- Filing of certain prospectuses and communications in connection with business combination transactions (425)
13 November 2008 - 8:02AM
Edgar (US Regulatory)
Filed by Arlington Tankers Ltd.
pursuant to Rule 425
under the Securities Act of 1933
and deemed filed pursuant to
Rule 14a-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Subject Company: Arlington Tankers Ltd.
(Commission File Number: 333-153247)
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Arlington Tankers Ltd.
1
st
Floor, The Hayward Building
Hamilton, HM11
Bermuda
Tel: (441) 292-4456
Fax: (441) 292-4258
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November 12, 2008
ARLINGTON AND GENERAL MARITIME THE RIGHT COMBINATION
Dear Shareholder:
You should have recently received a proxy statement/prospectus which describes in detail the
proposed merger between Arlington Tankers and General Maritime.
I thought you might appreciate a short summary of why the management and the Board of
Arlington Tankers believe this merger is the best way forward for the Company and our
shareholders.
We strongly believe the combination of these two leading tanker companies strengthens your
future prospects as a shareholder because it directly addresses the challenges we face as a
stand-alone company in sustaining our current dividend, growing our fleet and refinancing or
repaying our credit facility. Furthermore, in light of the recent turmoil in the financial and
shipping markets, we believe that the merger is now even more compelling than when it was
announced in August.
Our Board of Directors approved this merger after undertaking a thorough strategic
alternatives analysis aimed at enhancing long-term shareholder value. We believe the merger will
create a leading publicly-traded tanker company with a large market capitalization, balanced
chartering strategy, strong balance sheet and an attractive dividend target based on a partial
dividend payout strategy, all of which will contribute to the combined companys growth strategy.
Some of the key highlights of the combined company include:
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Attractive Dividend Target Supported by Contracted Revenue Stream:
The combined company
will have an initial cash target dividend of $2.00 per share annually, which is supported by
the contracted revenue stream. The $2.00 per share target dividend of the combined company
approximately equals Arlingtons expected stand-alone dividend for 2009 and exceeds the
expected dividend in 2010 and beyond, when taking into account such factors as expected
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revenue decreases, cost increases and the refinancing of Arlingtons current $229.5 million
non-amortizing credit facility.
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Partial Dividend Payout Strategy that Retains Capital for Growth:
The $2.00 per share
target dividend is based on a partial dividend payout strategy, which provides the combined
company with financial and operational flexibility. This is a benefit that Arlington
shareholders do not currently have under Arlingtons 100% dividend payout structure and would
enable the combined company to pursue opportunities to achieve long-term fleet, cash flow and
dividend growth.
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Earnings and Cash Flow Stability:
The combined company will utilize a balanced chartering
approach, deploying its vessels between spot market voyage charters and time charters seeking
to both maximize long-term cash flow and achieve a level of stability in results. The
combined company will have $450 million of revenue contracted on time charters from 2009
through 2013 including $247 million on time charters in 2009 alone.
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Young and Diverse Fleet:
Following the merger, the combined company will have a young and
diverse fleet of 31 vessels with an average age of eight years and a presence in both crude
and product segments. The fleet is expected to consist of 25 oil tankers, four product
tankers and two tankers that can be used for transporting both crude and refined products.
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Cash Cost Savings:
The combined company expects to achieve an estimated $7.5 million in
cash cost savings during the first full year of operations following the merger.
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Experienced Management Team:
Headquartered in New York, the combined company will have a
management team that has had extensive experience in operating shipping companies and in
consolidations. This team has returned over $1 billion to General Maritimes shareholders
since May 2005. The merged Company will be overseen by an experienced seven member Board, with
a majority of independent members, including one current Arlington Tankers Board member.
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Stronger Platform for Long-term Dividend and Fleet Growth:
The combined company intends to
draw upon its moderate leverage, ample liquidity, and the past consolidation experience of its
management team to pursue growth opportunities. In addition, the combined company will seek
opportunities to grow its dividend over the long-term from the current target of $2.00 per
share per year.
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Arlingtons Board of Directors unanimously recommends that
Arlington Shareholders vote FOR the approval of the merger
We are excited about our pending merger with General Maritime. Whether or not you are planning
to attend the special general meeting in person, it is very important that your shares be
represented at the meeting. Accordingly, we encourage you to return the enclosed proxy card as
soon as possible to ensure that your shares are represented at the meeting. In addition to using
the traditional proxy card, shareholders have the choice of voting over the Internet or by
telephone.
Enclosed is a proxy card for the special general meeting of shareholders for Arlington Tankers
Ltd. to vote on the stock-for-stock combination of Arlington Tankers and General Maritime
Corporation. The special meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern
Time) at the offices of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, 399 Park Avenue, New York, New
York 10022
. If you have already voted, we appreciate your participation. If you have not yet voted,
please use the enclosed proxy card to cast your vote.
If you have any questions concerning the merger, please feel free to contact our proxy solicitor:
MacKenzie Partners, Inc.
105 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
Call Collect: (212) 929-5500
or
Toll Free: (800) 322-2885
On behalf of the Board of Directors of Arlington Tankers, I would like to thank you for your
continued support and confidence.
Sincerely,
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/s/ Edward Terino
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Edward Terino
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Chief Executive Officer, President and Chief Financial Officer
Arlington Tankers Ltd.
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Important Additional Information has been Filed with the SEC
In connection with the proposed transaction, Galileo Holding Corporation has filed a Registration
Statement on Form S-4 (as well as amendments thereto) with the SEC. Such Registration Statement,
which has been declared effective by the SEC, includes a definitive Joint Proxy
Statement/Prospectus of General Maritime and Arlington. Investors and security holders are urged to
read the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus regarding the proposed transaction carefully because it
contains important information about General Maritime, Arlington, the proposed transaction and
related matters. You may obtain a free copy of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus and other
related documents filed General Maritime, Arlington and Galileo Holding with the SEC at the SECs
website at www.sec.gov. These documents may also be obtained for free by accessing General
Maritimes website at www.generalmaritimecorp.com or by accessing Arlingtons website at
www.arlingtontankers.com.
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