Zynga Inc. Announces Pricing of Offering of $762 Million of Convertible Senior Notes

Rhea-AI Summary

Zynga (Nasdaq: ZNGA) has priced $762 million of 0% convertible senior notes due 2026, with a 13-day option for an additional $112.5 million. The notes, which mature on December 15, 2026, have an initial conversion rate of 76.5404 shares per $1,000 principal amount, equating to a conversion price of approximately $13.07 per share. Zynga anticipates net proceeds of $746.3 million, intended for general corporate purposes including potential acquisitions and debt repayment. Noteholders have rights to repurchase under specific conditions, and capped call transactions may mitigate stock dilution.

Positive

• Pricing of $762 million convertible senior notes may strengthen liquidity.
• Potential use of proceeds for acquisitions could signal growth opportunities.
• Capped call transactions may help reduce stock dilution.

Negative

• Notes bear no regular interest, raising concerns about financial obligations.
• Conversion price represents a premium of approximately 50% over the last reported stock price.

Zynga Inc. (Nasdaq: ZNGA), a global leader in interactive entertainment, today announced the pricing of $762 million aggregate principal amount of 0% convertible senior notes due 2026 (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”). Zynga also granted the initial purchasers of the notes a 13-day option to purchase up to an additional $112.5 million aggregate principal amount of the notes. The sale of the notes is expected to close on December 17, 2020, subject to customary closing conditions.

The notes will be senior unsecured obligations of Zynga, will not bear regular interest, and the principal amount of the notes will not accrete. The notes will mature on December 15, 2026, unless earlier converted, repurchased or redeemed. The initial conversion rate will be 76.5404 shares of Zynga’s Class A common stock (“common stock”) per $1,000 principal amount of notes (equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $13.07 per share of common stock). The initial conversion price of the notes represents a premium of approximately 50% over the last reported sale price of Zynga’s common stock on The Nasdaq Global Select Market on December 14, 2020. The notes will be convertible into cash, shares of Zynga’s common stock or a combination of cash and shares of Zynga’s common stock, at Zynga’s election.

Zynga may redeem the notes, at its option, on or after December 20, 2023, if the last reported sale price of Zynga’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 Zynga provides notice of redemption at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed, plus any accrued and unpaid special interest to, but excluding, the redemption date.

If a “fundamental change” (as defined in the indenture governing the notes) occurs at any time prior to the maturity date, holders of the notes may require Zynga to repurchase for cash all or any portion of their notes at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be repurchased, plus any accrued and unpaid special interest. In addition, following certain corporate events or if Zynga issues a notice of redemption, Zynga will, under certain circumstances, increase the conversion rate for holders who convert their notes in connection with such corporate event or notice of redemption.

Zynga estimates that the net proceeds from the offering will be approximately $746.3 million (or approximately $856.7 million if the initial purchasers of the notes exercise their option to purchase additional notes in full), after deducting the initial purchasers’ discounts and estimated offering expenses payable by Zynga. Zynga intends to use a portion of the net proceeds to pay the cost of the capped call transactions described below. Zynga intends to use the remainder of the net proceeds for working capital and other general corporate purposes, which may include potential acquisitions, capital expenditures, the repayment of debt, and future transactions. However, it has not designated any specific uses and has no current agreements with respect to any material acquisition or strategic transaction.

In connection with the pricing of the notes, Zynga entered into capped call transactions with respect to the notes with one or more of the initial purchasers of the notes and/or their respective affiliates and other financial institutions (the “option counterparties”). The capped call transactions are expected generally to reduce potential dilution to Zynga’s common stock upon any conversion of notes and/or offset any cash payments Zynga is required to make in excess of the principal amount of converted notes, with such reduction and/or offset subject to a cap initially equal to $17.42 (which represents a premium of 100% over the last reported sale price of Zynga’s common stock on The Nasdaq Global Select Market on December 14, 2020), subject to certain adjustments under the terms of the capped call transactions. If the initial purchasers of the notes exercise their option to purchase additional notes, Zynga expects to enter into additional capped call transactions with the option counterparties.

Zynga expects that, in connection with establishing their initial hedges of the capped call transactions, the option counterparties or their respective affiliates may enter into various derivative transactions with respect to Zynga’s common stock and/or purchase shares of Zynga’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 Zynga’s common stock or the notes at that time.

In addition, Zynga expects that the option counterparties or their respective affiliates may modify their hedge positions by entering into or unwinding various derivatives with respect to Zynga’s common stock and/or purchasing or selling Zynga’s common stock or other securities of Zynga 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 for the capped call transactions, which are expected to occur on each trading day during the 25 trading day period beginning on the 26th 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 a decrease or prevent an increase in the market price of Zynga’s common stock or the notes, and to the extent the activity occurs during any observation period related to a conversion of such notes, this could affect the value of the consideration that a noteholder will receive upon conversion of such notes.

Neither the notes, nor any shares of Zynga’s common stock potentially issuable upon conversion of such notes, have been, nor will be, registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws and, unless so registered, such securities 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.

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FAQ

What is the significance of Zynga's convertible senior notes pricing?

Zynga priced $762 million in convertible senior notes to enhance liquidity and fund potential acquisitions.

When do Zynga's convertible notes mature?

The notes will mature on December 15, 2026.

What is the initial conversion price of Zynga's notes?

The initial conversion price is approximately $13.07 per share.

How much net proceeds does Zynga expect from the note offering?

Zynga expects approximately $746.3 million in net proceeds.

What are capped call transactions in relation to Zynga's notes?

Capped call transactions are designed to reduce potential dilution to Zynga’s common stock upon conversion of the notes.