Filed by Frontline Ltd.

Commission File No. 001-16601

Pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933

Subject Company: Frontline 2012 Ltd.

Commission File No. for Registration Statement

on Form F-4 filed by Frontline Ltd.: 333-206542

FRONTLINE 2012 LTD.

SECOND QUARTER AND SIX MONTHS 2015 RESULTS

 

Highlights

 

 

 

Second Quarter and Six Months 2015 Results

On June 26, 2015, Frontline 2012 Ltd. ("the Company" or "Frontline 2012") paid a stock dividend consisting of 75.4 million Golden Ocean Group Ltd. ("Golden Ocean") shares. The Company held 77.5 million shares prior to this stock dividend and retained 2.1 million shares. This stock dividend has triggered discontinued operations presentation of its results of operations from Golden Ocean. Income statement comparatives are presented on an equivalent basis.

Frontline 2012 announces net income from continuing operations of $78.6 million and earnings per share from continuing operations of $0.32 for the second quarter compared with net income from continuing operations of $56.3 million and earnings per share from continuing operations of $0.23 in the preceding quarter. Net income in the second quarter included (i) a gain of $23.2 million in connection with the cancellation of newbuilding contract (J0106) at Jinhaiwan, and (ii) a gain of $19.6 million on the delivery of the Front Breeze and the Front Passat to Avance Gas Holding Ltd. ("AGHL"). Net income in the first quarter included (i) a gain of $1.8 million in connection with the cancellation of the fourth newbuilding contract (D-2174) at STX Dalian and (ii) a gain of $19.1 million on the delivery of the Front Mistral and the Front Monsoon to AGHL.

The average daily time charter equivalents ("TCEs") earned in the spot and period market in the second quarter by the Company's VLCCs and Suezmax tankers were $46,800 and $38,400 compared with $53,800 and $42,600, respectively, in the preceding quarter. The spot earnings for the Company's VLCC and Suezmax tankers were $49,300 and $39,200, respectively, compared with $57,700 and $43,400, respectively, in the preceding quarter. The earnings on the VLCC and Suezmax tankers for the quarter is somewhat weak, mainly explained by three VLCC's being positioned west, whilst two of our Suezmaxes underwent dry-docking in Asia in the same period.

The TCEs earned in the spot market in the second quarter by the Company's MR product tankers were $24,200 compared with $21,200 in the preceding quarter. The TCEs earned in the spot and period market in the second quarter by the LR2 tankers were $27,800 compared with $23,700 in the preceding quarter. The spot earnings for the Company's LR2 tankers were $32,400 compared with $23,200 in the preceding quarter.

In August 2015, the Company estimates average cash breakeven TCE rates for the remainder of 2015 on a TCE basis for its VLCCs, Suezmax tankers, MR product tankers and LR2 tankers of approximately $24,000, $19,100, $13,400 and $13,700, respectively.

Frontline 2012 announces net income from continuing operations of $134.9 million and earnings per share from continuing operations of $0.55 for the six months ended June 30, 2015 compared with net income from continuing operations of $74.4 million and earnings per share from continuing operations of $0.30 for the six months ended June 30, 2014. Net income from continuing operations in six months ended June 30, 2015 included (i) a gain of $23.2 million in connection with the cancellation of newbuilding contract (J0106) at Jinhaiwan, and (ii) a gain of $19.6 million on the delivery of the Front Breeze and the Front Passat to AGHL, (iii) a gain of $1.8 million in connection with the cancellation of the fourth newbuilding contract (D-2174) at STX Dalian and (iv) a gain of $19.1 million on the delivery of the Front Mistral and the Front Monsoon to AGHL. Net income from continuing operations in six months ended June 30, 2014 included (i) a gain on the sale of five newbuilding contracts of $74.8 million, (ii) a gain of $35.9 million in connection with the cancellation of newbuilding contract (J0025) at Jinhaiwan, and (iii) a gain on the sale of shares of $16.9 million

The TCEs earned in the spot and period market in the six months ended June 30, 2015 by the Company's VLCCs and Suezmax tankers were $50,300 and $40,200 compared with $31,700 and $20,400, respectively, in the six months ended June 30, 2014. The spot earnings for the Company's VLCC and Suezmax tankers were $53,600 and $41,500, respectively, compared with $31,300 and $20,400, respectively, in the six months ended June 30, 2014.

The TCEs earned in the spot market in the six months ended June 30, 2015 by the Company's MR product tankers were $22,700 compared with $16,700 in the six months ended June 30, 2014. The TCEs earned in the spot and period market in the six months ended June 30, 2015 by the Company's LR2 tankers were $26,200. The spot earnings for the Company's LR2 tankers were $27,800 in the six months ended June 30, 2015.

The net result from the chartered-in tonnage was $1.3 million in the second quarter and $1.8 million in the six months ended June 30, 2015.

The net loss from discontinued operations of $55.4 million and $73.2 million in the three months and six months ended June 30, 2015, respectively, includes an impairment loss of $40.6 million relating to the Company's shareholding in Golden Ocean and is attributable to the fall in Golden Ocean's share price from March 31, 2015 (being the date from which the Company de-consolidated Golden Ocean) and June 26, 2015 (being the date of the stock dividend of the Golden Ocean shares).

 

 

Fleet Development

The Company took delivery of its fourth LR2 newbuilding, Front Tiger, in June.

During the second quarter, the Company entered into the following time charters: The two LR2 vessels, the Front Panther and the Front Puma, which were chartered out in the first quarter for a period of approximately 12 months from February/March 2015 at a rate of $25,000 per day have been extended for further 24 months from February/March 2016 at a rate of $28,000 per day. The LR2 vessel Front Lion has been chartered out for a period of approximately 30-36 months from end July/early August at a rate of $27,600 per day.

