20-F/A 1 d7140952_20f-a.htm
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC. 20549

FORM 20-F/A

(Mark One)
REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
OR
 
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.
 
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015
OR
 
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the transition period from _________________to___________________
OR
 
SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
Date of event requiring this shell company report  _______________________________

Commission file number
000-29106
   

Golden Ocean Group Limited
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
 
(Translation of Registrant's name into English)
 
Bermuda
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
 
Par-la-Ville Place, 14 Par-la-Ville Road, Hamilton, HM 08, Bermuda
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
Georgina Sousa, Telephone: (1) 441 295 6935, Facsimile: (1) 441 295 3494,
Par-la-Ville Place, 14 Par-la-Ville Road, Hamilton, HM 08, Bermuda
(Name, Telephone, E-mail and/or Facsimile number and Address of Company Contact Person)

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act
Title of each class
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common  Shares, Par Value $0.01 Per Share
NASDAQ Global Select Market




Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act.
None
(Title of Class)

Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act.
Common Shares, Par Value $0.01 Per Share
(Title of Class)

Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer's classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report.

172,675,637 Common Shares, Par Value $0.01 Per Share

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
Yes
No

If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes
No

Note – Checking the box above will not relieve any registrant required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 from their obligations under those Sections.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes
No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Yes  
No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of "accelerated filer and large accelerated filer" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer  
Accelerated filer  
Non-accelerated filer  

Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:
U.S. GAAP
International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board
 
Other




If "Other" has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow:
Item 17
Item 18

If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes
No

Explanatory Note

This Amendment No.1 to the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 14, 2016 (the "2015 Form 20-F"), is being solely filed for purposes of including the following statements under Item 6.C and Item 16G, respectively:

"In lieu of an audit committee comprised of three independent directors, our audit committee has two members, which is consistent with Bermuda law. Both members of the audit committee currently meet NASDAQ's requirement of independence."; and

"Audit Committee.  NASDAQ requires, among other things, that a listed U.S company have an audit committee with a minimum of three independent members. As permitted under Bermuda law and our bye-laws, our audit committee consists of two members which currently meets the NASDAQ independence requirements."

Other than as expressly set forth above, this Form 20-F/A does not, and does not purport to, amend, update or restate the information in any other item of the 2015 Form 20-F, or reflect any events that have occurred after the 2015 Form 20-F was originally filed.






ITEM 6.  DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES


A.  DIRECTORS AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT

Set forth below are the names and positions of our directors and executive officers.

Name
 
Age
 
Position
Ola Lorentzon
 
66
 
Director and Chairman
Hans Petter Aas
 
70
 
Director and Audit Committee member
Kate Blankenship
 
51
 
Director and Audit Committee member
John Fredriksen
 
71
 
Director
Gert-Jan van der Akker
 
56
 
Director
Georgina Sousa
 
65
 
Company Secretary
Herman Billung
 
58
 
Chief Executive Officer of Golden Ocean Management AS
Birgitte Ringstad Vartdal
 
39
 
Chief Financial Officer of Golden Ocean Management AS

Our Amended and Restated Bye-Laws, provide that the Board shall consist of not less than two members and shall at all times comprise a majority of directors who are not residents in the United Kingdom or Norway.

Certain biographical information about each of our directors and executive officers is set forth below.

Ola Lorentzon is currently Chairman of the Board and has served as a director of the Board since September 18, 1996, Chairman since May 26, 2000 and our Chief Executive Officer from May 5, 2010 until March 31, 2015. Mr. Lorentzon is also a director of Frontline and Erik Thun AB.  Mr. Lorentzon was the Managing Director of Frontline Management AS, a subsidiary of Frontline, from April 2000 until September 2003.

