Press release from Ship Finance International Limited, November 22, 2010
Ship Finance International Limited (NYSE: SFL) (“Ship Finance” or the “Company”) announced today that due to weakening market conditions in the debt capital markets, it will suspend its previously announced public offering of up to $400 million, aggregate principal amount, of Senior Unsecured Notes, due 2020.
Consequently, the Company also announced today that it has terminated its previously announced tender offer and consent solicitation for its outstanding 8.5% Senior Notes due December 15, 2013 (CUSIP No. 824689 AC 7 – ISIN No. US824689 AC 72) (the “Senior Notes”). None of the Senior Notes were purchased in the offer and any of the Senior Notes previously tendered will be promptly returned to their respective holders.
The Company launched the financing to opportunistically capitalize upon the strong market conditions in the debt capital markets by refinancing its existing Senior Notes early. There is still more than three years remaining until the Senior Notes are due and the Company currently has the option to call the Senior Notes on 30-day notice at 101.417%, reducing to 100% in December 15, 2011 and thereafter.
November 22, 2010
The Board of Directors
Ship Finance International Limited
Hamilton, Bermuda
Contact Persons:
Ole B. Hjertaker: Chief Executive Officer, Ship Finance Management AS
+47 23114011 / +47 90141243
Magnus T. Valeberg: Vice President, Ship Finance Management AS
+47 23114012 / +47 93440960
About Ship Finance
Ship Finance is a major ship owning company listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: SFL). Including newbuildings, the Company has a fleet of 72 vessels, including 30 crude oil tankers (VLCC and Suezmax), two chemical tankers, eight oil/bulk/ore vessels, 13 drybulk carriers (including 11 newbuildings and one vessel agreed sold with expected delivery in December 2010), nine container vessels, six offshore supply vessels, one jack-up drilling rig, one ultra-deepwater drillship and two ultra-deepwater semi-submersible drilling rigs. The fleet is one of the largest in the world and most of the vessels are employed on long-term charters.
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 Company 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.