Quidel Announces Proposed Offering of $150 Million of Convertible Senior Notes

SAN DIEGO, CA--(Marketwired - Dec 1, 2014) - Quidel Corporation (NASDAQ: QDEL), a provider of rapid diagnostic testing solutions, cellular-based virology assays and molecular diagnostic systems, today announced the proposed underwritten public offering of $150 million aggregate principal amount of its convertible senior notes due 2020 (the "notes"). Quidel also expects to grant the underwriters of the notes a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional $22.5 million aggregate principal amount of the notes, solely to cover over-allotments, if any. BofA Merrill Lynch and J.P. Morgan will act as book-running managers for the proposed notes offering.

Quidel intends to use the net proceeds from this offering for working capital and other general corporate purposes, which may include acquisitions of products, technologies or businesses, and opportunistic repurchases of shares of its common stock.

The notes will be convertible at the option of the holders at any time prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding September 15, 2020 under certain circumstances. On or after September 15, 2020 until the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the stated maturity date, holders may surrender their notes for conversion at any time. Upon conversion, the Company will pay or deliver, at the Company's election, cash, shares of its common stock or a combination of cash and shares of its common stock. The Company may not redeem the notes prior to maturity. The interest rate, initial conversion rate and other terms of the notes will be determined by the Company and the underwriters at the time of pricing.

The Company has an effective registration statement (including a prospectus and a preliminary prospectus supplement for the offering to which this communication relates) on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement (including the preliminary prospectus supplement for the offering to which this communication relates) and other documents that the Company has filed and will file with the SEC for more complete information about the Company and the proposed offering. Copies of the prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus related to this offering may be obtained from BofA Merrill Lynch, 222 Broadway, New York, NY 10038, Attn: Prospectus Department, or by e-mailing [e-mail], or J.P. Morgan, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, telephone [phone].