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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC. 20549
 
FORM 20-F

(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 endedDecember 31, 2021
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 number001-16601
Frontline Ltd.
(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)
James Ayers, 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 classTrading SymbolName of each exchange on which registered
   
Ordinary Shares, Par Value $1.00 Per ShareFRONew York Stock Exchange
   
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.
Ordinary Shares, Par Value $1.00 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.

203,530,979 Ordinary Shares, Par Value $1.00 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 every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 such files).

Yes                                             No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or an emerging growth company. See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer    
Accelerated filer  
Non-accelerated filer  
Emerging growth company  
If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards† provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.    

† The term “new or revised financial accounting standard” refers to any update issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board to its Accounting Standards Codification after April 5, 2012.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report:        

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  




INDEX TO REPORT ON FORM 20-F
 
PAGE
85



CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Matters discussed in this annual report and the documents incorporated by reference may constitute forward-looking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbor protections for forward-looking statements, which 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.

Frontline Ltd. and its subsidiaries, or Frontline, or 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. This annual report and any other written or oral statements made by us or on our behalf may include forward-looking statements, which reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance, and are not intended to give any assurance as to future results. When used in this document, the words "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "forecast," "project," "plan," "potential," "will," "may," "should," "expect," "targets," "likely," "would," "could," "seeks," "continue," "possible," "might" and similar expressions, terms or phrases may identify forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements in this annual report are based upon various assumptions, including without limitation, management's examination of historical operating trends, data contained in our records and 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. Except to the extent required by applicable law or regulation we undertake no obligation to release publicly any revisions or updates to any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this annual report.

In addition to these important factors and matters discussed elsewhere herein and in the documents incorporated by reference herein, 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;
fluctuations in currencies and interest rates;
general market conditions, including fluctuations in charter hire rates and vessel values;
changes in the supply and demand for vessels comparable to ours and the number of newbuildings under construction;
the highly cyclical nature of the industry that we operate in;
the loss of a large customer or significant business relationship;
changes in worldwide oil production and consumption and storage;
changes in the Company's operating expenses, including bunker prices, drydocking, crew costs and insurance costs;
planned, pending or recent acquisitions, business strategy and expected capital spending or operating expenses, including drydocking, surveys and upgrades;
risks associated with any future vessel construction;
our expectations regarding the availability of vessel acquisitions and our ability to complete acquisition transactions planned;
our ability to successfully compete for and enter into new time charters or other employment arrangements for our existing vessels after our current time charters expire and our ability to earn income in the spot market;
availability of financing and refinancing, our ability to obtain financing and comply with the restrictions and other covenants in our financing arrangements;
availability of skilled crew members other employees and the related labor costs;
work stoppages or other labor disruptions by our employees or the employees of other companies in related industries;
compliance with governmental, tax, environmental and safety regulation, any non-compliance with U.S. regulations;
the impact of increasing scrutiny and changing expectations from investors, lenders and other market participants with respect to our Environmental, Social and Governance, or ESG, policies;
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, or FCPA, or other applicable regulations relating to bribery;
fluctuations in currencies, interest rates and foreign exchange rates and the impact of the discontinuance of the London Interbank Offered Rate, or LIBOR, after June 30, 2023 on any of our debt that reference LIBOR;
general economic conditions and conditions in the oil industry;
effects of new products and new technology in our industry, including the potential for technological innovation to reduce the value of our vessels and charter income derived therefrom;
new environmental regulations and restrictions, whether at a global level stipulated by the International Maritime Organization, and/or imposed by regional or national authorities such as the European Union or individual countries;
vessel breakdowns and instances of off-hire;
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the impact of an interruption in or failure of our information technology and communications systems, including the impact of cyber-attacks, upon our ability to operate;
potential conflicts of interest involving members of our board of directors and senior management;
the failure of counter parties to fully perform their contracts with us;
changes in credit risk with respect to our counterparties on contracts;
our dependence on key personnel and our ability to attract, retain and motivate key employees;
adequacy of insurance coverage;
our ability to obtain indemnities from customers;
changes in laws, treaties or regulations;
the volatility of the price of our ordinary shares;
our incorporation under the laws of Bermuda and the different rights to relief that may be available compared to other countries, including the United States;
changes in governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities;
government requisition of our vessels during a period of war or emergency;
potential liability from pending or future litigation and potential costs due to environmental damage and vessel collisions;
the arrest of our vessels by maritime claimants;
general domestic and international political conditions or events, including “trade wars”;
any further changes in U.S. trade policy that could trigger retaliatory actions by the affected countries;
potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents, environmental factors, political events, public health threats, international hostilities including the ongoing developments in the Ukraine region, acts by terrorists or acts of piracy on ocean-going vessels;
the impact of adverse weather and natural disasters;
the length and severity of epidemics and pandemics, including the ongoing global outbreak of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, and its impact on the demand for seaborne transportation in the tanker sector;
business disruptions due to natural disasters or other disasters outside our control, such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic; and
other important factors described from time to time in the reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the Commission.

We caution readers of this annual report not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of our future performance, and actual results and future developments may vary materially from those projected in the forward looking statements. Please see “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors” of this annual report for a more complete discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties.

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PART I

ITEM 1. IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS

Not applicable.

ITEM 2. OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE

Not applicable.

ITEM 3. KEY INFORMATION

Throughout this annual report, the "Company," "we," "us" and "our" all refer to Frontline Ltd. and its subsidiaries. We use the term deadweight ton, or dwt, in describing the size of vessels. Dwt, expressed in metric tons, which is equivalent to 1,000 kilograms, refers to the maximum weight of cargo and supplies that a vessel can carry. The Company operates oil tankers of two sizes: very large crude carriers, or VLCCs, which are between 200,000 and 320,000 dwt, and Suezmax tankers, which are vessels between 120,000 and 170,000 dwt. The Company also operates LR2/Aframax tankers, which are clean product tankers and range in size from 111,000 to 115,000 dwt. Unless otherwise indicated, all references to "USD," "US$" and "$" in this annual report are U.S. dollars.

A. [RESERVED]

B. CAPITALIZATION AND INDEBTEDNESS

Not applicable.

C. REASONS FOR THE OFFER AND USE OF PROCEEDS

Not applicable.

D. RISK FACTORS

Risk Factor Summary

We are engaged in the seaborne transportation of crude oil and oil products. Some of the risks summarized below and discussed in greater detail in the following pages relate principally to the industry in which we operate, shipping generally, and to our business. Other risks relate principally to the ownership of our securities. The occurrence of any of the events described in this section could significantly and negatively affect our business, financial condition, operating results and ability to pay dividends on our shares, or the trading price of our shares.

If the tanker industry, which historically has been cyclical and volatile, declines in the future, our revenue, earnings and available cash flow may be adversely affected.
Any decrease in shipments of crude oil may adversely affect our financial performance.
An over-supply of tanker capacity may lead to reductions in charter rates, vessel values and profitability.
A shift in consumer demand from oil towards other energy sources or changes to trade patterns for crude oil or refined oil products may have a material adverse effect on our business.
Technological innovation and quality and efficiency requirements from our customers could reduce our charterhire income and the value of our vessels.
We rely on our and our ship managers’ information systems to conduct our business, and failure to protect these systems against security breaches could adversely affect our business and results of operations, including on our vessels. Additionally, if these systems fail or become unavailable for any significant period of time, our business could be harmed.
Increasing scrutiny and changing expectations from investors, lenders and other market participants with respect to our Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) policies may impose additional costs on us or expose us to additional risks.
Risks involved with operating ocean-going vessels could result in the loss of life or harm to our seafarers, environmental accidents or affect our business and reputation, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
If economic conditions throughout the world deteriorate or become more volatile, it could impede our operations.
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Political instability, terrorist or other attacks, war, international hostilities and public health threats can affect the tanker industry, which may adversely affect our business.
Our financial results and operations have been and may continue to be adversely affected by the ongoing outbreak of COVID-19, and related governmental responses thereto.
If our vessels call at ports located in countries or territories that are the subject of sanctions or embargoes imposed by the U.S., the European Union, the United Nations or other governments, it could lead to monetary fines or penalties and adversely affect our reputation and the market for our ordinary shares.
Compliance with safety and other vessel requirements imposed by classification societies may be costly and could reduce our net cash flows and net income.
We are subject to complex laws and regulations, including environmental laws and regulations that can increase our liability and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
If we fail to comply with international safety regulations, we may be subject to increased liability, which may adversely affect our insurance coverage and may result in a denial of access to, or detention in, certain ports.
Regulations relating to ballast water discharge may adversely affect our revenues and profitability.
Maritime claimants could arrest or attach one or more of our vessels, which could interrupt our cash flow.
Governments could requisition our vessels during a period of war or emergency resulting in a loss of earnings.
We are dependent on the spot market and any decrease in spot charter rates in the future may adversely affect our earnings and our ability to pay dividends.
A drop in spot market rates may provide an incentive for some charterers to default on their charters, and the failure of our counterparties to meet their obligations could cause us to suffer losses or otherwise adversely affect our business.
Changes in the price of fuel, or bunkers, may adversely affect our profits.
The operation of tankers involves certain unique operational risks.
Because the market value of our vessels may fluctuate significantly, we may incur losses when we sell vessels which may adversely affect our earnings or could cause us to incur impairment charges.
We may be unable to successfully compete with other vessel operators for charters, which could adversely affect our results of operations and financial position.
Our fixed rate time charters may limit our ability to benefit from any improvement in charter rates, and at the same time, our revenues may be adversely affected if we do not successfully employ our vessels on the expiration of our charters.
Purchasing and operating secondhand vessels may result in increased operating costs and vessels off-hire, which could adversely affect our earnings.
Delays or defaults by the shipyards in the construction of our newbuildings could increase our expenses and diminish our net income and cash flows.
We may be unable to locate suitable vessels for acquisition which would adversely affect our ability to expand our fleet.
As we expand our fleet, we may not be able to recruit suitable employees and crew for our vessels which may limit our growth and cause our financial performance to suffer.
Increased inspection procedures, tighter import and export controls and new security regulations could increase costs and cause disruption of our business.
Volatility of LIBOR and potential changes of the use of LIBOR as a benchmark could affect our profitability, earnings and cash flow.
We may be unable to comply with the covenants contained in our loan agreements, which could affect our ability to conduct business.
Failure to comply with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other anti-corruption laws could result in fines, criminal penalties and an adverse effect on our business.
As an exempted company incorporated under Bermuda law, our operations are subject to economic substance requirements.
Incurrence of expenses or liabilities may reduce or eliminate cash distributions.
We may not be able to obtain financing on terms acceptable to us or at all, which may negatively impact our business.
We may be required to record a further goodwill impairment loss, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial position.
The aging of our fleet may result in increased operating costs in the future or loss of hire, which could adversely affect our earnings.
If we do not set aside funds and are unable to borrow or raise funds for vessel replacement at the end of a vessel's useful life our revenue will decline, which would adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and ability to pay dividends.
Hemen may be able to exercise significant influence over us and may have conflicts of interest with our other shareholders.
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Certain of our directors, executive officers and major shareholders may have interests that are different from the interests of our other shareholders.
We may be unable to attract and retain key management personnel in the tanker industry, which may negatively impact the effectiveness of our management and our results of operation.
If labor interruptions are not resolved in a timely manner, they could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows, financial condition and available cash.
We may not have adequate insurance to compensate us if our vessels are damaged or lost.
We may be subject to calls because we obtain some of our insurance through protection and indemnity associations.
Because our offices and most of our assets are outside the United States, you may not be able to bring suit against us, or enforce a judgment obtained against us in the United States.
United States tax authorities could treat the Company as a "passive foreign investment company," which could have adverse United States federal income tax consequences to United States shareholders.
We may not qualify for an exemption under Section 883 of the Code, and may therefore have to pay tax on United States source income, which would reduce our earnings.
The price of our ordinary shares historically has been volatile.
Future sales of our ordinary shares could have an adverse effect on our share price.

Risks Related to Our Industry

If the tanker industry, which historically has been cyclical and volatile, declines in the future, our revenues, earnings and available cash flow may be adversely affected.

Historically, the tanker industry has been highly cyclical, with volatility in profitability, charter rates and asset values resulting from changes in the supply of, and demand for, tanker capacity and changes in the supply of and demand for oil and oil products. These factors may adversely affect the rates payable and the amounts we receive in respect of our vessels. Our ability to re-charter our vessels on the expiration or termination of their current spot and time charters and the charter rates payable under any renewal or replacement charters will depend upon, among other things, economic conditions in the tanker market and we cannot guarantee that any renewal or replacement charters we enter into will be sufficient to allow us to operate our vessels profitably. Our revenues are affected by our strategy to employ some of our vessels on time charters, which have a fixed income for a pre-set period of time as opposed to trading ships in the spot market where their earnings are heavily impacted by the supply and demand balance. If we are not able to obtain new contracts in direct continuation with existing charters or for newly acquired vessels, or if new contracts are entered into at charter rates substantially below the existing charter rates or on terms otherwise less favorable compared to existing contracts terms, our revenues and profitability could be adversely affected.

The factors that may influence demand for tanker capacity include:

Supply of and demand for oil and oil products;
global and regional economic and political conditions, including developments in international trade, national oil reserves policies, fluctuations in industrial and agricultural production;
national policies regarding strategic oil inventories (including if strategic reserves are set at a lower level in the future as oil decreases in the energy mix);
regional availability of refining capacity and inventories compared to geographies of oil production regions;
changes in seaborne and other transportation patterns, including changes in the distances over which tanker cargoes are transported by sea;
increases in the production of oil in areas linked by pipelines to consuming areas, the extension of existing, or the development of new, pipeline systems in markets we may serve, or the conversion of existing non-oil pipelines to oil pipelines in those markets;
currency exchange rates, most importantly versus USD;
weather and acts of God and natural disasters;
competition from alternative sources of energy and from other shipping companies and other modes of transport;
international sanctions, embargoes, import and export restrictions, nationalizations, piracy, terrorist attacks and armed conflicts, including the recent conflict between Russia and Ukraine;
legal and regulatory changes including regulations adopted by supranational authorities and/or industry bodies, such as safety and environmental regulations and requirements by major oil companies; and
diseases and viruses, affecting livestock and humans, including pandemics, such as the COVID-19 outbreak.

The factors that influence the supply of tanker capacity include:

current and expected purchase orders for tankers;
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the number and size of newbuilding orders and deliveries, as may be impacted by the availability of financing for new vessels and shipping activity;
the number of shipyards and ability of shipyards to deliver vessels;
any potential delays in the delivery of newbuilding vessels and/or cancellations of newbuilding orders;
availability of financing for new vessels and shipping activity;
the degree of recycling of older vessels, depending, amongst other things, on recycling rates and international recycling regulations;
the number of vessel casualties;
technological advances in tanker design and capacity;
tanker freight rates, which are affected by factors that may affect the rate of newbuilding, swapping and laying up of tankers;
port and canal congestion;
slow-steaming of vessels;
the price of steel and vessel equipment;
the number of conversions of tankers to other uses or conversions of other vessels to tankers;
the number of tankers that are out of service, namely those that are laid-up, dry docked, awaiting repairs or otherwise not available for hire;
business disruptions, including supply chain disruptions and congestion, due to natural or other disasters or otherwise, such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and any lockdown measures imposed by governments in regions whose economic conditions have a direct correlation demand for tanker products, including China;
changes in government and industry environmental and other regulations that may limit the useful lives of tankers;
changes in national or international regulations that may effectively cause reductions in the carrying capacity of vessels or early obsolescence of tonnage.
environmental concerns and uncertainty around new regulations in relation to, amongst others, new technologies which may delay the ordering of new vessels; and
government subsidies of shipbuilding;

In addition to the prevailing and anticipated freight rates, factors that affect the rate of newbuilding, scrapping and laying-up include newbuilding prices, secondhand vessel values in relation to scrap prices, costs of bunkers and other operating costs, costs associated with classification society surveys, normal maintenance costs, insurance coverage costs, and the efficiency and age profile of the existing tanker fleet. The factors affecting the supply and demand for tankers have been volatile and are outside of our control, and the nature, timing and degree of changes in industry conditions are unpredictable, including those discussed above. Market conditions were volatile in 2021 and continued volatility may reduce demand for transportation of oil over longer distances and increase the supply of tankers to carry that oil, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, ability to pay dividends and existing contractual obligations.

