HAMILTON, Bermuda, Dec. 4, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Ship Finance International Limited (NYSE:SFL) ("Ship Finance" or the "Company") today announced the agreement to sell its two remaining suezmax tankers with double sides but only single bottom.
Front Birch and Front Maple (both vessels built in 1991) are sold to unrelated third parties, and deliveries to the new owners are expected to take place in December and January. Net sales price is agreed to $80.0 million for the two vessels, and Ship Finance will receive a net amount of approximately $47.2 million, after compensation of approximately $32.8 million to Frontline for the termination of the current charters on the two vessels.
There are currently approximately $10.7 million in loans outstanding against the vessels, and the net cash effect to Ship Finance from the transactions is estimated to be approximately $36.5 million. The aggregate book profit is estimated to approximately $13.0 million, of which $6.6 million is expected to be recognized in 4Q 2007 and $6.4 million in 1Q 2008.
Following these sales, and excluding one vessel previously announced sold on hire/purchase terms, there will be only seven crude oil tankers without double hull remaining in our fleet. This is down from 18 vessels in 2006, and Frontline has secured profitable sub-charters for all the remaining non-double hull vessels.
The reduction of the number of vessels without double hull is in line with the Company's strategy to focus on modern assets in various shipping and offshore segments. The cash proceeds from the sales are intended to be re-invested as equity contribution in new projects.
December 4, 2007 The Board of Directors Ship Finance International Limited Hamilton, Bermuda
About Ship Finance
Ship Finance is a major ship owning company listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:SFL). Including newbuildings and announced acquisitions, Ship Finance has a fleet consisting of 71 vessels, including 35 crude oil tankers (VLCC and Suezmax), 8 oil/bulk/ore vessels, 13 container vessels, 3 dry bulk carriers, 2 jack-up drilling rigs and 7 offshore supply vessels and 3 seismic vessels. The fleet is one of the largest in the world with a total cargo capacity of more than 11 million dwt. and most of the vessels are employed on medium or long term charters.
More information can be found on the Company's website: www.shipfinance.org
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements
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 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.