SFL-03.31.2014-6K


 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
 
 
FORM 6-K
 
 
 
 REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13A-16 OR 15D-16 UNDER
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the month of June 2014
Commission File Number: 001-32199
 
 
 
Ship Finance International Limited
(Translation of registrant’s name into English)
 
 
 
 Par-la-Ville Place
14 Par-la-Ville Road
Hamilton, HM 08, Bermuda
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
 
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F   x             Form 40-F   ¨
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):             .
Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted solely to provide an attached annual report to security holders.
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):             .
Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted to furnish a report or other document that the registrant foreign private issuer must furnish and make public under the laws of the jurisdiction in which the registrant is incorporated, domiciled or legally organized (the registrant’s “home country”), or under the rules of the home country exchange on which the registrant’s securities are traded, as long as the report or other document is not a press release, is not required to be and has not been distributed to the registrant’s security holders, and, if discussing a material event, has already been the subject of a Form 6-K submission or other Commission filing on EDGAR.
 





INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS FORM 6-K REPORT
Attached hereto are the unaudited condensed interim financial statements and related Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of Ship Finance International Limited (the “Company”) for the three months ended March 31, 2014. Also, attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 is a list of the Company’s significant subsidiaries.
This report on Form 6-K is hereby incorporated by reference into the Company’s Registration Statements on Form F-3 (Registration No. 333-170598) and on Form F-3 (Registration No. 333-191406), each filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on November 15, 2010 and September 26, 2013, respectively.





SHIP FINANCE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED

REPORT ON FORM 6-K FOR THE PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 2014

INDEX
 
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three month periods ended March 31, 2014 and March 31, 2013 and the year ended December 31, 2013
Page 4
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three month periods ended March 31, 2014 and March 31, 2013 and the year ended December 31, 2013
Page 5
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013
Page 6
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three month periods ended March 31, 2014 and March 31, 2013 and the year ended December 31, 2013
Page 7
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the three month periods ended March 31, 2014 and March 31, 2013 and the year ended December 31, 2013
Page 9
Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Financial Statements
Page 10
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Page 30
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statement
Page 38
Signatures
Page 39

3

Ship Finance International Limited


UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
for the three month periods ended March 31, 2014 and March 31, 2013
and the year ended December 31, 2013
(in thousands of $, except per share amounts)
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
Year ended

 
March 31,
 
December 31,

 
2014

 
2013

 
2013

Operating revenues
 
 
 
 
 
Direct financing lease interest income - related parties
11,642

 
14,345

 
55,385

Direct financing lease interest income - other

 
1,564

 
4,231

Finance lease service revenues - related parties
11,700

 
13,637

 
52,390

Finance lease service revenues - other

 

 
1,846

Profit sharing revenues - related parties
12,219

 

 
770

Time charter revenues - related parties
2,362

 

 
5,647

Time charter revenues - other
18,422

 
20,297

 
77,778

Bareboat charter revenues - related parties
4,510

 
4,542

 
18,324

Bareboat charter revenues - other
10,664

 
10,530

 
42,705

Voyage charter revenues - other
10,251

 

 
9,724

Other operating income
901

 
172

 
2,060

Total operating revenues
82,671

 
65,087

 
270,860

Gain on sale of assets and termination of charters
10,152

 
18,025

 
18,025

Operating expenses
 
 
 
 
 
Ship operating expenses - related parties
12,353

 
14,216

 
54,916

Ship operating expenses - other
16,540

 
9,115

 
50,618

Depreciation
15,111

 
14,033

 
58,436

Administrative expenses - related parties
251

 
116

 
439

Administrative expenses - other
1,932

 
1,851

 
7,110

Total operating expenses
46,187

 
39,331

 
171,519

Net operating income
46,636

 
43,781

 
117,366

Non-operating income / (expense)
 
 
 
 
 
Interest income - related parties, associated companies
5,566

 
4,894

 
19,575

Interest income - related parties, other
944

 

 
482

Interest income - other
3,196

 
2,466

 
10,023

Interest expense - other
(20,606
)
 
(23,191
)
 
(87,225
)
(Loss)/ gain on repurchase of bonds
(2
)
 
(1,109
)
 
(1,218
)
Long-term investment impairment charge

 

 

Other financial items, net
(984
)
 
(2,975
)
 
2,003

Net income before equity in earnings of associated companies
34,750

 
23,866

 
61,006

Equity in earnings of associated companies
5,983

 
8,512

 
28,200

Net income
40,733

 
32,378

 
89,206

Per share information:
 
 
 
 
 
Basic earnings per share
$
0.44

 
$
0.38

 
$
1.00

Diluted earnings per share
$
0.40

 
$
0.33

 
$
0.99

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

4

Ship Finance International Limited


UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
for the three month periods ended March 31, 2014 and March 31, 2013
and the year ended December 31, 2013
(in thousands of $)
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
Year ended

 
March 31,
 
December 31,

 
2014

 
2013

 
2013

Net income
40,733

 
32,378

 
89,206

Fair value adjustments to hedging financial instruments
(7,482
)
 
7,093

 
41,827

Fair value adjustments to hedging financial instruments in associated companies
(130
)
 
2,053

 
2,897

Reclassification into net income of previous fair value adjustments to hedging financial instruments
5,187

 
502

 
2,102

Fair value adjustments to available for sale securities
(753
)
 
247

 
699

Other comprehensive (loss)/income
19

 
(38
)
 
(58
)
Other comprehensive income/(loss)
(3,159
)
 
9,857

 
47,467

 
 
 
 
 
 
Comprehensive income
37,574

 
42,235

 
136,673

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.



5

Ship Finance International Limited


UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
as at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013
(in thousands of $, except share data)
 
March 31,
2014

 
December 31,
2013

ASSETS
 
 
 
Current assets
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
36,982

 
58,641

Available for sale securities
60,658

 
76,925

Trade accounts receivable
2,511

 
8,362

Due from related parties
21,090

 
13,249

Other receivables
5,762

 
79,301

Inventories
7,890

 
6,607

Prepaid expenses and accrued income
3,002

 
3,971

Investment in direct financing and sales-type leases, current portion
45,127

 
45,148

Total current assets
183,022

 
292,204

Vessels and equipment, net
1,127,565

 
1,089,616

Newbuildings and vessel purchase deposits
149,921

 
126,008

Investment in direct financing and sales-type leases, long-term portion
848,285

 
858,260

Investment in associated companies
33,709

 
40,987

Loans to related parties - associated companies, long-term
543,217

 
530,715

Loans to related parties - others, long-term
46,903

 
48,847

Other long-term investments
1,234

 
1,235

Deferred charges
40,380

 
41,478

Financial instruments (long-term): at fair value
12,368

 
16,633

Total assets
2,986,604

 
3,045,983

 
 
 
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
 
 
Current liabilities
 
 
 
Short term and current portion of long-term debt
436,676

 
389,888

Trade accounts payable
6,005

 
3,502

Due to related parties
1,522

 
13,965

Accrued expenses
12,544

 
13,832

Financial instruments (short-term): at fair value
6,362

 
5,705

Other current liabilities
3,400

 
5,548

Total current liabilities
466,509

 
432,440

Long-term liabilities
 
 
 
Long-term debt
1,258,549

 
1,346,991

Financial instruments (long-term): at fair value
50,632

 
56,490

Other long-term liabilities
17,362

 
18,129

Total liabilities
1,793,052

 
1,854,050

 
 
 
 
Commitments and contingent liabilities

 

Stockholders’ equity
 
 
 
Share capital ($1 par value; 125,000,000 shares authorized; 93,285,000 and 93,260,000 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively)
93,285

 
93,260

Additional paid-in capital
285,805

 
285,632

Contributed surplus
582,730

 
581,569

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(37,880
)
 
(34,851
)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss - associated companies
(2,409
)
 
(2,279
)
Retained earnings
272,021

 
268,602

Total stockholders’ equity
1,193,552

 
1,191,933

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
2,986,604

 
3,045,983

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

6

Ship Finance International Limited


UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
for the three month periods ended March 31, 2014 and March 31, 2013
and the year ended December 31, 2013
(in thousands of $)
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
Year ended

 
March 31,
 
December 31,

 
2014

 
2013

 
2013

Operating activities
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
40,733

 
32,378

 
89,206

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
 
 
Depreciation
15,111

 
14,033

 
58,436

Amortization of deferred charges
2,678

 
2,591

 
11,305

Amortization of seller’s credit
(479
)
 
(499
)
 
(1,983
)
Equity in earnings of associated companies
(5,983
)
 
(8,512
)
 
(28,200
)
Gain on sale of assets and termination of charters
(10,152
)
 
(18,025
)
 
(18,025
)
Adjustment of derivatives to fair value recognized in net income
(1,510
)
 
1,978

 
(7,950
)
Loss/ (gain) on repurchase of bonds
2

 
1,109

 
1,218

Interest receivable in form of notes
(747
)
 
(646
)
 
(2,767
)
Other
(1,077
)
 
(982
)
 
(1,396
)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
Trade accounts receivable
5,852

 
(1,666
)
 
(4,313
)
Due from related parties
(6,259
)
 
53,910

 
49,189

Other receivables
139

 
(1,481
)
 
(740
)
Inventories
(1,283
)
 
(73
)
 
(3,656
)
Prepaid expenses and accrued income
969

 
(742
)
 
(3,236
)
Trade accounts payable
2,503

 
(189
)
 
2,047

Accrued expenses
(1,288
)
 
(1,890
)
 
271

Other current liabilities
(2,148
)
 
(3,294
)
 
718

Net cash provided by operating activities
37,061

 
68,000

 
140,124

 
 
 
 
 
 
Investing activities
 
 
 
 
 
Repayments from investments in direct financing and sales-type leases
10,961

 
13,731

 
51,220

Additions to newbuildings
(48,167
)
 
(17,739
)
 
(109,337
)
Purchase of vessels
(53,060
)
 

 

Proceeds from sales of vessels and termination of charters
59,135

 
40,366

 
83,583

Net amounts (paid)/ received from associated companies
(11,452
)
 
33,959

 
(81,308
)
Proceeds/ (costs) of other long-term investments
50,000

 

 

Purchase of available for sale securities
16,200

 

 
(18,140
)
Net cash (used)/ provided by investing activities
23,617

 
70,317

 
(73,982
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financing activities
 
 
 
 
 
Shares issued, net of issuance costs
170

 
79

 
128,880

Payments in lieu of issuing shares for exercised share options

 

 
(448
)
Repurchase of bonds
(671
)
 
(248,109
)
 
(254,132
)
Proceeds from issuance of short-term and long-term debt
192,055

 
385,000

 
705,347


7

Ship Finance International Limited


 
 
 
 
 
 
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
for the three month periods ended March 31, 2014 and March 31, 2013
and the year ended December 31, 2013
(in thousands of $)
 
Three Months Ended
 
Year ended

 
March 31,
 
December 31,

 
2014

 
2013

 
2013

 
 
 
 
 
 
Repayments of short-term and long-term debt
(234,762
)
 
(263,177
)
 
(530,186
)
Debt fees paid
(1,815
)
 
(7,832
)
 
(8,390
)
Cash dividends paid
(37,314
)
 

 
(109,114
)
Net cash used in financing activities
(82,337
)
 
(134,039
)
 
(68,043
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
(21,659
)
 
4,278

 
(1,901
)
Cash and cash equivalents at start of the period
58,641

 
60,542

 
60,542

Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period
36,982

 
64,820

 
58,641

 
 
 
 
 
 
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
 
 
 
 
 
Interest paid, net of capitalized interest
21,022

 
22,434

 
77,630

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated condensed financial statements.

