HAMILTON, BERMUDA--(Marketwire - Feb 22, 2013) -

Highlights

* Frontline reports a net loss attributable to the Company of $16.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2012, equivalent to a loss per share of $0.21.

* Frontline reports a net loss attributable to the Company of $82.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, equivalent to a loss per share of $1.06.

* Frontline records a vessel impairment loss of $18.9 million in the fourth quarter.

* Frontline will not pay a dividend for the fourth quarter of 2012.

* Frontline terminated the long term charter parties for the OBO carriers Front Climber and Front Driver in October and November 2012, respectively.

* Frontline terminated the charter parties for the two singe hull VLCCs Ticen Ocean and Titan Aries in November 2012 and in January 2013, respectively, and recognized a gain of $11.2 million in the fourth quarter and expects to recognize a gain of approximately $7.5 million in the first quarter of 2013, respectively.

* Frontline re-delivered the chartered-in VLCC Gulf Eyadah to its owner in December 2012.

* In December 2012, Frontline agreed to an early termination of the time charter out contracts on the two OBO carriers, Front Viewer and Front Guider, and received compensation for loss of hire of $35.0 million (gross). Frontline also agreed to terminate the long term charter parties for these vessels and paid $23.5 million to Ship Finance as compensation for the early termination of the charters.

* In February 2013, Frontline agreed to terminate the long term charter party for the Suezmax tanker Front Pride

Preliminary Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2012 Results

The Board of Frontline Ltd. (the "Company" or "Frontline") announces a net loss attributable to the Company of $16.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2012, equivalent to a loss per share of $0.21, compared with a net loss attributable to the Company of $49.0 million and a loss per share of $0.63 for the preceding quarter. The net loss attributable to the Company in the fourth quarter includes a loss on sale of assets and amortization of deferred gains of $2.6 million, which includes an aggregate deferred gain of $3.7 million relating to the sale and leasebacks of DHT Eagle (ex Front Eagle) and Gulf Eyadah (ex Front Shanghai), a gain of $11.2 million on the termination of the lease for the single hull VLCC Ticen Ocean, a loss of $16.5 million on the termination of the lease for Front Viewer and losses of $0.8 million and $0.2 million on the termination of the leases for Front Driver and Front Climber, respectively.

The Company has recorded a vessel impairment loss of $18.9 million in the fourth quarter. This loss comprises $14.2 million, which is the expected loss on the termination of the long term charter for the OBO carrier Front Guider in March 2013 and $4.7 million, which is the expected loss on the termination of the long term charter for the Suezmax tanker Front Pride in late February 2013. Impairment losses are taken when events or changes in circumstances occur that cause the Company to believe that future cash flows for an individual vessel will be less than its carrying value and not fully recoverable. In such instances an impairment charge is recognized if the estimate of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use of the vessel and its eventual disposition is less than the vessel's carrying amount.

The net loss attributable to the Company in the fourth quarter includes a compensation for loss of hire of $35.0 million (gross) resulting from early termination from the charterers of the time charter out contracts on the two OBO carriers, Front Viewer and Front Guider. The amount was recorded in operating revenues. This amount together with the loss of $16.5 million on the termination of the lease for Front Viewer and the $14.2 million impairment loss on Front Guider resulted in a net gain of approximately $4.3 million from this transaction.

The net loss attributable to the Company in the preceding quarter includes a gain on sale of assets and amortization of deferred gains of $3.3 million, which includes an aggregate deferred gain of $3.8 million relating to the sale and leasebacks of DHT Eagle and Gulf Eyadah.

The average daily time charter equivalents ("TCEs") earned in the spot and period market in the fourth quarter by the Company's VLCCs, Suezmax tankers and Suezmax OBO carriers were $19,300, $14,000 and $35,100, respectively, compared with $12,300, $10,500 and $33,700, respectively, in the preceding quarter. The spot earnings for the Company's double hull VLCCs and Suezmax vessels were $18,500 and $14,000, respectively, compared with $13,300 and $10,500, respectively, in the preceding quarter

The contingent rental expense relates to the amended charter parties with Ship Finance International Limited ("Ship Finance") and the amended charter parties for four other leased vessels and is based on the difference between the renegotiated rates and the actual TCE revenues up to the original contract rates.

Ship operating expenses decreased by $7.4 million compared with the preceding quarter due to a decrease in running costs and a decrease in dry docking costs of $4.8 million.

Charter hire expenses decreased by $2.5 million compared with the preceding quarter primarily as a result of the redelivery of vessels.