Any decrease in shipments of crude oil may adversely affect our financial performance.

The demand for our oil tankers derives primarily from demand for Arabian Gulf, West African, North Sea, Caribbean, Russian and US Shale crude oil, which, in turn, primarily depends on the economies of the world's industrial countries and competition from alternative energy sources. Any decrease in shipments of crude oil or change in trade patterns from the above mentioned geographical areas would have a material adverse effect on our financial performance. Among the factors which could lead to such a decrease are:

increased crude oil production from other areas;
increased refining capacity in the Arabian Gulf or West Africa;
increased use of existing and future crude oil pipelines in the Arabian Gulf or West Africa;
a decision by oil-producing nations to increase their crude oil prices or to further decrease or limit their crude oil production;
armed conflict between Ukraine and Russia and the resultant sanctions;
armed conflict in the Arabian Gulf and West Africa and political or other factors; and
the development, availability and the costs of nuclear power, natural gas, coal and other alternative sources of energy.

In addition, volatile economic conditions affecting world economies may result in reduced consumption of oil products and a decreased demand for our vessels and lower charter rates, which could have a material adverse effect on our earnings and our ability to pay dividends.

An over-supply of tanker capacity may lead to reductions in charter rates, vessel values and profitability.

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In recent years, shipyards have produced a large number of new tankers. If the capacity of new vessels delivered exceeds the capacity of tankers being scrapped and converted to non-trading tankers, tanker capacity will increase. If the supply of tanker capacity increases and the demand for tanker capacity does not increase correspondingly, charter rates could materially decline. A reduction in charter rates and the value of our vessels may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, our ability to pay dividends and our compliance with current or future covenants in any of our agreements.

A shift in consumer demand from oil towards other energy sources or changes to trade patterns for crude oil or refined oil products may have a material adverse effect on our business.

A significant portion of our earnings are related to the oil industry. A shift in or disruption of consumer demand from oil towards other energy sources such as electricity, natural gas, liquified natural gas, hydrogen or ammonia will potentially affect the demand for our vessels. A shift from the use of internal combustion engine vehicles may also reduce the demand for oil. These factors could have a material adverse effect on our future performance, results of operations, cash flows and financial position

“Peak oil” is the year when the maximum rate of extraction of oil is reached. Recent forecasts of “peak oil” range from 2019 to the 2040s, depending on economics and how governments respond to global warming. Irrespective of “peak oil”, the continuing shift in consumer demand from oil towards other energy resources such as wind energy, solar energy, hydrogen energy or nuclear energy, which shift appears to be accelerating as a result of the COVID-19 situation, as well shift in government commitments and support for energy transition programs, may have a material adverse effect on our future performance, results of operations, cash flows and financial position.

Seaborne trading and distribution patterns are primarily influenced by the relative advantage of the various sources of production, locations of consumption, pricing differentials and seasonality. Changes to the trade patterns of crude oil or refined oil products may have a significant negative or positive impact on the ton-mile and therefore the demand for our tankers. This could have a material adverse effect on our future performance, results of operations, cash flows and financial position.

Technological innovation and quality and efficiency requirements from our customers could reduce our charterhire income and the value of our vessels.

Our customers, in particular those in the oil industry, have a high and increasing focus on quality and compliance standards with their suppliers across the entire supply chain, including the shipping and transportation segment. Our continued compliance with these standards and quality requirements is vital for our operations. The charterhire rates and the value and operational life of a vessel are determined by a number of factors including the vessel’s efficiency, operational flexibility and physical life. Efficiency includes speed, fuel economy and the ability to load and discharge cargo quickly. Flexibility includes the ability to enter harbors, utilize related docking facilities and pass through canals and straits. The length of a vessel’s physical life is related to its original design and construction, its maintenance and the impact of the stress of operations. If new tankers are built that are more efficient or more flexible or have longer physical lives than our vessels or utilize more environmentally sustainable propulsion technologies, competition from these more technologically advanced vessels could adversely affect the amount of charterhire payments we receive for our vessels and the resale value of our vessels could significantly decrease. Similarly, technologically advanced vessels may be needed to comply with future environmental laws, the investment in which along with the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, charterhire payments and resale value of vessels. This could have an adverse effect on our results of operations, cash flows, financial condition and ability to pay dividends.

We rely on our and our ship managers' information systems to conduct our business, and failure to protect these systems against security breaches could adversely affect our business and results of operations, including on our vessels. Additionally, if these systems fail or become unavailable for any significant period of time, our business could be harmed.

We rely on our computer systems and network infrastructure across our operations, including on our vessels. The safety and security of our vessels and efficient operation of our business, including processing, transmitting and storing electronic and financial information, are dependent on computer hardware and software systems, which are increasingly vulnerable to security breaches and other disruptions. Any significant interruption or failure of our information systems or any significant breach of security could adversely affect our business and results of operations.

Our vessels rely on information systems for a significant part of their operations, including navigation, provision of services, propulsion, machinery management, power control, communications and cargo management. We have in place safety and security measures on our vessels and onshore operations to secure our vessels against cyber-security attacks and any disruption to their information systems. However, these measures and technology may not adequately prevent security breaches despite
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our continuous efforts to upgrade and address the latest known threats. A disruption to the information system of any of our vessels could lead to, among other things, wrong routing, collision, grounding and propulsion failure.

Beyond our vessels, we rely on industry accepted security measures and technology to securely maintain confidential and proprietary information maintained on our information systems. However, these measures and technology may not adequately prevent security breaches. The technology and other controls and processes designed to secure our confidential and proprietary information, detect and remedy any unauthorized access to that information were designed to obtain reasonable, but not absolute, assurance that such information is secure and that any unauthorized access is identified and addressed appropriately. Such controls may in the future fail to prevent or detect, unauthorized access to our confidential and proprietary information. In addition, the foregoing events could result in violations of applicable privacy and other laws. If confidential information is inappropriately accessed and used by a third party or an employee for illegal purposes, we may be responsible to the affected individuals for any losses they may have incurred as a result of misappropriation. In such an instance, we may also be subject to regulatory action, investigation or liable to a governmental authority for fines or penalties associated with a lapse in the integrity and security of our information systems. Furthermore, from May 25, 2018, data breaches on personal data, as defined in the General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679 (EU), could lead to administrative fines up to €20 million or up to 4% of the total worldwide annual turnover of the company, whichever is higher.

Our operations, including our vessels, and business administration could be targeted by individuals or groups seeking to sabotage or disrupt such systems and networks, or to steal data, and these systems may be damaged, shutdown or cease to function properly (whether by planned upgrades, force majeure, telecommunications failures, hardware or software break-ins or viruses, other cyber-security incidents or otherwise). For example, the information systems of our vessels may be subject to threats from hostile cyber or physical attacks, phishing attacks, human errors of omission or commission, structural failures of resources we control, including hardware and software, and accidents and other failures beyond our control. The threats to our information systems are constantly evolving, and have become increasingly complex and sophisticated. Furthermore, such threats change frequently and are often not recognized or detected until after they have been launched, and therefore, we may be unable to anticipate these threats and may not become aware in a timely manner of such a security breach, which could exacerbate any damage we experience.

We may be required to expend significant capital and other resources to protect against and remedy any potential or existing security breaches and their consequences. A cyber-attack could result in significant expenses to investigate and repair security breaches or system damages and could lead to litigation, fines, other remedial action, heightened regulatory scrutiny and diminished customer confidence. In addition, our remediation efforts may not be successful and we may not have adequate insurance to cover these losses.

The unavailability of the information systems or the failure of these systems to perform as anticipated for any reason could disrupt our business and could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.
Moreover, cyber-attacks against the Ukrainian government and other countries in the region have been reported in connection with the recent conflicts between Russia and Ukraine. To the extent such attacks have collateral effects on global critical infrastructure or financial institutions, such developments could adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition. At this time, it is difficult to assess the likelihood of such threat and any potential impact at this time.


Increasing scrutiny and changing expectations from investors, lenders and other market participants with respect to our Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) policies may impose additional costs on us or expose us to additional risks.

Companies across all industries are facing increasing scrutiny relating to their ESG policies. Investor advocacy groups, certain institutional investors, investment funds, lenders and other market participants are increasingly focused on ESG practices and in recent years have placed increasing importance on the implications and social cost of their investments. The increased focus and activism related to ESG and similar matters may hinder access to capital, as investors and lenders may decide to reallocate capital or to not commit capital as a result of their assessment of a company’s ESG practices. Companies which do not adapt to or comply with investor, lender or other industry shareholder expectations and standards, which are evolving, or which are perceived to have not responded appropriately to the growing concern for ESG issues, regardless of whether there is a legal requirement to do so, may suffer from reputational damage, costs related to litigation, and the business, financial condition, and/or stock price of such a company could be materially and adversely affected.

We may face increasing pressures from investors, lenders and other market participants, who are increasingly focused on climate change, to prioritize sustainable energy practices, reduce our carbon footprint and promote sustainability. As a result, we may be required to implement more stringent ESG procedures or standards so that our existing and future investors and
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lenders remain invested in us and make further investments in us, especially given the highly focused and specific trade of crude oil transportation in which we are engaged. Such ESG corporate transformation calls for an increased resource allocation to serve the necessary changes in that sector, increasing costs and capital expenditure. If we do not meet these standards, our business and/or our ability to access capital could be harmed.

Additionally, certain investors and lenders may exclude oil transport companies, such as us, from their investing portfolios altogether due to ESG factors. These limitations in both the debt and equity capital markets may affect our ability to grow as our plans for growth may include accessing the equity and debt capital markets. If those markets are unavailable, or if we are unable to access alternative means of financing on acceptable terms, or at all, we may be unable to implement our business strategy, which would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations and impair our ability to service our indebtedness. Further, it is likely that we will incur additional costs and require additional resources to monitor, report and comply with wide ranging ESG requirements. The occurrence of any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition.

Risks Related to Shipping Generally

Risks involved with operating ocean-going vessels could result in the loss of life or harm to our seafarers, environmental accidents or affect our business and reputation, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

The operation of an ocean-going vessel carries inherent risks. These risks include the possibility of:

loss of life or harm to seafarers;
a marine disaster;
environmental accidents;
cargo and property losses or damage; and
business interruptions caused by mechanical failure, human error, war, terrorism, piracy, political action in various countries, labor strikes, or adverse weather conditions.

Any of these circumstances or events could increase our costs or lower our revenues. The involvement of our vessels in an accident or oil spill or other environmental disaster may harm our reputation as a safe and reliable tanker operator. In June 2019 an explosion occurred on the Front Altair shortly after the vessel had passed through the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf. The 23 crew members onboard the Front Altair were unharmed after being rescued by a cargo vessel. The Company deployed emergency responders in a timely manner, who extinguished the fire on the vessel within hours of the incident and took precautions to limit any pollution. The vessel remained afloat and was successfully towed for repairs which were completed in November 2019. We procure insurance for our fleet against those risks that we believe the shipping industry commonly insures, which include hull and machinery insurance, protection and indemnity insurance covering environmental damage and pollution insurance, freight, demurrage and defense insurance which provides coverage to shipowners and operators for legal and other costs incurred in relation to disputes that are uninsured and war risk insurance. The total cost of repairs and related services to the Company in the year ended December 31, 2019 in connection with the Front Altair incident was $2.3 million, excluding amounts paid directly by our insurers, all of which has been recovered under our insurance policies. In addition the Company has recovered $3.7 million under its loss of hire insurance. This incident did not have a material impact on the Company's results of operations or cash flows.

If economic conditions throughout the world deteriorate or become more volatile, it could impede our operations.

There has historically been a strong link between the development of the world economy and demand for energy, including oil and gas. An extended period of deterioration in the outlook for the world economy could reduce the overall demand for oil and gas and for our services. While market conditions have improved, continued adverse and developing economic and governmental factors, together with the concurrent volatility in charter rates and vessel values, may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, and could cause the price of our ordinary shares to decline.

Our ability to secure funding is dependent on well-functioning capital markets and on an appetite to provide funding to the shipping industry. At present, capital markets are well-functioning and funding is available for the shipping industry. However, if global economic conditions worsen or lenders for any reason decide not to provide debt financing to us, we may not be able to secure additional financing to the extent required, on acceptable terms or at all. If additional financing is not available when needed, or is available only on unfavorable terms, we may be unable to meet our obligations as they come due, or we may be unable to enhance our existing business, complete additional vessel acquisitions or otherwise take advantage of business
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opportunities as they arise. Relatedly, certain banks have reduced or ceased lending for oil cargoes, which could have an adverse economic impact on our customers.

If there is an economic slowdown in the Asia Pacific region, especially in China, it may have a negative effect on us of the recent slowdown in the rest of the world. In recent history, China has had one of the world's fastest growing economies in terms of gross domestic product, or GDP, which had a significant impact on shipping demand. The growth rate of China's GDP for the year ended December 31, 2021, however, is estimated to be around 8.1%, up from the growth rate of 2.3% for the year ended December 31, 2020. Following the emergence of the COVID-19, China experienced reduced industrial activity with temporary closures of factories and other facilities, labor shortages and restrictions on travel. As such, China and other countries in the Asia Pacific region may experience slowed or even negative economic growth in the future. Our financial condition and results of operations, as well as our future prospects, would likely be impeded by an economic downturn in any of these countries.

In addition, President Xi Jinping committed his country to achieving carbon neutrality by 2060 at the UN General Assembly despite that carbon emissions are currently a prominent part of China’s economic and industrial structure as it relies heavily on nonrenewable energy sources, generally lacks energy efficiency, and has a rapidly growing energy demand. Depending on how China attempts to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, including through the reduction in the use of oil, an overall increase in the use of nonrenewable energy as part of the energy consumption mix and through other means, any reduction in the demand for oil and oil products and our tanker vessels could have a material adverse effect on our business, cash flows and results of operations.

Further, governments may turn to trade barriers to protect their domestic industries against foreign imports, thereby depressing shipping demand. In particular, leaders in the United States have indicated that the United States may seek to implement more protective trade measures. The results of the 2020 presidential election in the United States have created significant uncertainty about the future relationship between the United States, China and other exporting countries, including with respect to trade policies, treaties, government regulations and tariffs. For example, in March 2018, former President Trump announced tariffs on imported steel and aluminum into the United States that could have a negative impact on international trade generally and in January 2019, the United States announced sanctions against Venezuela, which may have an effect on its oil output and in turn affect global oil supply. However, it is not yet clear how the United States administration under President Biden may deviate from the former administration’s protectionist foreign trade policies. Protectionist developments, or the perception that they may occur, may have a material adverse effect on global economic conditions, and may significantly reduce global trade. Moreover, increasing trade protectionism may cause an increase in (a) the cost of goods exported from regions globally, (b) the length of time required to transport goods and (c) the risks associated with exporting goods. Such increases may significantly affect the quantity of goods to be shipped, shipping time schedules, voyage costs and other associated costs, which could have an adverse impact on the shipping industry, and therefore, our charterers and their business, operating results and financial condition and could thereby affect their ability to make timely charter hire payments to us and to renew and increase the number of their time charters with us. This could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and our ability to pay any cash distributions to our shareholders.