8

Ship Finance International Limited


UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
for the three month periods ended March 31, 2014 and March 31, 2013
and the year ended December 31, 2013
(in thousands of $, except number of shares)
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
Year ended

 
March 31,
 
December 31,

 
2014

 
2013

 
2013

Number of shares outstanding
 
 
 
 
 
At beginning of period
93,260,000

 
85,225,000

 
85,225,000

Shares issued
25,000

 
25,000

 
8,035,000

At end of period
93,285,000

 
85,250,000

 
93,260,000

Share capital
 
 
 
 
 
At beginning of period
93,260

 
85,225

 
85,225

Shares issued
25

 
25

 
8,035

At end of period
93,285

 
85,250

 
93,260

Additional paid-in capital
 
 
 
 
 
At beginning of period
285,632

 
144,258

 
144,258

Amortization of stock based compensation
28

 
93

 
(448
)
Payments in lieu of issuing shares

 

 
220

Shares issued
145

 
54

 
120,880

Equity component of convertible bond issuance, net

 
20,756

 
20,722

At end of period
285,805

 
165,161

 
285,632

Contributed surplus
 
 
 
 
 
At beginning of period
581,569

 
561,372

 
561,372

Amortization of deferred equity contributions
1,161

 
3,998

 
20,197

At end of period
582,730

 
565,370

 
581,569

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
 
 
 
 
 
At beginning of period
(34,851
)
 
(79,421
)
 
(79,421
)
Loss on hedging financial instruments reclassified into earnings
(7,482
)
 
502

 
2,102

Fair value adjustments to hedging financial instruments
5,187

 
7,093

 
41,827

Fair value adjustments to available for sale securities
(753
)
 
247

 
699

Other comprehensive (loss)/ income
19

 
(38
)
 
(58
)
At end of period
(37,880
)
 
(71,617
)
 
(34,851
)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss - associated companies
 
 
 
 
 
At beginning of period
(2,279
)
 
(5,176
)
 
(5,176
)
Fair value adjustment to hedging financial instruments
(130
)
 
2,053

 
2,897

At end of period
(2,409
)
 
(3,123
)
 
(2,279
)
Retained earnings
 
 
 
 
 
At beginning of period
268,602

 
288,510

 
288,510

Net income
40,733

 
32,378

 
89,206

Dividends declared
(37,314
)
 

 
(109,114
)
At end of period
272,021

 
320,888

 
268,602

Total Stockholders’ Equity
1,193,552

 
1,061,929

 
1,191,933

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.


9


SHIP FINANCE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
 

1.
INTERIM FINANCIAL DATA
The unaudited condensed interim financial statements of Ship Finance International Limited (“Ship Finance” or the “Company”) have been prepared on the same basis as the Company’s audited financial statements and, in the opinion of management, include all material adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments considered necessary in order to make the interim financial statements not misleading, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”). The accompanying condensed interim unaudited financial statements should be read in conjunction with the annual financial statements and notes included in the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2013. The results of operations for the interim period ended March 31, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the entire year ending December 31, 2014.
Basis of accounting
The condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with US GAAP. The condensed consolidated financial statements include the assets and liabilities and results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries including variable interest entities in which the Ship Finance is deemed to be the primary beneficiary. All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated on consolidation.
The condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with the accounting policies described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2013.
New Accounting Pronouncements
No new accounting pronouncements issued or effective during the interim period ended March 31, 2014 have had or are expected to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.



2.
GAIN ON SALE OF ASSETS AND TERMINATION OF CHARTERS        

In March 2014, the Company agreed to a settlement of a claim relating to four Handysize dry bulk carriers which were redelivered in 2012, before the expiry of their charters. The total settlement amount is approximately $30 million, of which approximately $15 million was received in the first quarter and the remaining balance is scheduled to be paid in three installments during 2014. The Company recorded gains of $10.2 million relating to amounts received in the period ended March 31, 2014.


3.
AVAILABLE FOR SALE SECURITIES         
Marketable securities held by the Company are debt securities considered to be available-for-sale securities.

(in thousands of $)
March 31, 2014

 
December 31, 2013

Amortized cost
60,143

 
75,657

Accumulated net unrealized gain
515

 
1,268

Carrying value
60,658

 
76,925


The Company's investment in marketable securities consists of investments in secured notes. The net unrealized accumulated gain on available-for-sale securities included in other comprehensive income as at March 31, 2014 was $0.5 million (December 31, 2013: net unrealized accumulated gain of $1.3 million).


10



4.
VESSELS AND EQUIPMENT, NET        
(in thousands of $)
March 31,
2014

 
December 31,
2013

Cost
1,413,666

 
1,360,605

Accumulated depreciation
(286,101
)
 
(270,989
)
Vessels and equipment, net
1,127,565

 
1,089,616


During the quarter, the Company acquired three second hand container vessels at a total cost of $53.1 million.


5.
NEWBUILDINGS AND VESSEL PURCHASE DEPOSITS

During the quarter, the Company paid a total deposit of $5.0 million in relation to four of the six second hand container vessels it agreed to acquire in March 2014. In addition, the Company cancelled one of the three remaining 4,800 twenty-foot equivalent units (“TEU”) newbuilding container vessels under construction in China due to excessive delays. The installments paid to the shipyard were fully refunded by March 31, 2014. The shipyard also agreed to pay interest thereon which was received subsequent to the quarter end.



6.
INVESTMENTS IN DIRECT FINANCING AND SALES-TYPE LEASES
As at March 31, 2014, 20 of the Company's double-hull VLCCs and Suezmax tankers were chartered to Frontline Shipping Limited (“Frontline Shipping”) and Frontline Shipping II Limited (“Frontline Shipping II”) on long-term, fixed rate time charters which extend for various periods depending on the age of the vessels, ranging from approximately four to 13 years. Frontline Shipping and Frontline Shipping II are subsidiaries of Frontline Ltd. (“Frontline”), a related party, and the terms of the charters do not provide them with an option to terminate the charters before the end of their terms.
One of the Company’s offshore supply vessels is chartered on a long-term bareboat charter to DESS Cyprus Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Deep Sea Supply Plc., a related party. Another of the Company's offshore supply vessels is chartered on a long term bareboat charter to Deep Sea Supply Shipowning II B.V., a wholly owned subsidiary of Deep Sea Supply BTG B.V., which is a joint venture owned 50% by Deep Sea Supply Plc. and 50% by BTG Pactual Oil & Gas Empreendimentos e Particapacoes S.A., or BTG Pactual. We refer to Deep Sea Supply Plc. and Deep Sea Supply BTG B.V. together as Deep Sea. The terms of the charters provide the charterer with various call options to acquire the vessels at certain dates throughout the charters, which expire in 2020.
The above assets (22 vessels) of the Company were accounted for as direct financing leases, all of which are leased to related parties. The following lists the components of the investments in direct financing leases as at March 31, 2014.
(in thousands of $)
March 31, 2014

 
December 31, 2013

Total minimum lease payments to be received
1,455,169

 
1,490,111

Less: amounts representing estimated executory costs including profit thereon, included in total minimum lease payments
(420,763
)
 
(432,463
)
Net minimum lease payments receivable
1,034,406

 
1,057,648

Estimated residual values of leased property (un-guaranteed)
278,152

 
278,152

Less: unearned income
(306,916
)
 
(318,910
)
 
1,005,642

 
1,016,890

Less: deferred deemed equity contribution
(105,216
)
 
(106,377
)
Less: unamortized gains
(7,014
)
 
(7,105
)
Total investment in direct financing and sales-type leases
893,412

 
903,408

 
 
 
 
Current portion
45,127

 
45,148

Long-term portion
848,285

 
858,260

 
893,412

 
903,408


11




7.
INVESTMENT IN ASSOCIATED COMPANIES
The Company has certain wholly-owned subsidiaries which are accounted for using the equity method, as it has been determined under ASC 810 that they are variable interest entities in which Ship Finance is not the primary beneficiary.
At March 31, 2014, March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2013, the Company has the following participation in investments that are recorded using the equity method:
 
 
March 31, 2014

 
March 31, 2013

 
December 31, 2013

SFL West Polaris Limited (“SFL West Polaris”)
100.00
%
 
100.00
%
 
100.00
%
SFL Deepwater Ltd (“SFL Deepwater”)
100.00
%
 
100.00
%
 
100.00
%
Bluelot Shipping Company Limited (“Bluelot”)
%
 
100.00
%
 
100.00
%
SFL Corte Real Limited (“Corte Real”)
%
 
100.00
%
 
100.00
%
SFL Hercules Ltd ("SFL Hercules")
100.00
%
 

 

SFL Linus Ltd ("SFL Linus")
100.00
%
 

 


Summarized balance sheet information of the Company’s equity method investees is as follows:
 
 
As of March 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
(in thousands of $)
TOTAL

 
Bluelot

 
Corte
Real

 
SFL West
Polaris

 
SFL
Deepwater

 
SFL Hercules

 
SFL Linus

Current assets
216,508

 

 

 
34,920

 
88,736

 
51,611

 
41,241

Non-current assets
1,854,296

 

 

 
451,401

 
418,503

 
422,059

 
562,333

Total assets
2,070,804

 

 

 
486,321

 
507,239

 
473,670

 
603,574

Current liabilities
193,751

 

 

 
38,293

 
85,208

 
29,044

 
41,206

Non-current liabilities
1,843,344

 

 

 
444,058

 
395,864

 
438,908

 
564,514

Total Liabilities
2,037,095

 

 

 
482,351

 
481,072

 
467,952

 
605,720

Total stockholders’ equity
33,709

 

 

 
3,970

 
26,167

 
5,718

 
(2,146
)
 
 
As of December 31, 2013
 
 
 
 
(in thousands of $)
TOTAL

 
Bluelot

 
Corte
Real

 
SFL West
Polaris

 
SFL
Deepwater

 
SFL Hercules

 
SFL Linus

Current assets
205,916

 
9,780

 
9,857

 
34,412

 
94,981

 
56,886

 

Non-current assets
1,516,033

 

 

 
458,558

 
432,755

 
429,720

 
195,000

Total assets
1,721,949

 
9,780

 
9,857

 
492,970

 
527,736

 
486,606

 
195,000

Current liabilities
159,847

 
3,523

 
3,646

 
38,337

 
85,240

 
29,101

 

Non-current liabilities
1,521,115

 

 

 
451,384

 
418,554

 
453,860

 
197,317

Total Liabilities
1,680,962

 
3,523

 
3,646

 
489,721

 
503,794

 
482,961

 
197,317

Total stockholders’ equity
40,987

 
6,257

 
6,211

 
3,249

 
23,942

 
3,645

 
(2,317
)
Summarized statement of operations information of the Company’s equity method investees is as follows:
 
 
Three months ended March 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
(in thousands of $)
TOTAL

 
Bluelot

 
Corte
Real

 
 
SFL West
Polaris

 
SFL
Deepwater

 
SFL Hercules

 
SFL Linus

Operating revenues
25,898

 
1,171

 
2,492

 
 
5,632

 
6,590

 
6,439

 
3,574

Net operating revenues
22,806

 
232

 
431

 
 
5,567

 
6,578

 
6,435

 
3,563

Net income/ (loss)
5,983

 
232

 
431

 
 
721

 
2,225

 
2,073

 
301

 

12



 
Three months ended March 31, 2013
 
 
 
 
(in thousands of $)
TOTAL

 
Bluelot

 
Corte
Real

 
SFL West
Polaris

 
SFL
Deepwater

 
SFL Hercules

 
SFL Linus

Operating revenues
32,149

 
4,776

 
4,772

 
6,151

 
16,450

 

 

Net operating revenues
23,659

 
543

 
543

 
6,141

 
16,432

 

 

Net income
8,512

 
543

 
543

 
613

 
6,813

 

 

 
 
Year ended December 31, 2013
 
 
 
 
(in thousands of $)
TOTAL

 
Bluelot

 
Corte
Real

 
SFL West
Polaris

 
SFL
Deepwater

 
SFL Hercules

 
SFL Linus

Operating revenues
122,792

 
19,490

 
19,624

 
23,701

 
46,145

 
13,832

 

Net operating revenues
88,121

 
2,261

 
2,262

 
23,681

 
46,109

 
13,808

 

Net income
28,200

 
2,261

 
2,261

 
2,324

 
17,747

 
3,645

 
(38
)

SFL West Polaris is a 100% owned subsidiary of Ship Finance, incorporated in 2008 for the purpose of holding an ultra deepwater drillship and leasing that vessel to Seadrill Polaris Ltd. (“Seadrill Polaris”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Seadrill Limited (“Seadrill”) whose performance under the leasing arrangement is fully guaranteed by Seadrill. The vessel is chartered on a bareboat basis and the terms of the charter provide the charterer with various call options to acquire the vessel at certain dates throughout the charter. In addition, SFL West Polaris has a put option to sell the vessel to Seadrill Polaris at a fixed price at the end of the charter, which expires in 2023. Because the main asset of SFL West Polaris is the subject of a lease which includes both fixed price call options and a fixed price put option, it has been determined that this subsidiary of Ship Finance is a variable interest entity in which Ship Finance is not the primary beneficiary. In December 2012, SFL West Polaris entered into a $420.0 million five year term loan and revolving credit facility, which was used in January 2013 to refinance the outstanding balance under a $700.0 million facility entered into in 2008, and for general corporate purposes. At March 31, 2014, the balance outstanding under this facility was $378.0 million. The Company guaranteed $94.0 million of this debt at March 31, 2014.

