Isis Pharmaceuticals Announces Proposed Offering of $175 Million of Convertible Senior Notes

Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ISIS) announced today that it intends to offer, subject to market and other considerations, $175.0 million aggregate principal amount of Convertible Senior Notes due 2019 (the "Convertible Notes") in a private placement. Isis also intends to grant to the initial purchasers of the Convertible Notes a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional $26.25 million aggregate principal amount of the Convertible Notes solely to cover over-allotments. Isis may use a portion of the net proceeds of this offering to repurchase a portion of its outstanding 2 5/8% Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2027 (the "Existing Convertible Notes") in individually negotiated transactions concurrently with the offering. In addition, following completion of the offering, Isis intends to use the remainder of the proceeds to repurchase from time to time, or redeem, the Existing Convertible Notes, and for general corporate and working capital purposes.The Convertible Notes will be general unsecured senior obligations of Isis and will accrue interest payable semiannually in arrears. The Convertible Notes will be convertible under certain circumstances, and Isis will settle conversions of the Convertible Notes by paying or delivering, as the case may be, cash, shares of its common stock or a combination of cash and shares of its common stock, at its election. The interest rate, conversion rate and other terms of the Convertible Notes will be determined at the time of pricing of the offering.