We face risks attendant to changes in economic environments, changes in interest rates and instability in the banking and securities markets around the world, among other factors. We cannot predict how long the current market conditions will last. These recent and developing economic and governmental factors may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition and may cause the price of our common shares to decline.

Prospective investors should consider the potential impact, uncertainty and risk associated with the development in the wider global economy. Further economic downturn in any of these countries could have a material effect on our future performance, results of operations, cash flows and financial position.

Political instability, terrorist or other attacks, war, international hostilities and public health threats can affect the tanker industry, which may adversely affect our business.

We conduct most of our operations outside of the United States, and our business, results of operations, cash flows, financial condition and available cash may be adversely affected by changing economic, political and government conditions in the countries and regions where our vessels are employed or registered. Moreover, we operate in a sector of the economy that is likely to be adversely impacted by the effects of political conflicts.

Currently, the world economy faces a number of challenges, including trade tensions between the United States and China, stabilizing growth in China, geopolitical events, such as Brexit, continuing threat of terrorist attacks around the world,
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continuing instability and conflicts and other recent occurrences in the Middle East, Ukraine, and in other geographic areas and countries, as well as the public health concerns stemming from the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.

In the past, political instability has also resulted in attacks on vessels, mining of waterways and other efforts to disrupt international shipping, particularly in the Arabian Gulf region and most recently in the Black Sea in connection with the recent conflicts between Russian and Ukraine. Acts of terrorism and piracy have also affected vessels trading in regions such as the South China Sea and the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Somalia. Any of these occurrences could have a material adverse impact on our future performance, results of operation, cash flows and financial position.

Beginning in February of 2022, President Biden and several European leaders announced various economic sanctions against Russia in connection with the aforementioned conflicts in the Ukraine region, which may adversely impact our business. On March 8, 2022, President Biden issued an executive order prohibiting the import of certain Russian energy products into the United States, including crude oil, petroleum, petroleum fuels, oils, liquefied natural gas and coal. Additionally, the executive order prohibits any investments in the Russian energy sector by US persons, among other restrictions. Our business could also be adversely impacted by trade tariffs, trade embargoes or other economic sanctions that limit trading activities by the United States or other countries against countries in the Middle East, Asia or elsewhere as a result of terrorist attacks, hostilities or diplomatic or political pressures. Any violations of sanctions by our charter parties, any extension or worsening of the conflict in these regions, as well as any significant sanctions resulting from the conflicts that affect, among other things, the performance of our charter party agreements specifically or the tanker industry more generally, may have a material adverse impact on our future performance, results of operations, cash flows and financial position.

In addition, public health threats, such as COVID-19, influenza and other highly communicable diseases or viruses, outbreaks of which have from time to time occurred in various parts of the world in which we operate, including China, Japan and South Korea, which may even become pandemics, such as the COVID-19 virus, could lead to a significant decrease of demand for the transportation of crude oil. Such events may also adversely impact our operations, including timely rotation of our crews, the timing of completion of any outstanding or future newbuilding projects or repair works in drydock, as well as the operations of our customers. Delayed rotation of crew may adversely affect the mental and physical health of our crew and the safe operation of our vessels as a consequence.

Our financial results and operations have been and may continue to be adversely affected by the ongoing outbreak of COVID-19, and related governmental responses thereto.

In response to the outbreak of COVID-19 in late 2019, governments and governmental agencies around the world took numerous actions, including travel bans, quarantines, and other emergency public health measures, and a number of countries implemented lockdown measures which resulted in a significant reduction in global economic activity and extreme volatility in the global financial markets. By 2021, however. many of these measures were relaxed. Nonetheless, we cannot predict whether and to what degree emergency public health and other measures will be reinstituted in the event of any resurgence in the COVID-19 virus or any variants thereof. If the COVID-19 pandemic continues on a prolonged basis or becomes more severe, the adverse impact on the global economy and the rate environment for tankers and other cargo vessels may deteriorate further and our operations and cash flows may be negatively impacted. Relatively weak global economic conditions during periods of volatility have and may continue to have a number of adverse consequences for tankers and other shipping sectors, including, among other things:

low charter rates, particularly for vessels employed on short-term time charters or in the spot market;
decreases in the market value of tankers and limited second-hand market for the sale of vessels;
limited financing for vessels;
loan covenant defaults; and
declaration of bankruptcy by certain vessel operators, vessel owners, shipyards and charterers.

The COVID-19 pandemic and measures to contain its spread have negatively impacted regional and global economies and trade patterns in markets in which we operate, the way we operate our business, and the businesses of our charterers and suppliers. These negative impacts could continue or worsen, even after the pandemic diminishes or ends. Companies, including us, have also taken precautions, such as requiring employees to work remotely and imposing travel restrictions, while some other businesses have been required to close entirely. Moreover, we face significant risks to our personnel and operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our crews face risk of exposure to COVID-19 as a result of travel to ports in which cases of COVID-19 have been reported. Our shore-based personnel likewise face risk of such exposure, as we maintain offices in areas that have been impacted by the spread of COVID-19.

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Measures against COVID-19 in a number of countries have restricted crew rotations on our vessels, which may continue or become more severe. As a result, in 2021, we experienced and may continue to experience disruptions to our normal vessel operations caused by increased deviation time associated with positioning our vessels to countries in which we can undertake a crew rotation in compliance with such measures. Delays in crew rotations have led to issues with crew fatigue and may continue to do so, which may result in delays or other operational issues. We have had and expect to continue to have increased expenses due to incremental fuel consumption and days in which our vessels are unable to earn revenue in order to deviate to certain ports on which we would ordinarily not call during a typical voyage. We may also incur additional expenses associated with testing, personal protective equipment, quarantines, and travel expenses such as airfare costs in order to perform crew rotations in the current environment. In 2021, delays in crew rotations have also caused us to incur additional costs related to crew bonuses paid to retain the existing crew members on board and may continue to do so. We estimate that the Company incurred additional crew and other related expenses of $5.5 million in 2021 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020: $3.2 million).

The COVID-19 pandemic and measures in place against the spread of the virus have led to a highly difficult environment in which to dispose of vessels given difficulty to physically inspect vessels. The impact of COVID-19 has also resulted in reduced industrial activity globally, and more specifically in China, with temporary closures of factories and other facilities, labor shortages and restrictions on travel. We believe these disruptions along with other seasonal and market factors, including lower demand for some of the cargoes we carry, have contributed to lower tanker rates in 2021. See Item 5 for further details of the impact of reduced rates on the Company.

Epidemics may also affect personnel operating payment systems through which we receive revenues from the chartering of our vessels or pay for our expenses, resulting in delays in payments. We continue to focus on our employees' well-being, whilst making sure that their operations continue undisrupted and at the same time, adapting to the new ways of operating. As such employees are encouraged or in certain cases required to operate remotely which significantly increases the risk of cyber security attacks.

The occurrence or continued occurrence of any of the foregoing events or other epidemics or an increase in the severity or duration of the COVID-19 or other epidemics could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows, financial condition, value of our vessels, and ability to pay dividends.

If our vessels may call at ports located in countries or territories that are the subject of sanctions or embargoes imposed by the U.S. government, the European Union, the United Nations or other governmental authorities, it could lead to monetary fines or penalties and adversely affect our reputation and the market for our ordinary shares.

While none of our vessels called on ports located in countries or territories that are the subject of country-wide or territory-wide sanctions or embargoes imposed by the U.S. government or other applicable governmental authorities (“Sanctioned Jurisdictions”) in 2021 in violation of applicable sanctions or embargo laws. Although we intend to maintain compliance with all applicable sanctions and embargo laws during 2022, and we endeavor to take precautions reasonably designed to mitigate such risks, it is possible that, in the future, our vessels may call on ports located in Sanctioned Jurisdictions on charterers’ instructions and/or without our consent. If such activities result in a violation of sanctions or embargo laws, we could be subject to monetary fines, penalties, or other sanctions, and our reputation and the market for our ordinary shares could be adversely affected.

The applicable sanctions and embargo laws and regulations vary in their application, as they do not all apply to the same covered persons or proscribe the same activities, and such sanctions and embargo laws and regulations may be amended or expanded over time. Current or future counterparties of ours may be affiliated with persons or entities that are or may be in the future the subject of sanctions imposed by the United States, EU and/or other international bodies. If we determine that such sanctions require us to terminate existing or future contracts to which we, or our subsidiaries, are party or if we are found to be in violation of such applicable sanctions, our results of operations may be adversely affected or we may suffer reputational harm.

Although we believe that we have been in compliance with all applicable sanctions and embargo laws and regulations in 2021, and intend to maintain such compliance, there can be no assurance that we will be in compliance in the future, particularly as the scope of certain laws may be unclear and may be subject to changing interpretations. Any such violation could result in fines, penalties or other sanctions that could severely impact our ability to access U.S. capital markets and conduct our business, and could result in some investors deciding, or being required, to divest their interest, or not to invest, in us. In addition, certain institutional investors may have investment policies or restrictions that prevent them from holding securities of companies that have contracts with countries or territories identified by the U.S. government as state sponsors of terrorism. The determination by these investors not to invest in, or to divest from, our common stock may adversely affect the price at which our common
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stock trades. Moreover, our charterers may violate applicable sanctions and embargo laws and regulations as a result of actions that do not involve us or our vessels, and those violations could in turn negatively affect our reputation. Investor perception of the value of our common stock may be adversely affected by the consequences of war, the effects of terrorism, civil unrest and governmental actions in countries or territories that we operate in.

Compliance with safety and other vessel requirements imposed by classification societies may be costly and could reduce our net cash flows and net income.

The hull and machinery of every commercial vessel must be certified as being "in class" by a classification society authorized by its country of registry. The classification society certifies that a vessel is safe and seaworthy in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations of the country of registry of the vessel and the Safety of Life at Sea Convention. All of our vessels are certified as being “in class” by all the applicable Classification Societies (e.g., American Bureau of Shipping, Lloyd's Register of Shipping or DNV GL).

A vessel must undergo annual surveys, intermediate surveys and special surveys. In lieu of a special survey, a vessel's machinery may be placed on a continuous survey cycle, under which the machinery would be surveyed periodically over a five-year period. We expect our vessels to be on special survey cycles for hull inspection and continuous survey cycles for machinery inspection. Every vessel is also required to be drydocked every two and a half to five years for inspection of its underwater parts.

Compliance with the above requirements may result in significant expense. If any vessel does not maintain its class or fails any annual, intermediate or special survey, the vessel will be unable to trade between ports and will be unemployable and uninsurable, which could cause us to be in violation of certain covenants in our loan agreements. Any such inability to carry cargo or be employed, or any such violation of covenants, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows, financial condition and ability to pay dividends.

We are subject to complex laws and regulations, including environmental laws and regulations that can increase our liability and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Our operations will be subject to numerous laws and regulations in the form of international conventions and treaties, national, state and local laws and national and international regulations in force in the jurisdictions in which our vessels operate or are registered, which can significantly affect the ownership and operation of our vessels. Compliance with such laws and regulations, where applicable, may require installation of costly equipment or operational changes and may affect the resale value or useful lives of our vessels. Compliance with such laws and regulations may require us to obtain certain permits or authorizations prior to commencing operations. Failure to obtain such permits or authorizations could materially impact our business results of operations, financial conditions and ability to pay dividends by delaying or limiting our ability to accept charterers. We may also incur additional costs in order to comply with other existing and future regulatory obligations, including, but not limited to, costs relating to air emissions including greenhouse gases, the management of ballast waters, maintenance and inspection, development and implementation of emergency procedures and insurance coverage or other financial assurance of our ability to address pollution incidents.

A failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations may result in administrative and civil penalties, criminal sanctions or the suspension or termination of our operations. Environmental requirements can also affect the resale value or useful lives of our vessels, could require a reduction in cargo capacity, ship modifications or operational changes or restrictions, could lead to decreased availability of insurance coverage for environmental matters or could result in the denial of access to certain jurisdictional waters or ports or detention in certain ports. Under local, national and foreign laws, as well as international treaties and conventions, we could incur material liabilities, including clean-up obligations and natural resource damages liability, in the event that there is a release of hazardous materials from our vessels or otherwise in connection with our operations. Environmental laws often impose strict liability for remediation of spills and releases of oil and hazardous substances, which could subject us to liability, without regard to whether we were negligent or at fault. We could also become subject to personal injury or property damage claims relating to the release of hazardous substances associated with our existing or historic operations. Violations of, or liabilities under, environmental requirements can result in substantial penalties, fines and other sanctions, including, in certain instances, seizure or detention of our vessels, and could harm our reputation with current or potential charterers of our tankers. We will be required to satisfy insurance and financial responsibility requirements for potential oil (including marine fuel) spills and other pollution incidents. Although we have insurance to cover certain environmental risks, there can be no assurance that such insurance will be sufficient to cover all such risks or that any claims will not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

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In addition, many environmental requirements are designed to reduce the risk of pollution, such as from oil spills, and our compliance with these requirements could be costly. To comply with these and other regulations, including: (i) the sulfur emission requirements of Annex VI of the International Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution from Ships, or “MARPOL”, which instituted a global 0.5% (lowered from 3.5% as of January 1, 2020) sulfur cap on marine fuel consumed by a vessel, unless the vessel is equipped with a scrubber, and (ii) the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments of the International Maritime Organization, or IMO, which requires vessels to install expensive ballast water treatment systems, or BWTS, we may be required to incur additional costs to meet new maintenance and inspection requirements, develop contingency plans for potential spills, and obtain insurance coverage. The increased demand for low sulfur fuels may increase the costs of fuel for our vessels that do not have scrubbers. Additional conventions, laws and regulations may be adopted that could limit our ability to do business or increase the cost of doing business and which may materially and adversely affect our operations.

Effective January 1, 2020, the IMO, implemented a new regulation for a 0.50% global sulfur cap on marine fuels for vessels without scrubbers (the “IMO 2020 Regulations”). Under this new global cap, vessels are required to use marine fuels with a sulfur content of no more than 0.50% against the former regulations specifying a maximum of 3.50% sulfur in an effort to reduce the emission of sulfur oxide into the atmosphere.

We have incurred increased costs to comply with these revised standards. Additional or new conventions, laws and regulations may be adopted that could require, among others, the installation of expensive emission control systems and could adversely affect our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition. Low sulfur fuel is more expensive than standard marine fuel containing 3.5% sulfur content and may become more expensive or difficult to obtain as a result of increased demand. If the cost differential between low sulfur fuel and high sulfur fuel is significantly higher than anticipated, or if low sulfur fuel is not available at ports on certain trading routes, it may not be feasible or competitive to operate our vessels on certain trading routes without installing scrubbers or without incurring deviation time to obtain compliant fuel. Scrubbers may not be available to be installed on such vessels at a favorable cost or at all if we seek them at a later date. Further, there is risk that if the fuel spread between high sulfur fuel oil and low sulfur fuel oil decreases, we may not be able to recover the investments we have made in our scrubbers with our expected timeframes or at all. As of December 31, 2021, 32 of the vessels owned and leased by the Company are fitted with scrubbers, of which 14 vessels were delivered to the Company with scrubbers fitted, and two further scrubber installations are planned in 2022. As of December 31, 2021, the Company has incurred $72.1 million since 2018 on the purchase and installation of scrubbers on 20 vessels, of which two were sold prior to year end.