SFL Deepwater is a 100% owned subsidiary of Ship Finance, incorporated in 2008 for the purpose of holding two ultra deepwater drilling rigs and leasing those rigs to Seadrill Deepwater Charterer Ltd. (“Seadrill Deepwater”) and Seadrill Offshore AS (“Seadrill Offshore”), two wholly-owned subsidiaries of Seadrill whose performances under the leasing arrangements are fully guaranteed by Seadrill. One of the rigs, West Hercules, was transferred from SFL Deepwater to SFL Hercules, a 100% owned subsidiary of Ship Finance, in June 2013 at the carrying value of the Investment in finance lease. The remaining rig, West Taurus, is chartered on a bareboat basis and the terms of the charter provide Seadrill Deepwater with various call options to acquire the rig at certain dates throughout the charter. In addition, there is an obligation for the charterer to purchase the rig at a fixed price at the end of the charter, which expires in 2023. Because the main asset of SFL Deepwater is the subject of a lease which includes both fixed price call options and a fixed price purchase obligation, it has been determined that this subsidiary of Ship Finance is a variable interest entity in which Ship Finance is not the primary beneficiary. In October 2013, SFL Deepwater entered into a $390.0 million five year term loan and revolving credit facility, which was used in November 2013 to refinance the outstanding balance under a $1,400 million loan facility entered into in September 2008, and for general corporate purposes. At March 31, 2014, the balance outstanding under the new facility was $363.3 million. The Company guaranteed $90.0 million of this debt at March 31, 2014.


13



SFL Hercules is a 100% owned subsidiary of Ship Finance which was incorporated in January 2012 for the purpose of acquiring the ultra deepwater drilling rig West Hercules from SFL Deepwater and carry on leasing the rig to Seadrill Offshore on the same terms as originally established under the lease by SFL Deepwater. The vessel is chartered on a bareboat basis and the performance of Seadrill Offshore under the leasing arrangement is fully guaranteed by Seadrill. The terms of the charter provide the charterer with various call options to acquire the vessel at certain dates throughout the charter. In addition, there is an obligation for the charterer to purchase the rig at a fixed price at the end of the charter, which expires in 2023. Because the main asset of SFL Hercules is the subject of a lease which includes both fixed price call options and a fixed price purchase obligation, it has been determined that this subsidiary of Ship Finance is a variable interest entity in which Ship Finance is not the primary beneficiary. In May 2013, SFL Hercules entered into a $375.0 million secured term loan and revolving credit facility with a syndicate of banks. The facility was drawn in June 2013 and the proceeds were used to fund the acquisition of the ultra deepwater drilling rig West Hercules, which was transferred from SFL Deepwater at the carrying value of its Investment in finance lease receivable. At March 31, 2014, the balance outstanding under this facility was $304.4 million. In addition, $50 million was available under the revolving part of the facility at March 31, 2014. The Company guaranteed $90.0 million of this debt at March 31, 2014.

   
SFL Linus is a 100% owned subsidiary of Ship Finance, acquired from North Atlantic Drilling Ltd ("NADL"), a related party, in 2013. SFL Linus holds a newbuilding harsh environment jack-up drilling rig which upon delivery in February 2014 was leased to North Atlantic Linus Charterer Ltd. (“North Atlantic Charterer”), fully guaranteed by its parent company NADL. The vessel is chartered on a bareboat basis and the terms of the charter provide the charterer with various call options to acquire the vessel at certain dates throughout the charter. In addition, SFL Linus has a put option to sell the vessel to North Atlantic Charterer at a fixed price at the end of the charter, which expires in 2029. Because the main asset of SFL Linus is the subject of a lease which includes both fixed price call options and a fixed price put option, it has been determined that this subsidiary of Ship Finance is a variable interest entity in which Ship Finance is not the primary beneficiary. In October 2013, SFL Linus entered into a $475.0 million five year term loan and revolving credit facility to partly finance the acquisition of the rig. The facility was drawn when the rig was delivered to SFL Linus and the charter commenced in February 2014. At March 31, 2014, the balance outstanding under this facility was $435.0 million. In addition, $40 million was available under the revolving part of the facility at March 31, 2014. The facility was fully guaranteed by Ship Finance until the rig commenced a sub-charter in May 2014. Thereafter, Ship Finance guarantees $90.0 million of the debt.

Bluelot and Corte Real are 100% owned subsidiaries of Ship Finance, each incorporated in 2010 for the purpose of leasing in a 13,800 TEU container vessel on a bareboat charter basis, respectively the CMA CGM Magellan and the CMA CGM Corte Real, and leasing the vessel out on a time-charter basis to CMA CGM. In November and December 2013, CMA CGM exercised its options to acquire the two vessel-owning entities, and the charter agreements were terminated in January and March 2014, respectively. Accordingly, the two $25 million investment loans, which were included in "Other receivables" at December 31, 2013, were repaid to the Company upon the termination of the charters. The business activities of Bluelot and Corte Real were discontinued upon the redelivery of their respective vessels to CMA CGM. Consequently, the subsidiaries ceased to be accounted for using the equity method and were consolidated as at March 31, 2014.

SFL West Polaris, SFL Deepwater, SFL Hercules and SFL Linus have loan facilities for which Ship Finance provides limited guarantees, as indicated above. The loan facilities for SFL West Polaris, SFL Deepwater and SFL Hercules contain financial covenants, with which both Ship Finance and Seadrill must comply. As at March 31, 2014, Ship Finance and Seadrill were in compliance with all of the covenants under these long-term debt facilities. The SFL Linus loan facility contains financial covenants, with which both Ship Finance and NADL must comply. In addition, it contains financial covenants, with which Seadrill must comply until commencement of the sub-charter, which commenced in May 2014. As at March 31, 2014, Ship Finance, NADL and Seadrill were in compliance with all of the covenants under this long-term debt facility.




14



8.
SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM DEBT
(in thousands of $)
March 31, 2014

 
December 31, 2013

Long-term debt:
 
 
 
NOK500 million senior unsecured floating rate bonds due 2014
72,237

 
71,854

3.75% senior unsecured convertible bonds due 2016
125,000

 
125,000

NOK600 million senior unsecured floating rate bonds due 2017
94,201

 
92,843

3.25% senior unsecured convertible bonds due 2018
350,000

 
350,000

NOK900 million senior unsecured floating rate bonds due 2019
150,321

 

U.S. dollar denominated floating rate debt (LIBOR plus margin) due through 2026
902,419

 
1,097,182

 
1,694,178

 
1,736,879

Short-term debt:
 
 
 
U.S. dollar denominated floating rate debt (LIBOR plus margin)
1,047

 

Total short-term and long-term debt
1,695,225

 
1,736,879

Less: Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt
(436,676
)
 
(389,888
)
 
1,258,549

 
1,346,991



The outstanding debt as of March 31, 2014 is repayable as follows:
 
(in thousands of $)
 
Year ending December 31
 
 
 
2014 (remaining nine months)
288,401

2015
182,936

2016
179,591

2017
186,305

2018
613,753

Thereafter
244,239

Total debt
1,695,225

The weighted average interest rate for floating rate debt denominated in U.S. dollars and Norwegian kroner (“NOK”) was 5.03% per annum at March 31, 2014 (December 31, 2013: 4.86%). This rate takes into consideration the effect of related interest rate swaps. At March 31, 2014, the three month US Dollar London Interbank Offered Rate, or LIBOR, was 0.231% (December 31, 2013: 0.246%) and the Norwegian Interbank Offered Rate, or NIBOR, was 1.73% (December 31, 2013: 1.69%).
8.5% Senior Notes due 2013
On December 15, 2003, the Company issued $580.0 million of 8.5% Senior Notes which were subsequently redeemed in full on March 1, 2013. The Company recorded losses of $1.1 million on the repurchase of the notes in 2013. The redemption of the outstanding notes in 2013 was partly funded by the issue in January 2013 of $350 million 3.25% senior unsecured convertible bonds due 2018 (see below).


15



NOK500 million senior unsecured bonds due 2014
On October 7, 2010, the Company issued a senior unsecured bond loan totaling NOK500.0 million in the Norwegian credit market. The bonds bore a quarterly interest at NIBOR plus a margin and were redeemed in full at their maturity date of April 7, 2014. Subsequent to their issue, the Company purchased bonds with principal amounts totaling NOK 4.0 million during the three months ended March 31, 2014, NOK10.0 million in 2012, NOK13.0 million in 2011 and NOK40.5 million in 2010, which were being held as treasury bonds. The net amount outstanding at March 31, 2014, was NOK432.5 million, equivalent to $72.2 million (December 31, 2013: NOK436.5 million, equivalent to $71.9 million).
3.75% senior unsecured convertible bonds due 2016
On February 10, 2011, the Company issued a senior unsecured convertible bond loan totaling $125.0 million. Interest on the bonds is fixed at 3.75% per annum and is payable in cash semi-annually in arrears on February 10 and August 10. The bonds are convertible into Ship Finance International Limited common shares at any time up to 10 banking days prior to February 10, 2016. The conversion price at the time of issue was $27.05 per share, representing a 35% premium to the share price at the time. Since then, dividend distributions have reduced the conversion price to $19.78. The Company has the right to call the bonds after March 3, 2014, if the value of the shares underlying each bond exceeds, for a specified period of time, 130% of the principal amount of the bond.

