- Filing of certain prospectuses and communications in connection with business combination transactions (425)
04 December 2008 - 1:53AM
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)
Subject Company: General Maritime Corporation
(Commission File Number: 333-153247)
|
|
|
Press and Investor Contacts:
|
|
|
For General Maritime:
|
|
For Arlington:
|
Jeffrey D. Pribor
|
|
Edward Terino
|
Executive Vice President and CFO
|
|
CEO, President and CFO
|
General Maritime
|
|
Arlington Tankers
|
+1 (212) 763-5600
|
|
+1 (203) 221-2765
|
JOINT PRESS RELEASE
LEADING PROXY ADVISOR RECOMMENDS SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR GENERAL MARITIME
AND ARLINGTON TANKERS MERGER
NEW YORK, NEW YORK and HAMILTON, BERMUDA December 3, 2008 General Maritime Corporation
(General Maritime) (NYSE: GMR) and Arlington Tankers Ltd. (Arlington) (NYSE: ATB) today jointly
announced that RiskMetrics Group (formerly Institutional Shareholder Services or ISS), a leading
independent U.S. proxy advisory firm, has recommended that shareholders of both companies vote
FOR the proposed stock-for-stock combination at the special meetings of the shareholders of the
two companies scheduled for December 16, 2008.
In its reports recommending for the stock-for-stock combination between General Maritime and
Arlington, RiskMetrics concluded,
Based on the analysis in valuation, rationale, and corporate
governance, shareholders are advised to vote for this merger
.
RiskMetrics also commented,
the overall effect of the merger has the potential to improve
shareholder value
and identified the following strategic and financial rationales for the
stock-for-stock combination:
|
|
|
The combined company will have an increased fleet and market presence.
|
|
|
|
|
The combined company will have a stronger financial profile than either Old
General Maritime or Arlington has on a stand-alone basis. This will allow the company
to retain cash to invest in growth, while at the same time addressing the debt
associated with the combined companys leverage.
|
|
|
|
|
Because the share exchange was based on the respective net asset values of the
company, the price can be supported by underlying assets.
|
|
|
|
Arlington shareholders will benefit from the combined companys annual cash
dividend target of $2.00 per share, which compares favorably with Arlingtons expected
dividends per share for 2009 and onward.
|
|
|
|
|
The potential to produce a cost savings of approximately $7.5 million in cash
in the first full year.
|
|
|
|
|
The combined companys improved financial flexibility to invest in growth and
its contemplated cash dividend target of $2.00 per share annually.
|
General Maritime and Arlington encourage all shareholders to vote their shares promptly by phone,
Internet, or by mailing their proxy card. General Maritime shareholders can contact D.F. King &
Co. at (212) 269-5500 if they have any questions or need any assistance in voting their shares.
Accordingly, Arlington shareholders can contact MacKenzie Partners at (800) 322-2885 if they have
any questions or need any assistance in voting their shares.
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 by 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.
About General Maritime Corporation
General Maritime Corporation is a provider of international seaborne crude oil transportation
services principally within the Atlantic basin which includes ports in the Caribbean, South and
Central America, the United States, West Africa, the Mediterranean, Europe and the North Sea.
General Maritime also currently operates tankers in other regions including the Black Sea and Far
East. After delivery of a recently acquired Aframax vessel which is expected to occur in December
2008, General Maritime will own a fleet of 23 tankers twelve Aframax, and eleven Suezmax tankers
with a total carrying capacity of approximately 2.9 million dwt.
About Arlington Tankers Ltd.
Arlington Tankers Ltd. is an international, seaborne transporter of crude oil and petroleum
products. Arlingtons fleet consists exclusively of eight, modern double-hulled vessels and is one
of the youngest tanker fleets in the world, with an average vessel age of approximately 5.0 years.
The fleet consists of two V-MAX tankers, which are specially designed very large crude carriers,
two Panamax tankers and four Product tankers. All of Arlingtons vessels are employed on long-term
time charters. Arlington was incorporated in Bermuda in September 2004. Arlington completed its
initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange on November 10, 2004.
Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
This press release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions
of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based
on managements current expectations and observations. Included among the important factors that,
in General Maritimes and Arlingtons view, could cause actual results to differ materially from
the forward looking statements contained in this press release are the following: the ability to
obtain the approval of the transaction by General Maritimes and Arlingtons shareholders; the
ability to realize the expected benefits to the degree, in the amounts or in the timeframe
anticipated; the ability to integrate Arlingtons businesses with those of General Maritime in a
timely and cost-efficient manner; changes in demand; a material decline in rates in the tanker
market; changes in production of or demand for oil and petroleum products, generally or in
particular regions; greater than anticipated levels of tanker
newbuilding orders or lower than
anticipated rates of tanker scrapping; changes in rules and regulations applicable to the tanker
industry, including, without limitation, legislation adopted by international organizations such as
the International Maritime Organization and the European Union or by individual countries; actions
taken by regulatory authorities; changes in trading patterns significantly impacting overall tanker
tonnage requirements; changes in the typical seasonal variations in tanker charter rates; changes
in the cost of other modes of oil transportation; changes in oil transportation technology;
increases in costs including without limitation: crew wages, insurance, provisions, repairs and
maintenance; changes in general domestic and international political conditions; changes in the
condition of General Maritimes or Arlingtons vessels or applicable maintenance or regulatory
standards (which may affect, among other things, the companys anticipated drydocking or
maintenance and repair costs); changes in the
itineraries of General Maritimes or Arlingtons vessels; the fulfillment of the closing conditions
under, or the execution of customary additional documentation for, General Maritimes agreements to
acquire vessels and other factors listed from time to time in General Maritimes or Arlingtons
filings with the SEC, including, without limitation, their respective Annual Reports on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2007 and their respective subsequent reports on Form 10-Q and Form
8-K. The ability of General Maritime, Arlington, or the combined company to pay dividends in any
period will depend upon factors including applicable provisions of law and the final determination
by the Board of Directors each quarter after its review of the combined companys financial
performance. The timing and amount of dividends, if any, could also be affected by factors
affecting cash flows, results of operations, required capital expenditures, or reserves. As a
result, the amount of dividends actually paid may vary from the amounts currently estimated.
General Maritime and Arlington disclaim any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking
statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this document.
Arlington Tankers (NYSE:ATB)
Historical Stock Chart
From Oct 2024 to Nov 2024
Arlington Tankers (NYSE:ATB)
Historical Stock Chart
From Nov 2023 to Nov 2024