Furthermore, depending on the date of the International Oil Pollution Prevention, or IOPP, renewal survey, existing vessels constructed before September 8, 2017 must comply with the updated D-2 standard on or after September 8, 2019. For most vessels, compliance with the D-2 standard will involve installing on-board systems to treat ballast water and eliminate unwanted organisms. Ships constructed on or after September 8, 2017 are to comply with the D-2 standards on or after September 8, 2017. As of December 31, 2021, the Company has incurred $20.4 million since 2018 to comply with these regulations.

Furthermore, United States regulations are currently changing. Although the 2013 Vessel General Permit, or VGP program and the U.S. National Invasive Species Act, or NISA, are currently in effect to regulate ballast discharge, exchange and installation, the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act, or VIDA, which was signed into law on December 4, 2018, requires that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, develop national standards of performance for approximately 30 discharges, similar to those found in the VGP within two years. On October 26, 2020, the EPA published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Vessel Incidental Discharge National Standards of Performance under VIDA. By approximately 2022, the U.S. Coast Guard must develop corresponding implementation, compliance and enforcement regulations regarding ballast water. The new regulations could require the installation of new equipment, which may cause us to incur substantial costs.

We continue to evaluate different options in complying with IMO and other rules and regulations.

Please see “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Environmental and Other Regulations in the Shipping Industry” for a discussion of the environmental and other regulations applicable to us.

If we fail to comply with international safety regulations, we may be subject to increased liability, which may adversely affect our insurance coverage and may result in a denial of access to, or detention in, certain ports.

The operation of our vessels is affected by the requirements set forth in the IMO's International Safety Management Code, (the “ISM Code”). The ISM Code requires shipowners, ship managers and bareboat charterers to develop and maintain an extensive "Safety Management System" that includes the adoption of a safety and environmental protection policy setting forth
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instructions and procedures for safe operation and describing procedures for dealing with emergencies. If we fail to comply with the ISM Code, we may be subject to increased liability, including the invalidation of existing insurance or a decrease of available insurance coverage for our affected vessels and such failure may result in a denial of access to, or detention in, certain ports. The U.S. Coast Guard and European Union authorities enforce compliance with the ISM and International Ship and Port Facility Security Code, or the ISPS Code, and prohibit non-compliant vessels from trading in U.S. and European Union ports. This could have a material adverse effect on our future performance, results of operations, cash flows and financial position. Given that the IMO continues to review and introduce new regulations, it is impossible to predict what additional regulations, if any, may be passed by the IMO and what effect, if any, such regulations might have on our operations.

Because such conventions, laws, and regulations are often revised, we cannot predict the ultimate cost of complying with such conventions, laws and regulations or the impact thereof on the resale prices or useful lives of our vessels. Additional conventions, laws and regulations may be adopted which could limit our ability to do business or increase the cost of our doing business and which may materially adversely affect our operations. We are required by various governmental and quasi-governmental agencies to obtain certain permits, licenses, certificates, and financial assurances with respect to our operations.

Please see “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Environmental and Other Regulations in the Shipping Industry” for a discussion of the environmental and other regulations applicable to us.

Maritime claimants could arrest or attach one or more of our vessels, which could interrupt our cash flow.

Crew members, suppliers of goods and services to a vessel, shippers of cargo and other parties may be entitled to a maritime lien against a vessel for unsatisfied debts, claims or damages. In many jurisdictions, a maritime lien-holder may enforce its lien by "arresting" or "attaching" a vessel through judicial or foreclosure proceedings. The arrest or attachment of one or more of our vessels could result in a significant loss of earnings for the related off-hire period.

In addition, in jurisdictions where the "sister ship" theory of liability applies, such as South Africa, a claimant may arrest the vessel which is subject to the claimant's maritime lien and any "associated" vessel, which is any vessel owned or controlled by the same owner. In countries with "sister ship" liability laws, claims might be asserted against us or any of our vessels for liabilities of other vessels that we own

Governments could requisition our vessels during a period of war or emergency resulting in a loss of earnings.

A government of a vessel's registry could requisition for title or seize one or more of our vessels. Requisition for title occurs when a government takes control of a vessel and becomes the owner. A government could also requisition one or more of our vessels for hire. Requisition for hire occurs when a government takes control of a vessel and effectively becomes the charterer at dictated charter rates. Generally, requisitions occur during a period of war or emergency. Government requisition of one or more of our vessels could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows, financial condition and ability to pay dividends.

Risks Related to Our Business

We are dependent on the spot market and any decrease in spot market rates in the future may adversely affect our earnings and our ability to pay dividends.

As of December 31, 2021, 61 of the 66 vessels, which are owned, leased or chartered-in by us, were employed in the spot market or on short-term or variable rate time charters, and we are therefore exposed to fluctuations in spot market charter rates.

Although the number of vessels in our fleet that participate in the spot market will vary from time to time, we anticipate that a significant portion of our fleet will participate in this market. As a result, our financial performance will be significantly affected by conditions in the tanker spot market and only our vessels that operate under fixed-rate time charters may, during the period such vessels operate under such time charters, provide a fixed source of revenue to us.

Historically, the tanker market has been volatile as a result of the many conditions and factors that can affect the price, supply and demand for tanker capacity. The spot market may fluctuate significantly based upon supply of and demand of vessels and cargoes. The successful operation of our vessels in the competitive spot market depends upon, among other things, obtaining profitable charters and minimizing, to the extent possible, time spent waiting for charters and time spent in ballast. The spot market is very volatile, and, in the past, there have been periods when spot rates have declined below the operating cost of vessels. If future spot market rates decline or stay at current depressed levels, then we may be unable to operate our vessels trading in the spot market profitably, meet our obligations, including payments on indebtedness, or to pay dividends in the
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future. Furthermore, as charter rates in the spot market are fixed for a single voyage, which may last up to several weeks, during periods in which charter rates are rising, we will generally experience delays in realizing the benefits from such increases.

Our ability to renew the charters on our vessels on the expiration or termination of our current charters, or on vessels that we may acquire in the future, or the charter rates payable under any replacement charters and vessel values will depend upon, among other things, economic conditions in the sectors in which our vessels operate at that time, changes in the supply and demand for vessel capacity and changes in the supply and demand for the seaborne transportation of energy resources.

A drop in spot market rates may provide an incentive for some charterers to default on their charters, and the failure of our counterparties to meet their obligations could cause us to suffer losses or otherwise adversely affect our business.

We have entered into various contracts, including charter parties with our customers, which subject us to counterparty risks. The ability of each of the counterparties to perform its obligations under a contract with us or contracts entered into on our behalf will depend on a number of factors that are beyond our control and may include, among other things, general economic conditions, the condition of the shipping sector, the overall financial condition of the counterparty, charter rates received for tankers and the supply and demand for commodities. Should a counterparty fail to honor its obligations under any such contracts, we could sustain significant losses that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and ability to pay dividends. As of December 31, 2021 five of our vessels are currently on time charters with a fixed rate element. The time charters have a remaining duration of less than one year.

Often, when we enter into a time charter, the rates under that charter are fixed for the term of the charter. If the spot market rates or short-term time charter rates in the tanker industry become significantly lower than the time charter equivalent rates that some of our charterers are obligated to pay us under our existing charters, the charterers may have incentive to default under that charter or attempt to renegotiate the charter. If our charterers fail to pay their obligations, we would have to attempt to re-charter our vessels, which if re-chartered at lower rates, may affect our ability to operate our vessels profitably and may affect our ability to comply with current or future covenants contained in our loan agreements.

Changes in the price of fuel, or bunkers, may adversely affect our profits.

For vessels on voyage charters, fuel oil, or bunkers, is a significant, if not the largest, expense. Changes in the price of fuel may adversely affect our profitability to the extent we have vessels on voyage charters. The price and supply of fuel is unpredictable and fluctuates based on events outside our control, including geopolitical developments, such as those in the Ukraine region, supply and demand for oil and gas, actions by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, or OPEC, and other oil and gas producers, war and unrest in oil producing countries and regions, regional production patterns and environmental concerns. Any future increase in the cost of fuel may reduce the profitability and competitiveness of our business versus other forms of transportation, such as truck or rail.

The operation of tankers involves certain unique operational risks.

The operation of tankers has unique operational risks associated with the transportation of oil. An oil spill may cause significant environmental damage, and a catastrophic spill could exceed the insurance coverage available. Compared to other types of vessels, tankers are exposed to a higher risk of damage and loss by fire, whether ignited by a terrorist attack, collision, or other cause, due to the high flammability and high volume of the oil transported in tankers.

Further, our vessels and their cargoes will be at risk of being damaged or lost because of events such as marine disasters, bad weather and other acts of God, business interruptions caused by mechanical failures, grounding, fire, explosions and collisions, human error, war, terrorism, piracy and other circumstances or events. Changing economic, regulatory and political conditions in some countries, including political and military conflicts, have from time to time resulted in attacks on vessels, mining of waterways, piracy, terrorism, labor strikes and boycotts. These hazards may result in death or injury to persons, loss of revenues or property, the payment of ransoms, environmental damage, higher insurance rates, damage to our customer relationships and market disruptions, delay or rerouting.

If our vessels suffer damage, they may need to be repaired at a drydocking facility. The costs of drydock repairs are unpredictable and may be substantial. We may have to pay drydocking costs that our insurance does not cover at all or in full. The loss of revenues while these vessels are being repaired and repositioned, as well as the actual cost of these repairs, may adversely affect our business and financial condition. In addition, space at drydocking facilities is sometimes limited and not all drydocking facilities are conveniently located. We may be unable to find space at a suitable drydocking facility or our vessels may be forced to travel to a drydocking facility that is not conveniently located relative to our vessels' positions. The loss of earnings while these vessels are forced to wait for space or to travel to more distant drydocking facilities may adversely affect
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our business and financial condition. Further, the total loss of any of our vessels could harm our reputation as a safe and reliable vessel owner and operator. If we are unable to adequately maintain or safeguard our vessels, we may be unable to prevent any such damage, costs or loss which could negatively impact our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and ability to pay dividends.

Because the market value of our vessels may fluctuate significantly, we may incur losses when we sell vessels which may adversely affect our earnings or could cause us to incur impairment charges.

The fair market value of vessels may increase and decrease depending on but not limited to the following factors:

general economic and market conditions affecting the shipping industry;
the balance between supply of and demand for vessels of a certain size;
competition from other shipping companies;
the availability of other modes of transportation;
cost of newbuildings;
shipyard capacity;
governmental or other regulations;
changes in environmental and other regulations that may limit the useful lives of vessels;
distressed asset sales, including newbuilding contract sales below acquisition costs due to lack of financing;
types, sizes and ages of vessels;
prevailing level of charter rates;
the need to upgrade secondhand and previously owned vessels as a result of charterer requirements; and
technological advances in vessel design or equipment or otherwise.

During the period a vessel is subject to a charter, we might not be permitted to sell it to take advantage of increases in vessel values without the charterers' agreement. If we sell a vessel at a time when ship prices have fallen, the sale may be at less than the vessel's carrying amount on our financial statements, with the result that we could incur a loss and a reduction in earnings. In addition, if we determine at any time that a vessel's future limited useful life and earnings require us to impair its value on our financial statements, that could result in a charge against our earnings and a reduction of our shareholders' equity. It is possible that the market value of our vessels will decline in the future and could adversely affect our ability to comply with current or future financial covenants contained in our loan agreements or other financing arrangements. Any impairment charges incurred as a result of declines in charter rates and other market deterioration could negatively affect our business, financial condition, operating results or the trading price of our ordinary shares.

Conversely, if vessel values are elevated at a time when we wish to acquire additional vessels, the cost of acquisition may increase and this could adversely affect our business, results of operations, cash flow and financial condition.

We may be unable to successfully compete with other vessel operators for charters, which could adversely affect our results of operations and financial position.

The operation of tankers and transportation of crude and petroleum products is extremely competitive. Through our operating subsidiaries we compete with other vessel owners (including major oil companies as well as independent companies), and, to a lesser extent, owners of other size vessels. The tanker market is highly fragmented. It is possible that we could not obtain suitable employment for our vessels, which could adversely affect our results of operations and financial position.

Our fixed rate time charters may limit our ability to benefit from any improvement in charter rates, and at the same time, our revenues may be adversely affected if we do not successfully employ our vessels on the expiration of our charters.

As of December 31, 2021, five of our vessels, which are owned, leased or chartered-in by us, are currently on fixed rate charters with an initial duration in excess of six months. While our fixed rate time charters generally provide more reliable revenues, they also limit the portion of our fleet available for spot market voyages during an upswing in the tanker industry cycle, when spot market voyages might be more profitable. By the same token, we cannot assure you that we will be able to successfully employ our vessels in the future or renew existing charters at rates sufficient to allow us to operate our business profitably or meet our obligations. A decline in charter or spot rates or a failure to successfully charter our vessels could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and ability to pay dividends.

Purchasing and operating secondhand vessels may result in increased operating costs and vessels off-hire, which could adversely affect our earnings.

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Our long-term business strategy also includes growth through the acquisition of secondhand vessels. Even following a physical inspection of secondhand vessels prior to purchase, we do not have the same knowledge about their condition and cost of any required (or anticipated) repairs than we would have had if these vessels had been built for and operated exclusively by us. Accordingly, we may not discover defects or other problems with such vessels prior to purchase. Any hidden defects, when detected may be expensive to repair, and if not detected, may result in accidents or other incidents for which we may become liable to third parties. Also, when purchasing secondhand vessels, we typically do not receive the benefit of any builder warranties if the vessels we buy are older than one year.

In general, the costs to maintain a vessel in good operating condition increase with the age of the vessel. As of the December 31, 2021 average age of our fleet is approximately 5 years. As our fleet ages we will incur increased costs. Older vessels are typically less fuel efficient than more recently constructed vessels due to improvements in engine and hull technology. Governmental regulations, safety and other equipment standards related to the age of vessels may require expenditures for alterations or the addition of new equipment to some of our vessels and may restrict the type of activities in which these vessels may engage. We cannot assure you that, as our vessels age, market conditions will justify those expenditures or enable us to operate our vessels profitably during the remainder of their useful lives. As a result, regulations and standards could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and ability to pay dividends.

Delays or defaults by the shipyards in the construction of our newbuildings could increase our expenses and diminish our net income and cash flows.

As of December 31, 2021, we had contracts for six newbuilding vessels. Vessel construction projects are generally subject to risks of delay that are inherent in any large construction project, which may be caused by numerous factors, including shortages of equipment, materials or skilled labor, unscheduled delays in the delivery of ordered materials and equipment or shipyard construction, failure of equipment to meet quality and/or performance standards, financial or operating difficulties experienced by equipment vendors or the shipyard, unanticipated actual or purported change orders, inability to obtain required permits or approvals, design or engineering changes and work stoppages and other labor disputes, adverse weather conditions or any other events of force majeure. Significant delays could adversely affect our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. Additionally, failure to complete a project on time may result in the delay of revenue from that vessel, and we will continue to incur costs and expenses related to delayed vessels, such as supervision expense and interest expense for the issued and outstanding debt.

We may be unable to locate suitable vessels for acquisition which would adversely affect our ability to expand our fleet.

