HAMILTON, Bermuda, Sept. 22, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ship Finance International Limited (NYSE: SFL) ("Ship Finance" or the "Company"), today announced that it has agreed to sell the 1995 built Suezmax tanker Front Splendour to an unrelated third party. The Company has simultaneously agreed to terminate the corresponding charter party for the 20-year old crude oil carrier with a subsidiary of Frontline Ltd. ("Frontline").
The vessel is expected to be delivered to its new owner in the fourth quarter, 2015. Net cash proceeds will be approximately $13 million, after a compensation of approximately $1.3 million to Frontline for the early termination of the charter.
Divesting of older vessels is a part of the Company's strategy to renew and diversify the fleet, and the proceeds are expected to be reinvested in new assets. Following this sale, the number of vessels on charter to Frontline will be reduced to 15 vessels, including 12 VLCCs and three Suezmax crude oil carriers.
The Board of Directors
Ship Finance International Limited
Hamilton, Bermuda
Questions can be directed to Ship Finance Management AS:
Ole B. Hjertaker, Chief Executive Officer: +47 23114011
Andre Reppen, Senior Vice President: +47 23114055
About Ship Finance
Ship Finance International Limited (NYSE: SFL) has an unprecedented track record in the maritime industry, being consistently profitable and paying dividends every quarter since 2004. The Company's fleet of more than 70 vessels is split between tankers, bulkers, container vessels and offshore assets, and Ship Finance's long term distribution capacity is supported by a portfolio of long term charters and significant growth in the asset base over time.
This press release may contain forward looking statements. These statements are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including Ship Finance management's examination of historical operating trends. Although Ship Finance believes that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond its control, Ship Finance cannot give assurance that it will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or intentions. Important factors that, in the Company's view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in this presentation include the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions including fluctuations in charter hire rates and vessel values, changes in demand in the tanker market as a result of changes in OPEC's petroleum production levels and worldwide oil consumption and storage, changes in the Company's operating expenses including bunker prices, dry-docking and insurance costs, changes in governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, general domestic and international political conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents or political events, and other important factors described from time to time in the reports filed by the Company with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
HUG#1953665
Source: GlobeNewswire
(September 22, 2015 - 6:06 AM EDT)
