e425
Filed by Continental Airlines, Inc.
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: Continental Airlines, Inc.
Commission File No.: 1-10323
Important Information For Investors And Stockholders
In connection with the proposed merger of equals transaction between UAL Corporation (UAL)
and Continental Airlines, Inc. (Continental), UAL filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC), and the SEC declared effective on August 18, 2010, a registration statement on
Form S-4 that includes a joint proxy statement of Continental and UAL that also constitutes a
prospectus of UAL. UAL and Continental have mailed the joint proxy statement/prospectus to their
respective security holders. UAL AND CONTINENTAL URGE INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS TO READ THE
JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND
IN THEIR ENTIRETY, AS THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. Investors
and security holders may obtain free copies of the joint proxy statement/prospectus and other
documents containing important information about UAL and Continental through the website maintained
by the SEC at www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by UAL are available
free of charge on UALs website at www.united.com under the tab Investor Relations or by
contacting UALs Investor Relations Department at (312) 997-8610. Copies of the documents filed
with the SEC by Continental are available free of charge on Continentals website at
www.continental.com under the tab About Continental and then under the tab Investor
Relations or by contacting Continentals Investor Relations Department at (713) 324-5152.
UAL, Continental and certain of their respective directors and executive officers may be
deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed
transaction. Information about the directors and executive officers of Continental is set forth in
its proxy statement for its 2010 annual meeting of stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on
April 23, 2010, and the joint proxy statement/prospectus related to the proposed transaction.
Information about the directors and executive officers of UAL is set forth in its proxy statement
for its 2010 annual meeting of stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on April 30, 2010, and
the joint proxy statement/prospectus related to the proposed transaction. These documents can be
obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This communication contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor
provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are not limited to
historical facts, but reflect Continentals and UALs current beliefs, expectations or intentions
regarding future events. Words such as may, will, could, should, expect, plan,
project, intend, anticipate, believe, estimate, predict, potential, pursue,
target, continue, and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking
statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, Continentals and UALs
expectations with respect to the synergies, costs and other anticipated financial impacts of the
proposed transaction; future financial and operating results of the combined company; the combined
companys plans, objectives, expectations and intentions with respect to future operations and
services; approval of the proposed transaction by stockholders and by governmental regulatory
authorities; the satisfaction of the closing conditions to the proposed transaction; and the timing
of the completion of the proposed transaction.
All forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, many of which are
generally outside the control of Continental and UAL and are difficult to predict. Examples of
such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, (1) the possibility that the proposed
transaction is delayed or does not close, including due to the failure to receive required
stockholder or regulatory approvals, the taking of governmental action (including the passage of
legislation) to block the transaction, or the failure of other closing conditions, and (2) the
possibility that the expected synergies will not be realized, or will not be realized within the
expected time period, because of, among other things, significant volatility in the cost of
aircraft fuel, the high leverage and other significant capital commitments of Continental and UAL,
the ability to obtain financing and to refinance the combined companys debt, the ability of
Continental and UAL to maintain and utilize their respective net operating losses, the impact of
labor relations, global economic conditions, fluctuations in exchange rates, competitive actions
taken by other airlines, terrorist attacks, natural disasters, difficulties in integrating the two
airlines, the willingness of customers to travel by air, actions taken or conditions imposed by the
U.S. and foreign governments or other regulatory matters, excessive taxation, further industry
consolidation and changes in airlines alliances, the availability and cost of insurance and public
health threats.
UAL and Continental caution that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive. Additional
information concerning these and other risk factors is contained in Continentals and UALs most
recently filed Annual Reports on Form 10-K, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, recent
Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other SEC filings. All subsequent written and oral
forward-looking statements concerning Continental, UAL, the proposed transaction or other matters
and attributable to Continental or UAL or any person acting on their behalf are expressly qualified
in their entirety by the cautionary statements above. Neither Continental nor UAL undertakes any
obligation to publicly update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or
circumstances that may arise after the date hereof.
***
The following bulletin was circulated via email to Continental employees on September 7, 2010:
September 7, 2010
EMPLOYEE BULLETIN NO. 19
BROAD BASED STOCK OPTIONS TO BE CONVERTED TO OPTIONS IN
UNITED CONTINENTAL HOLDINGS, INC.; ESPP PROGRAM TO END
This bulletin contains information on two separate programs: the 2005 Broad Based Stock Option
Plans and the CO Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
The 2005 Broad Based Employee Stock Option Plan and the 2005 Pilot Supplemental Option Plan
Upon completion of the merger, outstanding broad based stock options granted under the Continental
Airlines, Inc. 2005 Broad Based Employee Stock Option Plan and the 2005 Pilot Supplemental Option
Plan (collectively, the Broad Based Plans) will be converted into options to purchase shares in
UAL Corporation, Uniteds parent company (UAL), which will be renamed United Continental Holdings,
Inc. at the time of the merger closing.
The number of shares that can be purchased under the adjusted options will be converted at the
merger exchange ratio of 1.05 shares of UAL common stock for every share of CO common stock, and
rounded down to the nearest whole share. For example, if, at the time of the merger, you have
outstanding options to purchase 100 shares of COs common stock, these options will convert to
options to purchase 105 shares of UAL common stock. The exercise price under the converted options
will also be adjusted by dividing the current exercise price by the exchange ratio (1.05), and
rounding up to the nearest whole cent. For example, if the current exercise price under your
outstanding CO options were $10.00/share of CO common stock, the converted options would be
adjusted to provide for an exercise price of $9.53/share of UAL common stock ($10.00/1.05) upon the
completion of the merger.
There will be a brief blackout period at the time of merger closing during which optionees will be
restricted from exercising options or selling shares obtained from option exercises so that stock
option accounts can be converted. The exact blackout dates have yet to be determined but will be
communicated to you in advance of the blackout period.
Other than the changes described above, your outstanding options under the Broad Based Plans will
continue to be subject to the same terms. Vested options granted under the Broad Based Plans will
remain exercisable until they expire, subject to certain termination rules outlined in your stock
option grant document. You can view your stock option account at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney by
going to www.benefitaccess.com. For more information, please contact Employee Stock Options
Administration at employeestockoptions@coair.com or call 713-324-5021, option 3.
ESPP to End Soon
The merger between CO and UAL will also mean COs Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) will end. The
last payroll deduction for the current quarterly purchase period is expected to occur in
mid-September, and your accumulated payroll deduction contributions will then be used to buy shares
of CO common stock. In connection with the merger, there will be a short blackout period during
which participants will be restricted from selling shares in their ESPP accounts so that the shares
of CO stock held in ESPP accounts can be converted into shares of the common stock of UAL. The
exact blackout dates have not yet been determined, but ESPP participants will be notified in
advance of the blackout period.
Participants need not take any action at this time, and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney will continue
to maintain participants accounts.
On the day we legally merge, CO and United will both be subsidiaries United Continental Holdings,
Inc., and the stockholders will own shares in that holding company. Shares of CO stock
will be converted into UAL stock at the merger exchange ratio of 1.05 shares of UAL common stock
for every share of CO common stock. For example, if you participate in the plan and have 100 shares
of CO stock in an ESPP account, those shares will be converted into 105 shares of UAL stock on the
date of the merger closing. Upon the closing of the merger, the CO Employee Stock Purchase Plan
will terminate.
For more information, participants may refer to a Q&A at Insidecoair > News and Events >
Employee Stock Purchase Plan Q&A. Participants can also contact ESPP Administration at
ESPP@coair.com or call 713-324-ESPP (3777).