Changing market and regulatory conditions may limit the availability of suitable vessels because of customer preferences or because vessels are not or will not be compliant with existing or future rules, regulations and conventions. Additional vessels of the age and quality we desire may not be available for purchase at prices we are prepared to pay or at delivery times acceptable to us, and we may not be able to dispose of vessels at reasonable prices, if at all. If we are unable to purchase and dispose of vessels at reasonable prices in response to changing market and regulatory conditions, our business may be adversely affected.

As we expand our fleet, we may not be able to recruit suitable employees and crew for our vessels which may limit our growth and cause our financial performance to suffer.

As we expand our fleet, we will need to recruit suitable crew, shoreside, administrative and management personnel. We may not be able to continue to hire suitable employees as we expand our fleet of vessels. If we are unable to recruit suitable employees and crews, we may not be able to provide our services to customers, our growth may be limited and our financial performance may suffer.

Increased inspection procedures, tighter import and export controls and new security regulations could increase costs and cause disruption of our business.

International shipping is subject to security and customs inspection and related procedures in countries of origin, destination and trans-shipment points. Under the U.S. Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002, the U.S. Coast Guard issued regulations requiring the implementation of certain security requirements aboard vessels operating in waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and at certain ports and facilities. These security procedures can result in delays in the loading, offloading or trans-shipment and the levying of customs duties, fines or other penalties against exporters or importers and, in some cases, carriers. Future changes to the existing security procedures may be implemented that could affect the tanker sector. These changes have the potential to impose additional financial and legal obligations on carriers and, in certain cases, to render the shipment of certain types of goods uneconomical or impractical. These additional costs could reduce the volume of goods
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shipped, resulting in a decreased demand for vessels and have a negative effect on our business, revenues and customer relations.

Volatility of LIBOR and potential changes of the use of LIBOR as a benchmark could affect our profitability, earnings and cash flow.

As certain of our current financing agreements have, and our future financing arrangements may have, floating interest rates, typically based on LIBOR, movements in interest rates could negatively affect our financial performance. The publication of U.S. Dollar LIBOR for the one-week and two-month U.S. Dollar LIBOR tenors ceased on December 31, 2021, and the ICE Benchmark Administration (“IBA”), the administrator of LIBOR, with the support of the United States Federal Reserve and the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority, announced the publication of all other U.S. Dollar LIBOR tenors will cease on June 30, 2023. The United States Federal Reserve concurrently issued a statement advising banks to cease issuing U.S. Dollar LIBOR instruments after 2021. As such, any new loan agreements we enter into will not use LIBOR as an interest rate, and we will need to transition our existing loan agreements from U.S. Dollar LIBOR to an alternative reference rate prior to June 2023.

In response to the anticipated discontinuation of LIBOR, working groups are converging on alternative reference rates. The Alternative Reference Rate Committee, a committee convened by the Federal Reserve that includes major market participants, has proposed an alternative rate to replace U.S. Dollar LIBOR: the Secured Overnight Financing Rate, or “SOFR.” At this time, it is not possible to predict how markets will respond to SOFR or other alternative reference rates. The impact of such a transition from LIBOR to SOFR or another alternative reference rate could be significant for us.

In order to manage our exposure to interest rate fluctuations under LIBOR, SOFR or any other alternative rate, we have and may from time to time use interest rate derivatives to effectively fix some of our floating rate debt obligations. No assurance can however be given that the use of these derivative instruments, if any, may effectively protect us from adverse interest rate movements. The use of interest rate derivatives may affect our results through mark to market valuation of these derivatives. Also, adverse movements in interest rate derivatives may require us to post cash as collateral, which may impact our free cash position. Interest rate derivatives may also be impacted by the transition from LIBOR to SOFR or other alternative rates.

The discontinuation of LIBOR presents a number of risks to our business, including volatility in applicable interest rates among our financing agreements, potential increased borrowing costs for future financing agreements or unavailability of or difficulty in attaining financing, which could in turn have an adverse effect on our profitability, earnings and cash flow.


We may be unable to comply with the covenants contained in our loan agreement, which could affect our ability to conduct our business.

As of December 31, 2021, we had $2,316.2 million of outstanding debt. Certain of our debt facilities require us or our subsidiaries to maintain the following financial covenants; minimum value of vessels, value-adjusted equity, positive working capital, and a certain level of free cash.

Because some of these ratios are dependent on the market value of vessels, should vessel values materially decline in the future, we may be required to take action to reduce our debt, provide additional security or to act in a manner contrary to our business objectives to meet any such financial ratios and satisfy any such financial covenants. Events beyond our control, including changes in the economic and business conditions in the shipping markets in which we operate, may affect our ability to comply with these covenants. We cannot assure you that we will meet these ratios or satisfy our financial or other covenants or that our lenders will waive any failure to do so.

These financial and other covenants may adversely affect our ability to finance future operations or limit our ability to pursue certain business opportunities or take certain corporate actions. The covenants may also restrict our flexibility in planning for changes in our business and the industry and make us more vulnerable to economic downturns and adverse developments. A breach of any of the covenants in, or our inability to maintain the required financial ratios under the credit facilities would prevent us from borrowing additional money under our credit facilities and could result in a default under our credit facilities. If a default occurs under our credit facilities, the lenders could elect to declare the issued and outstanding debt, together with accrued interest and other fees, to be immediately due and payable and foreclose on the collateral securing that debt, which could constitute all or substantially all of our assets.

Failure to comply with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other anti-corruption laws could result in fines, criminal penalties and an adverse effect on our business.

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We may operate in a number of countries throughout the world, including countries known to have a reputation for corruption. We are committed to doing business in accordance with applicable anti-corruption laws and have adopted a code of business conduct and ethics which is consistent and in full compliance with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, or the FCPA and other anti-bribery legislation. We are subject, however, to the risk that we, our affiliated entities or our or their respective officers, directors, employees and agents may take actions determined to be in violation of such anti-corruption laws, including the FCPA. Any such violation could result in substantial fines, sanctions, civil and/or criminal penalties, curtailment of operations in certain jurisdictions, and might adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition. In addition, actual or alleged violations could damage our reputation and ability to do business. Furthermore, detecting, investigating, and resolving actual or alleged violations is expensive and can consume significant time and attention of our senior management. Though we have implemented monitoring procedures and required policies, guidelines, contractual terms and audits, these measures may not prevent or detect failures by our agents or intermediaries regarding compliance.

As an exempted company incorporated under Bermuda law, our operations are subject to economic substance requirements.

The Economic Substance Act 2018 and the Economic Substance Regulations 2018 of Bermuda (the “Economic Substance Act” and the “Economic Substance Regulations”, respectively) became operative on December 31, 2018. The Economic Substance Act applies to every registered entity in Bermuda that engages in a relevant activity and requires that every such entity shall maintain a substantial economic presence in Bermuda. Relevant activities for the purposes of the Economic Substance Act are banking business, insurance business, fund management business, financing business, leasing business, headquarters business, shipping business, distribution and service center business, intellectual property holding business and conducting business as a holding entity.

The Bermuda Economic Substance Act provides that a registered entity that carries on a relevant activity complies with economic substance requirements if (a) it is directed and managed in Bermuda, (b) its core income-generating activities (as may be prescribed) are undertaken in Bermuda with respect to the relevant activity, (c) it maintains adequate physical presence in Bermuda, (d) it has adequate full time employees in Bermuda with suitable qualifications and (e) it incurs adequate operating expenditure in Bermuda in relation to the relevant activity.

A registered entity that carries on a relevant activity is obliged under the Bermuda Economic Substance Act to file a declaration in the prescribed form (the “Declaration”) with the Registrar of Companies (the “Registrar”) on an annual basis.

If we fail to comply with our obligations under the Bermuda Economic Substance Act or any similar law applicable to us in any other jurisdictions, we could be subject to financial penalties and spontaneous disclosure of information to foreign tax officials in related jurisdictions and may be struck from the register of companies in Bermuda or such other jurisdiction. Any of these actions could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.


Risks Related to Our Company

Incurrence of expenses or liabilities may reduce or eliminate cash distributions.

In December 2015, our Board of Directors, or our Board, approved implementing a dividend policy to distribute quarterly dividends to shareholders equal to or close to earnings per share adjusted for non-recurring items. No cash dividends were declared in 2021. The amount and timing of dividends will depend on our earnings, financial condition, cash position, Bermuda law affecting the payment of distributions and other factors. However, we could incur other expenses or contingent liabilities that would reduce or eliminate the cash available for distribution by us as dividends. In addition, the timing and amount of dividends, if any, is at the discretion of our Board. We cannot guarantee that our Board will declare dividends in the future.

We may not be able to obtain financing on terms acceptable to us or at all, which may negatively impact our business.

We cannot guarantee that we will be able to obtain additional financing at all or on terms acceptable to us. If adequate funds are not available, we may have to reduce expenditures for investments in new and existing projects, which could hinder our growth, prevent us from realizing potential revenues from prior investments and have a negative impact on our cash flows and results of operations.

We may be required to record a further goodwill impairment loss, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial position.

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We are required to assess goodwill for impairment at least on an annual basis, or more frequently, if indicators are present or changes in circumstances suggest that impairment may exist. Our future operating performance may be affected by potential impairment charges related to goodwill. The process of evaluating the potential impairment of goodwill is subjective and requires significant judgment at many points during the analysis. A description of our critical accounting policies and estimates can be found in "Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects".

As of December 31, 2021, we had $112.5 million of goodwill on our balance sheet. Any goodwill impairment loss would negatively impact our results of operations and financial position.

The aging of our fleet may result in increased operating costs or loss of hire in the future, which could adversely affect our earnings.

In general, the costs to maintain a vessel in good operating condition increase with the age of the vessel. As of December 31, 2021, the average age of our tanker fleet, owned, leased or chartered-in by us, is approximately 5 years. As our fleet ages, we will incur increased costs. Older vessels are typically less fuel-efficient and more costly to maintain than more recently constructed vessels due to improvements in engine technology. Cargo insurance rates also increase with the age of a vessel, making older vessels less desirable to charterers. Governmental regulations, including environmental regulations, safety or other equipment standards related to the age of vessels may require expenditures for alterations, or the addition of new equipment, to our vessels and may restrict the type of activities in which our vessels may engage. As our vessels age, market conditions might not justify those expenditures or enable us to operate our vessels profitably during the remainder of their useful lives.

If we do not set aside funds and are unable to borrow or raise funds for vessel replacement at the end of a vessel's useful life our revenue will decline, which would adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and ability to pay dividends.

If we do not set aside funds and are unable to borrow or raise funds for vessel replacement, we will be unable to replace the vessels in our fleet upon the expiration of their remaining useful lives. Our cash flows and income are dependent on the revenues earned by the chartering of our vessels. If we are unable to replace the vessels in our fleet upon the expiration of their useful lives, our business, results of operations, financial condition and ability to pay dividends would be adversely affected. Any funds set aside for vessel replacement will not be available for cash distributions and dividends.

Hemen may be able to exercise significant influence over us and may have conflicts of interest with our other shareholders.

As of December 31, 2021, Hemen Holding Ltd, or Hemen, a Cyprus holding company, whose shares are indirectly held by two trusts settled by our Director, Mr. Fredriksen, for the benefit of his family, owns approximately 39% of our outstanding ordinary shares. Please see "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions - A. Major Shareholder." For so long as Hemen owns a significant percentage of our outstanding ordinary shares, it may be able to exercise significant influence over us and will be able to strongly influence the outcome of shareholder votes on other matters, including the adoption or amendment of provisions in our articles of incorporation or bye-laws and approval of possible mergers, amalgamations, control transactions and other significant corporate transactions. This concentration of ownership may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control, merger, amalgamations, consolidation, takeover or other business combination. This concentration of ownership could also discourage a potential acquirer from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us, which could in turn have an adverse effect on the market price of our ordinary shares. Hemen may not necessarily act in accordance with the best interests of other shareholders. The interests of Hemen may not coincide with the interests of other holders of our ordinary shares. To the extent that conflicts of interests may arise, Hemen may vote in a manner adverse to us or to you or other holders of our securities.

Certain of our directors, executive officers and major shareholders may have interests that are different from the interests of our other shareholders.

Certain of our directors, executive officers and major shareholders may have interests that are different from, or are in addition to, the interests of our other shareholders. In particular, Hemen and certain related companies whose shares are indirectly held by trusts settled by Mr. Fredriksen, our Director, for the benefit of his family beneficially own 79,321,042, or 39.0%, of our ordinary shares as of March 16, 2021.

Hemen is also a principal shareholder of a number of other large publicly traded companies involved in various sectors of the shipping and oil services industries, or the Hemen Related Companies. In addition, certain of our directors, including Mr. Lorentzon, Mr. Fredriksen, Mr. O'Shaughnessy, Mr. Svelland and Mr. Jensen, also serve on the boards of one or more of the
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Hemen Related Companies, including but not limited to, Golden Ocean Group Limited, or Golden Ocean, SFL Corporation Ltd, or SFL, Archer Limited, Avance Gas Holding Ltd. and Flex LNG Ltd. There may be real or apparent conflicts of interest with respect to matters affecting Hemen and other Hemen Related Companies whose interests in some circumstances may be adverse to our interests.

We may be unable to attract and retain key management personnel in the tanker industry, which may negatively impact the effectiveness of our management and our results of operation.

Our success depends to a significant extent upon the abilities and efforts of our senior executives and Mr. Fredriksen, for the management of our activities and strategic guidance. While we believe that we have an experienced management team, the loss or unavailability of one or more of our senior executives and Mr. Fredriksen, for any extended period of time could have an adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

If labor interruptions are not resolved in a timely manner, they could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows, financial condition and available cash.

As of December 31, 2021, we employed approximately 79 people in our offices in Bermuda, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Norway and China. We contract with independent ship managers to manage and operate our vessels, including the crewing of those vessels. If not resolved in a timely and cost-effective manner, industrial action or other labor unrest could prevent or hinder our operations from being carried out as we expect and could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows, financial condition and available cash.

We may not have adequate insurance to compensate us if our vessels are damaged or lost.

We procure insurance for our fleet against those risks that we believe the shipping industry commonly insures. These insurances include hull and machinery insurance; protection and indemnity insurance, which include environmental damage and pollution insurance coverage; freight, demurrage and defense insurance, which provides cover to shipowners and operators for legal and other costs incurred in relation to disputes that are uninsured; and war risk insurance. We can give no assurance that we will be adequately insured against all risks and we cannot guarantee that any particular claim will be paid, even if we have previously recorded a receivable or revenue in respect of such claim. Our insurance policies may contain deductibles for which we will be responsible and limitations and exclusions, which may increase our costs or lower our revenues.

We cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain adequate insurance coverage for our vessels in the future or renew such policies on the same or commercially reasonable terms, or at all. For example, more stringent environmental regulations have in the past led to increased costs for, and in the future, may result in the lack of availability of, protection and indemnity insurance against risks of environmental damage or pollution. Any uninsured or underinsured loss could harm our business, results of operations, cash flows, financial condition and ability to pay dividends. In addition, our insurance may be voidable by the insurers as a result of certain of our actions, such as our vessels failing to maintain certification with applicable maritime self-regulatory organizations. Further, we cannot assure you that our insurance policies will cover all losses that we incur, or that disputes over insurance claims will not arise with our insurance carriers. Any claims covered by insurance would be subject to deductibles, and since it is possible that a large number of claims may be brought, the aggregate amount of these deductibles could be material. In addition, our insurance policies may be subject to limitations and exclusions, which may increase our costs or lower our revenues, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows, financial condition and ability to pay dividends.

