HAMILTON, Bermuda, May 29, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
Highlights
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Frontline reports net income attributable to the Company of $31.1 million for the first quarter of 2015, equivalent to earnings per share of $0.25.
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Today, Frontline announced that it has entered into a heads of agreement to amend the terms of the long term charter agreements with Ship Finance for the remainder of the charter period with effect from July 1, 2015.
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In January 2015, the ATM program was increased to having aggregate sales proceeds of up to $150.0 million, from up to $100.0 million. Frontline issued 12,191,291 new shares under its ATM program in the first quarter.
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In April 2015, the Company issued 12,900,323 new shares under the ATM program.
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In May 2015, the Company issued 5,941,251 new shares under the ATM program and the existing ATM program is fully utilized.
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In February 2015, Frontline bought $33.3 million notional principal of its convertible bond at a purchase price of 99%.
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In April 2015, the remaining outstanding balance on the convertible bond of $93.4 million was repaid in full upon maturity.
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In January 2015, Frontline took delivery of Front Idun.
First Quarter 2015 Results
The Board of Frontline Ltd. (the "Company" or "Frontline") announces net income attributable to the Company of $31.1 million in the first quarter, equivalent to earnings per share of $0.25, compared with a net loss of $13.0 million for the previous quarter, equivalent to a loss per share of $0.12. The net loss attributable to the Company in the previous quarter includes a non-cash gain of $40.3 million arising on the termination of the charter parties for Front Opalia, Front Comanche and Front Commerce, a non-cash gain of $1.5 million arising on the convertible bond buy back in October and a non-cash loss of $41.1 million arising on the convertible bond swaps in October and December.
The average daily time charter equivalents ("TCEs") earned in the spot and period market in the first quarter by the Company's VLCCs and Suezmax tankers were $49,400 and $33,100 compared with $27,900 and $26,000 in the previous quarter. The spot earnings for the Company's VLCCs and Suezmax vessels were $52,200 and $35,000 compared with $27,400 and $27,200 in the preceding quarter.
Operating expenses were in line with the previous quarter. No vessels were dry docked in the first quarter or the previous quarter.
Contingent rental expense represents amounts accrued following changes to certain charter parties in December 2011 and increased in the first quarter as compared to the preceding quarter primarily due to an increase in actual spot market rates.
In May 2015, the Company estimates average daily total cash cost breakeven rates for the second quarter of 2015 on a TCE basis for its VLCCs and Suezmax tankers of approximately $31,300 and $23,100, respectively, including estimated cash sweep to Ship Finance International Limited ("Ship Finance") of $6,500/day.
Following the agreement with Ship Finance to amend the terms of the long term charter agreements with effect from July 1, 2015, the Company estimates average daily total cash cost breakeven rates for the second half of 2015 on a TCE basis for its VLCCs and Suezmax tankers of approximately $24,800 and $19,500, respectively.
Fleet Development
During the first quarter, the Company entered into the following time charters: The VLCC Front Falcon (built 2002) has been chartered out for a period of approximately 6 months from January 2015 at a rate of $55,000 per day. The VLCC Front Century (built 1998) has been chartered out for a period of approximately 14 months from February 2015 at a rate of $42,250 per day. The VLCC Front Circassia (built 1999), has been chartered out for a period of approximately 14 months from February at a rate of $44,600 per day. The VLCC Front Vanguard (built 1998) has been chartered out for a period of approximately 15 months from February 2015 at a rate of $42,500 per day.
Newbuilding Program
The Company took delivery of Front Idun in January 2015 and drew down the remaining $30.0 million balance on its $60.0 million term loan facility in order to part finance this vessel. The Company had no newbuildings under construction as of March 31, 2015.
Corporate
In January 2015, the Company filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission a prospectus supplement covering the second amendment and restatement of its previously announced equity distribution agreement with Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, ("Morgan Stanley"), under which the amount of new ordinary shares the Company may offer and sell, at any time and from time to time through Morgan Stanley in an at-the-market offering, was increased to having aggregate sales proceeds of up to $150.0 million, from up to $100.0 million.
The Company issued 12,191,291 new shares under its ATM program the first quarter. Following such issuance, Frontline has an issued share capital of $124,534,280 divided into 124,534,280 ordinary shares.
In April 2015, Frontline issued 12,900,323 new shares under the ATM program and in May 2015, Frontline issued 5,941,251 new shares under the ATM program and the existing ATM program is fully utilized. Following such issuance, Frontline has an issued share capital of $143,375,854 divided into 143,375,854 ordinary shares.
