SUGAR LAND, Texas, Dec.  18, 2024  (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. (NASDAQ: AAOI) ("AOI," "we," "us" or "our") expects to enter into transactions with holders of its 5.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2026 (the "2026 Notes") to exchange approximately $80 million principal amount of the 2026 Notes for aggregate consideration consisting of a combination of (i) Convertible Senior Notes due 2030 (the "2030 Notes"), (ii) shares of our common stock (the "Exchange Shares") and (iii) cash representing accrued interest on the 2026 Notes and the value of fractional shares, if any (such transactions, collectively, the "Exchanges").

Final terms for the Exchanges will be determined at the time of pricing. The 2030 Notes will be our senior, unsecured obligations and will be equal in right of payment with our existing and future senior, unsecured indebtedness, senior in right of payment to our existing and future indebtedness that is expressly subordinated to the 2030 Notes and effectively subordinated to our existing and future secured indebtedness, to the extent of the value of the collateral securing that indebtedness.

The 2030 Notes will be convertible at the option of holders of the 2030 Notes under certain specified circumstances, as set forth in the indenture governing the 2030 Notes. We will settle conversions by paying or delivering, as applicable, cash, shares of our common stock or a combination of cash and shares of our common stock, at our election, based on the applicable conversion rate.

Following the completion of the Exchanges, we may engage in additional exchanges or repurchase, induce conversions of, or exercise our right to redeem the 2026 Notes. Holders of the 2026 Notes that participate in any of these exchanges, repurchases or induced conversions may purchase or sell shares of our common stock in the open market to unwind any hedge positions they may have with respect to the 2026 Notes or our common stock or to hedge their exposure in connection with these transactions. These activities may adversely affect the trading price of our common stock and the 2030 Notes we are offering.

There can be no assurance that the Exchanges will be completed. The issuance and sale of the 2030 Notes and the Exchange Shares pursuant to the Exchanges are being made in transactions exempt from registration pursuant to Sections 3(a)(9) and 4(a)(2) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Raymond James & Associates, Inc. is acting as AOI's exclusive financial advisor in connection with the Exchanges.

Concurrently with the Exchanges, AOI announced today that it intends to commence an offering of shares of its common stock in a registered direct offering (the "Registered Direct Offering").

We intend to use the net proceeds, if any, from the Registered Direct Offering for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, capital expenditures and working capital. We may also use such proceeds to fund acquisitions of businesses, technologies or product lines that complement our current business; however, we have no present plans, agreements or commitments with respect to any potential acquisition.

Raymond James & Associates, Inc. is acting as the sole placement agent in connection with the Registered Direct Offering. The Registered Direct Offering is being made pursuant to an automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3ASR (Registration File No. 333-283905), which was filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on December 18, 2024, and became effective immediately upon filing, including the prospectus contained therein. A preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying base prospectus relating to and describing the terms of the Registered Direct Offering was filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") on December 18, 2024, copies of which may be obtained from Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Attention: Equity Syndicate, 880 Carillon Parkway, St. Petersburg, Florida 33716, or by telephone at (800) 248-8863, or by e-mail to prospectus@raymondjames.com. Electronic copies of the preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus are also available on the website of the SEC at

The Exchanges and Registered Direct Offering are expected to close concurrently on or about December 23, 2024, subject to customary closing conditions.

Haynes Boone LLP is acting as legal advisor to AOI and Mayer Brown LLP is acting as legal advisor to Raymond James & Associates, Inc., in connection with the Exchanges and the Registered Direct Offering.

This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor will there be any sale of any securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About Applied Optoelectronics

Applied Optoelectronics Inc. (AOI) is a leading developer and manufacturer of advanced optical products, including components, modules and equipment. AOI's products are the building blocks for broadband fiber access networks around the world, where they are used in the CATV broadband, internet datacenter, telecom and FTTH markets. AOI supplies optical networking lasers, components and equipment to tier-1 customers in all four of these markets. In addition to its corporate headquarters, wafer fab and advanced engineering and production facilities in Sugar Land, TX, AOI has engineering and manufacturing facilities in  Ningbo and Taiwan, China.