TRITON ENERGY CORP
DEFA14A, 1996-02-27
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<PAGE>
                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

                  Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
                      the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

    Filed by the Registrant /X/
    Filed by a Party other than the Registrant / /

    Check the appropriate box:
    / /  Preliminary Proxy Statement
    / /  Confidential, for use of the Commission only (as permitted by Rule
         14a-6(e)(2))
    / /  Definitive Proxy Statement
    /X/  Definitive Additional Materials
    / /  Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-11(c) or
         Section240.14a-12

                                 TRITON ENERGY CORPORATION
- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

/ /  $125 per Exchange Act Rules 0-11(c)(1)(ii), 14a-6(i)(1), 14a-6(i)(2) or
     Item 22(a)(2) of Schedule 14A.
/ /  $500  per  each party  to  the controversy  pursuant  to Exchange  Act Rule
     14a-6(i)(3).
/X/  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.
     1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: (i)
        Class A ordinary shares, par value $.01 per share, of Triton Energy
        Limited, Class B ordinary shares, par value $.01 per share, of Triton
        Energy Limited and 1/10th of a share of preferred stock, par value $.01
        per share, of Triton Energy Corporation, to be issued in connection with
        the transaction and (ii) Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share of
        Triton Energy Corporation ("Triton Delaware Common Stock"), to be
        acquired by Triton Energy Limited in the transaction.
     2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: 35,899,958
        being the maximum number of shares of Triton Delaware Common Stock to be
        acquired by Triton Energy Limited in the transaction.
     3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
        pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the
        filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): The per unit
        price of each share of Triton Delaware Common Stock is $53.438 (the
        average high and low price of such stock on the New York Stock Exchange,
        Inc. Composite Transaction Tape on December 19, 1995). The filing fee of
        $383,684.39 is calculated in accordance with Rule 0-11(c)(1) under the
        Exchange Act as one-fiftieth of one percent of the product of
        $35,899,958 shares to be acquired in the transaction and $53.438.
     4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: $1,918,421,956.00.
     5) Total fee paid: $383,684.39.
/X/  Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
/ /  Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
     0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
     previously.
     Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the  Form
     or Schedule and the date of its filing.
     1) Amount Previously Paid:
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
     2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
     3) Filing Party:
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
     4) Date Filed:
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------

<PAGE>
                     [TRITON ENERGY CORPORATION LETTERHEAD]
                                                               February 26, 1996

Dear Stockholder:

    Under  separate cover, you will be receiving,  or may have received, a Proxy
Statement/Joint Prospectus relating to a  Special Meeting of Stockholders to  be
held  on March 25,  1996. As described in  the Proxy Statement/Joint Prospectus,
the purpose of  the meeting  is to consider  the reorganization  of the  company
whereby Triton Energy Limited, a Cayman Islands company, would become the parent
company of Triton Energy Corporation.

    Because  of  the  complexity of  the  transaction, we  thought  the enclosed
question and answer document would assist your consideration and  understanding.
We  encourage you to read carefully the Proxy Statement/Joint Prospectus for the
details of the reorganization and related information.

    It is important that  your shares be represented  regardless of whether  you
plan  to be present at  the Special Meeting. Please  complete, date and sign the
proxy card  enclosed with  the Proxy  Statement/ Joint  Prospectus and  mail  it
promptly  in the return envelope provided. If you should have further questions,
please do not hesitate to call our proxy solicitation firm, Georgeson &  Company
Inc., at (800) 223-2064, or our Investor Relations department.

                                          Sincerely,
                                          /s/ Thomas G. Finck
                                          Thomas G. Finck
                                          Chairman of the Board and Chief
                                            Executive Officer
<PAGE>
                              QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
                         ABOUT TRITON'S REORGANIZATION

CORPORATE MOTIVATION/TAX ISSUES

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 1)   Q:  WHY IS TRITON UNDERTAKING THE REORGANIZATION AT THIS TIME?
      A:  We  believe  that  undertaking  the  reorganization  now  will enhance
          shareholder value  because  it will  increase  the net  present  value
          (after taxes) of the Company. The longer we wait to relocate offshore,
          the less we believe the benefit will be.