In February 2015, the Company bought $33.3 million notional principal of its 4.50% Convertible Bond Issue 2010/2015 at a purchase price of 99% and recorded a gain of $0.3 million.
In April 2015, the remaining outstanding balance on the convertible bond of $93.4 million was repaid in full upon maturity.
In May 2015, Frontline announced that it has entered into a heads of agreement to amend the terms of the long term charter agreements with Ship Finance for the remainder of the charter period with effect from July 1, 2015. Please see separate press release issued by Frontline today for full description of the transaction.
The Company announces that Mr. Jens Martin Jensen today has resigned from his position as a Director of the Company. Mr. Jensen will continue as a Board member in other related group companies.
The Company further announces the appointments of Robert Hvide Macleod and Ola Lorentzon as Directors on the Board. Mr. Hvide Macleod joined the Company as CEO of Frontline Management AS in 2014. Mr. Lorentzon was the Managing Director of Frontline Management AS, a subsidiary of Frontline, from April 2000 until September 2003. Mr. Lorentzon is also a Director and Chairman of Golden Ocean Group Limited and a director of Erik Thun AB and Laurin Shipping AB.
The Market
The market rate for a VLCC trading on a standard 'TD3' voyage between the Arabian Gulf and Japan in the first quarter of 2015 was WS 59, representing an increase of 3 WS point from the fourth quarter of 2014 and 8 WS points higher than the first quarter of 2014. The flat rate decreased by 2.25 percent from 2014 to 2015.
The market rate for a Suezmax trading on a standard 'TD20' voyage between West Africa and Rotterdam in the first quarter of 2015 was WS 90, representing an increase of 2 WS points from the fourth quarter of 2014 and an increase of 11 WS points from the first quarter of 2014. The flat rate decreased by 1.7 percent from 2014 to 2015.
Bunkers at Fujairah averaged $323/mt in the first quarter of 2015 compared to $447/mt in the fourth quarter of 2014. Bunker prices varied between a high of $386.5/mt on the 18th of February and a low of $264.5/mt on January 13th.
The International Energy Agency's ("IEA") May 2015 report stated an OPEC crude production of 30.5 million barrels per day (mb/d) in the first quarter of 2015. This was unchanged from fourth quarter of 2014.
The IEA estimates that world oil demand averaged 93 mb/d in the first quarter of 2015, which is a decrease of 0.7 mb/d compared to the previous quarter. IEA estimates that world oil demand in 2015 will be 93.6 mb/d, representing an increase of 1.2 percent or 1.1 mb/d from 2014.
The VLCC fleet totalled 642 vessels at the end of the first quarter of 2015, four vessels up from the previous quarter. Five VLCCs were delivered during the quarter, one were removed. The order book counted 87 vessels at the end of the first quarter, which represents 13.5 percent of the VLCC fleet.
The Suezmax fleet totalled 455 vessels at the end of the first quarter, five vessels up from the previous quarter. Six vessels were delivered during the quarter whilst one was removed. The order book counted 71 vessels at the end of the first quarter, which represents approximately 16 percent of the Suezmax fleet.
Strategy and Outlook
Several recent events have considerably improved the outlook for Frontline.
The Company's raising of approximately $88 million in new equity under the ATM program in 2015, the full repayment upon maturity of the remaining outstanding balance on the convertible bond loan of $93.4 million and the continued positive development in the crude tanker market in the first and second quarter of 2015, have all considerably improved the financial position and outlook of the Company.
Further, today's announcement of the agreement with Ship Finance amending the long term chartering agreements will reduce Frontlines cash break-even rates significantly and ensure a more sustainable long-term structure. This agreement significantly strengthens Frontline's balance sheet and reduces the financial risk. The Board and management can now shift the focus from balance sheet restructuring to business development and growth. This represents a major milestone for the company.
The continued positive development in the crude tanker market into the second quarter is likely to give total operating revenues in the second quarter in line with the first quarter. However, due to dry docking of four vessels in the second quarter compared to no vessels in the first quarter, the operating result (excluding one time gains and losses) in the second quarter is likely to be lower than in the first quarter.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward looking statements. These statements are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including Frontline management's examination of historical operating trends. Although Frontline 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, Frontline 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 press release 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 world wide 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.
The Board of Directors
Frontline Ltd.
Hamilton, Bermuda
May 28, 2015
Questions should be directed to:
Robert Hvide Macleod: Chief Executive Officer, Frontline Management AS
+47 23 11 40 84
Inger M. Klemp: Chief Financial Officer, Frontline Management AS
+47 23 11 40 76
This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.
1st Quarter 2015 Results http://hugin.info/182/R/1924873/690561.pdf
HUG#1924873
