

The notes will be general unsecured obligations of Etsy and will accrue interest payable semiannually in arrears. The notes will be convertible into cash, shares of Etsy's common stock or a combination of cash and shares of Etsy's common stock, at Etsy's election. The interest rate, initial conversion rate and other terms of the notes will be determined at the time of pricing of the offering. Etsy expects to use a portion of the net proceeds from the offering to pay the cost of the capped call transactions described below and to repurchase shares of Etsy's common stock as described below. Etsy intends to use the remainder of the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, which may include repurchases of Etsy's common stock from time to time under Etsy's existing stock repurchase program or any future stock repurchase program, working capital, operating expenses and capital expenditures.

In connection with the pricing of the notes, Etsy expects to enter into capped call transactions with one or more of the initial purchasers and/or their respective affiliates and/or other financial institutions (the "option counterparties"). The capped call transactions are expected generally to reduce potential dilution to Etsy's common stock upon any conversion of notes and/or offset any cash payments Etsy is required to make in excess of the principal amount of converted notes, as the case may be, with such reduction and/or offset subject to a cap.

In connection with establishing their initial hedges of the capped call transactions, Etsy has been advised that the option counterparties or their respective affiliates will enter into various derivative transactions with respect to Etsy's common stock concurrently with or shortly after the pricing of the notes and/or purchase shares of Etsy'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 Etsy's common stock or the notes at that time.

In addition, the option counterparties or their respective affiliates may modify their hedge positions by entering into or unwinding various derivatives with respect to Etsy's common stock and/or purchasing or selling Etsy's common stock or other securities of Etsy in secondary market transactions following the pricing of the notes and prior to the maturity of the notes (and are likely to do so during any observation period related to a conversion of notes). This activity could also cause or avoid an increase or a decrease in the market price of Etsy'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 number of shares and value of the consideration that a noteholder will receive upon conversion of its notes.

In addition, if any such capped call transactions fail to become effective, whether or not this offering of notes is completed, the option counterparties or their respective affiliates may unwind their hedge positions with respect to Etsy's common stock, which could adversely affect the value of Etsy's common stock and, if the notes have been issued, the value of the notes.

Neither the notes nor any shares of Etsy'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.

Etsy expects to use a portion of the proceeds of the offering to repurchase up to $150 million of Etsy's common stock concurrently with the pricing of the offering in privately negotiated transactions effected through one of the initial purchasers or its affiliates. Etsy expects to repurchase such shares from purchasers of the notes in the offering at a purchase price per share equal to the last reported sale price per share of Etsy's common stock on the date of the pricing of the offering. In addition, following this offering Etsy may repurchase additional shares of Etsy's common stock pursuant to its existing stock repurchase program. These repurchases could increase (or reduce the size of any decrease in) the market price of Etsy's common stock or the notes. In the case of repurchases effected concurrently with this offering, this activity could affect the market price of Etsy's common stock prior to, concurrently with or shortly after the pricing of the notes, and could result in a higher effective conversion price for the notes.

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.

About Etsy

Etsy, Inc. operates two-sided online marketplaces that connect millions of passionate and creative buyers and sellers around the world. Our primary marketplace, Etsy.com, is the global destination for unique and creative goods. Buyers come to Etsy to be inspired and delighted by items that are crafted and curated by creative entrepreneurs. For sellers, we offer a range of tools and services that address key business needs. In addition, Etsy, Inc. owns Reverb, a leading global online marketplace dedicated to buying and selling new, used, and vintage musical instruments.

Etsy's mission is to keep commerce human, and we're committed to using the power of business to strengthen communities and empower people. Our company was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Brooklyn, New York.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning the proposed terms of the notes, capped call transactions and share repurchases, the completion, timing and size of the proposed offering, capped call transactions and share repurchases, the anticipated use of proceeds from the offering, the timing or amount of any repurchases of common stock by Etsy and the potential impact of the foregoing or related transactions on dilution to holders of Etsy's common stock or the market price of Etsy's common stock or the notes.  Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terms such as "anticipates," "believes," "could," "enables," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "may," "plans," "potential," "will," or similar expressions and the negatives of those words. Forward-looking statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those that Etsy expects. These risks and uncertainties include market risks, trends and conditions. These risks and uncertainties are more fully described in Etsy's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in the section titled "Risk Factors" in Etsy's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, and subsequent reports that Etsy files with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In light of these risks, you should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements represent Etsy's beliefs and assumptions only as of the date of this press release. Etsy disclaims any obligation to update forward-looking statements.

Investor Relations Contact:
Deb Wasser, Vice President, Investor Relations and ESG Engagement
ir@etsy.com
or
Gabriel Ratcliff, Director, Investor Relations
ir@etsy.com

Media Relations Contact:
Kelly Clausen, Senior Director, Partnership and Communications
press@etsy.com 

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SOURCE Etsy, Inc.

FAQ

What is Etsy's proposed offering amount in senior notes?

Etsy plans to offer $1.0 billion of convertible senior notes due 2028.

How will Etsy utilize the proceeds from the convertible notes?

Proceeds will be used for share repurchases, capped call transactions, and general corporate purposes.

What risks are associated with Etsy's convertible senior notes offering?

Risks include potential dilution of existing shareholders and adverse effects if capped call transactions do not succeed.

When does Etsy expect the convertible senior notes to mature?

The convertible senior notes are due in 2028.

What is the purpose of the capped call transactions related to the offering?

Capped call transactions are intended to reduce potential dilution to Etsy's common stock upon any conversion of the notes.