Weekend Edition: High Seas Mergers
Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc. (OSG) and Maritrans Inc. (TUG) jointly announced this morning that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement. We have OSG will acquire Maritrans for some $37.50 per share. Maritrans a leading U.S. Flag crude oil and petroleum product shipping company that owns and operates one of the largest fleets of double hull vessels serving the East coast and U.S. Gulf coast trades.
The Boards of Directors of each company have already approved this all-cash transaction for $37.50 per share. The transaction is valued at approximately $455 million based on approximately 12 million shares outstanding and the assumption of net debt outstanding as of June 30, 2006. OSG will finance the acquisition through a combination of available cash and borrowings under existing credit facilities. The transaction is expected to be immediately accretive to OSG's earnings per share, before considering any transaction synergies. This compares to OSG's $2.4 Billion market cap, and represents a 47% premium to Maritrans (TUG) closing prices.
"The strategic fit of Maritrans within OSG's diversified portfolio of assets will broaden our service offerings to customers in the Jones Act market," said Morten Arntzen, President and CEO of OSG. "Additionally, the lightering business in Delaware Bay and the addition of new customers in the complementary ATB Gulf of Mexico and Florida short-haul trade, will contribute meaningfully to our contractual base of business. Most importantly, however, are Maritrans' strong commercial reputation and its team of talented personnel which, when combined with our U.S. Flag operation, will give us the platform to support our 10 Jones Act product carrier newbuilds, as well as future growth opportunities in U.S. coastal trades."
Jonathan P. Whitworth, CEO of Maritrans, commented, "We are very excited about the transaction with OSG and the benefits it brings to shareholders, customers and employees. A greater commercial footprint will allow us to serve our customers better with a more diversified product offering. The larger fleet also enhances our market intelligence, a critical ingredient in effectively competing in the shipping market. Moreover, the financial strength that OSG brings to the combination will enhance our ability to compete. We look forward to a successful integration and to becoming the newest member of the OSG family."
We have been expecting many such mergers to commence in the international shipping companies, particularly as the switch to double hull tankers is in full tilt. We have about 5 other shipping companies in our BAIT SHOP that we believe will be acquired in a similar fashion. In the wake of hurricane damage to US ship building and because of a myriad of other factors, this industry is ripe for added consolidation.
ADDITIONAL DATA ON THE MERGER
The transaction combines two fleets with complementary strengths in different trade routes and diversifies OSG's U.S. Flag presence with the ability to offer expanded services to current and future customers of both companies. The addition of Maritrans' fleet of 11 articulated tug barges (ATBs), five product carriers, two of which have been redeployed to transport grain, and three large ATBs under construction will complement OSG's U.S. Flag fleet of seven operating vessels and 10 newbuild product carriers. The combination will expand OSG's market presence in the U.S. Gulf coast, Florida and East coast trades and add lightering operations along the U.S. East coast. It is expected that Maritrans' vessel construction program, which involves ATBs to be used in lightering operations, will allow OSG to use a substantial portion of its Capital Construction Fund. OSG's commitment to invest and expand in the Jones Act market results from strong, positive market fundamentals that include a steady and growing demand in the U.S. for oil and refined petroleum products, especially transportation fuels such as gasoline, low sulfur diesel and ethanol, and the need to replace the capacity of ships that will be retired pursuant to the OPA-90 phase-out schedule. The transaction, which is expected to close by year-end 2006, is subject to approval by a majority of Maritrans' shareholders and other customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. Upon completion, the U.S. Flag strategic business unit will operate its combined fleet from Maritrans' headquarters in Tampa, Florida and will report to Jonathan P. Whitworth as Senior Vice President of OSG.
UBS Investment Bank is acting as OSG's sole financial advisor and Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP is acting as lead legal counsel to OSG. Merrill Lynch & Co is acting as Maritrans' financial advisor and Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP is acting as legal counsel to Maritrans.
Jon C. Ogg
The Boards of Directors of each company have already approved this all-cash transaction for $37.50 per share. The transaction is valued at approximately $455 million based on approximately 12 million shares outstanding and the assumption of net debt outstanding as of June 30, 2006. OSG will finance the acquisition through a combination of available cash and borrowings under existing credit facilities. The transaction is expected to be immediately accretive to OSG's earnings per share, before considering any transaction synergies. This compares to OSG's $2.4 Billion market cap, and represents a 47% premium to Maritrans (TUG) closing prices.
"The strategic fit of Maritrans within OSG's diversified portfolio of assets will broaden our service offerings to customers in the Jones Act market," said Morten Arntzen, President and CEO of OSG. "Additionally, the lightering business in Delaware Bay and the addition of new customers in the complementary ATB Gulf of Mexico and Florida short-haul trade, will contribute meaningfully to our contractual base of business. Most importantly, however, are Maritrans' strong commercial reputation and its team of talented personnel which, when combined with our U.S. Flag operation, will give us the platform to support our 10 Jones Act product carrier newbuilds, as well as future growth opportunities in U.S. coastal trades."
Jonathan P. Whitworth, CEO of Maritrans, commented, "We are very excited about the transaction with OSG and the benefits it brings to shareholders, customers and employees. A greater commercial footprint will allow us to serve our customers better with a more diversified product offering. The larger fleet also enhances our market intelligence, a critical ingredient in effectively competing in the shipping market. Moreover, the financial strength that OSG brings to the combination will enhance our ability to compete. We look forward to a successful integration and to becoming the newest member of the OSG family."
We have been expecting many such mergers to commence in the international shipping companies, particularly as the switch to double hull tankers is in full tilt. We have about 5 other shipping companies in our BAIT SHOP that we believe will be acquired in a similar fashion. In the wake of hurricane damage to US ship building and because of a myriad of other factors, this industry is ripe for added consolidation.
ADDITIONAL DATA ON THE MERGER
The transaction combines two fleets with complementary strengths in different trade routes and diversifies OSG's U.S. Flag presence with the ability to offer expanded services to current and future customers of both companies. The addition of Maritrans' fleet of 11 articulated tug barges (ATBs), five product carriers, two of which have been redeployed to transport grain, and three large ATBs under construction will complement OSG's U.S. Flag fleet of seven operating vessels and 10 newbuild product carriers. The combination will expand OSG's market presence in the U.S. Gulf coast, Florida and East coast trades and add lightering operations along the U.S. East coast. It is expected that Maritrans' vessel construction program, which involves ATBs to be used in lightering operations, will allow OSG to use a substantial portion of its Capital Construction Fund. OSG's commitment to invest and expand in the Jones Act market results from strong, positive market fundamentals that include a steady and growing demand in the U.S. for oil and refined petroleum products, especially transportation fuels such as gasoline, low sulfur diesel and ethanol, and the need to replace the capacity of ships that will be retired pursuant to the OPA-90 phase-out schedule. The transaction, which is expected to close by year-end 2006, is subject to approval by a majority of Maritrans' shareholders and other customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. Upon completion, the U.S. Flag strategic business unit will operate its combined fleet from Maritrans' headquarters in Tampa, Florida and will report to Jonathan P. Whitworth as Senior Vice President of OSG.
UBS Investment Bank is acting as OSG's sole financial advisor and Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP is acting as lead legal counsel to OSG. Merrill Lynch & Co is acting as Maritrans' financial advisor and Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP is acting as legal counsel to Maritrans.
Jon C. Ogg
posted by douglas mcintyre at 5:06 PM
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