Triton Container International Limited and TAL International Group, Inc. jointly announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which the companies will combine in an all-stock merger of equals transaction. The transaction, which has been unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies, will create the world’s largest lessor of intermodal freight containers with a combined container fleet of nearly five million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) and revenue earning assets of $8.7 billion.

Under the terms of the transaction agreement, Triton and TAL International will combine under a newly-formed holding company, Triton International Limited (“Triton International”), which will be domiciled in Bermuda and is expected to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Triton shareholders will own 55% of the equity of the combined company and TAL International shareholders will own 45%. TAL International shareholders will receive one common share of Triton International for each share of TAL International stock owned. TAL International shareholders will also receive a special dividend of $0.54 per share upon closing of the transaction.

Triton was founded in 1980 and is currently owned by Warburg Pincus LLC and Vestar Capital Partners, along with other private investors, including members of Triton management. Triton operates a container fleet of 2.4 million TEU, services its customers through 19 subsidiary offices in 13 countries and is domiciled in Bermuda.

TAL International was founded in 1963 and has been publicly listed since 2005. TAL International operates a container fleet of 2.4 million TEU, services its customers through 17 offices in 11 countries and is domiciled in Delaware.