SAN DIEGO, CA--(Marketwired - Dec 2, 2014) - Quidel Corporation (NASDAQ: QDEL), a provider of rapid diagnostic testing solutions, cellular-based virology assays and molecular diagnostic systems, today announced the pricing of its previously announced underwritten public offering of $150 million aggregate principal amount of its 3.25% convertible senior notes due 2020 (the "notes"). Quidel has granted 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 are acting as book-running managers for the proposed notes offering. The offering is expected to close on or around December 8, 2014, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

The notes will pay interest at a rate of 3.25% per year, payable semiannually in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning on June 15, 2015. The notes will mature on December 15, 2020, unless earlier repurchased by the Company or converted.

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 conversion rate will initially be 31.1891 shares of common stock for each $1,000 principal amount of notes, which represents an initial conversion price of approximately $32.06 per share. 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 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 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 dg.prospectus_requests@baml.com, or J.P. Morgan, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, telephone (866) 803-9204.