Interest expense, net of capitalized interest, was $23.1 million in the fourth quarter of which $5.5 million relates to the Company's subsidiary Independent Tankers Corporation Limited ("ITCL").

Frontline announces a net loss attributable to the Company of $82.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, equivalent to a loss per share of $1.06. The average daily TCEs earned in the spot and period market in the year ended December 31, 2012 by the Company's VLCCs, Suezmax tankers and Suezmax OBO carriers were $22,200, $15,200, and $33,600, respectively, compared with $22,800, $14,100 and $36,700, respectively, in the year ended December 31, 2011. The spot earnings for the Company's double hull VLCCs and Suezmax vessels were $22,400 and $15,200, respectively, in the year ended December 31, 2012.

As of December 31, 2012, the Company had total cash and cash equivalents of $137.6 million and restricted cash of $87.5 million. Restricted cash includes $86.3 million relating to deposits in ITCL.

The Company estimates average cash cost breakeven rates for 2013 on a TCE basis for its VLCCs and Suezmax tankers of approximately $24,200 and $18,800, respectively.

Fleet Development

In August 2012, the Company announced that it had agreed with Ship Finance to terminate the long term charter party for the OBO carrier Front Climber and that Ship Finance had simultaneously sold the vessel. The charter party was terminated on October 15, 2012. The Company made a compensation payment to Ship Finance of $0.6 million for the early termination of the charter. The Company recorded an impairment loss of $4.2 million in the second quarter and a loss of $0.2 million in gain (loss) of sale of assets and amortization of deferred gains in the fourth quarter.

In September 2012, the Company agreed with Nordic American Tankers Ltd that Frontline's nine Suezmax vessels would leave the Orion Suezmax pool due to Frontline's wish to be more flexible in the operation of its vessels. All of the Company's Suezmax vessels left the pool during the fourth quarter.

In October 2012, the Company announced that it had agreed with Ship Finance to terminate the long term charter party for the OBO carrier Front Driver and that Ship Finance had simultaneously sold the vessel. The charter party was terminated November 20, 2012. The Company made a compensation payment to Ship Finance of $0.5 million for the early termination of the charter. The Company recorded an impairment loss of $4.0 million in the second quarter and a loss of $0.8 million in gain (loss) of sale of assets and amortization of deferred gains in the fourth quarter.

In October 2012 the Company terminated the bareboat charters on the two single hull VLCCs Ticen Ocean and Titan Aries and the vessels were delivered to the buyers (as announced in September, 2011) in November 2012 and January 2013, respectively.

The Company re-delivered the chartered-in VLCC Gulf Eyadah to its owner in December 2012.

In December 2012, the Company agreed to an early termination of the time charter out contracts on the two OBO carriers, Front Viewer and Front Guider, and received a compensation payment in December 2012 from the charterers for loss of hire due to the early termination of $35.0 million. This amount was recorded in operating revenues. The Company also agreed with Ship Finance to terminate the long term charter parties for these two OBO carriers. The charter party for Front Viewer terminated in December 2012 and the charter party for the Front Guider is expected to terminate in March 2013 after its present voyage. The Company paid $23.5 million to Ship Finance as compensation for the early termination of the charters and the estimated loss of contingent rentals relating to the two vessels. As previously advised the Company recorded in the fourth quarter loss on termination of the lease for Front Viewer of $16.5 million and a vessel impairment loss of $14.2 million on the expected loss on termination of the lease on Front Guider in March 2013.

In February 2013, Frontline agreed with Ship Finance to terminate the long term charter party for the Suezmax tanker Front Pride and Ship Finance has simultaneously sold the vessel. The charter party was terminated February 15, 2013. Frontline will make a compensation payment to Ship Finance of approximately $2.1 million for the early termination of the charter. The transaction will reduce the Company's obligations under capital leases by approximately $5.1 million and the Company has recorded an impairment loss of $4.7 million in the fourth quarter.

Newbuilding Program

As of December 31, 2012, the Company's newbuilding program comprised two Suezmax tankers, and the Company was committed to make newbuilding installments of $87.9 million with expected payment in 2013.

Corporate

In January 2013, the Company was allocated 1,142,857 shares in a private placement by Frontline 2012 Ltd. of 59 million new ordinary shares at a subscription price of $5.25 per share. Following the private placement, the Company' has an ownership of 6.3% in Frontline 2012 Ltd..

In February 2013, the Security and Exchange Commission ("the SEC") declared the Company's Form F-3 Registration Statement effective.

