HAMILTON, BERMUDA
- July 1, 2015 Frontline 2012 Ltd. (NOTC: FRNT) ("Frontline
2012") and Frontline Ltd. (NYSE/OSE/LSE: FRO) ("Frontline") have
today entered into an agreement and plan of merger (the "Merger
Agreement"), pursuant to which the two companies have agreed to
enter into a merger transaction, with Frontline as the surviving
legal entity ("the "Surviving Company") and Frontline 2012 as a
wholly-owned subsidiary. Subsequent to the merger, this
subsidiary is expected to merge into the Surviving Company
(together, the "Combined Company") which will retain the Frontline
Ltd. name.
Commenting on the transaction,
Chairman of Frontline Ltd. and Frontline 2012 Ltd., John Fredriksen
stated: "By merging Frontline and
Frontline 2012 we will regain Frontline's position as a leading
tanker Company. The Combined Company will have a large fleet
and a strong balance sheet which puts us in a position to gain
further market share through acquisitions and consolidation
opportunities. With the current strong tanker market and attractive
cash break even rates, we believe the Combined Company will
generate significant free cash. The intention is to pay out excess
cash as dividends at the Board's discretion. I am very pleased with
this merger and I am determined to develop and grow the Company
further."
After the merger is completed the
Combined Company expects to become one of the world's leading
tanker companies with a total fleet of approximately 90 vessels,
consisting of approximately 25 VLCCs, 17 Suezmax tankers, 16 MR
product tankers and 10 LR2 Aframax tankers. This includes
approximately 20 vessels on time charter in or under commercial
management. The Combined Company will also have a newbuilding
program of approximately 22 vessels, which are scheduled to be
delivered in the period 2015 - 2017.
Shareholders in Frontline 2012 as
of the time the merger is completed will receive shares in
Frontline as merger consideration. Pursuant to the Merger
Agreement, one share in Frontline 2012 will give the holder the
right to receive 2.55 shares in Frontline. The exchange ratio is
based on June 30, 2015 NAV broker estimates for Frontline and
Frontline 2012. Frontline is expected to issue a total of
approximately 584 million shares to shareholders in Frontline 2012
following cancellation of treasury shares held by Frontline 2012
and Frontline 2012 shares held by Frontline (subject to rounding
for fractional shares).
Frontline's ordinary shares are
currently listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange, the
Oslo Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange and Frontline
2012's ordinary shares are currently registered on the Norwegian
over-the-counter list (the "NOTC"). In accordance with the
Merger Agreement, the Combined Company will continue Frontlines
current three listings.
Completion of the merger is
subject to the execution of certain definitive documents, customary
closing conditions and regulatory approvals. The merger is also
subject to approval by the shareholders of Frontline and Frontline
2012 in special general meetings expected to be held in the fourth
quarter of 2015 and the merger is expected to close as soon as
possible thereafter.
In connection with the special
general meetings, Hemen Holding Limited ("Hemen"), a company
indirectly controlled by trusts established by John
Fredriksen for the benefit of his immediate family, and
holding approximately 13% of the ordinary shares in Frontline and
approximately 59% of the ordinary shares in Frontline 2012, and
Ship Finance International Limited ("Ship Finance"), holding
approximately 28% of the ordinary shares in Frontline, have entered
into voting agreements to vote all of their respective shares in
favor of the merger. Approval of the merger requires that a
minimum of 75% of the voting Frontline 2012 shareholders and 50% of
the voting Frontline shareholders vote in favor of the merger.
Following completion of the
merger, Frontline will (subject to rounding for any fractional
shares) have approximately 782 million shares outstanding and it is
expected that Frontline's current two largest shareholders, Hemen
and Ship Finance, will own approximately 52% and 7%, respectively,
of the shares and votes in the Combined Company.
Important Information For
Investors And Shareholders
This communication does not constitute an offer to
sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a
solicitation of any vote or approval. In connection with the
proposed transaction between Frontline and Frontline 2012,
Frontline will file relevant materials with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including a registration statement
of Frontline on Form F-4 that will include a joint proxy statement
of Frontline 2012 and Frontline that also constitutes a prospectus
of Frontline, and the joint proxy statement/prospectus will be
mailed to shareholders of Frontline 2012 and Frontline. INVESTORS
AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF FRONTLINE 2012 AND FRONTLINE ARE URGED TO
READ THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS THAT
WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN
THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT
INFORMATION. Investors and security holders will be able to
obtain free copies of the registration statement and the joint
proxy statement/prospectus (when available) and other documents
filed with or furnished to the SEC by Frontline through the website
maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of the
documents filed with or furnished to the SEC by Frontline will be
available free of charge on Frontline's website at
http://www.Frontlineshipping.com. Additional information
regarding the participants in the proxy solicitations and a
description of their direct and indirect interests, by security
holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the joint proxy
statement/prospectus and other relevant materials to be filed with
or furnished to the SEC when they become available.
Forward-Looking Statements
Matters discussed in this press release may
constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking
statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals,
strategies, future events or performance, and underlying
assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements
of historical facts. Words, such as, but not limited to "believe,"
"anticipate," "intends," "estimate," "forecast," "project," "plan,"
"potential," "may," "should," "expect," "pending" and similar
expressions identify forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements include, without
limitation, statements regarding:
· The effectuation of the transaction between
Frontline and Frontline 2012 described above;
· The delivery to and operation of assets by
Frontline;
· Frontline's and Frontline 2012's future
operating or financial results;
· Future, pending or recent acquisitions, business
strategy, areas of possible expansion, and expected capital
spending or operating expenses; and
· Tanker market trends, including charter rates
and factors affecting vessel supply and demand.
The forward-looking statements in this press
release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are
based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without
limitation, examination of historical operating trends, data
contained in records and other data available from third parties.
Although Frontline believes that these assumptions were reasonable
when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to
significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or
impossible to predict and are beyond the control of Frontline,
Frontline cannot assure you that they, or the Combined Company,
will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or
projections. In addition to these important factors, other
important factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements,
including the strength of world economies and currencies, general
market conditions, including fluctuations in charter rates and
vessel values, changes in demand for tanker shipping capacity,
changes in the Combined Company's operating expenses, including
bunker prices, drydocking and insurance costs, the market for the
Combined Company's vessels, availability of financing and
refinancing, changes in governmental rules and regulations or
actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from
pending or future litigation, general domestic and international
political conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due
to accidents or political events, vessels breakdowns and instances
of off-hires and other factors. Please see Frontline's filings with
the SEC for a more complete discussion of these and other risks and
uncertainties. The information set forth herein speaks only as of
the date hereof, and Frontline disclaims any intention or
obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of
developments occurring after the date of this communication.
July 1, 2015
The Boards of Directors
Frontline 2012 Ltd.
Hamilton, Bermuda
Contact Persons:
Robert Hvide Macleod: CEO, Frontline Management AS
+47 23 11 40 84
Inger M. Klemp: CFO, Frontline Management
AS
+47 23 11 40 76
This
announcement is distributed by NASDAQ OMX Corporate Solutions on
behalf of NASDAQ OMX Corporate Solutions clients.
The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely
responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the
information contained therein.
Source: Frontline 2012 Ltd. via Globenewswire
HUG#1933718
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