Filed by Continental Airlines, Inc.
Pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933
and deemed filed pursuant to Rule 14a-12
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Subject Company: Continental Airlines, Inc.
Commission File No.: 1-10323
The following letter was first distributed to the suppliers of Continental Airlines, Inc. on
May 3, 2010:
May 3, 2010
Dear Valued Supplier:
I am writing to share some significant and exciting news. This morning we announced that we have
signed a definitive agreement with United for an all-stock merger of equals, which will create the
industry-leading global airline with the worlds most comprehensive network, with ten hubs,
including hubs in the four largest cities in the United States. For your convenience, we have
attached a copy of the press release.
We believe that the merger with United is the best way to ensure that we remain a strong long-term
competitor in the airline industry. As you know, the competitive landscape is changing and todays
announcement is the culmination of a very thorough and diligent review of available options by our
Board of Directors. This strategic combination of two of the most respected and compatible global
carriers will result in a stronger company, both operationally and financially. Combining our
complementary route networks will help us create a world-class airline with tremendous and enduring
strengths and will provide the greater scope and scale that is necessary to compete long-term in
the rapidly changing global aviation industry.
Glenn Tilton, chairman, president and chief executive officer of UAL Corp., will serve as
non-executive chairman of the combined companys Board of Directors through December 31, 2012 or
the second anniversary of closing, whichever is later. Jeff Smisek, Continentals chairman,
president and chief executive officer, will be chief executive officer and a member of the Board of
Directors. He will also become executive chairman of the Board upon Tiltons ceasing to be
non-executive chairman.
The companys name will be United Airlines and the marketing brand will be a combination of the
brands of both companies. Aircraft will have the Continental livery, logo and colors, with the
United name. Our corporate and operational headquarters will be located in Chicago, with a
significant presence in Houston, which will be the combined companys largest hub. We expect to
maintain substantial employment in both locations.
The merger is conditioned on approval by the shareholders of both companies, receipt of regulatory
clearance, and certain closing conditions. We hope to have these approvals and clearance and close
the merger in the fourth quarter of this year. Until the merger is closed, both airlines will
continue to operate independently.
We want you to know that Continental recognizes you our supplier as a critical part of the
combined companys future. You play a pivotal role in the successful operations of our company and
we look forward to maintaining our valuable relationship with you while we remain focused on
operating business as usual and continuing to offer superior service to our customers.
Please do not hesitate to contact your representative at Continental with any questions. For
additional information on the merger, we encourage you to go to www.unitedcontinentalmerger.com
we will be updating it regularly.
We value and appreciate your services. Thank you for your ongoing support.
Sincerely,
Katrina D. Manning
Vice President, Corporate Purchasing and Material Services
Important Information For Investors And Stockholders
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. The proposed merger of equals
transaction between UAL Corporation (UAL) and Continental Airlines, Inc. (Continental) will be
submitted to the respective stockholders of UAL and Continental for their consideration. UAL will
file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) a registration statement on Form S-4 that
will include a joint proxy statement of Continental and UAL that also constitutes a prospectus of
UAL. UAL and Continental also plan to file other documents with the SEC regarding the proposed
transaction. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF CONTINENTAL ARE URGED TO READ THE JOINT PROXY
STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN
THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE
PROPOSED TRANSACTION. Investors and stockholders will be able to obtain free copies of the joint
proxy statement/prospectus and other documents containing important information about UAL and
Continental, once such documents are filed with the SEC, through the website maintained by the SEC
at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by UAL will be 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 will be 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 from the stockholders of Continental 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. 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. These documents can be obtained free of charge
from the sources indicated above. Other information regarding the participants in the proxy
solicitation 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 the SEC when they become available.
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; the timing of
the completion of the proposed transaction; and other factors that are set forth in the Risk
Factors section, the Legal Proceedings section, the Managements Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations section and other sections of UALs and
Continentals 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.