Zoetis Announces Pricing of $1.75 Billion Convertible Senior Notes Offering
Zoetis Announces Pricing of $1.75 Billion Convertible Senior Notes Offering
Substantially All of Net Proceeds Expected to Be Used to Repurchase Approximately $1.6 Billion of Common Stock and for Capped Call Transactions
PARSIPPANY, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–$ZTS #animalhealth–Zoetis Inc. (NYSE: ZTS) (the “Company” or “Zoetis”) today announced that it has priced its previously announced offering of $1.75 billion aggregate principal amount of 0.25% convertible senior notes due 2029 (the “Notes”) in a private offering to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Zoetis has also granted the initial purchasers of the Notes an option to purchase, for settlement within a 13-day period beginning on, and including, the date on which the Notes are first issued, up to an additional $250 million aggregate principal amount of Notes. The offering is expected to close on December 18, 2025, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.
Use of Proceeds – Share Repurchases and Capped Call Transactions
Zoetis estimates that the net proceeds from the offering will be approximately $1,723.2 million (or approximately $1,969.6 million if the initial purchasers exercise their option to purchase additional Notes in full), after deducting the initial purchasers’ discounts and estimated expenses payable by Zoetis. Zoetis intends to use the net proceeds from the offering as follows, the net effect of which is expected to result in Zoetis repurchasing approximately $1.6 billion of common stock (or approximately $1.8 billion of common stock if the initial purchasers exercise their option to purchase additional Notes in full):
-
Approximately $163.3 million to fund the cost of entering into the capped call transactions described below;
-
Approximately $250.3 million to purchase approximately 2.1 million shares of Zoetis’ common stock, par value $0.01 per share, in privately negotiated transactions entered into concurrently with the pricing of the offering effected with or through one of the initial purchasers or its affiliate; and
-
The remaining $1,309.6 million to repurchase additional shares of Zoetis’ common stock after the offering, which the Company expects to complete by no later than the first quarter of 2026.
If the initial purchasers exercise their option to purchase additional Notes, Zoetis expects to use a portion of the net proceeds from the sale of the additional Notes to enter into additional capped call transactions and to use the remainder of such net proceeds for additional repurchases of common stock following the date of the offering. All share repurchases will be conducted pursuant to the Company’s existing $6 billion share repurchase program and may be made on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions and may be made pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 plan or otherwise.
Key Terms of the Notes
The Notes will be senior, unsecured obligations of Zoetis, and will accrue interest at a rate of 0.25% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning on June 15, 2026. The Notes will mature on June 15, 2029, unless earlier redeemed, repurchased or converted.
The initial conversion rate will be 6.7476 shares of Zoetis’ common stock per $1,000 principal amount of Notes (equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $148.20 per share of Zoetis’ common stock). The initial conversion price of the Notes represents a premium of approximately 22.50% over the last reported sale price of Zoetis’ common stock on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) on December 15, 2025. At any time prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding March 15, 2029, the Notes will be convertible at the option of the holders of the Notes only upon the satisfaction of specified conditions and during certain periods. On or after March 15, 2029, until the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date, the Notes will be convertible at the option of the holders of the Notes at any time regardless of these conditions.
Upon any conversion of the Notes, Zoetis will pay cash up to the aggregate principal amount of the Notes to be converted and pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash, shares of Zoetis’ common stock or a combination of cash and shares of Zoetis’ common stock, at Zoetis’ election, in respect of the remainder, if any, of Zoetis’ conversion obligation in excess of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes being converted, based on the then applicable conversion rate.
Zoetis may redeem for cash all or any portion (subject to certain limitations) of the Notes, at its option, on or after December 20, 2027 and prior to the 21st scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date, if the last reported sale price of Zoetis’ 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 Zoetis provides notice of redemption at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date. No sinking fund is provided for the Notes.
Subject to certain conditions, if Zoetis undergoes a “fundamental change” (as defined in the indenture that will govern the Notes), holders of the Notes may require Zoetis to repurchase for cash all or any portion of their Notes at a fundamental change repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be repurchased, plus any accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the fundamental change repurchase date. In addition, upon certain corporate events that occur prior to the maturity date or upon redemption, Zoetis will, under certain circumstances, increase the conversion rate for holders who elect to convert their Notes in connection with any such corporate event or convert their Notes called (or deemed called) for redemption during the related redemption period, as the case may be.