Hans Petter Aas currently serves as a director of the Board and has served as a director since September 2008. Mr. Aas has been a director of Ship Finance since August 2008 and Chairman since January 2009. Mr. Aas is also a director of Knutsen NYK Offshore Partners LLC, Solvang ASA, Gearbulk Holding Limited, Deep Sea Supply plc and Seadrill Limited. Mr. Aas had a long career as banker in the international shipping and offshore market, and retired from his position as Global Head of the Shipping, Offshore and Logistics Division of DnB NOR Bank ASA, or DnB NOR, in August 2008. He joined DnB NOR (then Bergen Bank) in 1989, and has previously worked for the Petroleum Division of the Norwegian Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Energy, as well as for VestaInsurance and Nevi Finance.

Kate Blankenship was a director of the Former Golden Ocean and was appointed a director of the Board following the completion of the Merger. Mrs. Blankenship served as our Chief Financial Officer from April 2000 to September 2007 and served as our Secretary from December 2000 to March 2007. Mrs. Blankenship has been a director of the General Manager since March 2000. Mrs. Blankenship served as the Chief Accounting Officer and Secretary of Frontline between 1994 and October 2005. Mrs. Blankenship also serves as a director of Ship Finance, Seadrill Limited, Seadrill Partners LLC, North Atlantic Drilling Limited, Archer Limited, Independent Tankers Corporation Limited and Avance Gas Holding Ltd. She is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

John Fredriksen was a director of the Former Golden Ocean and was appointed a director of the Board following the completion of the Merger. Mr. Fredriksen has served as Chairman, President and a director of Seadrill Limited since 2005. Mr. Fredriksen has established trusts for the benefit of his immediate family which indirectly control Hemen. Mr. Fredriksen is Chairman, President and a director of Frontline.

Gert-Jan van der Akker was appointed a director of the Board following the completion of the Merger. Mr. van der Akker is President and Chief Executive Officer at Cargill International SA. In 2013 and 2014 he was Senior Head of Region at Louis Dreyfus Commodities. Prior to joining Louis Dreyfus Commodities, he had 27 years of experience at Cargill where his last position was a platform leader for the global energy, transportation and metals platform.

Georgina E. Sousa has served as our Secretary since March 15, 2007 and has been employed by Frontline since February 2007.  Mrs. Sousa is also a director of Frontline, Ship Finance, Seadrill Limited and North Atlantic Drilling Ltd. Mrs. Sousa was a director of the Former Golden Ocean prior to the completion of the Merger. Prior to joining Frontline, Mrs. Sousa was Vice-President-Corporate Services of Consolidated Services Limited, a Bermuda management company having joined that firm in 1993 as Manager of Corporate Administration. From 1976 to 1982 she was employed by the Bermuda law firm of Appleby, Spurling & Kempe as a Company Secretary and from 1982 to 1993 she was employed by the Bermuda law firm of Cox & Wilkinson as Senior Company Secretary.

Herman Billung has served as Chief Executive Officer of Golden Ocean Management AS since April 1, 2005. Mr. Billung's previous position was as Managing Director of Maritime Services in The Torvald Klaveness Group, responsible for the commercial management of the group's dry bulk pools, Bulkhandling and Baumarine. Mr. Billung was Managing Director of the dry bulk operating company, Frapaco Shipping Ltd. between 1994 and 1998. Mr. Billung graduated from the Royal Norwegian Naval Academy in 1984. Mr. Billung served as a Director of the Company from September 2010 to September 2015.

Birgitte Ringstad Vartdal has served as Chief Financial Officer of Golden Ocean Management AS since June 21, 2010. Mrs. Vartdal previous position was Vice President, Investments, in the Torvald Klaveness Group. She has held several positions within the Torvald Klaveness Group, as VP Head of Commercial Controlling, Risk Manager and Financial Analyst. Before this she was Structuring Analyst in Hydro Energy. Mrs. Vartdal is Chair and a director of Sevan Drilling Ltd, a subsidiary of Seadrill Limited. Mrs. Vartdal holds the degree of Siv.Ing. (MSc) in Physics and Mathematics from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and an MSc in Financial Mathematics from Heriot-Watt University, Scotland.

