Sanofi closes Dynavax (NASDAQ: DVAX) takeover, delisting shares at $15.50 cash
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Dynavax Technologies Corporation has completed its acquisition by Sanofi through a tender offer and follow‑on merger, cashing out each share of common stock for $15.50 in cash, without interest and subject to taxes. The tender offer expired on February 9, 2026, with 84,680,752 shares validly tendered, representing about 73.92% of outstanding shares, satisfying the minimum condition for closing.
Following the merger under Delaware law, Dynavax became an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Sanofi, and the company requested that Nasdaq halt trading, delist the shares and file to deregister them. Convertible notes due 2026 and 2030 were amended so conversions now deliver cash based on the existing conversion rate multiplied by $15.50. Equity awards were largely cashed out at the merger price, with a portion of recent unvested grants converted into cash‑based awards that vest six months after closing, generally accelerating on involuntary termination.
The entire pre‑merger board resigned at closing and was replaced by Sanofi‑designated directors and officers. Certain senior executives received excise tax reimbursement protections on merger‑related payments, subject to individual caps.
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Insights
DVAX is now a wholly owned Sanofi unit, with public equity cashed out and notes and incentives aligned to a $15.50 value.
The transaction converts Dynavax from a standalone public company into an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Sanofi. Public shareholders receive $15.50 per share in cash via the tender offer and subsequent merger, with no ongoing equity participation once delisting and deregistration are completed.
Convertible senior notes due 2026 and 2030 are now effectively tied to a cash reference of $15.50 per share equivalent, preserving conversion mechanics but removing equity settlement. This keeps the instruments outstanding while anchoring their economics to the takeover price rather than future stock trading.
Most options, RSUs and PSUs are cashed out at the merger consideration, while 50% of certain recent unvested awards convert into cash‑based awards vesting six months after closing, with acceleration on involuntary termination. This structure supports retention for key employees during post‑merger integration without introducing new equity overhang.