OSG America L.P. (OSG America or the Partnership; NYSE: OSP), the
largest operator of U.S. Flag product carriers and ocean-going barges
transporting refined petroleum products, today reported that the Board
of Directors of its general partner has declared a distribution of
$0.375 per unit for the period April 1, 2009 to June 30, 2009. The
distribution is payable on August 14, 2009 to unitholders of record on
August 7, 2009.
As separately announced, Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc. (OSG or
Sponsor; NYSE: OSG), which owns a 77.1% interest in the Partnership,
announced its intention to tender for all of the outstanding common
units of OSG America held by the public. In a letter received by
independent members of OSG America LLC’s Board of Directors, OSG
communicated its intention to initiate a tender offer in late August for
all the publicly held common units at a price of $8.00 in cash per unit,
representing a premium of approximately 12.7% above the closing unit
price of OSG America on July 29, 2009 and 11.1% above the average
closing price of the units for the preceding 90 trading days.
Myles Itkin, President and CEO of OSG America stated, “After much
discussion, the Board decided to maintain the dividend for the second
quarter. Management’s current forecast indicates that distributable cash
flow in the second half of 2009 through 2010 will be below that required
to cover the Partnership’s historical quarterly distribution on the
common and subordinated Partnership units. Recent deterioration of the
Jones Act market resulting from lower U.S. oil demand and suspended or
cancelled refinery expansion projects present near- and medium-term
challenges for the Partnership. In addition, six vessels in the
Partnership’s operating fleet will come off term charters by the end of
2009 and are expected to enter the spot market. The Board of Directors
will continue to carefully evaluate the appropriate level of future
distributions based on the Partnership’s financial condition, capital
needed for future growth, and earnings and the general economic and
financial market environment.”
The full text of the letter to the independent members of OSG America
LLC’s Board of Directors follows.
OSG America will announce its second quarter fiscal 2009 financial
results on August 5, 2009 prior to market open. A conference call is
scheduled for the same day at 1:00 p.m. ET. Dial-in information for the
call is (800) 762-8779 (domestic) and (480) 248-5081 (international).
Full Text of Letter Sent to the
Independent Directors of OSG America LLC
July 29, 2009
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Conflicts Committee of the Board of Directors
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OSG America LLC
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666 Third Avenue
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New York, New York 10017
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Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are pleased to advise you that we intend to offer to acquire all of
the outstanding common units of OSG America L.P. (OSP) that we do not
currently own at a price per unit of $8.00 in cash. This offer
represents a premium of approximately 12.7% over the closing price of
the units on July 29, 2009, and a premium of approximately 11.1% over
the average closing price of the units for the preceding 90 trading days.
The tender offer will be conditioned upon, among other things, the
tender of more than 4,003,166 common units, which is a majority of the
units of OSP not owned by OSG and its affiliates. We expect that any
units not acquired in the tender offer would thereafter be acquired by
us through the exercise of our right to acquire any remaining units
pursuant to Section 15.01 of the OSP limited partnership agreement. If
we exercise this right, we will mail to each holder of units who did not
tender their units in the tender offer a notice of our election to
purchase their units and such holder will receive, for each unit, the
price provided for in the OSG Partnership Agreement, which price is
expected to be $8.00 cash per unit.
We believe that our offer to acquire the public units of OSP represents
an attractive opportunity for OSP unitholders to realize the value of
their units at a significant premium to the recent unit price. There
will be no financing contingency associated with the tender offer.
We remain committed to the long term operation and ownership of our U.S.
Flag business. Consequently, we have no interest in selling our
significant stake in OSP to a third party.
Although our offer will not be conditioned upon approval by the
Conflicts Committee, OSG understands that the Conflicts Committee will
carefully consider OSG’s proposal and will make its recommendation to
unitholders in a timely manner. Inasmuch as we intend to initiate our
tender offer in late August, the Conflicts Committee will have
sufficient time to consult its own legal and financial advisors (we
understand that you have selected Jones Day and Lazard) and undertake a
thorough analysis.
A copy of the press release announcing the tender offer is enclosed for
your information. We expect to make this release public later today.
Please call me if you have any questions.
Sincerely yours,
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Morten Arntzen
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President and CEO
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OVERSEAS SHIPHOLDING GROUP, INC.
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Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding the
Partnership’s prospects, including the outlook for U.S. tanker and
articulated tug barge markets, the projected distributable cash flow for
the balance of 2009 and for 2010, the payment of cash distributions, the
timely delivery of newbuildings in accordance with contractual terms and
the forecast of U.S. economic activity and U.S. oil demand. These
statements are based on certain assumptions made by the Partnership
based on its experience and perception of historical trends, expected
future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the
circumstances. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of
risks, uncertainties and assumptions, many of which are beyond the
control of the Partnership, which may cause actual results to differ
materially from those implied or expressed by the forward-look
statements. Factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual
results to differ from expectations reflected in such forward-looking
statements are described in the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K
for 2008 and those risks discussed in other reports the Partnership
files with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
About OSG America L.P.
OSG America L.P. is the largest operator of U.S. Flag product carriers
and ocean-going barges transporting refined petroleum products, based on
barrel-carrying capacity. OSG America has an operating fleet of 23
Handysize product carriers and tug barges that trade primarily in the
Jones Act market. OSG America’s limited partner units are listed on the
New York Stock Exchange and trade under the symbol "OSP." More
information is available at www.osgamerica.com.
OSG Ship Management, Inc.
Jennifer L. Schlueter, +1 212-578-1699
Vice
President Corporate Communications and Investor Relations