We may be subject to calls because we obtain some of our insurance through protection and indemnity associations.

We may be subject to increased premium payments, or calls, if the value of our claim records, the claim records of our fleet managers, and/or the claim records of other members of the protection and indemnity associations through which we receive insurance coverage for tort liability (including pollution-related liability) significantly exceed projected claims. In addition, our protection and indemnity associations may not have enough resources to cover claims made against them. Our payment of these calls could result in significant expense to us, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows, financial condition and ability to pay dividends.

Because our offices and most of our assets are outside the United States, you may not be able to bring suit against us, or enforce a judgment obtained against us in the United States.

Our executive offices, administrative activities and the majority of our assets are located outside the United States. In addition, our directors and officers are not residents of the United States. As a result, it may be more difficult for investors to effect
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service of process within the United States upon us, or to enforce both in the United States and outside the United States judgments against us in any action, including actions predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States.

United States tax authorities could treat the Company as a "passive foreign investment company," which could have adverse United States federal income tax consequences to United States shareholders.

A foreign corporation will be treated as a "passive foreign investment company," or PFIC, for United States federal income tax purposes if either (1) at least 75% of its gross income for any taxable year consists of certain types of "passive income" or (2) at least 50% of the average value of the corporation's assets produce or are held for the production of those types of "passive income." For purposes of these tests, "passive income" includes dividends, interest, and gains from the sale or exchange of investment property and rents and royalties other than rents and royalties which are received from unrelated parties in connection with the active conduct of a trade or business. For purposes of these tests, income derived from the performance of services does not constitute "passive income." United States shareholders of a PFIC are subject to a disadvantageous United States federal income tax regime with respect to certain distributions they receive from the PFIC and the gain, if any, they derive from the sale or other disposition of their shares in the PFIC.

Based on our current and proposed method of operation, we do not believe that we are, have been or will be a PFIC with respect to any taxable year. In this regard, we intend to treat the gross income we derive or are deemed to derive from our time chartering and voyage chartering activities as services income, rather than rental income. Accordingly, we believe that our income from these activities does not constitute "passive income," and the assets that we own and operate in connection with the production of that income do not constitute assets that produce, or are held for the production of, "passive income."

Although there is no direct legal authority under the PFIC rules addressing our method of operation there is substantial legal authority supporting our position consisting of case law and United States Internal Revenue Service, or the IRS, pronouncements concerning the characterization of income derived from time charters and voyage charters as services income for other tax purposes. However, it should be noted that there is also authority which characterizes time charter income as rental income rather than services income for other tax purposes. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the IRS or a court of law will accept our position, and there is a risk that the IRS or a court of law could determine that we are a PFIC. Moreover, no assurance can be given that we would not constitute a PFIC for any future taxable year if there were to be changes in the nature and extent of our operations.

If the IRS were to find that we are or have been a PFIC for any taxable year, our United States shareholders will face adverse United States federal income tax consequences. Under the PFIC rules, unless those shareholders make an election available under the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code (which election could itself have adverse consequences for such shareholders, as discussed below under "Taxation-United States Federal Income Tax Considerations"), such shareholders would be liable to pay United States federal income tax at the then prevailing income tax rates on ordinary income plus interest upon excess distributions and upon any gain from the disposition of our ordinary shares, as if the excess distribution or gain had been recognized ratably over the shareholder's holding period of our ordinary shares. See "Taxation-United States Federal Income Tax Considerations-Passive Foreign Investment Company Status and Significant Tax Consequences" for a more comprehensive discussion of the United States federal income tax consequences to United States shareholders if we are treated as a PFIC.

We may not qualify for an exemption under Section 883 of the Code, and may therefore have to pay tax on United States source income, which would reduce our earnings.

Under the Code, 50% of the gross shipping income of a vessel owning or chartering corporation, such as ourselves and our subsidiaries, that is attributable to transportation that begins or ends, but that does not both begin and end, in the United States, may be subject to a 4% United States federal income tax without allowance for deduction, unless that corporation qualifies for exemption from tax under Section 883 of the Code and the applicable Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.

We believe we qualify for this statutory tax exemption for the 2021 taxable year.

However, we may not qualify for exemption under Section 883 in future taxable years. There are factual circumstances beyond our control that could cause us to lose the benefit of this tax exemption and become subject to United States federal income tax on our United States source shipping income. For example, if Hemen, who we believe to be a non-qualified shareholder, were to, in combination with other non-qualified shareholders with a 5% or greater interest in our ordinary shares, come to own 50% or more of our outstanding ordinary shares for more than half the days during the taxable year, we would not qualify for
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exemption under Section 883 for such taxable year. Due to the factual nature of the issues involved, there can be no assurances on our tax-exempt status or that of any of our subsidiaries.

If we are not entitled to exemption under Section 883 of the Code for any taxable year, we could be subject during those years to an effective 2% United States federal income tax on gross shipping income derived during such a year that is attributable to the transport of cargoes to or from the United States. The imposition of this tax would have a negative effect on our business and would result in decreased earnings available for distribution to our shareholders.

Risks Related to an Investment in Our Securities

The price of our ordinary shares historically has been volatile.

The trading price and volume of our ordinary shares has been and may continue to be subject to large fluctuations. The market price and volume of our ordinary shares may increase or decrease in response to a number of events and factors, including:

investor reaction to our business strategy;
our continued compliance with the listing standards of the NYSE and the OSE;
trends in our industry and the markets in which we operate;
changes in the market price of the services we provide;
the introduction of new technologies or products by us or by our competitors;
changes in expectations as to our future financial performance, including financial estimates by securities analysts and investors;
operating results that vary from the expectations of securities analysts and investors;
announcements by us or our competitors of significant contracts, acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures, financings or capital commitments;
our ability or inability to raise additional capital and the terms on which we raise it;
regulatory or legal developments in the United States and other countries, especially changes in laws or regulations applicable to our industry;
significant changes in the performance of the stock markets in general;
sales of our ordinary shares by us or our stockholders;
general economic and competitive conditions;
changes in key management personnel; and
other events or factors, including those resulting from such events, or the prospect of such events, including war, terrorism and other international conflicts, public health issues, including health epidemics or pandemics, such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, adverse weather and climate conditions that could disrupt our operations or result in political or economic instability.

This volatility may adversely affect the prices of our ordinary shares regardless of our operating performance. To the extent that the price of our ordinary shares declines, our ability to raise funds through the issuance of equity or otherwise use our ordinary shares as consideration will be reduced. These factors may limit our ability to implement our operating and growth plans.

Future sales of our ordinary shares could have an adverse effect on our share price.

In order to finance our future operations and growth, we may have to incur substantial additional indebtedness and possibly issue additional equity securities. Future ordinary share issuances, directly or indirectly through convertible or exchangeable securities, options or warrants, will generally dilute the ownership interests of our existing ordinary shareholders, including their relative voting rights and could require substantially more cash to maintain the then existing level, if any, of our dividend payments to our ordinary shareholders, as to which no assurance can be given. Preferred shares, if issued, will generally have a preference on dividend payments, which could prohibit or otherwise reduce our ability to pay dividends to our ordinary shareholders. Our debt will be senior in all respects to our ordinary shareholders, will generally include financial and operating covenants with which we will be required to comply and will include acceleration provisions upon defaults thereunder, including our failure to make any debt service payments, and possibly under other debt. Because our decision to issue equity securities or incur debt in the future will depend on a variety of factors, including market conditions and other matters that are beyond our control, we cannot predict or estimate the timing, amount or form of our capital raising activities in the future. Such activities could, however, cause the price of our ordinary shares to decline significantly.


ITEM 4. INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY
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A.  HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMPANY

The Company
 
We are Frontline Ltd., an international shipping company incorporated in Bermuda as an exempted company under the Bermuda Companies Law of 1981 on June 12, 1992 (Company No. EC-17460). 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 at that address is +(1) 441 295 6935. Our ordinary shares are currently listed on the New York Stock Exchange, or the NYSE, and the Oslo Stock Exchange, or the OSE, under the symbol of "FRO".

We are engaged primarily in the ownership and operation of oil and product tankers. We operate through subsidiaries located in Bermuda, Liberia, the Marshall Islands, Norway, the United Kingdom and Singapore. We are also involved in the charter, purchase and sale of vessels.

The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. The address of the SEC’s internet site is www.sec.gov. The address of the Company's internet site is www.frontline.bm. The information on our website is not incorporated by reference into this annual report.

Vessel Acquisitions, Disposals, Redeliveries and Newbuilding Contracts of the Company

In January 2019, the Company took delivery of the VLCC newbuilding Front Defender.

In April 2019, the Company took delivery of the VLCC newbuilding Front Discovery.

In May 2019, the Company entered into an agreement to purchase a newbuilding contract under construction, or resale, for a Suezmax tanker at Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries, or HSHI at a cost of $65.4 million. The vessel is fitted with an Exhaust Gas Cleaning System, commonly referred to as a scrubber or EGCS, allowing the vessel to comply with the amendments to Annex VI to MARPOL regarding the sulfur emissions of vessels. See "Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Environmental and Other Regulations in the Shipping Industry” for further information on environmental regulations relevant to our business. In May 2020, the Company took delivery of Front Cruiser.
In June 2019, the Company entered into an agreement to purchase an EGCS equipped VLCC resale under construction at HSHI at a cost of $92.5 million. In June 2020, the Company took delivery of Front Dynamic.

In June 2019, the Company ordered two LR2 newbuildings from Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., or SWS, China, at a cost of $46.7 million each. One LR2 tanker was delivered in March 2021, and one was delivered in April 2021.

In August 2019, the Company entered into the Sale and Purchase Agreement, or the SPA, with Trafigura Maritime Logistics, or TML, a wholly owned subsidiary of Trafigura Group Pte Ltd, or Trafigura, to acquire 10 Suezmax tankers built in 2019 through the acquisition of a special purpose vehicle, which held the vessels, herein referred to as the Acquisition. The Acquisition consideration under the SPA consisted of (i) 16,035,856 ordinary shares of Frontline at an agreed price of $8.00 per share that were issued upon signing; and (ii) cash consideration of $538.2 million, payable upon the closing of the Acquisition, which took place on March 16, 2020. The Company agreed to time charter-in all the 10 vessels from Trafigura until closing of the Acquisition at a daily rate of approximately $23,000. In addition, the Company agreed to charter-out five of the vessels to Trafigura for a period of three years at a daily base rate of $28,400 plus 50% profit share. As part of the Acquisition, the Company had options to acquire an additional four Suezmax tankers built in 2019 through the acquisition of a second special purpose vehicle. The Company elected not to exercise the options in September 2019. See Note 5. to our consolidated financial statements for a detailed description of the accounting for this transaction.

In October 2019, the Company exercised the options for two additional LR2 newbuildings from SWS, at a cost of $46.7 million each. One LR2 tanker was delivered in September 2021, and one was delivered in November 2021.

In February 2020, the Company announced that Frontline Shipping Limited, or FSL, agreed with SFL to terminate the long-term charter for the 2002-built VLCC Front Hakata upon the sale and delivery of the vessel by SFL to an unrelated third party. Frontline received a compensation payment of approximately $3.2 million from SFL for the termination of the current charter. The Company recorded a gain on termination, including the compensation payment, of $7.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2020. The charter with SFL terminated in February 2020. Following this termination, FSL have two VLCCs on
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charter from SFL. In conjunction with the termination of the lease, the Company settled the outstanding balances due under the notes payable in relation to the termination of the leases for Front Circassia, Front Page, Front Serenade, Front Stratus and Front Ariake of approximately $20.0 million.

In April 2020, the Company sold one VLCC, which was previously recorded as an investment in finance lease and delivered the vessel to its buyers in the second quarter of 2020.

In May 2021, the Company entered into an agreement for the acquisition through resale of six latest generation ECO-type VLCC newbuilding contracts. The six VLCCs are currently under construction at the HHI shipyard in South Korea and are being acquired for an aggregate purchase price of $565.8 million. The vessels are due for delivery during 2022 starting in the first quarter.

In June 2021, the Company entered into an agreement to acquire two scrubber-fitted, latest generation ECO-type VLCCs built in 2019 at Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard in South Korea for a total of $180.0 million. The vessels were delivered during the fourth quarter of 2021.

In November 2021, Frontline announced that it has entered into an agreement whereby the Company will sell four of its scrubber-fitted LR2 tankers built in 2014 and 2015 for an aggregate sale price of $160.0 million to SFL Tanker Holding Ltd., a company related to Hemen, our largest shareholder. In December 2021, two LR2 tankers were delivered to new owners. In January 2022 the remaining two LR2 tankers were delivered to new owners.

B.  BUSINESS OVERVIEW

As of December 31, 2021, the Company’s fleet consisted of 70 vessels, with an aggregate capacity of approximately 12.7 million DWT:

(i)64 vessels owned by the Company (17 VLCCs, 27 Suezmax tankers, 20 LR2/Aframax tankers);
(ii)two VLCCs that are under finance leases; and
(iii)four vessels that are under the Company’s commercial management (two Suezmax tankers, and two Aframax tankers).

Furthermore, as of December 31, 2021, the Company’s newbuilding program consisted of six VLCCs which are expected to be
delivered during 2022, starting in the first quarter.

Our vessels operate worldwide and therefore management does not evaluate performance by geographical region as this information is not meaningful.

We own various vessel owning and operating subsidiaries. Our operations take place substantially outside of the United States. Our subsidiaries, therefore, own and operate vessels that may be affected by changes in foreign governments and other economic and political conditions. We are engaged in transporting crude oil and its related refined petroleum products and our vessels operate in the spot and time charter markets. Our VLCCs are specifically designed for the transportation of crude oil and, due to their size, are primarily used to transport crude oil from the Middle East Gulf to the Far East, Northern Europe, the Caribbean and the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port, or LOOP. Our Suezmax tankers are similarly designed for worldwide trading, but the trade for these vessels is mainly in the Atlantic Basin, Middle East and Southeast Asia. Our LR2/ Aframax tankers are designed to be flexible, able to transport primarily refined products, but also fuel and crude oil from smaller ports limited by draft restrictions. The vessels will normally trade between the larger refinery centers around the world, being the Gulf of Mexico, Middle East, Rotterdam and Singapore.

We are committed to providing quality transportation services to all of our customers and to developing and maintaining long-term relationships with the major charterers of tankers. Increasing global environmental concerns have created a demand in the petroleum products/crude oil seaborne transportation industry for vessels that are able to conform to the stringent environmental standards currently being imposed throughout the world.

The tanker industry is highly cyclical, experiencing volatility in profitability, vessel values and freight rates. Freight rates are strongly influenced by the supply of tanker vessels and the demand for oil transportation. Refer to "Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects-Overview" for a discussion of the tanker market in 2020 and 2021.

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Similar to structures commonly used by other shipping companies, our vessels are all owned by, or chartered to, separate subsidiaries or associated companies. Frontline Management AS and Frontline Management (Bermuda) Limited, both wholly owned subsidiaries, which we refer to collectively as Frontline Management, support us in the implementation of our decisions. Frontline Management is responsible for the commercial management of our ship owning subsidiaries, including chartering and insurance. Each of our vessels is registered under the Marshall Islands or Hong Kong flag.