B.  COMPENSATION

We incurred directors' fees of $727,000 in 2015.

Employment Agreement

On May 19, 2010, we entered into an employment agreement with our then Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Ola Lorentzon. The employment agreement had a term of three years, unless terminated earlier in accordance with its terms, and has twice been renewed for a term of three years. Under the employment agreement, Mr. Lorentzon received an annual base salary of $130,000 and was entitled to receive a discretionary bonus and additional incentive compensation as determined by our Board.
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Under the employment agreement, Mr. Lorentzon was prohibited from participating in marine transportation business activities in direct competition with us or our operating subsidiaries during the term of the employment agreement and for 12 months following its termination. Upon termination of the employment agreement by us without cause (as defined in the employment agreement), Mr. Lorentzon was entitled to (i) his base salary through the date of termination, (ii) a lump sum payment equal to the aggregate of his base salary plus a discretionary bonus, based on the average of his two prior years' total compensation, or a lump sum of $130,000 if no average is available, and (iii) any amounts Mr. Lorentzon may have been entitled to under the terms of the 2010 Equity Incentive Plan. Following completion of the Merger, this agreement was terminated and Mr. Lorentzon continued in his capacity as Chairman of the Board.

2010 Equity Incentive Plan

We adopted the 2010 Equity Incentive Plan, which we refer to as the Plan, under which directors, officers, employees, consultants and service providers to us and our subsidiaries and affiliates are eligible to receive options to acquire common stock, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units and unrestricted common stock. A total of 800,000 common shares have been reserved for issuance under the Plan, subject to adjustment for changes in capitalization as provided in the Plan. The Plan is administered by the Board or such committee of the Board as may be appointed to serve as Plan administrator. The units will vest over three years at a rate of 1/3 of the number of units granted on each anniversary of the date of grant, subject to the participant continuing to provide services to us from the grant date through the applicable vesting date.

Payment upon vesting of RSUs can be in cash, in shares of common shares or a combination of both as determined by the Board. They must be valued in an amount equal to the fair market value of a share of common stock on the date of vesting. The participant shall receive a 'dividend equivalent right' with respect to each RSU entitling the participant to receive amounts equal to the ordinary dividends that would be paid during the time the RSU is outstanding and unvested on the shares of common stock underlying the RSU as if such shares were outstanding from the date of grant through the applicable vesting date of the RSU. Such payments shall be paid to the participant at the same time at which the RSUs vesting event occurs, conditioned upon the occurrence of the vesting event.

The following table summarizes restricted stock unit transactions in the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013:
   
Number of units
   
   
Directors
 
Management companies
 
Total
 
Fair value
Units outstanding as of  December 31, 2012
 
66,307
   
66,311
   
132,618
   
$5.25
Granted
 
47,238
   
47,238
   
94,476
   
$6.74
Settled
 
(25,388
)
 
(25,388
)
 
(50,776
)
 
$9.65
Units outstanding as of  December 31, 2013
 
88,157
   
88,161
   
176,318
   
$9.19
Granted
 
27,555
   
27,556
   
55,111
   
$9.48
Settled
 
(41,134
)
 
(41,136
)
 
(82,270
)
 
$9.32
Units outstanding as of  December 31, 2014
 
74,578
   
74,581
   
149,159
   
$4.53
Granted
 
24,602
   
24,604
   
49,206
   
$4.30
Settled
 
(40,462
)
 
(40,463
)
 
(80,925
)
 
$4.52
December 31, 2015
 
58,718
   
58,722
   
117,440
   
$1.07

The fair values in the table above are the closing share prices on December 31, the share prices on the date of grant or the share prices on the date of vesting, as appropriate.
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In January 2013, we issued 35,061 common shares and paid $181,610 to members of our Board, to the General Manager and the Dry Bulk Manager in settlement of the first and second tranches of the RSUs granted in December 2011 and December 2010, respectively, which vested in December 2012. These settlements represent 50% of the value in common shares and 50% of the value in cash for each of the directors and each of the two management companies.

