SFL Corporation Ltd. (NYSE: SFL) (“SFL” or the “Company”) announced today that it has entered into an agreement with Seadrill Limited (“Seadrill”) in respect of funds in certain bank accounts pledged to SFL. Pursuant to the terms of this agreement, Seadrill agrees to continue to pay SFL approximately 71% of the existing contracted lease hire relating to the West Hercules and the West Linus in exchange for Seadrill’s ability to withdraw funds to pay operating expenses relating to the two rigs. Any hire received by Seadrill relating to the sub-charters on these two rigs in excess of the withdrawn amounts will remain in Seadrill’s earnings accounts pledged to SFL.
This new fund withdrawal agreement follows the expiration of the previously announced forbearance agreement on December 14, 2020 which also included a similar payment arrangement until that date. Unless extended or terminated, the funds withdrawal agreement expires on March 31, 2021.
As previously announced, Seadrill’s failure to pay full hire under the leases for SFL’s three drilling rigs constitute an event of default under such leases and the related financing agreements. Unless cured or waived, the event of default under the lease agreements or the related financing agreements could result in enforcement by SFL or the secured lenders (as applicable), and the funds withdrawal agreement does not contain any restrictions in this respect.
Please see the Company’s public filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including without limitation, the report on Form 6-K filed with the SEC on November 16, 2020 for a discussion of certain risks relating to the Company, including risks related to Seadrill and its potential restructuring.
The Company also announced today that it has agreed to sell 50.1% of a subsidiary engaged in leasing in and leasing out of 19,000 teu container vessels to an entity that is affiliated with Hemen Holdings Ltd., SFL’s largest shareholder. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2020 and is subject to the negotiation and execution of final documentation, which will include customary closing conditions. The agreed sale price is approximately $17.5 million, and the transaction is expected to generate a book gain of approximately $1 million. The estimated net reduction in SFL’s distributable cash flow per quarter is limited to approximately $0.7 million.
December 18, 2020
The Board of Directors
SFL Corporation Ltd.
Hamilton, Bermuda
Questions can be directed to SFL Management AS:
Investor and Analyst Contact
Aksel C. Olesen, Chief Financial Officer: +47 23114036
André Reppen, Senior Vice President and Chief Treasurer: +47 23114055
Media Contact
Ole B. Hjertaker, Chief Executive Officer: +47 23114011
About SFL
SFL has a unique track record in the maritime industry and has paid dividends every quarter since its initial listing on the New York Stock Exchange in 2004. The Company’s fleet of more than 80 vessels is split between tankers, bulkers, container vessels and offshore drilling rigs. SFL’s long term distribution capacity is supported by a portfolio of long term charters and significant growth in the asset base over time. More information can be found on the Company’s website: www.sflcorp.com
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 SFL management’s examination of historical operating trends, data contained in the Company’s records and other data available from third parties. Although SFL 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, SFL 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 the forward looking statements include the strength of world economies, fluctuations in currencies and interest rates, general market conditions including fluctuations in charter hire rates and vessel values, changes in demand in the markets in which the Company operates, changes in demand resulting from changes in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries’ petroleum production levels and worldwide oil consumption and storage, developments regarding the technologies relating to oil exploration, changes in market demand in countries which import commodities and finished goods and changes in the amount and location of the production of those commodities and finished goods, increased inspection procedures and more restrictive import and export controls, changes in the Company’s operating expenses, including bunker prices, dry-docking and insurance costs, performance of the Company’s charterers and other counterparties with whom the Company deals, the impact of any restructuring of the counterparties with whom the Company deals, including any potential restructuring of Seadrill, timely delivery of vessels under construction within the contracted price, 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, including any changes to energy and environmental policies and changes attendant to trade conflicts, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents or political events, the length and severity of the ongoing coronavirus outbreak and its impact on the demand for commercial seaborne transportation and the condition of the financial markets, and other important factors described from time to time in the reports filed by the Company with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.