NOK600 million senior unsecured bonds due 2017
On October 19, 2012, the Company issued a senior unsecured bond loan totaling NOK600 million in the Norwegian credit market. The bonds bear quarterly interest at NIBOR plus a margin and are redeemable in full on October 19, 2017. The bonds may, in their entirety, be redeemed at the Company's option from April 19, 2017, upon giving bondholders at least 30 business days notice and paying 100.5% of par value plus accrued interest. Subsequent to their issue, the Company purchased bonds with principal amounts totaling NOK36.0 million in 2013, which are being held as treasury bonds. At March 31, 2014, the net amount of NOK564.0 million was outstanding, equivalent to $94.2 million (December 31, 2013: NOK564 million, equivalent to $92.8 million).
3.25% senior unsecured convertible bonds due 2018
On January 30, 2013, the Company issued a senior unsecured convertible bond loan totaling $350.0 million. Interest on the bonds is fixed at 3.25% per annum and is payable in cash quarterly in arrears on February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1. The bonds are convertible into Ship Finance International Limited common shares at any time up to 10 banking days prior to February 1, 2018. The conversion price at the time of issue was $21.945 per share, representing a 33% premium to the share price at the time. Since then, dividend distributions have reduced the conversion price to $19.981. In conjunction with the bond issue, the Company loaned up to 6,060,606 of its common shares to an affiliate of one of the underwriters of the issue, in order to assist investors in the bonds to hedge their position. The shares that were lent by the Company were borrowed from Hemen Holding Ltd., the largest shareholder of the Company for a one-time loan fee of $1.0 million.
As required by ASC 470-20 "Debt with conversion and other options", the Company calculated the equity component of the convertible bond taking into account both the fair value of the conversion option and the fair value of the share lending arrangement. The equity component was valued at $20.7 million in 2013 and this amount was recorded as "Additional paid-in capital", with a corresponding adjustment to "Deferred charges" which are amortized to "Interest expense" over the appropriate period. The amortization of this item amounted to $1.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014.

NOK900 million senior unsecured bonds due 2019
On March 19, 2014, the Company issued a senior unsecured bond loan totaling NOK900 million in the Norwegian credit market. The bonds bear quarterly interest at NIBOR plus a margin and are redeemable in full on March 19, 2019. The bonds may, in their entirety, be redeemed at the Company's option from September 19, 2018, upon giving bondholders at least 30 business days notice and paying 100.5% of par value plus accrued interest. At March 31, 2014, the net amount of NOK900 million was outstanding, equivalent to $150.3 million (December 31, 2013: NOKnil, equivalent to $nil).

16



$210 million secured term loan facility
In April 2006, five wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company entered into a $210.0 million secured term loan facility with a syndicate of banks to partly fund the acquisition of five new container vessels. The terms of the loan were initially linked to long-term charters of the vessels, and the Company did not provide a corporate guarantee for the facility. In April 2012, those long-term charters were terminated and the terms of the loan agreement were amended. Although the facility continues without recourse to the Company, as part of the amended agreement the Company now guarantees that revenues received by the vessel-owning subsidiaries will achieve certain minimum levels. This performance guarantee has been reduced to a maximum amount of $14.6 million in aggregate as of March 31, 2014. The facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of twelve years from the date of drawdown for each vessel. The net amount outstanding at March 31, 2014, was $174.0 million (December 31, 2013: $174.8 million).
$149 million secured term loan facility
In August 2007, five wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company entered into a $149.0 million secured term loan facility with a syndicate of banks. The proceeds of the facility were used to partly fund the acquisition of five new offshore supply vessels, which served as the security for this facility. One of the vessels was sold in January 2008 and the loan facility is currently secured by the remaining four vessels. The Company has provided a limited corporate guarantee for this facility, which bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of seven years. The net amount outstanding at March 31, 2014, was $71.8 million (December 31, 2013: $73.9 million).
$77 million secured term loan facility
In January 2008, two wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company entered into a $77.0 million secured term loan facility with a syndicate of banks. The proceeds of the facility were used to partly fund the acquisition of two offshore supply vessels, which also serve as the security for this facility. The Company has provided a limited corporate guarantee for this facility, which bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of seven years. The net amount outstanding at March 31, 2014, was $37.5 million (December 31, 2013: $39.1 million).
$30 million secured revolving credit facility
In February 2008, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company entered into a $30.0 million secured revolving credit facility with a bank. The proceeds of the facility were used to partly fund the acquisition of a 1,700 TEU container vessel, which also serves as security for this facility. The facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of seven years. At March 31, 2014, the available amount under the facility was fully drawn. The net amount outstanding at March 31, 2014 was $4.0 million (December 31, 2013: $5.0 million).
$49 million secured term loan and revolving credit facility
In March 2008, two wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company entered into a $49.0 million secured term loan and revolving credit facility with a bank. The proceeds of the facility were used to partly fund the acquisition of two newbuilding chemical tankers, which also serve as the security for this facility. The Company has provided a limited corporate guarantee for this facility, which bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of ten years. At March 31, 2014, the available amount under the revolving part of the facility was $15.2 million. The net amount outstanding at March 31, 2014, was $13.3 million (December 31, 2013: $25.6 million).
$43 million secured term loan facility
In February 2010, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company entered into a $42.6 million secured term loan facility with a bank, secured against a Suezmax tanker. The facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of approximately five years. The net amount outstanding at March 31, 2014, was $31.2 million (December 31, 2013: $32.0 million).
$725 million secured term loan and revolving credit facility
In March 2010, the Company entered into a $725.0 million secured term loan and revolving credit facility with a syndicate of banks that was secured by 26 vessels chartered to Frontline. Nine of these vessels were sold during 2011, 2012 and 2013 and the facility is secured against the remaining 17 vessels at March 31, 2014. The facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and is repayable over a term of five years. At March 31, 2014, the available amount under the revolving part of the facility was $158.7 million. The net amount outstanding at March 31, 2014, was $105.8 million (December 31, 2013: $158.8 million).

17



$43 million secured term loan facility
In March 2010, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company entered into a $42.6 million secured term loan facility with a bank, secured against a Suezmax tanker. The facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of five years. The net amount outstanding at March 31, 2014, was $31.2 million (December 31, 2013: $32.0 million).
$54 million secured term loan facility
In November 2010, two wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company entered into a $53.7 million secured term loan facility with a bank, secured by two Supramax drybulk carriers. The Company has provided a limited corporate guarantee for this facility, which bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of eight years. The net amount outstanding at March 31, 2014, was $41.0 million (December 31, 2013: $42.0 million).

$95 million secured term loan and revolving credit facility
In February 2011, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company entered into a $95.0 million secured term loan and revolving credit facility with a bank, secured by a jack-up drilling rig. The facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of seven years. At March 31, 2014, the available amount under the revolving part of the facility was $25.0 million. The net amount outstanding at March 31, 2014, was $40.0 million (December 31, 2013: $47.5 million).
$75 million secured term loan facility
In March 2011, three wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company entered into a $75.4 million secured term loan facility with a bank, secured by three newbuilding Supramax drybulk carriers, two of which were delivered in 2011 and one which was delivered in 2012. The Company has provided a limited corporate guarantee for this facility, which bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of approximately eight years. The net amount outstanding at March 31, 2014, was $61.1 million (December 31, 2013: $62.5 million).
$171 million secured term loan facility
In May 2011, eight wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company entered into a $171.0 million secured loan facility with a syndicate of banks. The facility is supported by China Export & Credit Insurance Corporation, or SINOSURE, who has provided an insurance policy in favour of the banks for part of the outstanding loan. The facility is secured by a 1,700 TEU container vessel, and seven Handysize drybulk carriers. The facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of approximately ten years from delivery of each vessel. The net amount outstanding at March 31, 2014, was $143.3 million (December 31, 2013: $146.3 million).
$55 million secured securities financing agreement
In June 2011, the Company entered into a $55.0 million securities financing agreement with a bank. The facility may be used to fund up to 50% of the acquisition cost of securities we may acquire from time to time. The facility bears interest at US Federal funds rate plus a margin and will be secured against the relevant securities. The facility had not been utilized as at March 31, 2014. The amount available under this facility at March 31, 2014, was $19.7 million (December 31, 2013: $28.2 million).
$167 million secured term loan and revolving credit facility
In July 2011, five wholly-owned subsidiaries entered into a $166.8 million secured term loan and revolving credit facility agreement with a syndicate of banks. The proceeds of the facility were used to refinance a facility which matured in June 2012. The facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin, has a term of six years from drawdown and was secured against five VLCCs. Two of the VLCCs were sold in 2013 and the facility is now secured against the three remaining VLCCs. At March 31, 2014, the available amount under the revolving part of the facility was $8.0 million. The net amount outstanding at March 31, 2014, was $72.9 million (December 31, 2013: $74.5 million).

18



$184 million secured term loan facility
In March 2012, four wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company entered into a $184.0 million secured term loan facility with a bank, secured by four newbuilding container vessels. The facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and had a term of approximately twelve years from delivery of each vessel. The facility was for both pre- and post-delivery financing. Two of the newbuilding contracts were cancelled in December 2013 and February 2014, respectively. The Company prepaid a total of $36.8 million of the outstanding loan amount relating to the cancelled newbuilding contracts in the first quarter. The net amount outstanding at March 31, 2014, was $27.6 million (December 31, 2013: $64.4 million). The two remaining newbuilding contracts were cancelled in April and May 2014, respectively, and all amounts outstanding under the facility have been prepaid and the facility cancelled subsequent to March 31, 2014.

$53 million secured term loan facility
In November 2012, two wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company entered into a $53.2 million secured term loan facility with a bank, secured against two car carriers. The facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of approximately five years. The net amount outstanding at March 31, 2014 was $47.7 million (December 31, 2013: $48.8 million).
$70 million secured term loan facility
In June 2013, the Company entered into a $70.0 million secured term loan facility with a syndicate of banks in order to partly finance the pre-delivery costs of the harsh-environment jack-up drilling rig West Linus, secured against the newbuilding contract for the rig. The facility bore an interest at LIBOR plus a margin and was repayable upon delivery of the rig which occurred on February 18, 2014. The facility was repaid with the proceeds from the $475.0 million five year post-delivery term loan and revolving credit facility which SFL Linus entered into in October 2013. The net amount outstanding at March 31, 2014, was $nil ((December 31, 2013: $70.0 million).

The aggregate book value of assets pledged as security against borrowings at March 31, 2014, was $1,946 million (December 31, 2013: $1,994 million).

Agreements related to long-term debt provide limitations on the amount of total borrowings and secured debt, and acceleration of payment under certain circumstances, including failure to satisfy certain financial covenants. As of March 31, 2014, the Company is in compliance with all of the covenants under its long-term debt facilities. The $149.0 million secured term loan facility entered into in August 2007 contains certain financial covenants on Deep Sea Supply BTG B.V. and the $77.0 million secured term loan facility entered into in January 2008 contains certain financial covenants on Deep Sea Supply Plc. and Deep Sea Supply BTG B.V. As at March 31, 2014, Deep Sea Supply Plc. and Deep Sea Supply BTG B.V. were in compliance with all covenants under the respective loan agreements.


9.
FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
In certain situations, the Company may enter into financial instruments to reduce the risk associated with fluctuations in interest rates and exchange rates. The Company has a portfolio of swaps which swap floating rate interest to fixed rate, and which also fix the Norwegian kroner to US dollar exchange rate applicable to the interest payable and principal repayment on the NOK denominated bonds due 2014, 2017 and 2019. From a financial perspective, these swaps hedge interest rate and exchange rate exposure. The counterparties to such contracts are Nordea Bank Finland Plc, ABN AMRO Bank N.V., BNP Paribas, NIBC Bank N.V., Scotiabank Europe Plc, Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ), ING Bank N.V., Lloyds Banking Group Plc, Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, Danske Bank A/S and Swedbank AB (publ). Credit risk exists to the extent that the counterparties are unable to perform under the contracts, but this risk is considered remote as the counterparties are all banks which have provided the Company with loans to which the swaps relate.
The following table presents the fair values of the Company’s derivative instruments that were designated as cash flow hedges and qualified as part of a hedging relationship, and those that were not designated:
 

19



(in thousands of $)
March 31, 2014

 
December 31, 2013

Designated derivative instruments - Assets:
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps
977

 
6,565

Cross currency interest rate swaps
425

 

Non-designated derivative instruments - Assets:
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps
10,966

 
10,068

Cross currency interest rate swaps

 

 
12,368

 
16,633

 
 
 
 
(in thousands of $)
 
 
 
Designated derivative instruments -short-term liabilities:
March 31, 2014

 
December 31, 2013

Interest rate swaps
3,258

 
2,279

Cross currency interest rate swaps
2,112

 
3,358

Non-designated derivative instruments -short-term liabilities:
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps
963

 

Cross currency interest rate swaps
29

 
68

Total derivative instruments- short-term liabilities
6,362

 
5,705

(in thousands of $)
March 31, 2014

 
December 31, 2013

Designated derivative instruments - long-term liabilities:
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps
41,421

 
44,006

Cross currency interest rate swaps
7,208

 
8,915

Non-designated derivative instruments - long-term liabilities:
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps
1,724

 
3,183

Cross currency interest rate swaps
279

 
386

Total derivative instruments- long-term liabilities
50,632

 
56,490

Interest rate risk management
The Company manages its debt portfolio with interest rate swap agreements denominated in U.S. dollars and Norwegian kroner to achieve an overall desired position of fixed and floating interest rates. At March 31, 2014, the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries had entered into interest rate swap transactions, involving the payment of fixed rates in exchange for LIBOR or NIBOR, as summarized below. The summary includes all swap transactions, most of which are hedges against specific loans.
 