In January 2013, our Board granted a total of 94,476 RSUs pursuant to the 2010 Equity Plan to members of our Board, to the General Manager and the Dry Bulk Manager. These RSUs will vest over 3 years at a rate of 1/3  of the number of RSUs granted on each anniversary of the date of grant.

In January 2014, our Board granted a total of 55,111 RSUs pursuant to the 2010 Equity Plan to members of our Board and the two management companies. These RSU's will vest over three years at a rate of 1/3 of the number of RSUs granted on each anniversary of the date of grant.

In February 2014, we issued 49,489 commons shares and paid $464,630 to members of our Board, to the General Manager and the Dry Bulk Manager in settlement of the first, second and third tranches of the RSU's granted in January 2013, December 2011 and December 2010, respectively, which vested in January 2014 and December 2013, respectively. These settlements represent 50% of the value in common shares and 50% of the value in cash for each of the directors and each of the two management companies.

In January 2015, our Board granted a total of 49,206 RSUs pursuant to the 2010 Equity Plan to members of the Board and the two management companies. These RSUs will vest over 3 years at a rate of 1/3 of the number of RSUs granted on each anniversary of the date of grant.

In March 2015, we issued 110,128 common shares in settlement of the first, second and third tranches of the RSUs granted in January 2014, January 2013, December 2011, respectively.

The Former Golden Ocean Stock Option Incentive Plan

On March 21, 2005, the Former Golden Ocean approved a share option plan under which share options may be granted to directors and eligible employees. As of March 31, 2015, there were 4,105,000 outstanding options, which were issued in October 2012. Following completion of the Merger, these options were converted into 564,400 options to purchase our common shares. The following summarizes share option transactions related to the Former Golden Ocean:
(in thousands)
 
Number of Options
 
Weighted Average Exercise Price
Options outstanding as of December 31, 2014
 
   
 
Former Golden Ocean options
 
564
   
NOK 28.89
Exercised
 
(5
)
 
NOK 28.89
Forfeited
 
(43
)
 
NOK 28.89
Options outstanding as of December 31, 2015
 
516
   
NOK 28.89
         
Options exercisable as of December 31, 2015
 
381
   
NOK 28.89

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C.  BOARD PRACTICES

As provided in the Amended and Restated Bye-Laws, each director shall hold office until the next Annual General Meeting following his election or until his successor is elected. Our officers are elected by the Board and shall hold office for such period and on such terms as the Board may determine.

We have established an audit committee comprised of Mrs. Blankenship and Mr. Aas. The audit committee is responsible for assisting the Board with its oversight responsibilities regarding the integrity of our financial statements, our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, our independent registered public accounting firm's qualifications and independence, and the performance of our internal audit functions.

There are no service contracts between us and any of our directors providing for benefits upon termination of their employment.

Board practices and exemptions from the NASDAQ corporate governance rules

As a foreign private issuer we are exempt from certain requirements of the NASDAQ Global Select Market that are applicable to U.S. domestic companies.

We have certified to NASDAQ that our corporate governance practices are in compliance with, and are not prohibited by, the laws of Bermuda. Accordingly, we are exempt from many of NASDAQ's corporate governance practices other than the requirements regarding the disclosure of a going concern audit opinion, submission of a listing agreement, notification of material non-compliance with NASDAQ corporate governance practices and the establishment and composition of an audit committee and a formal written audit committee charter. The practices that we follow in lieu of NASDAQ's corporate governance rules are as follows:

The Board is currently comprised by a majority of independent directors. Under Bermuda law, we are not required to have a majority of independent directors and cannot assure you that we will continue to do so.
In lieu of holding regular meetings at which only independent directors are present, the entire Board may hold regular meetings as is consistent with Bermuda law.
In lieu of an audit committee comprised of three independent directors, our audit committee has two members, which is consistent with Bermuda law. Both members of the audit committee currently meet NASDAQ's requirement of independence.