Newbuilding Program

As of June 30, 2015, the Company's newbuilding program, excluding newbuildings agreed to be sold and MR and Capesize newbuildings with STX Dalian and STX Korea, comprised 12 LR2 newbuildings, four VLCC newbuildings and options for four further VLCC newbuildings and six Suezmax tanker newbuildings and the remaining commitments for the Company's 22 newbuilding contracts, amounted to $1,169.2 million in the period 2015-2017. Subsequent to June 30, 2015, the Company exercised options for two LR2 newbuilding contracts and its newbuilding program currently comprises 24 newbuildings.

In 2012 and 2013, the Company cancelled all of its five newbuilding contracts at Jinhaiwan ship yard, which were acquired from Frontline in December 2011, and has received an aggregate refund of $321.0 million in respect of installments paid on these five contracts and accrued interest. The Company has no outstanding claims from Jinhaiwan.

The Company has cancelled all six of its MR tanker newbuilding contracts at STX Dalian and has received an aggregate refund of $44.3 million in respect of installments paid on five of these contracts and accrued interest. The Company has an outstanding claim of $11.5 million against STX Dalian for the remaining contract.

Corporate

On June 26, 2015, the Company paid a stock dividend consisting of 75.4 million Golden Ocean shares. All shareholders holding 3.2142 shares or more, received one share in Golden Ocean for every 3.2142 shares held, rounded down to the nearest whole share. The remaining fractional shares were paid in cash. The Company held 77.5 million Golden Ocean shares prior to this stock dividend and retained 2.1 million Golden Ocean shares. This stock dividend has triggered discontinued operations presentation of its results of operations from Golden Ocean. Income statement comparatives are presented on an equivalent basis.

Reference is made to the announcement dated July 2, 2015, that Frontline Ltd.  ("Frontline") and Frontline 2012 have entered into an agreement and plan of merger (the "Merger Agreement"), pursuant to which the two companies have agreed to enter into a merger transaction, with Frontline as the surviving legal entity (the "Surviving Company") and Frontline 2012 becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of Frontline. Frontline has on August 24, 2015, filed a registration statement with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") covering the common shares to be issued by Frontline to Frontline 2012's shareholders in the merger.  The shareholders' meetings of each of Frontline and Frontline 2012 will be held after the registration statement is declared effective. The effectiveness of the registration statement is subject, among other things, to SEC review.

242,307,883 ordinary shares were outstanding as of June 30, 2015, and the weighted average number of shares outstanding for the quarter was 242,307,883.

The Market

 

The average rate for a VLCC trading on a standard 'TD3' voyage between the Arabian Gulf and Japan in the second quarter of 2015 was WS 64, representing an increase of 5 WS points from the first quarter of 2015. The market rate for a Suezmax trading on a standard 'TD20' voyage between West Africa and Rotterdam in the second quarter of 2015 was WS 88, representing a decrease of 2 WS points from the first quarter of 2015. The VLCC fleet totalled 639 vessels at the end of the quarter, whilst the Suezmax fleet counted 449 vessels at the end of the quarter.

For MR's trading on a standard 'TC2' voyage between Rotterdam and New York the market rates for the second quarter of 2015 was WS 155, representing an increase of 12 points from the first quarter of 2015. Average market rates for an LR2 trading on a standard "TC1" voyage between Middle East and Japan in the second quarter of 2015 was WS 110, representing a increase of 11 points from the first quarter of 2015.

The order book for tankers represented about 16 percent of the overall tanker fleet.

Bunkers in Rotterdam averaged $326/mt in the second quarter of 2015 compared to $280/mt in the first quarter of 2015.

Strategy and Outlook

The Board of Directors is very pleased with the merger agreement entered into between Frontline and Frontline 2012. With a large modern fleet, a strong balance sheet and attractive cash break even rates, the combined companies should be well positioned to generate significant free cash in a strong market, and sustain a weak market.

Despite the slowdown seen in the market the last weeks, the Board of Directors hopes the combined companies will be in a position to start returning cash to shareholders as quarterly dividends as soon as the merger is completed. The intention is to pay out excess cash as dividends at the Board's discretion.

The Board believes the combined companies will be well positioned to grow through acquisition and consolidation opportunities.

Important Information For Investors And Shareholders

This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval. In connection with the proposed transaction between Frontline and Frontline 2012, Frontline has filed relevant materials with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including a registration statement of Frontline on Form F-4 (File No. 333-206542) , filed on August 24, 2015, that includes a joint proxy statement of Frontline 2012 and Frontline that also constitutes a prospectus of Frontline.  The registration statement has not yet become effective.  After the registration statement is declared effective by the SEC, a definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus will be mailed to shareholders of Frontline 2012 and Frontline. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF FRONTLINE 2012 AND FRONTLINE ARE URGED TO READ THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS THAT WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION.  Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the registration statement and the joint proxy statement/prospectus (when available) and other documents filed with or furnished to the SEC by Frontline through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed with or furnished to the SEC by Frontline will be available free of charge on Frontline's website at http://www.Frontline.bm. Additional information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitations and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the joint proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials to be filed with or furnished to the SEC when they become available.

 

 

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 Ltd's management's examination of historical operating trends. Although Frontline Ltd 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 2012 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 2012 Ltd.

Hamilton, Bermuda

August 25, 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

FRONTLINE 2012 LTD.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

FRONTLINE 2012 LTD.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

FRONTLINE 2012 LTD.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

FRONTLINE 2012 LTD.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)