Frontline Ltd. (the “Company” or “Frontline”) (NYSE:FRO) announces that it has today filed a Schedule 13 D with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission reporting that the Company and companies indirectly controlled by Mr. John Fredriksen as of March 10, 2008 together held an aggregate of 1,628,300 shares in Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc. (“OSG”), corresponding to 5.2% ownership.
In addition to the above mentioned holding, Frontline has entered into a forward contract for 1,366,600 shares in OSG, corresponding to an additional 4.4% of the total outstanding shares in OSG. If Frontline should decide to take delivery of the shares under the forward contract, the Company and the group companies will control 9.6% ownership in OSG.
Frontline sees the investment in OSG as a good value. Frontline is making this investment together with its largest shareholder in order not to significantly reduce Frontline’s short and medium term dividend capacity. The joint investment also reflects the fact that only approximately 41% of OSG’s total fleet in terms of number of vessels is exposed to the market for crude oil transportation, which is Frontline’s core market.
Frontline and group companies view both these holdings as good financial value investments, but reserve the right to be in contact with management and other shareholders of OSG regarding alternatives that OSG could employ to enhance shareholder value.
March 20, 2008
The Board of Directors
Frontline Ltd.
Hamilton, Bermuda
Questions should be directed to:
Inger M. Klemp: Chief Financial Officer, Frontline Management AS
+47 23 11 40 00
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 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 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.