In lieu of a nomination committee comprised of independent directors, the Board is responsible for identifying and recommending potential candidates to become board members and recommending directors for appointment to board committees. Shareholders are permitted to identify and recommend potential candidates to become board members, but pursuant to the Amended and Restated Bye-Laws, directors are elected by the shareholders in duly convened annual or special general meetings.
In lieu of a compensation committee comprised of independent directors, the Board is responsible for establishing the executive officers' compensation and benefits. Under Bermuda law, compensation of the executive officers is not required to be determined by an independent committee.
In lieu of obtaining an independent review of related party transactions for conflicts of interests, consistent with Bermuda law requirements, our Amended and Restated Bye-Laws do not prohibit any director from being a party to, or otherwise interested in, any transaction or arrangement with us or in which we are otherwise interested, provided that the director makes proper disclosure of same as required by the Amended and Restated Bye-Laws and Bermuda law.
4



Prior to the issuance of securities, we are required to obtain the consent of the Bermuda Monetary Authority as required by law. We have obtained blanket consent from the Bermuda Monetary Authority for the issue and transfer of our securities provided that such securities remain listed on a recognized stock exchange.
Pursuant to NASDAQ corporate governance rules and as a foreign private issuer, we are not required to solicit proxies or provide proxy statements to NASDAQ. Bermuda law does not require that we solicit proxies or provide proxy statements to NASDAQ. Consistent with Bermuda law and as provided in the Amended and Restated Bye-Laws, we are also required to notify our shareholders of meetings no less than five days before the meeting. Our Amended and Restated Bye-Laws also provide that shareholders may designate a proxy to act on their behalf.

Other than as noted above, we are in full compliance with all other applicable NASDAQ corporate governance standards. Please see Item 16G of this annual report.


D.  EMPLOYEES

As of December 31, 2015, we employed 28 people in our offices in Oslo and Singapore. We contract with independent ship managers to manage and operate our vessels.

Up to completion of the Merger on March 31, 2015, the General Manager was responsible for our management and administration and we did not have any employees other than Ola Lorentzon, who was appointed as our Chief Executive Officer in May 2010, and Inger M. Klemp, who has served as our Chief Financial Officer from September 2007 until completion of the Merger.


E.  SHARE OWNERSHIP

As of March 31, 2016, the beneficial interests of our Directors and officers in our common shares were as follows:
Director or Officer
Common Shares of $0.01 each
Percentage of Common Shares Outstanding
Unvested RSUs (1)
Ola Lorentzon
31,688
 
(2)
18,063
 
Hans Petter Aas (3)
42,853
 
(2)
13,551
 
Herman Billung (4)
77,500
 
 
 
Gert-Jan van der Akker
 
 
 
Kate Blankenship
28,322
 
(2)
 
John Fredriksen (5)
 
 
 
Birgitte Ringstad Vartdal (6)
56,500
 
 
 
Georgina Sousa
 
 
 

1. All vested RSUs have been settled.
2. Less than 1%.
3. The holdings presented in the table above include Mr. Aas's ownership of 12,866 common shares currently trading on the OSE under symbol "GOGL R".
4. The holdings presented in the table above reflect Mr. Billung's ownership of 77,500 common shares currently trading on the OSE under symbol "GOGL R".
5



5. Hemen, a company indirectly controlled by trusts established by Mr. John Fredriksen for the benefit of his immediate family, currently owns 219,436,123 of our common shares as well $93.6 million of the Convertible Bond, which is convertible into 5,309,132 of our common shares at an exercise price of $17.63 per share. Hemen is also the largest shareholder in Frontline and as such, can be deemed to own the 6,301,796 shares held by Frontline. In addition, Hemen holds TRS agreements with underlying exposure to 195,648 shares in the Company. Hemen may also be deemed to beneficially own 13,000,000 of our common shares it has lent to Farahead Investments Inc., or Farahead.
6. The holdings presented in the table above reflect Mrs. Vartdal's ownership of 56,500 common shares currently trading on the OSE under symbol "GOGL R".

