THE WOODLANDS, Texas, Nov. 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: LXRX) today announced that it commenced an offering to sell, subject to market and other conditions, $75,000,000 aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes due 2021 (the "Convertible Notes") in a private offering within the United States to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). Lexicon also expects to grant to the initial purchaser an option to purchase up to an additional $11,250,000 aggregate principal amount of the Convertible Notes on the same terms and conditions, solely to cover over-allotments.

The Convertible Notes will be the general senior unsecured obligations of Lexicon and will accrue interest payable semi-annually in arrears. The Convertible Notes will be convertible into Lexicon's common stock. The interest rate, conversion rate, offering price and other terms of the Convertible Notes will be determined by negotiations among Lexicon and the initial purchasers of the notes.

Lexicon intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for the clinical development of its drug candidates and other nonclinical research and development efforts. It may also use a portion of the net proceeds to acquire or invest in complementary products and technologies or for general corporate purposes.

Holders of the Convertible Notes will have the right to require Lexicon to repurchase for cash all or a portion of their Convertible Notes at 100% of their principal amount, plus any accrued and unpaid interest, upon the occurrence of a fundamental change (as defined in the indenture relating to the Convertible Notes). Lexicon will also be required to increase the conversion rate for holders who convert their Convertible Notes in connection with certain fundamental changes occurring prior to the maturity date.

The Convertible Notes (including the shares of Lexicon's common stock into which the Convertible Notes are convertible) have not been registered under the Securities Act, or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements.

This press release is being issued pursuant to Rule 135c under the Securities Act, and does not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, these securities (including the shares of Lexicon's common stock into which the Convertible Notes are convertible), nor will there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale is not permitted. Any offers of the Convertible Notes will be made only by means of a private offering memorandum.

Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains "forward-looking" statements, including statements related to Lexicon's expectations regarding the completion, timing and size of the proposed offering. Any statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Words such as "will," "intends" and similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause Lexicon's results to differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements, including risks and uncertainties related to market conditions and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions related to the proposed offering. There can be no assurance that Lexicon will be able to complete the proposed offering on the anticipated terms, or at all. Additional risks and uncertainties relating to Lexicon and its business can be found under the heading "Risk Factors" in Lexicon's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013. Unless required by applicable law, Lexicon undertakes no obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.