In August 2009, the Company established SeaTeam Management Pte Ltd, or SeaTeam Management, a ship management company in Singapore. SeaTeam Management was a complement to the external ship management companies currently offering services to the Company and was not a change in the Company's outsourcing strategy. In October, 2020, the Company sold its 71.38% ownership interest in SeaTeam Management to OSM Maritime Group, or OSM. In connection with this transaction, the total consideration allocated to the Company amounted to $10.7 million, $5.4 million of which was received in October 2020 upon the completion of the sale. The outstanding amount was paid in 2021. A gain from the sale of $6.9 million was recorded in 2020.

Strategy

Our principal focus is the transportation of crude oil and related refined petroleum cargoes for major oil companies and large oil trading companies. We seek to optimize our income and adjust our exposure through actively pursuing charter opportunities whether through spot charters, time charters, bareboat charters, sale and leasebacks, straight sales and purchases of vessels, newbuilding contracts and acquisitions.
We presently operate VLCCs, Suezmax and Aframax tankers in the crude oil tanker market and LR2 tankers in the refined product market. Our preferred strategy is to have some fixed charter income coverage for our fleet, predominantly through time charters, and trade the balance of the fleet on the spot market. We focus on minimizing time spent in ballast by "cross trading" our vessels, typically with voyages loading in the Middle East Gulf discharging in Northern Europe, followed by a trans-Atlantic voyage to the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and, finally, a voyage from either the Caribbean, US Gulf or West Africa to the Far East/Indian Ocean. We believe that operating a certain number of vessels in the spot market, enables us to capitalize on a potentially stronger spot market as well as to serve our main customers on a regular non term basis. We believe that the size of our fleet is important in negotiating terms with our major clients and charterers. We also believe that our large fleet enhances our ability to obtain competitive terms from suppliers, ship repairers and builders and to produce cost savings in chartering and operations.
Our business strategy is primarily based upon the following principles:
emphasizing operational safety and quality maintenance for all of our vessels and crews;
ensuring that the work environment on board and ashore always meet the highest standards complying with all safety and health regulations, labor conditions and respecting human rights;
complying with all current and proposed environmental regulations;
outsourcing technical management and crewing;
continuing to achieve competitive operational costs;
achieving high utilization of our vessels;
achieving competitive financing arrangements;
achieving a satisfactory mix of term charters, contracts of affreightment, or COAs, and spot voyages; and
developing and maintaining relationships with major oil companies and industrial charterers.

We continue to have a strategy of outsourcing, which includes the outsourcing of management, crewing and accounting services to a number of independent and competing suppliers. The technical management of our vessels is provided by independent ship management companies. Pursuant to management agreements, each of the independent ship management companies provides ship maintenance, crewing, technical support, shipyard supervision and related services to us. A central part of our strategy is to benchmark operational performance and cost level amongst our ship managers. Currently, our vessels are crewed with Russian, Ukrainian, Croatian, Romanian, Indian and Filipino officers and crews, or combinations of these nationalities.

Environmental, Social & Governance

Frontline relies on the SASB framework for our sector to ensure the proper monitoring of material ESG issues. To aid us in prioritizing our sustainability efforts, we conducted a materiality analysis in 2020. For more information with respect to how the materiality analysis was conducted, please see our 2020 Environmental Social Governance Report, which may be found on our
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website at https://www.frontline.bm/about-frontline-ltd/environmental-social-governance-esg/. The information on our website is not incorporated by reference into this annual report.

Identifying and addressing ESG risks and opportunities is at the core of Frontline’s business strategy, which in turn, guides our daily operations.

Frontline continues to invest in the expansion and modernization of our fleet as demonstrated by the delivery of four LR2 tanker newbuildings and two latest generation ECO-type VLCCs in 2021, and the upcoming delivery of six VLCCs newbuildings in 2022. Our long-term focus on maintaining a modern, energy efficient fleet has positioned us well to mitigate the risks and capitalize on the opportunities provided by the ever-increasing environmental laws and regulations. As part of our energy efficiency project, “Decarbonization journey towards IMO 2030-2050”, we have fully digitalized our ship performance data into our digital monitoring platform, Veracity. Closely monitoring, managing, and reporting ESG related key performance indicators, or KPIs, including energy efficiency and health and safety metrics, is part of our daily operations. Based on our 2021 emissions data verified by DNV, our owned fleet would achieve an overall weighted average carbon intensity rating of ‘A’ (major superior performance level) under the ship rating system adopted by the IMO, outperforming the IMO’s and the Poseidon Principles’ decarbonization trajectories.

Our number one priority is the health and safety of our people, including the thousands of seafarers employed by the ship management companies we partner with. Safety first, no compromises. The COVID-19 pandemic has placed great demands on our people, none more so than our ship crew members, and we are extremely grateful for their hard work and dedication during this challenging time. Our seafarers have endured quarantine and extensive test-regimes to safeguard people and society. To address some of these challenges we have supported our ship managers with the implementation of well-being initiatives and have ensured that all seafarers have access to mental health support, rolling out a digital platform that gives seafarers access to a doctor, psychologist, and dietician at their discretion.

Frontline has a comprehensive compliance program led by our dedicated Compliance Officer which ensures we conduct our business in an honest and ethical manner. This includes robust policies and procedures, mitigating the risks of our industry and operations, annual risk assessments by external advisors, training for all employees, management and the Board of Directors, third party audits, internal systems and controls, remediation, and investigations, as well as quarterly reporting to the Audit Committee. As a result, Frontline can monitor and comprehend emerging challenges arising not only from laws, regulations, and public authorities, but also from the expectations of our key stakeholders, such as investors, banks and customers.

Seasonality

Historically, oil trade and, therefore, charter rates increased in the winter months and eased in the summer months as demand for oil and oil products in the Northern Hemisphere rose in colder weather and fell in warmer weather. The tanker industry, in general, has become less dependent on the seasonal transport of heating oil than a decade ago as new uses for oil and oil products have developed, spreading consumption more evenly over the year. This is most apparent from the higher seasonal demand during the summer months due to energy requirements for air conditioning and motor vehicles.

Customers

No single customer in the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, accounted for 10% or more of the Company's consolidated revenues.

Competition

The market for international seaborne crude and oil products transportation services is highly fragmented and competitive. Seaborne oil transportation services are generally provided by two main types of operators: major oil company captive fleets (both private and state-owned) and independent ship-owner fleets. In addition, several owners and operators pool their vessels together on an ongoing basis, and such pools are available to customers to the same extent as independently owned-and-operated fleets. Many major oil companies and other oil trading companies, the primary charterers of the vessels owned or controlled by us, also operate their own vessels and use such vessels not only to transport their own crude oil but also to transport crude oil for third party charterers in direct competition with independent owners and operators in the tanker charter market. Competition for charters is intense and is based upon price, location, size, age, condition and acceptability of the vessel and its manager. Competition is also affected by the availability of other size vessels to compete in the trades in which the Company engages. Charters are, to a large extent, brokered through international independent brokerage houses that specialize in finding the optimal ship for any particular cargo based on the aforementioned criteria. Brokers may be appointed by the cargo shipper or the ship owner.
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Environmental and Other Regulations in the Shipping Industry

Government regulation and laws significantly affect the ownership and operation of our fleet. We are subject to international conventions and treaties, national, state and local laws and regulations in force in the countries in which our vessels may operate or are registered relating to safety and health and environmental protection including the storage, handling, emission, transportation and discharge of hazardous and non-hazardous materials, and the remediation of contamination and liability for damage to natural resources. Compliance with such laws, regulations and other requirements entails significant expense, including vessel modifications and implementation of certain operating procedures.

A variety of government and private entities subject our vessels to both scheduled and unscheduled inspections. These entities include the local port authorities (applicable national authorities such as the United States Coast Guard, or USCG, harbor master or equivalent), classification societies, flag state administrations (countries of registry) and charterers, particularly terminal operators. Certain of these entities require us to obtain permits, licenses, certificates and other authorizations for the operation of our vessels. Failure to maintain necessary permits or approvals could require us to incur substantial costs or result in the temporary suspension of the operation of one or more of our vessels.

Increasing environmental concerns have created a demand for vessels that conform to stricter environmental standards. We are required to maintain operating standards for all of our vessels that emphasize operational safety, quality maintenance, continuous training of our officers and crews and compliance with United States and international regulations. We believe that the operation of our vessels is in substantial compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations and that our vessels have all material permits, licenses, certificates or other authorizations necessary for the conduct of our operations. However, because such laws and regulations frequently change and may impose increasingly stricter requirements, we cannot predict the ultimate cost of complying with these requirements or the impact of these requirements on the resale value or useful lives of our vessels. In addition, a future serious marine incident that causes significant adverse environmental impact could result in additional legislation or regulation that could negatively affect our profitability.

The International Maritime Organization, or IMO, which is the United Nations' agency for maritime safety and the prevention of pollution by vessels, has adopted the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto, collectively referred to as MARPOL 73/78 and herein as “MARPOL,” the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea of 1974, or SOLAS Convention, and the International Convention on Load Lines of 1966, or LL Convention. MARPOL establishes environmental standards relating to oil leakage or spilling, garbage management, sewage, air emissions, handling and disposal of noxious liquids and the handling of harmful substances in packaged forms. MARPOL is applicable to drybulk, tanker and LNG carriers, among other vessels, and is broken into six Annexes, each of which regulates a different source of pollution. Annex I relates to oil leakage or spilling; Annexes II and III relate to harmful substances carried in bulk in liquid or in packaged form, respectively; Annexes IV and V relate to sewage and garbage management, respectively; and Annex VI, lastly, relates to air emissions. Annex VI was separately adopted by the IMO in September of 1997; new emissions standards, titled IMO-2020, took effect on January 1, 2020.

In 2013, the IMO’s Marine Environmental Protection Committee, or the MEPC, adopted a resolution amending MARPOL Annex I Condition Assessment Scheme, or CAS. These amendments became effective on October 1, 2014, and require compliance with the 2011 International Code on the Enhanced Programme of Inspections during Surveys of Bulk Carriers and Oil Tankers, or “ESP Code,” which provides for enhanced inspection programs. We may need to make certain financial expenditures to comply with these amendments.

Air Emissions

In September of 1997, the IMO adopted Annex VI to MARPOL to address air pollution from vessels. Effective May 2005, Annex VI sets limits on sulfur oxide and nitrogen oxide emissions from all commercial vessel exhausts and prohibits “deliberate emissions” of ozone depleting substances (such as halons and chlorofluorocarbons), emissions of volatile compounds from cargo tanks, and the shipboard incineration of specific substances. Annex VI also includes a global cap on the sulfur content of fuel oil and allows for special areas to be established with more stringent controls on sulfur emissions, as explained below. Emissions of “volatile organic compounds” from certain vessels, and the shipboard incineration (from incinerators installed after January 1, 2000) of certain substances (such as polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs) are also prohibited. We believe that all our vessels are currently compliant in all material respects with these regulations.

The MEPC adopted amendments to Annex VI regarding emissions of sulfur oxide, nitrogen oxide, particulate matter and ozone depleting substances, which entered into force on July 1, 2010. The amended Annex VI seeks to further reduce air pollution by, among other things, implementing a progressive reduction of the amount of sulfur contained in any fuel oil used on board ships.
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On October 27, 2016, at its 70th session, the MEPC agreed to implement a global 0.5% m/m sulfur oxide emissions limit (reduced from 3.50%) starting from January 1, 2020. This limitation can be met by using low-sulfur compliant fuel oil, alternative fuels, or certain exhaust gas cleaning systems. Ships are now required to obtain bunker delivery notes and International Air Pollution Prevention, or IAPP Certificates from their flag states that specify sulfur content. Additionally, at MEPC 73, amendments to Annex VI to prohibit the carriage of bunkers above 0.5% sulfur on ships, with the exception of vessels fitted with exhaust gas cleaning equipment (“scrubbers”) which can carry fuel of higher sulfur content, were adopted and took effect March 1, 2020. These regulations subject ocean-going vessels to stringent emissions controls, and may cause us to incur substantial costs.

Sulfur content standards are even stricter within certain “Emission Control Areas,” or ECAs. As of January 1, 2015, ships operating within an ECA were not permitted to use fuel with sulfur content in excess of 0.1% m/m. Amended Annex VI establishes procedures for designating new ECAs. Currently, the IMO has designated four ECAs, including specified portions of the Baltic Sea area, North Sea area, North American area and United States Caribbean area. Ocean-going vessels in these areas will be subject to stringent emission controls and may cause us to incur additional costs. Other areas in China are subject to local regulations that impose stricter emission controls. In December 2021, the member states of the Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea Against Pollution (“Barcelona Convention”) agreed to support the designation of a new ECA in the Mediterranean. The group plans to submit a formal proposal to the IMO by the end of 2022 with the goal of having the ECA implemented by 2025. If other ECAs are approved by the IMO, or other new or more stringent requirements relating to emissions from marine diesel engines or port operations by vessels are adopted by the EPA, or the states where we operate, compliance with these regulations could entail significant capital expenditures or otherwise increase the costs of our operations.

Amended Annex VI also establishes new tiers of stringent nitrogen oxide emissions standards for marine diesel engines, depending on their date of installation. At the MEPC meeting held from March to April 2014, amendments to Annex VI were adopted which address the date on which Tier III Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) standards in ECAs will go into effect. Under the amendments, Tier III NOx standards apply to ships that operate in the North American and U.S. Caribbean Sea ECAs designed for the control of NOx produced by vessels with a marine diesel engine installed and constructed on or after January 1, 2016. Tier III requirements could apply to areas that will be designated for Tier III NOx in the future. At MEPC 70 and MEPC 71, the MEPC approved the North Sea and Baltic Sea as ECAs for nitrogen oxide for ships built on or after January 1, 2021. The EPA promulgated equivalent (and in some senses stricter) emissions standards in 2010. As a result of these designations or similar future designations, we may be required to incur additional operating or other costs.

As determined at the MEPC 70, the new Regulation 22A of MARPOL Annex VI became effective as of March 1, 2018 and requires ships above 5,000 gross tonnage to collect and report annual data on fuel oil consumption to an IMO database, with the first year of data collection having commenced on January 1, 2019. The IMO intends to use such data as the first step in its roadmap (through 2023) for developing its strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ships, as discussed further below.

As of January 1, 2013, MARPOL made mandatory certain measures relating to energy efficiency for ships. All ships are now required to develop and implement Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plans, or SEEMP, and new ships must be designed in compliance with minimum energy efficiency levels per capacity mile as defined by the Energy Efficiency Design Index, or EEDI. Under these measures, by 2025, all new ships built will be 30% more energy efficient than those built in 2014. MEPC 75 adopted amendments to MARPOL Annex VI which brings forward the effective date of the EEDI’s “phase 3” requirements from January 1, 2025 to April 1, 2022 for several ship types, including gas carriers, general cargo ships, LNG carriers and oil tankers.

Additionally, MEPC 75 introduced draft amendments to Annex VI which impose new regulations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ships. These amendments introduce requirements to assess and measure the energy efficiency of all ships and set the required attainment values, with the goal of reducing the carbon intensity of international shipping. The requirements include (1) a technical requirement to reduce carbon intensity based on a new Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (“EEXI”), and (2) operational carbon intensity reduction requirements, based on a new operational carbon intensity indicator (“CII”). The attained EEXI is required to be calculated for ships of 400 gross tonnage and above, in accordance with different values set for ship types and categories. With respect to the CII, the draft amendments would require ships of 5,000 gross tonnage to document and verify their actual annual operational CII achieved against a determined required annual operational CII. Additionally, MEPC 75 proposed draft amendments requiring that, on or before January 1, 2023, all ships above 400 gross tonnage must have an approved SEEMP on board. For ships above 5,000 gross tonnage, the SEEMP would need to include certain mandatory content. MEPC 75 also approved draft amendments to MARPOL Annex I to prohibit the use and carriage for use as fuel of heavy fuel oil (“HFO”) by ships in Arctic waters on and after July 1, 2024. The draft amendments introduced at MEPC 75 were adopted at the MEPC 76 session on June 2021 and are expected to enter into force on November 1, 2022, with the requirements for EEXI and CII certification coming into effect from January 1, 2023. Any vessels that will not meet this new EEXI requirement will need to adopt energy-saving/emission reducing technology, through retrofits, to reach
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compliant levels. This creates a vast array of implications for the tanker industry going forward. Recycling of older ships could accelerate as the investments to comply with regulations are not feasible. One of the most efficient ways of reducing emissions is reducing power, this would in turn limit vessel speed and with that supply.