Share Option Scheme

On March 21, 2005, the Former Golden Ocean approved a share option plan under which share options may be granted to directors and eligible employees. As of March 31, 2015, there were 4,105,000 outstanding options, which were issued in October 2012. Following completion of the Merger, these options were converted into 564,400 options to purchase our common shares. The share options have a five year term and will vest equally one quarter each year over a four year vesting period. The subscription price for all options granted under the scheme is reduced by the amount of all dividends declared by us, provided the subscription price is never reduced below the par value of the share.

Details of options to acquire our common shares by our directors and officers as of March 31, 2016, were as follows:
Director or Officer
Number of options
 
Exercise price
 
Expiration Date
Total
 
Vested
 
Kate Blankenship
10,312
   
7,734
   
NOK 28.89
 
October 2017
John Fredriksen
137,490
   
103,118
   
NOK 28.89
 
October 2017
Herman Billung
75,620
   
56,715
   
NOK 28.89
 
October 2017
Birgitte Ringstad Vartdal
54,996
   
41,247
   
NOK 28.89
 
October 2017

ITEM 16G.    CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Pursuant to the NASDAQ listing standards available to foreign private issuers, we are not required to comply with all of the corporate governance practices followed by U.S. companies under the NASDAQ listing standards. The significant differences between our corporate governance practices and the NASDAQ standards applicable to listed U.S. companies are set forth below.

Executive Sessions. NASDAQ requires that non-management directors meet regularly in executive sessions without management. As permitted under Bermuda law and our bye-laws, our non-management directors do not regularly hold executive sessions without management and we do not expect them to do so in the future.

Audit Committee.  NASDAQ requires, among other things, that a listed U.S company have an audit committee with a minimum of three independent members. As permitted under Bermuda law and our bye-laws, our audit committee consists of two members which currently meets the NASDAQ independence requirements.

Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee. NASDAQ requires that a listed U.S. company have a nominating/corporate governance committee composed solely of independent directors. As permitted under Bermuda law and our bye-laws, we do not currently have a nominating or corporate governance committee. Our Board is responsible for identifying and recommending potential candidates to become board members and recommending directors for appointment to board committees.
6



Compensation Committee. NASDAQ requires that a listed U.S. company have a compensation committee composed solely of independent directors. As permitted under Bermuda law and our bye-laws, compensation of executive officers is not required to be determined by a committee composed of independent members.

Related Party Transactions. NASDAQ requires that a listed U.S. company conduct appropriate review and oversight of all related party transactions for potential conflict of interest situations on an ongoing basis by the company's audit committee or another independent body of the board of directors. As permitted under Bermuda law and our bye-laws, our directors are not prohibited from being a party to, or otherwise interested in, any transaction or arrangement with us or in which we are otherwise interested, provided that the director makes proper disclosure of same as required by our bye-laws and Bermuda law.

Proxy Materials. NASDAQ requires that a listed U.S. company solicit proxies and provide proxy statements for all shareholder meetings. Such company must also provide copies of its proxy solicitation to NASDAQ. As permitted under Bermuda law and our bye-laws, we do not currently solicit proxies or provide proxy materials to NASDAQ. Our bye-laws also require that we notify our shareholders of meetings no less than 5 days before the meeting.


ITEM 19.  EXHIBITS

Number
 
Description of Exhibit
     
     
12.1
 
Certification of the Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act, as amended
     
12.2
 
Certification of the Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act, as amended
     
13.1
 
Principal Executive Officer Certifications pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
     
13.2
 
Principal Financial Officer Certifications pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
     


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SIGNATURES

The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this annual report on its behalf.

GOLDEN OCEAN GROUP LIMITED

/s/ Per Heiberg
 
Per Heiberg
 
Principal Financial Officer
 
 
Dated: May 2, 2016