20



(in thousands of $)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notional Principal as at March 31, 2014
Inception date
 
Maturity date
 
Fixed interest rate
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$190,526 (reducing to $122,632)
March 2010
 
March 2015
 
1.96% - 2.22%
 
$71,825 (reducing to $69,713)
September 2012
 
September 2014
 
4.85%
 
$36,338 (reducing to $24,794)
March 2008
 
August 2018
 
4.05% - 4.15%
 
$40,979 (reducing to $23,394)
April 2011
 
December 2018
 
2.13% - 2.80%
 
$61,063 (reducing to $34,044)
May 2011
 
January 2019
 
0.80% - 2.58%
 
$100,000 (remaining at $100,000)
August 2011
 
August 2021
 
2.50% - 2.93%
 
$76,136 (equivalent to NOK450 million)
October 2010
 
April 2014
 
5.32%
*
$173,964 (reducing to $153,804)
April 2012
 
May 2019
 
3.67% - 3.77%
 
$179,400 (reducing to $79,733)
May 2012
 
August 2022
 
1.76% - 1.85%
 
$105,436 (equivalent to NOK600 million)
October 2012
 
October 2017
 
5.92% - 6.23%
*
$47,658 (reducing to $32,142)
February 2013
 
December 2017
 
0.81% - 0.82%
 
$100,000 (remaining at $100,000)
March 2013
 
April 2023
 
1.85% - 1.97%
 
$151,008 (equivalent to NOK900 million)
March 2014
 
March 2019
 
6.03%
*

* These swaps relate to the NOK500 million, NOK600 million and NOK900 million senior unsecured bonds due 2014, 2017 and 2019 respectively, and the fixed interest rates paid are exchanged for the NIBOR plus the margin on the bonds. For the remaining swaps the fixed interest rate paid is exchanged for LIBOR, excluding margin on the underlying loans.

As at March 31, 2014, the total notional principal amount subject to such swap agreements was $1,334.3 million (December 31, 2013: $1,188.0 million).
Foreign currency risk management
The Company has entered into currency swap transactions, involving the payment of U.S. dollars in exchange for Norwegian kroner, which are designated as hedges against the NOK500 million senior unsecured bonds due 2014, the NOK600 million senior unsecured bonds due 2017 and NOK900 million senior unsecured bonds due 2019.
 
Principal Receivable
Principal Payable

 
Inception date
 
Maturity date
NOK450 million
$
76.1
 million
 
October 2010
 
April 2014
NOK600 million
$
105.4
 million
 
October 2012
 
October 2017
NOK900 million
$
151.0
 million
 
March 2014
 
March 2019
Apart from the NOK500 million, NOK600 million and NOK900 million senior unsecured bonds due 2014, 2017 and 2019, respectively, the majority of the Company’s transactions, assets and liabilities are denominated in U.S. dollars, the functional currency of the Company. Other than the corresponding currency swap transactions summarized above, the Company has not entered into forward contracts for either transaction or translation risk. Accordingly, there is a risk that currency fluctuations could have an adverse effect on the Company’s cash flows, financial condition and results of operations.

21



Fair Values
The carrying value and estimated fair value of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 are as follows:
 
 
March 31, 2014

 
March 31, 2014

 
December 31, 2013

 
December 31, 2013

(in thousands of $)
Carrying value

 
Fair value

 
Carrying value

 
Fair value

Non-derivatives:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available for sale securities
60,658

 
60,658

 
76,925

 
76,925

Floating rate NOK bonds due 2014
72,237

 
72,237

 
71,854

 
72,032

Floating rate NOK bonds due 2017
94,201

 
97,262

 
92,483

 
93,752

Floating rate NOK bonds due 2019
150,321

 
150,070

 

 

3.75% unsecured convertible bonds due 2016
125,000

 
135,550

 
125,000

 
130,589

3.25% unsecured convertible bonds due 2018
350,000

 
382,449

 
350,000

 
359,307

Derivatives:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate/ currency swap contracts - short-term and long-term receivables
12,368

 
12,368

 
16,633

 
16,633

Interest rate/ currency swap contracts - short-term payables
6,362

 
6,362

 
5,705

 
5,705

Interest rate/ currency swap contracts - long-term payables
50,632

 
50,632

 
56,490

 
56,490

The above long-term receivables relating to interest rate/ currency swap contracts at March 31, 2014, include $11.0 million which relates to non-designated swap contracts (December 31, 2013: $10.1 million), with the balance relating to designated hedges. The above short-term payables relating to interest rate/ currency swap contracts at March 31, 2014, include $1.0 million which relates to non-designated swap contracts (December 31, 2013: $0.1 million), with the balance relating to designated hedges. The above long-term payables relating to interest rate/ currency swap contracts at March 31, 2014, include $2.0 million which relates to non-designated swap contracts (December 31, 2013: $3.6 million), with the balance relating to designated hedges.
In accordance with the accounting policy relating to interest rate and currency swaps described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2013, where the Company has designated the swap as a hedge, and to the extent that the hedge is effective, changes in the fair values of interest rate swaps are recognized in other comprehensive income. Changes in the fair value of other swaps and the ineffective portion of swaps designated as hedges are recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.



22



The above fair values of financial assets and liabilities as at March 31, 2014, were measured as follows:
 
 
 
 
Fair value measurements using
(in thousands of $)
March 31, 2014

 
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level  1)

 
Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)

 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)

Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available for sale securities
60,658

 
39,365

 
 
 
21,293

Interest rate/ currency swap contracts - long-term receivables
12,368

 


 
12,368

 
 
Total assets
73,026

 
39,365

 
12,368

 
21,293

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Floating rate NOK bonds due 2014
72,237

 
72,237

 
 
 
 
Floating rate NOK bonds due 2017
97,262

 
97,262

 
 
 
 
Floating rate NOK bonds due 2019
150,070

 
150,070

 
 
 
 
3.75% unsecured convertible bonds due 2016
135,550

 
135,550

 
 
 
 
3.25% unsecured convertible bonds due 2018
382,449

 
382,449

 
 
 
 
Interest rate/ currency swap contracts – short-term payables
6,362

 
 
 
6,362

 
 
Interest rate/ currency swap contracts – long-term payables
50,632

 


 
50,632

 
 
Total liabilities
894,562

 
837,568

 
56,994

 

Fair value is measured in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 820 “Fair Value Measurement and Disclosures”. ASC 820 establishes a fair value hierarchy as follows:
Level 1 - Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2 - Observable market based other than quoted prices or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data.
Level 3 - Unobservable inputs for assets or liabilities that are not corroborated by market data.
Listed available-for-sale securities are recorded at fair value, being their market value as at the balance sheet date. The fair value of unlisted available for sale securities, which at March 31, 2014, comprise unlisted corporate bonds, is a Level 3 input and is determined from an analysis of projected cash flows, based on factors including the terms, provisions and other characteristics of the bonds, credit ratings and default risk of the issuing entity, the fundamental financial and other characteristics of that entity, and the current economic environment and trading activity in the debt market.

The estimated fair values for the floating rate NOK denominated bonds due 2014, 2017 and 2019, the 3.75% and the 3.25% unsecured convertible bonds due 2016 and 2018 respectively, are all based on their quoted market prices as at the balance sheet date.
The fair value of interest rate and currency swap contracts is calculated using a well-established independent valuation technique applied to contracted cash flows and LIBOR/NIBOR interest rates as at March 31, 2014.
Concentrations of risk
There is a concentration of credit risk with respect to cash and cash equivalents to the extent that most of the amounts are carried with Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken, ABN AMRO, Danske Bank and Nordea. However, the Company believes this risk is remote.

23



Since the Company was spun-off from Frontline in 2004, Frontline has accounted for a major proportion of our consolidated operating revenues. In the three months ended March 31, 2014, Frontline accounted for approximately 41% of our consolidated operating revenues (for the three months ended March 31, 2013: 42% for the year ended December 31, 2013: 38%). There is thus a concentration of revenue risk with Frontline. The consolidated operating revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2014, do not include the operating revenues of $25.9 million (for the three months ended March 31, 2013: $32.1 million, for the year ended December 31, 2013: $122.8 million) reported by our subsidiaries accounted for using the equity method, none of which were earned from Frontline.

10.
SHARE CAPITAL ADDITIONAL PAID-IN CAPITAL AND CONTRIBUTED SURPLUS

Authorized share capital is as follows:
 
(in thousands of $, except share data)
March 31, 2014

 
December 31, 2013

125,000,000 common shares of $1.00 par value each
125,000

 
125,000

Issued and fully paid share capital is as follows:
 
(in thousands of $, except share data)
March 31, 2014

 
December 31, 2013

93,285,000 common shares of $1.00 par value each (December 31, 2013: 93,260,000 shares)
93,285

 
93,260


The Company’s common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

During the three months ended March 31, 2014, one director exercised options to acquire 25,000 shares of the Company at an exercise price of $6.78 per share. 25,000 shares were issued in respect of the exercised options resulting in a premium on issue of $0.1 million.

The Company has accounted for the acquisition of vessels from Frontline at Frontline’s historical carrying value. The difference between the historical carrying values and the net investment in the leases has been recorded as a deferred deemed equity contribution, which is presented as a reduction in net investment in direct financing leases in the balance sheet. This accounting treatment arises from the related party nature of both the initial transfer of the vessels and the subsequent leases. The deferred deemed equity contribution is amortized to contributed surplus over the life of the lease arrangements, as lease payments are applied to the principal balance of the lease receivable. In the three months ended March 31, 2014, the Company has credited contributed surplus with $1.2 million of such deemed equity contributions (year ended December 31, 2013: $20.2 million).


11.
SHARE OPTION PLAN
No options were granted in the three months ended March 31, 2014.
As of March 31, 2014 there were no unrecognized compensation costs related to non-vested options granted under the Company's existing share option scheme (December 31, 2013: $29,100).