 2)   Q:  WHY REINCORPORATE TRITON IN THE CAYMAN ISLANDS?
      A:  The  Cayman Islands is stable  and nearby, and is  a commonly used and
          understood no-tax regime. The Cayman  Islands also has a  well-defined
          legal   system  that   is  based   on  British   common  law.  Several
          Cayman-chartered companies are listed on the New York Stock  Exchange,
          evidence  that  Cayman Islands  companies  have been  accepted  by the
          investment community.

 3)   Q:  IF THIS REORGANIZATION IS  SUCH A GREAT IDEA,  WHY HAVEN'T MANY  OTHER
          U.S. COMPANIES DONE IT?
      A:  Triton,  unlike most U.S. companies, conducts substantially all of its
          business outside  the U.S.  and, therefore,  derives its  income  from
          foreign  operations. By moving offshore  now, when Triton is embarking
          on what we believe is a period of substantial growth, the Company  can
          capture the benefits of an offshore reorganization.

OPERATIONS

 4)   Q:  WILL  THERE BE ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN  THE WAY TRITON IS RUN AFTER
          THE REORGANIZATION?
      A:  No. Triton's  strategy will  continue to  be to  increase  shareholder
          value through the discovery of significant oil and gas reserves. There
          will  be no change in the management or operations of the Company as a
          result of the move offshore.

 5)   Q:  WILL OWNERSHIP OF THE CUSIANA AND  CUPIAGUA FIELDS BE MOVED TO  TRITON
          CAYMAN?
      A:  No.  These fields are Triton's  largest and most-developed properties.
          Triton's net  operating  loss  carry forwards  and  U.S.  foreign  tax
          credits  are  expected to  eliminate,  in large  part,  U.S. corporate
          income  taxes  on  the  Company's  Cusiana  and  Cupiagua  operations.
          Moreover,  a subsequent sale of the  ownership in Cusiana and Cupiagua
          fields may be structured so as to not be subject to U.S. capital-gains
          taxes.

SHAREHOLDER/TRADING/INDIVIDUALS' TAXES

 6)   Q:  WHY DID TRITON CREATE AN EQUITY UNIT IN ADDITION TO CLASS A SHARES?
      A:  The Equity Unit has been  provided as an alternative for  shareholders
          who want to retain a preferred, equity interest in Triton. It has been
          structured with the intention of enabling those holders to defer taxes
          until  such time as  the Equity Units  are sold by  the shareholder or
          purchased by Triton  Delaware or Triton  Cayman. Triton's special  tax
          counsel  are of the opinion  that it is more  likely than not that the
          receipt of the Preferred Stock component of the Equity Units will  not
          be  a taxable transaction, although there can be no assurance that the
          IRS or the courts will agree.

 7)   Q:  IS THE INCOME FROM EXCHANGING MY  SHARES FOR EITHER CLASS A SHARES  OR
          THE EQUITY UNITS TREATED AS A CAPITAL GAIN OR AS ORDINARY INCOME?
      A:  For  most individual  holders, the income  will be  treated as capital
          gain with  the  tax  rate  depending  on  their  holding  period.  For
          currently  non-taxable holders (such as IRAs, pension funds and 401(k)
          plans), the reorganization will  generally not trigger recognition  of
          taxable gain.
</TABLE>

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<TABLE>
<C>  <C>  <S>
 8)   Q:  WILL  THERE BE A CHANGE  IN THE COST BASIS  OF MY SECURITIES AFTER THE
          REORGANIZATION?
      A:  Generally, for shareholders who are  taxed on the reorganization,  the
          basis of the Class A Shares and Class B Shares (included in the Equity
          Units)  with  respect to  which gain  is recognized  will be  the fair
          market value  of  these  securities  at  the  effective  time  of  the
          reorganization.  There  will be  no change  in  basis for  holders who
          realize a loss.

 9)   Q:  WILL THE HOLDING PERIOD OF MY SHARES OF COMMON STOCK BE COUNTED TOWARD
          THE HOLDING PERIOD  (FOR DETERMINING SHORT-TERM  OR LONG-TERM  CAPITAL
          GAIN  TREATMENT ON ANY FUTURE SALE) FOR THE SECURITIES RECEIVED IN THE
          REORGANIZATION?
      A:  Except for holders who realize a  loss on the exchange, a new  holding
          period  for the Class A Shares and  the Class B Shares included in the
          Equity Units will commence  on the day  after the reorganization.  The
          holding  period for the  Preferred Stock included  in the Equity Units
          should include  the holding  period  of the  Common Stock  treated  as
          exchanged  for the Preferred Stock in  the reorganization. In the case
          of holders  realizing a  loss, the  holding period  of their  Class  A
          Shares  or Class  B Shares,  as the  case may  be, should  include the
          holding period of the Common Stock exchanged therefor.