The Board of Directors has decided not to declare a dividend for the fourth quarter of 2012.

77,858,502 ordinary shares were outstanding as of December 31, 2012, and the weighted average number of shares outstanding for the quarter was 77,858,502.

The Market

The market rate for a VLCC trading on a standard 'TD3' voyage between the Arabian Gulf and Japan in the fourth quarter of 2012 was WS 42.8, representing an increase of approximately WS 7 point from the third quarter of 2012 and a decrease of approximately WS 15 points from the fourth quarter of 2011. Present market indications are zero per day in the first quarter of 2013.

The market rate for a Suezmax trading on a standard 'TD5' voyage between West Africa and Philadelphia in the fourth quarter of 2012 was WS 60.5, representing an increase of one WS point from the third quarter of 2012 and a decrease of WS 9 points from the fourth quarter of 2011. Current market forward rates are approximately $10,750 per day in the first quarter of 2013.

Bunkers at Fujairah averaged $615/mt in the fourth quarter of 2012 compared to $650/mt in the third quarter of 2012. Bunker prices varied between a low of $593/mt on November 5th and a high of $655/mt on October 1st.

The International Energy Agency's ("IEA") February 2013 report stated an OPEC oil production, including Iraq, of 30.9 million barrels per day (mb/d) in the fourth quarter of 2012. This was a decrease of 0.5 mb/d compared to the third quarter of 2012, due to lower Saudi Arabian production in November and December.

The IEA estimates that world oil demand averaged 91.0 mb/d in the fourth quarter of 2012, which is an increase of 0.8 mb/d compared to previous quarter and the IEA estimates that world oil demand averaged approximately 89.8 mb/d in 2012, representing an increase of 1.1 percent or 1.0 mb/d from 2011. 2013 demand is expected to be 90.7 mb/d.

The VLCC fleet totalled 622 vessels at the end of the fourth quarter of 2012, up from 617 vessels at the end of the previous quarter. 11 VLCCs were delivered during the quarter, six were removed. The order book counted 81 vessels at the end of the fourth quarter, down from 91 orders from the previous quarter. The current order book represents approximately 13 percent of the VLCC fleet. According to Fearnley's, the single hull fleet is 17 vessels, five less than last quarter.

The Suezmax fleet counts 468 vessels at the end of the fourth quarter, up from 462 vessels at the end of the previous quarter. 14 vessels were delivered during the quarter whilst eight were removed. The order book counted 72 vessels at the end of the fourth quarter, which represents 15 percent of the total fleet. According to Fearnley's, the single hull fleet has been reduced from nine to five vessels.

Strategy and Outlook

The tanker market has shown a strong negative development in the last four years. Currently crude tankers are going through one of the worst winters ever with VLCC rates close to zero, limited number of fixtures and very high availability of VLCC tonnage. Several tanker companies are already experiencing severe problems and if the weak market continues it is likely to lead to significant financial problems for the whole tanker industry. Consensus is that the tanker market will not experience sustained recovery until overcapacity is removed.

The Company's free cash position was during the quarter reduced from $164.5 million to $137.6 million. The cash position is anticipated to be further reduced after payment of $52.2 million cash sweep in March 2013 related to the amended charter parties with Ship Finance.

Frontline will, in this market environment, continue its strategy to reduce the fleet by redelivering the older and non core vessels in order to reduce the Company's financial exposure. The Company will remain cautious and focus its resources on the present activities until a clearer sign of recovery can be seen in the tanker market.

If the tanker market does not recover before 2015 and no additional equity can be raised or assets sold there is a risk that Frontline will not have sufficient cash to repay the existing $225 million convertible bond loan at maturity in April 2015. Such a situation might force a restructuring of the Company, including modifications of charter lease obligations and debt agreements.

Based on results achieved so far in the first quarter, the current outlook and the early termination of the time charter out contracts on the two OBO carriers, Front Guider and Front Viewer, the Board expects the operating result in the first quarter to be weaker than in the fourth quarter.

The full report is available for download in the link enclosed.

The Board of Directors

Frontline Ltd.

Hamilton, Bermuda

February 21, 2013

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.

This information is subject of the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

4th Quarter 2012 Results:

http://hugin.info/182/R/1680335/548999.pdf

This announcement is distributed by Thomson Reuters on behalf of Thomson Reuters clients. The owner of this announcement warrants that:

(i) the releases contained herein are protected by copyright and other applicable laws; and

(ii) they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.

Source: Frontline Ltd. via Thomson Reuters ONE

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