12.
EARNINGS PER SHARE
The computation of basic EPS is based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS includes the effect of the assumed conversion of potentially dilutive instruments.
The components of the numerator for the calculation of basic and diluted EPS are as follows:
 

24



 
Three months ended March 31,
 
 
Year ended December 31,
(in thousands of $)
2014

 
2013

 
2013

Basic:
 
 
 
 
 
Net income available to stockholders
40,733

 
32,378

 
89,206

Diluted:
 
 
 
 
 
Net income available to stockholders
40,733

 
32,378

 
89,206

Interest paid on convertible bonds
5,545

 
3,068

 
5,092

 
46,278

 
35,446

 
94,298


The components of the denominator for the calculation of basic and diluted EPS are as follows:
 
Three months ended March 31,
 
 
Year ended December 31,
(in thousands)
2014

 
2013

 
2013

Basic earnings per share:
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding
93,267

 
85,248

 
89,508

Diluted earnings per share:
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding
93,267

 
85,248

 
89,508

Effect of dilutive share options
43

 
44

 
163

Effect of dilutive convertible debt
23,333

 
21,701

 
5,753

 
116,643

 
106,993

 
95,424


13.
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The Company, which was formed in 2003 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Frontline, was partially spun-off in 2004 and its shares commenced trading on the New York Stock Exchange in June 2004. A significant proportion of the Company’s business continues to be transacted with related parties.
The Company has transactions with the following related parties being companies in which our principal shareholders Hemen Holding Ltd. and Farahead Investment Inc. (hereafter jointly referred to as “Hemen”) and companies associated with Hemen have a significant direct or indirect interest:

Frontline
Frontline Shipping, Frontline Shipping II, Frontline Shipping III (collectively Frontline Charterers)
Seadrill
NADL
Golden Ocean Group Limited (“Golden Ocean”)
Deep Sea
Golar LNG Limited (“Golar”)
United Freight Carriers LLC ("UFC")

The Consolidated Balance Sheets include the following amounts due from and to related parties and associated companies, excluding direct financing lease balances (Note 6):
 

25



(in thousands of $)
March 31, 2014

 
December 31, 2013

Amounts due from:
 
 
 
Frontline Charterers
11,610

 

Frontline
7,946

 
10,016

UFC
519

 
770

Deep Sea
42

 

NADL
407

 
2,163

Seadrill
100

 
300

Other related parties
467

 

Total amount due from related parties
21,091

 
13,249

Loans to related parties - associated companies, long-term
 
 
 
SFL West Polaris
102,258

 
100,383

SFL Deepwater
112,531

 
115,222

SFL Hercules
162,033

 
120,110

SFL Linus
166,595

 
195,000

Total loans to related parties - associated companies, long-term
543,417

 
530,715

Loans to related parties - others, long-term
 
 
 
Frontline Ltd
46,903

 
48,847

Total loans to related parties - others, long-term
46,903

 
48,847

Amounts due to:
 
 
 
Frontline Charterers
581

 
815

Frontline Management
765

 
1,011

Bluelot

 
6,064

Corte Real

 
6,018

Other related parties
176

 
57

Total amount due to related parties
1,522

 
13,965

SFL West Polaris, SFL Deepwater, SFL Hercules and SFL Linus are wholly-owned subsidiaries which are not fully consolidated but are accounted for under the equity method as at March 31, 2014 within the financial statements (see Note 4). The amounts due to Bluelot and Corte Real in 2013 were balances on the current accounts between those companies and Ship Finance. As described below in “Related party loans”, at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the long-term loans from Ship Finance to SFL West Polaris, SFL Deepwater, SFL Hercules and SFL Linus, are presented net of their respective current accounts.
Related party leasing and service contracts
As at March 31, 2014, 20 (December 31, 2013: 20) of the Company’s vessels which were leased to the Frontline Charterers and two (December 31, 2013: two) of its offshore supply vessels which were leased to subsidiaries of Deep Sea have been recorded as direct financing leases. In addition, at March 31, 2014, four (December 31, 2013: four) offshore supply vessels were leased to subsidiaries of Deep Sea and four (December 31, 2013: four) vessels were leased to UFC under operating leases.
At March 31, 2014, the combined balance of net investments in direct financing leases with the Frontline Charterers and Deep Sea was $893.4 million (December 31, 2013: $1,016.9 million) of which $45.1 million (December 31, 2013: $45.1 million) represents short-term maturities.

At March 31, 2014, the net book value of assets leased under operating leases to the Frontline Charterers, UFC and Deep Sea was $209.3 million (December 31, 2013: $212.9 million).
A summary of leasing revenues earned from the Frontline Charterers, UFC and Deep Sea is as follows:
 

26



 
Three Months Ended
 
Year ended

Payments (in millions of $)
March 31, 2014

 
March 31, 2013

 
December 31, 2013

Operating lease income
6.9

 
4.5

 
24.0

Direct financing lease interest income
11.6

 
14.3

 
55.4

Finance lease service revenue
11.7

 
13.6

 
52.4

Direct financing lease repayments
11.0

 
12.3

 
47.4

Cash sweep and profit share income
12.2

 

 
0.8


In addition, the Company paid the following fees:
 
Three Months Ended
 
Year ended

Payments (in millions of $)
March 31, 2014

 
March 31, 2013

 
December 31, 2013

Frontline Charterers:
 
 
 
 
 
Vessel Management Fees
12.2

 
14.0

 
54.2

Management Supervision Fees
0.5

 
0.7

 
2.4

Administration Services and other
0.1

 
0.1

 
0.4

Golden Ocean:
 
 
 
 
 
Operating Management Fees
0.2

 
0.2

 
0.7

Office Facilities:
 
 
 
 
 
Golar Management UK Limited

 

 
0.2

Frontline Management AS
0.1

 
0.1

 
0.3

Related party loans – associated companies
In 2010, Ship Finance entered into agreements with the wholly owned subsidiaries SFL West Polaris and SFL Deepwater granting fixed interest loans to them of $145.0 million and $290.0 million, respectively. These loans are repayable in full on July 11, 2023, and October 1, 2023, respectively, or earlier if the companies sell their drilling units. In June 2013, SFL Deepwater repaid $145.0 million of its debt to Ship Finance following the transfer of one of its rigs to SFL Hercules. In June 2013, Ship Finance granted a loan of $145.0 million to SFL Hercules on the same terms as that of SFL Deepwater. In addition, Ship Finance entered into a non interest bearing loan agreement with the wholly owned subsidiary SFL Linus in the amount $195.0 million. In February 2014, SFL Linus repaid $70.0 million of its debt to Ship Finance with the remaining balance repayable in full on June 30, 2029 or earlier if the subsidiary sells its drilling unit.
Ship Finance is entitled to take excess cash from these companies, and such amounts are recorded within their current accounts with Ship Finance. The loan agreements specify that the balance on the current accounts will have no interest applied and will be settled by offset against the eventual repayments of the fixed interest loans to the extent that it is a receivable from Ship Finance. In the three months ended March 31, 2014, the Company accrued interest income on these loans of $1.6 million from SFL West Polaris (three months ended March 31, 2013: $1.6 million; year ended December 31, 2013: $6.5 million), $1.6 million from SFL Deepwater (three months ended March 31, 2013: $3.3 million, year ended December 31, 2013: $9.6 million), $1.6 million from SFL Hercules (three months ended March 31, 2013: $nil, year ended December 31, 2013: $3.5 million) and $0.7 million from SFL Linus (three months ended March 31, 2013: $nil, year ended December 31, 2013: $nil).



27



14.
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES
Assets Pledged
 (in millions of $)
March 31, 2014
Book value of consolidated assets pledged under ship mortgages
$1,946

The Company and its equity-accounted subsidiaries have funded their acquisition of vessels, jack-up rig and ultra deepwater drilling units through a combination of equity, short-term debt and long-term debt. Providers of long-term loan facilities usually require that the loans be secured by mortgages against the assets being acquired. As at March 31, 2014, the Company ($1.7 billion) and its equity-accounted subsidiaries ($1.5 billion) had a combined outstanding indebtedness of $3.2 billion (December 31, 2013: $2.9 billion) under various credit facilities. Substantially all of the Company’s vessels and rigs have been pledged under mortgages in respect of this outstanding indebtedness excluding two 1,700 TEU container vessels built in 2005, seven 4,100 TEU container vessels and two 5,800 TEU container vessels. Additionally, the four newbuilding 8,700 TEU container vessels currently under construction are not pledged under mortgages.
Other Contractual Commitments
The Company has arranged insurance for the legal liability risks for its shipping activities with Assuranceforeningen SKULD, Assuranceforeningen Gard Gjensidig and Britannia Steam Ship Insurance Association Limited, all mutual protection and indemnity associations. On certain of the vessels insured, the Company is subject to calls payable to the associations based on the Company’s claims record in addition to the claims records of all other members of the associations. A contingent liability exists to the extent that the claims records of the members of the associations in the aggregate show significant deterioration, which may result in additional calls on the members.

The Company has provided guarantees for the secured term loan facilities relating to SFL West Polaris, SFL Deepwater, SFL Hercules and SFL Linus which are wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company accounted for using the equity method. The assets and liabilities of these subsidiaries including their loan facilities are presented on the Company's balance sheet on a net basis within ‘Investment in associated companies’. As of March 31, 2014, the guarantees provided by the Company to the providers of these entities’ loan facilities were limited to $749 million (December 31, 2013: $280 million) on an aggregate basis. This reduced to $364 million upon delivery of the SFL Linus to the sub-charterer in May 2014. As of March 31, 2014, the combined outstanding balance of these entities’ loan facilities was $1.5 billion (December 31, 2013: $1.1 billion).

At March 31, 2014, the Company had contractual commitments under acquisition agreements and newbuilding contracts totaling $382.8 million (December 31, 2013: $794.8 million).

The Company is routinely party both as plaintiff and defendant to lawsuits in various jurisdictions under charter hire obligations arising from the operation of its vessels in the ordinary course of business. The Company believes that the resolution of such claims will not have a material adverse effect on its results of operations or financial position. The Company has not recognized any contingent gains or losses arising from the pending results of any such lawsuits.




28



15.
CONSOLIDATED VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES

The Company’s consolidated financial statements include twelve variable interest entities, all of which are wholly-owned subsidiaries. These subsidiaries own vessels with existing charters during which related and third parties have fixed price options to purchase the respective vessels, at dates varying from September 2014 to January 2020. It has been determined that the Company is the primary beneficiary of these entities, as none of the purchase options are deemed to be at bargain prices and none of the charters include sales options.
At March 31, 2014, the vessels of two of these entities are accounted for as direct financing leases with a combined carrying value of $71.8 million, unearned lease income of $19.7 million and estimated residual values of $21.7 million. The outstanding loan balances in these two entities total $37.5 million, of which the short-term portion is $37.5 million.
The other ten fully consolidated variable interest entities each own vessels which are accounted for as operating lease assets, with a total net book value at March 31, 2014, of $320.5 million. The outstanding loan balances in these entities total $125.2 million, of which the short-term portion is $84.7 million.

16.
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
    
In April and May 2014, the Company cancelled the remaining two 4,800 TEU container vessels under construction in China, due to excessive delays. The Company expects to receive refunds for the installments paid to the shipyard by the end of June 2014.
In April 2014, the Company repaid approximately $73 million, being the net remaining balance at maturity of the NOK 500 million floating rate bond.
In May 2014, the Company agreed to acquire two 82,000 dwt Kamsarmax dry-bulk carriers built in 2012, in combination with long-term time-charters to a state-owned Chinese charterer. The vessels are expected to be delivered by the end of July 2014.
In May 2014, Ship Finance agreed long-term time-charters for four 8,700 TEU newbuilding container vessels, currently under construction in Korea. The charterer is a major container line company, and the charter period will be seven years from delivery of each vessel. Three of the vessels are expected to be delivery in 2014 and one in early 2015.
In May 2014, the newbuilding harsh environment jack-up drilling rig West Linus was successfully delivered to the sub-charterer. Under the terms of the $475.0 million term loan and revolving credit facility, the guarantee of the facility by the Company is reduced from $475.0 million to $90.0 million. Furthermore, under the terms of the agreement with charterer, the charter rates increase from this date.





 



29



SHIP FINANCE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
As used herein, “we,” “us,” “our” and “the Company” all refer to Ship Finance International Limited and its subsidiaries. This management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations should be read together with the discussion included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
for the three months ended March 31, 2014
General
We are Ship Finance International Limited, a Bermuda-based company incorporated in Bermuda on October 10, 2003, as a Bermuda exempted company under the Bermuda Companies Law of 1981 (Company No. EC-34296). We are engaged primarily in the ownership and operation of vessels and offshore related assets, and also involved in the charter, purchase and sale of assets.  Our registered and principal executive offices are located at Par-la-Ville Place, 14 Par-la-Ville Road, Hamilton, HM 08, Bermuda, and our telephone number is +1 (441) 295-9500.