10)   Q:  IF I CHOOSE  THE EQUITY UNITS,  HOW MUCH WILL  I BE LIKELY  TO OWE  IN
          TAXES?
      A:  This  will depend,  in part, on  the relative values  of the component
          parts of the Equity Units (i.e.,  the value of the one-tenth share  of
          Preferred  Stock and the Class  B Share) at the  effective time of the
          reorganization, which  will  be determined  by  Triton, based  on  the
          advice  of  our financial  advisors.  Triton will  notify  Equity Unit
          holders  of  its  determination  after  the  effective  time  of   the
          reorganization. It is intended that most of an investor's gain will be
          deferred  by acceptance of the Equity Units. However, no assurance can
          be given that the IRS will agree with Triton's valuations.

11)   Q:  IF I OPT TO RECEIVE  CLASS A SHARES OR EQUITY  UNITS, WHEN WILL I  OWE
          TAXES IF I INCUR A GAIN?
      A:  This will depend on the taxable year of the investor. For example, for
          most individual Triton shareholders on a calendar year, taxes would be
          due on this 1996 transaction in April 1997 (subject to the requirement
          to make quarterly estimated tax payments for certain taxpayers).

12)   Q:  IF  I AM PLANNING TO  SELL MY TRITON SHARES  DURING 1996, WHICH OPTION
          SHOULD I CHOOSE?
      A:  Which option  should be  chosen  is an  individual decision  that  the
          Company  believes  may  vary  from  holder  to  holder.  However,  the
          potential tax deferral available to shareholders choosing Equity Units
          would not be a  significant benefit to shareholders  who plan to  sell
          their shares in 1996.

13)   Q:  WILL  THE CLASS A  SHARES BE LISTED  AND, IF SO,  WHERE AND UNDER WHAT
          SYMBOL?
      A:  Class A shares will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange and  will
          be  traded under the  symbol "OIL," the same  stock symbol that Triton
          Energy Corporation is traded  under today. Accordingly, Triton  Cayman
          will  be subject to the  rules of the Exchange  and the Securities and
          Exchange Commission.

14)   Q:  WILL THE  EQUITY UNITS  BE LISTED  AND, IF  SO, WHERE  AND UNDER  WHAT
          SYMBOL?
      A:  Assuming the minimum election number is reached, the Equity Units will
          be  listed on the New York Stock Exchange and will be traded under the
          symbol "OIL.B."

15)   Q:  WILL THERE BE ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE TRADING LIQUIDITY OF THE CLASS  A
          SHARES AND THE EQUITY UNITS?
      A:  There  is  currently no  established trading  market  for the  Class A
          Shares or the  Equity Units,  and there can  be no  assurance that  an
          active  market will develop. Because there will be significantly fewer
          Equity Units than Class A Shares,  Triton expects that the market  for
          Equity Units will be less liquid. There also can be no assurance about
          the market prices, or relative market prices, of the Class A Shares or
          Equity Units in the future.
</TABLE>

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<TABLE>
<C>  <C>  <S>
16)   Q:  WILL  THERE BE ANY  CHANGE IN THE  WAY I OBTAIN  STOCK QUOTES, EXECUTE
          TRADES, ETC?
      A:  No. You will be able  to perform these functions  the same way you  do
          now.

17)   Q:  CAN  I STILL VOTE IN MATTERS RELATED  TO THE NEW PARENT, TRITON ENERGY
          LIMITED?
      A:  Yes, both Class A and Equity Unit holders will be entitled to vote  on
          these matters.

18)   Q:  IF I OPT TO EXCHANGE MY TRITON SHARES FOR CLASS A SHARES, DO I TURN IN
          MY STOCK CERTIFICATES?
      A:  Turn  in your stock certificates only  if you choose the Equity Units.
          Please see  instructions  in the  proxy  statement for  more  detailed
          information.
</TABLE>

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