Capped Call Transactions – 75% Premium ($211.7150 Cap Price)
In connection with the pricing of the Notes, Zoetis entered into privately negotiated capped call transactions with certain of the initial purchasers or their respective affiliates and certain other financial institutions (the “option counterparties”). The capped call transactions will cover, subject to anti-dilution adjustments, the number of shares of Zoetis’ common stock initially underlying the Notes. The capped call transactions are expected generally to reduce potential dilution to Zoetis’ common stock upon any conversion of Notes and/or offset any cash payments Zoetis is required to make in excess of the principal amount of any converted Notes, as the case may be, with such reduction and/or offset subject to a cap based on a cap price initially equal to $211.7150 per share, which represents a premium of 75.0% over the last reported sale price of Zoetis’ common stock on NYSE on December 15, 2025.
Zoetis has been advised that the option counterparties or their respective affiliates, in connection with establishing their initial hedges of the capped call transactions, expect to purchase shares of Zoetis’ common stock and/or enter into various derivative transactions with respect to Zoetis’ 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 Zoetis’ 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 Zoetis’ common stock and/or purchasing or selling Zoetis’ common stock or other securities of Zoetis in secondary market transactions following the pricing of the Notes and prior to the maturity of the Notes (and are likely to do so (x) during any observation period related to a conversion of Notes or following any repurchase of Notes in connection with any “fundamental change” or “optional redemption” (each as defined in the indenture for the Notes) and (y) following any other repurchase of Notes if Zoetis elects to unwind a portion of the capped call transactions in connection with such repurchase). This activity could also cause or avoid an increase or decrease in the market price of Zoetis’ common stock or the Notes, which could affect the ability of noteholders to convert the Notes and, to the extent the activity occurs during any observation period related to a conversion of Notes, it could affect the amount and value of the consideration that noteholders will receive upon conversion of the Notes.
In addition, the concurrent repurchases of shares of Zoetis’ common stock described above may result in Zoetis’ common stock trading at prices that are higher than would be the case in the absence of these repurchases and may have affected the initial terms of the Notes, including the initial conversion price.
Neither the Notes nor the shares of Zoetis’ common stock potentially issuable upon conversion of the Notes, if any, have been, or will be, registered under the Securities Act, the securities laws of any other jurisdiction 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 the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state laws. The Notes will be offered and sold only to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers in the United States pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act. This news release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, the Notes, nor shall there be any sale of the Notes in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale is unlawful.
About Zoetis
As the world’s leading animal health company, Zoetis is driven by a singular purpose: to nurture our world and humankind by advancing care for animals. After innovating ways to predict, prevent, detect, and treat animal illness for more than 70 years, Zoetis continues to stand by those raising and caring for animals worldwide – from veterinarians and pet owners to livestock producers. The company’s leading portfolio and pipeline of medicines, vaccines, diagnostics and technologies make a difference in over 100 countries.
DISCLOSURE NOTICES
Forward-Looking Statements:
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the anticipated completion of the offering and capped call transactions, the anticipated effects of entering into the capped call transactions, the intended use of the net proceeds from the offering, any repurchases of common stock, including any impact to the common stock’s trading prices, and other future events. These statements are not guarantees of future performance or actions and important factors (many of which are beyond the Company’s control) could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward looking statements, including risks and uncertainties associated with market conditions, including market interest rates, the trading price and volatility of Zoetis’ common stock, and risks relating to the offering, the Company’s business and operations and results of financing efforts. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if management’s underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by a forward-looking statement. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made. Zoetis expressly disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. A further list and description of risks, uncertainties and other matters can be found in Zoetis’ most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, including in the sections thereof captioned “Forward-Looking Statements and Factors That May Affect Future Results” and “Item 1A. Risk Factors,” in Zoetis’ Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, in Zoetis’ Current Reports on Form 8-K and in other documents on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
ZTS-COR
ZTS-IR
ZTS-FIN
Contacts
Media Contacts:
Jennifer Albano
1-862-399-0810 (o)
jennifer.albano@zoetis.com
Laura Panza
1-973-975-5176 (o)
laura.panza@zoetis.com
Investor Contacts:
Steve Frank
1-973-822-7141 (o)
steve.frank@zoetis.com
Nick Soonthornchai
1-973-443-2792 (o)
nick.soonthornchai@zoetis.com