We operate through subsidiaries, partnerships and branches located in Bermuda, Cyprus, Malta, Liberia, Norway, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the Marshall Islands.
We are a leading global ship-owning company with one of the largest and most diverse asset bases across the maritime and offshore industries. As of June 3, 2014, our assets consist of 22 oil tankers, 12 drybulk carriers, 18 container vessels, two car carriers, two jack-up drilling rigs, three ultra-deepwater drilling units, six offshore supply vessels and two chemical tankers.
Additionally we have contracted to take delivery of four newbuilding 8,700 TEU container vessels with estimated delivery dates in 2014 and 2015 and two 82,000 dwt Kamsarmax drybulk carriers built in 2012 with estimated delivery dates in 2014.
As at June 3, 2014, our customers included Frontline Ltd. ("Frontline"), Seadrill Limited (“Seadrill”), North Atlantic Drilling Ltd. (“NADL”), United Freight Carriers LLC ("UFC"), Sinochem Shipping Co. Ltd, Heung-A Shipping Co. Ltd, Hyundai Glovis Co. Ltd., Western Bulk AS, Hamburg Süd Group, PT Apexindo Pratama Duta, MCC Transport, Oman Container Line, Orient Overseas Container Line Ltd ("OOCL"), A.P. Møller-Maersk A/S (“Maersk”), MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. ("MSC"), Pacific International Lines (Pte) Ltd, and Deep Sea Supply Plc and Deep Sea Supply BTG B.V., which we together refer to as Deep Sea.


30



Recent and Other Developments

In October 2013, the post-delivery financing for the newbuilding harsh environment jack-up drilling rig West Linus was finalized and a new five-year $475.0 million term loan and revolving credit facility was signed with a syndicate of banks. The loan was drawn down following delivery of the rig to the Company in February 2014 at which point the rig began a bareboat charter for a period in excess of 15 years. The rig was successfully delivered to the sub-charterer in May 2014 resulting in an increase in charter rates to the Company from this date.
In November and December 2013, CMA CGM exercised its options to purchase the vessel owning entities holding the 13,800 TEU containerships CMA-CGM Magellan and CMA-CGM Corte Real. The vessels were leased in and out by two fully owned equity accounted subsidiaries of the Company. The vessels were delivered to CMA CGM January and March 2014 respectively, at which point the leases were terminated and the Company received back its $50 million investment.

The Company had four 4,800 TEU container vessels under construction in China, in combination with long-term charters to a leading container operator. Due to excessive delays, one of the vessels was cancelled in December 2013, one in February 2014 and the remaining two were cancelled in April and May 2014, respectively. The Company has already been refunded all amounts paid to the shipyard plus interest thereon for the first two vessels and expects to receive refunds for the remaining cancelled vessels by the end of June 2014.

In March 2014, the Company raised approximately $150 million in a NOK-denominated senior unsecured bond with maturity in 2019. All payments have been swapped to USD with a fixed coupon of 6.03%. In early April 2014, the Company repaid approximately $73 million, being the net remaining balance at maturity of the NOK500 million bond.

In March 2014, the Company agreed to acquire nine second-hand 4,100-5,800 TEU container vessel and concurrently agreed long-term bareboat charters with a major container line company. Three of the vessels were delivered by March 31, 2014 and the remaining six were delivered by May 2014.

In March 2014, the Company agreed to a settlement of a claim relating to four Handysize dry bulk carriers which were redelivered in 2012, before the expiry of their charters. The total settlement amount is approximately $30 million, of which approximately $15 million was received in the first quarter and the remaining balance is scheduled to be paid in three installments during 2014. The Company recorded gains of $10.2 million relating to amounts received in the period ended March 31, 2014.

In May 2014, the Company agreed to acquire two 82,000 dwt Kamsarmax dry-bulk carriers built in 2012, in combination with long-term time-charters to a state-owned Chinese charterer. The vessels are expected to be delivered by the end of July 2014.

In May 2014, Ship Finance agreed long-term time-charters for four 8,700 TEU newbuilding container vessels, currently under construction in Korea. The charterer is a major container line company, and the charter period will be seven years from delivery of each vessel. Three of the vessels are expected to be delivered in 2014 and one in early 2015.
















31



Operating Results
 
 
Three months ended

 
Three months ended

(in thousands of $)
March 31, 2014

 
March 31, 2013

Total operating revenues
82,671

 
65,087

Gain on sale of assets and termination of charters
10,152

 
18,025

Total operating expenses
(46,187
)
 
(39,331
)
Net operating income
46,636

 
43,781

Interest income
9,706

 
7,360

Interest expense
(20,606
)
 
(23,191
)
Other non-operating items, net
(986
)
 
(4,084
)
Equity in earnings of associated companies
5,983

 
8,512

Net income
40,733

 
32,378

Net operating income for the three months ended March 31, 2014 was $46.6 million, compared with $43.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013. The change was principally due to profit sharing revenues from the cash sweep arrangement with subsidiaries of Frontline (the “Frontline Charterers”) described below during the three months ended March 31, 2014, partly offset by lower gains on disposal of vessels and termination of charters and lower finance lease income following the sale of two vessels in November 2013. Net income for the period increased by $8.4 million compared with the same period in 2013 due to the increase in net operating income and interest income, lower interest expense and other non-operating items. The increase was partly offset by a reduction in earnings of associated companies.
Two container vessels chartered in on long-term bareboat charters since 2011 and three ultra-deepwater drilling units were accounted for under the equity method during 2014 and 2013, and a further newbuilding harsh environment jack-up drilling rig which was delivered to us in February 2014 . In January and March 2014, the charter agreements for the two container vessels were terminated following the charterer's exercise of its options to acquire the vessel owning entities. The operating revenues of the wholly-owned subsidiaries owning or chartering these assets are included under “equity in earnings of associated companies”, where they are reported net of operating and non-operating expenses.
Total operating revenues
 
Three months ended

 
Three months ended

(in thousands of $)
March 31, 2014

 
March 31, 2013

Direct financing and sales-type lease interest income
11,642

 
15,909

Finance lease service revenues
11,700

 
13,637

Profit sharing revenues
12,219

 

Time charter revenues
20,784

 
20,297

Bareboat charter revenues
15,174

 
15,072

Voyage charter revenues
10,251

 

Other operating income
901

 
172

Total operating revenues
82,671

 
65,087


Direct financing and sales-type lease interest income arises on most of our double hull tankers, our oil-bulk-ore-carriers, or OBOs (the last of which was sold in March 2013) and two offshore supply vessels. In general, direct financing and sales-type lease interest income reduces over the terms of our leases, as progressively a lesser proportion of the lease rental payment is allocated to interest income and a greater proportion is treated as repayment of investment in the finance lease.
In the year ended December 31, 2013, we sold and delivered two VLCCs one OBO and one Suezmax tanker which were direct financing lease assets chartered to the Frontline Charterers and two of our Suezmax tankers were converted from sales type finance leases to operating leases on time charters and subsequently began operating in the spot market earning voyage charter revenues. The decrease in lease interest income and direct financing and sales-type in the three months ended March 31, 2014, was due to mainly to the sale of the two VLCCs and to the changes arising on the Suezmax tanker leases.


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The reduction in finance lease service revenue arises mainly from the sales and deliveries of two VLCCs in November 2013 and the sale and delivery of our final OBO and one Suezmax tanker in the three months ended March 31, 2013 .
There was $11.7 million of cash sweep revenues recorded under profit sharing revenues from the vessels on charter to the Frontline Charterers in the three months ended March 31, 2014, compared to $nil in the same period in 2013, due to an improvement in the tanker spot rates in the latter part of 2013 and in early 2014. The charter agreements, which were amended on December 30, 2011, provide that the Frontline Charterers are obligated to pay the Company 100% of the earnings on a time charter equivalent basis above the temporarily reduced time charter rates, subject to a maximum of $6,500 per day for each vessel from January 1, 2012 until December 31, 2015 (the “cash sweep”). The cash sweep for any full year is payable in March of the following year.
Additionally, the amended charter agreements increased the profit sharing percentage from 20% to 25% for earnings above the original base rates from January 1, 2012 onwards. During the three month periods ended March 31, 2014 and March 31, 2013 and the year ended December 31, 2013, no amounts were recognized in the consolidated accounts under the 25% profit share agreement. Following Frontline’s prepayment of $50.0 million of profit share in December 2011, $50.0 million of profit share will need to accumulate before the 25% profit share revenues can be recognized in the consolidated accounts. As at March 31, 2014, $2.0 million of the $50.0 million prepaid by Frontline had been utilized.
In 2013 the Company agreed short-term charters with profit sharing arrangements with UFC related to four of its drybulk vessels. During the three months ended March 31, 2014, $0.5 million profit share accrued relating to these vessels compared with $nil for the three month periods ended March 31, 2013.
Bareboat charter revenues are earned by our vessels and rigs which are leased under operating leases on a bareboat basis. In the three months ended March 31, 2013, these consisted of two 1,700 TEU container vessels, four offshore supply vessels, two chemical tankers, one jack-up drilling rig and one non-double hull VLCC. The slight increase in bareboat charter revenues for three months ended March 31, 2014 compared with the same period in 2013, was mainly due to the delivery of three container vessels acquired during the period ended March 31, 2014 which was marginally offset by the sale of the VLCC in January 2013.
Voyage charter revenues were earned by two of our Suezmax tankers from September 6, 2013 following the termination of the charters by North China Shipping Holding Co ("NCS").
Cash flows arising from finance leases
The following table sets forth our cash flows from our direct financing and sales-type leases with the subsidiaries of Frontline, Deep Sea and NCS, and the applicable accounting treatment: 
 
Three months ended

 
Three months ended

(in thousands of $)
March 31, 2014

 
March 31, 2013

Charterhire payments accounted for as:
 
 
 
Direct financing and sales-type lease interest income
11,642

 
15,909

Finance lease service revenues
11,700

 
13,637

Direct financing and sales-type lease repayments
10,961

 
13,731

Total direct financing and sales-type lease payments received
34,303

 
43,277

Our vessels chartered to the Frontline Charterers are leased on time charter terms, where we are responsible for the management and operation of such vessels. The management and operation of vessels leased to the Frontline Charterers has been effected by entering into fixed price agreements with Frontline Management (Bermuda) Ltd. (“Frontline Management”), a subsidiary of Frontline, whereby we pay Frontline Management, fees of $6,500 per day for each vessel chartered to the Frontline Charterers. Accordingly, $6,500 per day is allocated from each time charter payment we receive from the Frontline Charterers to cover our lease executory costs, which are classified as “finance lease service revenue”. If any of the vessels chartered to the Frontline Charterers is sub-chartered on a bareboat basis, then the charter payments for that vessel are reduced by $6,500 per day for the duration of the bareboat sub-charter.
Finance lease interest income was earned from the two Suezmax tankers for the period to September 6, 2013 at which point the vessels were redelivered.
Gain on sale of assets and termination of charters
Gains of $10.2 million were recorded in the three months ended March 31, 2014, related to amounts received following the settlement of claims arising on the termination of four Handysize drybulk vessel charters in 2012.

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Gains of $18.0 million were recorded in the three months ended March 31, 2013 on the disposal of the non-double hull VLCC Edinburgh ($4.3 million), the Suezmax tanker Front Pride ($0.5 million) and the OBO Front Guider ($13.2 million).
Operating expenses
 
Three months ended

 
Three months ended

(in thousands of $)
March 31, 2014

 
March 31, 2013

Ship operating expenses
28,893

 
23,331

Depreciation
15,111

 
14,033

Administrative expenses
2,183

 
1,967

Total operating expenses
46,187

 
39,331

Ship operating expenses consist of payments to Frontline Management of $6,500 per day for each vessel chartered to the Frontline Charterers, in accordance with the vessel management agreements and operating expenses for the container vessels, car carriers and drybulk carriers that are operated on a time charter basis and managed mainly by unrelated third parties. It also includes voyage and ship operating expenses arising on the two Suezmax tankers operated in the spot market.
Ship operating expenses increased for the three months ended March 31, 2014, compared with the same period in 2013, which is primarily as a result of the two Suezmax tankers that were trading as bareboat charters in the three months ended March 31, 2013 but following their amendments in May 2013 to time charters and subsequent redelivery in September 2013, they have been incurring operating expenses.
Depreciation expenses relate to the vessels on charters accounted for as operating leases. The increase in depreciation for the three months ended March 31, 2014 compared with the same period in 2013 is primarily due to the charter amendment and subsequent redelivery of the two Suezmax tankers.
The increase in administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2014, compared with the same period in 2013 is primarily due to an increase in salary costs.
Interest income
Interest income increased for the three months ended March 31, 2014, compared with the same period in 2013, mainly as a result of $1.1 million of interest income received following the cancellation of one of the newbuilding container vessels under construction in China. The remaining increase arises from interest income earned on the Frontline notes received following the sale of two VLCCs in November 2013.

Interest expense
 
Three months ended

 
Three months ended

(in thousands of $)
March 31, 2014

 
March 31, 2013

Interest on US$ floating rate loans
5,929

 
6,836

Interest on NOK500 million senior unsecured floating rate bonds due 2014
1,065

 
1,064

Interest on NOK600 million senior unsecured floating rate bonds due 2017
1,547

 
1,777

Interest on NOK900 million senior unsecured floating rate bonds due 2019
291

 

Interest on 8.5% Senior Notes due 2013

 
2,963

Interest on 3.75% senior unsecured convertible bonds due 2016
1,172

 
1,172

Interest on 3.25% senior unsecured convertible bonds due 2018
2,781

 
1,896

Swap interest
5,023

 
4,872

Other interest
120

 
20

Amortization of deferred charges
2,678

 
2,591

Total interest expense
20,606

 
23,191


34



At March 31, 2014, the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries had total debt outstanding of $1.7 billion (March 31, 2013: $1.7 billion) which is comprised of $150.3 million (NOK 900 million) outstanding principal amount of NOK floating rate bonds issued in March 2014, $350.0 million in 3.25% convertible bonds due 2018 (March 31, 2013: $350.0 million), $94.2 million (NOK 564 million net outstanding principal amount of NOK floating rate bonds due in 2017 (March 31, 2013: $102.6 million, NOK 600 million), $72.2 million (NOK433 million) net outstanding principal amount of NOK floating rate bonds due 2014 (March 31, 2013: $74.6 million, NOK437 million), $125.0 million outstanding principal amount of 3.75% convertible bonds (March 31, 2013: $125.0 million), and $0.9 billion under floating rate secured long term credit facilities (March 31, 2013: $1.0 billion). The average three-month LIBOR was 0.24% in the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 0.29% in the three months ended March 31, 2013. The decrease in interest expense associated with our floating rate debt for the three months ended March 31, 2014 compared with the same period in 2013 is mainly due to reduced amounts outstanding under the revolving part of certain of our floating rate secured long term credit facilities.
The decrease in interest payable on the 8.5% Senior Notes due 2013 is due to the redemption of these in March 2013 and the decrease in interest payable on the NOK floating rate bonds due 2017 is due to the repurchase of notes in 2013. The additional interest payable on the 3.25% convertible bonds due 2018 and NOK floating rate bonds due 2019 is due to their issue date in January 2013 and March 2014, respectively.
At March 31, 2014, the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries were party to interest rate swap contracts, which effectively fix our interest rates on $1.3 billion of floating rate debt at a weighted average rate excluding margin of 3.69% per annum (March 31, 2013: $1.1 billion of floating rate debt fixed at a weighted average rate excluding margin of 3.17% per annum).
As reported above, three ultra-deepwater drilling units and two chartered-in container vessels were accounted for under the equity method in 2014 and 2013 and a further newbuilding harsh environment jack-up drilling rig which was delivered to us in February 2014. Their non-operating expenses, including net interest expenses, are not included above, but are reflected in “equity in earnings of associated companies” below.
Other non-operating items
In the three months ended March 31, 2014, other non-operating items amounted to a net loss of $1.0 million, compared to a net income of $4.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013. Other non-operating items for the three months ended March 31, 2014, consist mainly of a $0.2 million loss on the mark-to-market valuation of interest rate and currency swap contracts (March 31, 2013: $2.0 million loss), and $nil loss on the repurchase of Senior Notes (March 31, 2013: $1.1 million loss). The remaining balance relates to loan commitment and agency fees of $0.9 million (March 31, 2013: $1.3 million), foreign exchange losses of $0.2 million (March 31, 2013: $0.3 million gain) partly offset by a $0.3 million premium received on the redemption of debt securities (March 31, 2013: $nil).
Equity in earnings of associated companies
During 2014 and 2013, the Company had certain wholly-owned subsidiaries which are accounted for under the equity method, as discussed in Note 7 of the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein. These investments represent 100% shareholdings in the subsidiaries which own the three ultra-deepwater drilling units, one harsh environment jack-up drilling unit and lease two container vessels. In January and March 2014, the charter agreements related to the two container vessels were terminated resulting in the subsidiaries leasing these vessels no longer being accounted for under the equity method. Equity in earnings of associated companies decreased from $8.5 million in the three months ended March 31, 2013, to $6.0 million in the three months ended March 31, 2014, mainly due to the ceasing of trade in Bluelot Shipping Company Limited (“Bluelot”) and SFL Corte Real Limited (“Corte Real”) and increased interest expenses and loan commitment fees in connection with new loans in SFL Hercules Ltd. (“SFL Hercules”) and SFL Deepwater Ltd (“SFL Deepwater”) in June 2013 and November 2013 respectively, and a new loan in SFL Linus Ltd (“SFL Linus”) which was partly offset by the commencement of trade in SFL Linus following delivery of the rig in February 2014.
Seasonality
Most of our vessels are chartered at fixed rates on a long-term basis and seasonal factors do not have a significant direct effect on our business. Our tankers on charter to the Frontline Charterers are subject to profit sharing agreements and to the extent that seasonal factors affect the profits of the charterers of these vessels, we will also be affected. However, the profit sharing receivable is paid annually and the effects of seasonality will be limited to the timing of our profit sharing and cash sweep revenues, if any. Four of our Handysize drybulk carriers currently employed under short-term charters to UFC are also subject to agreements for profit sharing payable at the expiry of their respective charters, and the effects of seasonality will be limited to the timing of these profit sharing revenues.

35



Liquidity and Capital Resources
At March 31, 2014, we had total cash and cash equivalents of $37.0 million and available for sale securities of $60.7 million. In the three months ended March 31, 2014, we generated cash of $37.1 million from operations and $23.6 million net in investing activities. We used $82.3 million net in financing activities.

Cash flows provided by operating activities decreased for the three months ended March 31, 2014 to $37.1 million, compared to $68.0 million for the same period in 2013, mainly due to the receipt in March 2013 of cash sweep of $52.2 million that accrued in 2012.
Net cash generated from investing activities was $23.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014, compared to $70.3 million generated for the same period in 2013. The decrease is due mainly to payments made to acquire vessels, higher installments made for newbuildings, payments made to associates and less cash received from the sale of assets and charter terminations. These payments were partly offset by cash received following the repayment of the $50 million loan in connection with the Corte Real and Bluelot charter terminations and refunds received in the first quarter of 2014 from the shipyard following the cancellation two 4,800 TEU newbuilding container vessels in 2013 and 2014. There was a reduction in repayments from capital leases of $2.8 million resulting from less vessels being accounted for as capital leases.
Net cash outflow from financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2014 was $82.3 million, compared to an outflow of $134.0 million in the same period in 2013. The $51.7 million decrease in cash outflow from financing activities results from lower repayment and prepayment of drawn amounts under bank facilities of $234.8 million and lower repurchase and redemption of bonds totaling $0.7 million in the three months ended March 31, 2014, compared with $263.2 million and $248.1 million respectively for the same period in 2013. This was partly offset by $192.9 million lower amounts received from debt issuances and dividend payments of $37.3 million made in the three months ended March 31, 2014 compared with $nil in the same period in 2013.
In addition to bank financing, the Company continually monitors equity and debt capital market conditions and may raise additional capital through the issuance of equity or debt securities from time to time.

The following table summarizes our consolidated borrowings at March 31, 2014.
 
 
As of March 31, 2014
(in millions of $)
Outstanding balance

 
Net amount available to drawdown

Loan facilities secured with mortgages on vessels and rig including newbuildings
903.5

 
206.8

Loan facilities secured against investments in securities

 
19.7

Unsecured borrowings:
 
 
 
NOK500 million senior unsecured floating rate bonds due 2014
72.2

 

3.75% senior unsecured convertible bonds due 2016
125.0

 

NOK600 million senior unsecured floating rate bonds due 2017
94.2

 

3.25% senior unsecured convertible bonds due 2018
350.0

 

Norwegian kroner 900 million senior unsecured floating rate bonds due 2019
150.3

 

 
1,695.2

 
226.5

As of March 31, 2014, there was $206.8 million net available to draw under secured revolving credit facilities. In addition, $19.7 million of a $55.0 million secured securities facility was available for borrowing based on 50% of the market value of the Company’s investment in certain marketable securities as at March 31, 2014.
In addition to the above, our equity accounted subsidiaries with total debt outstanding of $1.5 billion as at March 31, 2014 had net amounts available to draw under secured revolving credit facilities of $90.0 million.


36



Security and Collateral
The main security provided under the secured credit facilities include (i) guarantees from subsidiaries, as well as instances where the Company guarantees all or part of the loans; (ii) a first priority pledge over all shares of the relevant asset owning subsidiaries; (iii) a first priority mortgage over the relevant collateral assets which includes substantially all of the vessels and the drilling units that are currently owned by the Company, excluding two 1,700 TEU container vessels built in 2005; seven 4,100 TEU container vessels, two 5,800 TEU container vessels, two Kamsarmax drybulk carriers we have agreed to acquire and four newbuilding 8,700 TEU container vessels currently under construction and (iv) a first priority security interest over all earnings and proceeds from insurance policies with respect to the assets in the relevant asset owning subsidiaries.

37



CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Matters discussed herein may constitute forward-looking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbor protections for forward-looking statements in order to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their business. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements which are other than statements of historical facts.
The Company desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “project,” “plan,” “potential,” “may,” “should,” “expect,” “pending” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.
The forward-looking statements herein are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, our management’s examination of historical operating trends, data contained in our records and other data available from third parties. Although we believe that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond our control, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions, including fluctuations in charter rates and vessel values, changes in demand in the tanker market as a result of changes in OPEC’s petroleum production levels and worldwide oil consumption and storage, changes in demand for the carriage of drybulk cargoes and goods shipped in container vessels, the level of global oil exploration, changes in our operating expenses, including bunker prices, drydocking and insurance costs, the market for our vessels, availability of financing and refinancing, 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, vessels breakdowns and instances of off-hires and other important factors described from time to time in the reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our Annual Report on Form 20-F.

38



SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
SHIP FINANCE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED

Date: June 3, 2014

 
By:
/s/ Harald Gurvin
 
Name: Harald Gurvin
 
Title: Chief Financial Officer
 
Ship Finance Management AS


39