MEPC 77 adopted a non-binding resolution which urges Member States and ship operators to voluntarily use distillate or other
cleaner alternative fuels or methods of propulsion that are safe for ships and could contribute to the reduction of Black Carbon
emissions from ships when operating in or near the Arctic.

We have incurred increased costs to comply with these revised standards. Additional or new conventions, laws and regulations may be adopted that could require the installation of expensive emission control systems and could adversely affect our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

Safety Management System Requirements

The SOLAS Convention was amended to address the safe manning of vessels and emergency training drills. The Convention of Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims, or LLMC, sets limitations of liability for a loss of life or personal injury claim or a property claim against ship owners. We believe that our vessels are in substantial compliance with SOLAS and LLMC standards.

Under Chapter IX of the SOLAS Convention or the ISM Code, our operations are also subject to environmental standards and requirements. The ISM Code requires the party with operational control of a vessel to develop an extensive safety management system that includes, among other things, the adoption of a safety and environmental protection policy setting forth instructions and procedures for operating its vessels safely and describing procedures for responding to emergencies. We rely upon the safety management system that we and our technical managers have developed for compliance with the ISM Code. The failure of a vessel owner or bareboat charterer to comply with the ISM Code may subject such party to increased liability, may decrease available insurance coverage for the affected vessels and may result in a denial of access to, or detention in, certain ports.

The ISM Code requires that vessel operators obtain a safety management certificate for each vessel they operate. This certificate evidences compliance by a vessel’s management with the ISM Code requirements for a safety management system. No vessel can obtain a safety management certificate unless its manager has been awarded a document of compliance, issued by each flag state, under the ISM Code. Our managers have obtained applicable documents of compliance for their offices and safety management certificates for all of our vessels for which the certificates are required by the IMO. The document of compliance and safety management certificate are renewed as required.

Regulation II-1/3-10 of the SOLAS Convention governs ship construction and stipulates that ships over 150 meters in length must have adequate strength, integrity and stability to minimize risk of loss or pollution. Goal-based standards amendments in SOLAS regulation II-1/3-10 entered into force in 2012, with July 1, 2016 set for application to new oil tankers and bulk carriers. The SOLAS Convention regulation II-1/3-10 on goal-based ship construction standards for bulk carriers and oil tankers, which entered into force on January 1, 2012, requires that all oil tankers and bulk carriers of 150 meters in length and above, for which the building contract is placed on or after July 1, 2016, satisfy applicable structural requirements conforming to the functional requirements of the International Goal-based Ship Construction Standards for Bulk Carriers and Oil Tankers (GBS Standards).

Amendments to the SOLAS Convention Chapter VII apply to vessels transporting dangerous goods and require those vessels be in compliance with the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code, or IMDG Code. Effective January 1, 2018, the IMDG Code includes (1) updates to the provisions for radioactive material, reflecting the latest provisions from the International Atomic Energy Agency, (2) new marking, packing and classification requirements for dangerous goods, and (3) new mandatory training requirements. Amendments which took effect on January 1, 2020 also reflect the latest material from the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, including (1) new provisions regarding IMO type 9 tank, (2) new abbreviations for segregation groups, and (3) special provisions for carriage of lithium batteries and of vehicles powered by flammable liquid or gas. The upcoming amendments, which will come into force on June 1, 2022, include (1) addition of a definition of dosage rate, (2) additions to the list of high consequence dangerous goods, (3) new provisions for medical/clinical waste, (4) addition of various ISO standards for gas cylinders, (5) a new handling code, and (6) changes to stowage and segregation provisions.

The IMO has also adopted the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, or SCTW. As of February 2017, all seafarers are required to meet the STCW standards and be in possession of a
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valid STCW certificate. Flag states that have ratified SOLAS and STCW generally employ the classification societies, which have incorporated SOLAS and STCW requirements into their class rules, to undertake surveys to confirm compliance.

The IMO's Maritime Safety Committee and MEPC, respectively, each adopted relevant parts of the International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Water (the “Polar Code”). The Polar Code, which entered into force on January 1, 2017, covers design, construction, equipment, operational, training, search and rescue as well as environmental protection matters relevant to ships operating in the waters surrounding the two poles. It also includes mandatory measures regarding safety and pollution prevention as well as recommendatory provisions. The Polar Code applies to new ships constructed after January 1, 2017, and after January 1, 2018, ships constructed before January 1, 2017 are required to meet the relevant requirements by the earlier of their first intermediate or renewal survey.

Furthermore, recent action by the IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee and United States agencies indicates that cybersecurity regulations for the maritime industry are likely to be further developed in the near future in an attempt to combat cybersecurity threats. By IMO resolution, administrations are encouraged to ensure that cyber-risk management systems are incorporated by ship-owners and managers by their first annual Document of Compliance audit after January 1, 2021. In February 2021, the U.S. Coast Guard published guidance on addressing cyber risks in a vessel's safety management system. This might cause companies to create additional procedures for monitoring cybersecurity, which could require additional expenses and/or capital expenditures. The impact of future regulations is hard to predict at this time.

Pollution Control and Liability Requirements

The IMO has negotiated international conventions that impose liability for pollution in international waters and the territorial waters of the signatories to such conventions. For example, the IMO adopted an International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments (the “BWM Convention”) in 2004. The BWM Convention entered into force on September 8, 2017. The BWM Convention requires ships to manage their ballast water to remove, render harmless, or avoid the uptake or discharge of new or invasive aquatic organisms and pathogens within ballast water and sediments. The BWM Convention’s implementing regulations call for a phased introduction of mandatory ballast water exchange requirements, to be replaced in time with mandatory concentration limits, and require all ships to carry a ballast water record book and an international ballast water management certificate.

On December 4, 2013, the IMO Assembly passed a resolution revising the application dates of the BWM Convention so that the dates are triggered by the entry into force date and not the dates originally in the BWM Convention. This, in effect, makes all vessels delivered before the entry into force date “existing vessels” and allows for the installation of ballast water management systems on such vessels at the first IOPP renewal survey following entry into force of the convention. The MEPC adopted updated guidelines for approval of ballast water management systems (G8) at MEPC 70. At MEPC 71, the schedule regarding the BWM Convention’s implementation dates was also discussed and amendments were introduced to extend the date existing vessels are subject to certain ballast water standards. Those changes were adopted at MEPC 72. Ships over 400 gross tons generally must comply with a “D-1 standard,” requiring the exchange of ballast water only in open seas and away from coastal waters. The “D-2 standard” specifies the maximum amount of viable organisms allowed to be discharged, and compliance dates vary depending on the IOPP renewal dates. Depending on the date of the IOPP renewal survey, existing vessels must comply with the D-2 standard on or after September 8, 2019. For most ships, compliance with the D-2 standard will involve installing on-board systems to treat ballast water and eliminate unwanted organisms. Ballast water management systems, which include systems that make use of chemical, biocides, organisms or biological mechanisms, or which alter the chemical or physical characteristics of the ballast water, must be approved in accordance with IMO Guidelines (Regulation D-3). As of October 13, 2019, MEPC 72’s amendments to the BWM Convention took effect, making the Code for Approval of Ballast Water Management Systems, which governs assessment of ballast water management systems, mandatory rather than permissive, and formalized an implementation schedule for the D-2 standard. Under these amendments, all ships must meet the D-2 standard by September 8, 2024. Costs of compliance with these regulations may be substantial. Additionally, in November 2020, MEPC 75 adopted amendments to the BWM Convention which would require a commissioning test of the ballast water management system for the initial survey or when performing an additional survey for retrofits. This analysis will not apply to ships that already have an installed BWM system certified under the BWM Convention. These amendments are expected to enter into force on June 1, 2022.

Once mid-ocean ballast exchange and ballast water treatment requirements become mandatory under the BWM Convention, the cost of compliance could increase for ocean carriers and may have a material effect on our operations. However, many countries already regulate the discharge of ballast water carried by vessels from country to country to prevent the introduction of invasive and harmful species via such discharges. The U.S., for example, requires vessels entering its waters from another country to conduct mid-ocean ballast exchange, or undertake some alternate measure, and to comply with certain reporting requirements.
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The IMO adopted the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage of 1969, as amended by different Protocols in 1976, 1984, and 1992, and amended in 2000, or the CLC. Under the CLC and depending on whether the country in which the damage results is a party to the 1992 Protocol to the CLC, a vessel’s registered owner may be strictly liable for pollution damage caused in the territorial waters of a contracting state by discharge of persistent oil, subject to certain exceptions. The 1992 Protocol changed certain limits on liability expressed using the International Monetary Fund currency unit, the Special Drawing Rights. The limits on liability have since been amended so that the compensation limits on liability were raised. The right to limit liability is forfeited under the CLC where the spill is caused by the shipowner’s actual fault and under the 1992 Protocol where the spill is caused by the shipowner’s intentional or reckless act or omission where the shipowner knew pollution damage would probably result. The CLC requires ships over 2,000 tons covered by it to maintain insurance covering the liability of the owner in a sum equivalent to an owner’s liability for a single incident. We have protection and indemnity insurance for environmental incidents. P&I Clubs in the International Group issue the required Bunkers Convention “Blue Cards” to enable signatory states to issue certificates. All of our vessels are in possession of a CLC State issued certificate attesting that the required insurance coverage is in force.

The IMO also adopted the International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage (the “Bunker Convention”) to impose strict liability on ship owners (including the registered owner, bareboat charterer, manager or operator) for pollution damage in jurisdictional waters of ratifying states caused by discharges of bunker fuel. The Bunker Convention requires registered owners of ships over 1,000 gross tons to maintain insurance for pollution damage in an amount equal to the limits of liability under the applicable national or international limitation regime (but not exceeding the amount calculated in accordance with the LLMC). With respect to non-ratifying states, liability for spills or releases of oil carried as fuel in ship’s bunkers typically is determined by the national or other domestic laws in the jurisdiction where the events or damages occur.

Ships are required to maintain a certificate attesting that they maintain adequate insurance to cover an incident. In jurisdictions, such as the United States where the CLC or the Bunker Convention has not been adopted, various legislative schemes or common law govern, and liability is imposed either on the basis of fault or on a strict-liability basis.

AntiFouling Requirements

In 2001, the IMO adopted the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti‑fouling Systems on Ships, or the “Anti‑fouling Convention.” The Anti‑fouling Convention, which entered into force on September 17, 2008, prohibits the use of organotin compound coatings to prevent the attachment of mollusks and other sea life to the hulls of vessels. Vessels of over 400 gross tons engaged in international voyages will also be required to undergo an initial survey before the vessel is put into service or before an International Anti‑fouling System Certificate is issued for the first time; and subsequent surveys when the anti‑fouling systems are altered or replaced. We have obtained Anti‑fouling System Certificates for all of our vessels that are subject to the Anti‑fouling Convention.

In November 2020, MEPC 75 approved draft amendments to the Anti-fouling Convention to prohibit anti-fouling systems containing cybutryne, which would apply to ships from January 1, 2023, or, for ships already bearing such an anti-fouling system, at the next scheduled renewal of the system after that date, but no later than 60 months following the last application to the ship of such a system. In addition, the IAFS Certificate has been updated to address compliance options for anti-fouling systems to address cybutryne. Ships which are affected by this ban on cybutryne must receive an updated IAFS Certificate no later than two years after the entry into force of these amendments. Ships which are not affected (i.e. with anti-fouling systems which do not contain cybutryne) must receive an updated IAFS Certificate at the next Anti-fouling application to the vessel. These amendments were formally adopted at MEPC 76 in June 2021.

We have obtained Anti‑fouling System Certificates for all of our vessels that are subject to the Anti‑fouling Convention.

Compliance Enforcement

Noncompliance with the ISM Code or other IMO regulations may subject the ship owner or bareboat charterer to increased liability, may lead to decreases in available insurance coverage for affected vessels and may result in the denial of access to, or detention in, some ports. The USCG and European Union authorities have indicated that vessels not in compliance with the ISM Code by applicable deadlines will be prohibited from trading in U.S. and European Union ports, respectively. As of the date of this report, each of our vessels is ISM Code certified. However, there can be no assurance that such certificates will be maintained in the future. The IMO continues to review and introduce new regulations. It is impossible to predict what additional regulations, if any, may be passed by the IMO and what effect, if any, such regulations might have on our operations.

United States Regulations
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The U.S. Oil Pollution Act of 1990 and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act

The U.S. Oil Pollution Act of 1990, or the OPA, established an extensive regulatory and liability regime for the protection and cleanup of the environment from oil spills. OPA affects all “owners and operators” whose vessels trade or operate within the U.S., its territories and possessions or whose vessels operate in U.S. waters, which includes the U.S.’s territorial sea and its 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone around the U.S. The U.S. has also enacted the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, or CERCLA, which applies to the discharge of hazardous substances other than oil, except in limited circumstances, whether on land or at sea. OPA and CERCLA both define “owner and operator” in the case of a vessel as any person owning, operating or chartering by demise, the vessel. Both OPA and CERCLA impact our operations.

Under OPA, vessel owners and operators are “responsible parties” and are jointly, severally and strictly liable (unless the spill results solely from the act or omission of a third party, an act of God or an act of war) for all containment and clean-up costs and other damages arising from discharges or threatened discharges of oil from their vessels, including bunkers (fuel). OPA defines these other damages broadly to include:

(i) injury to, destruction or loss of, or loss of use of, natural resources and related assessment costs;
(ii) injury to, or economic losses resulting from, the destruction of real and personal property;
(iv) loss of subsistence use of natural resources that are injured, destroyed or lost;
(iii)     net loss of taxes, royalties, rents, fees or net profit revenues resulting from injury, destruction or loss of real or personal property, or natural resources;
(iv) lost profits or impairment of earning capacity due to injury, destruction or loss of real or personal property or natural resources; and
(v) net cost of increased or additional public services necessitated by removal activities following a discharge of oil, such as protection from fire, safety or health hazards, and loss of subsistence use of natural resources.

OPA contains statutory caps on liability and damages; such caps do not apply to direct cleanup costs. Effective November 12, 2019, the USCG adjusted the limits of OPA liability for a tank vessel, other than a single-hull tank vessel, over 3,000 gross tons liability to the greater of $2,300 per gross ton or $19,943,400 (subject to periodic adjustment for inflation). These limits of liability do not apply if an incident was proximately caused by the violation of an applicable U.S. federal safety, construction or operating regulation by a responsible party (or its agent, employee or a person acting pursuant to a contractual relationship), or a responsible party's gross negligence or willful misconduct. The limitation on liability similarly does not apply if the responsible party fails or refuses to (i) report the incident as required by law where the responsible party knows or has reason to know of the incident; (ii) reasonably cooperate and assist as requested in connection with oil removal activities; or (iii) without sufficient cause, comply with an order issued under the Federal Water Pollution Act (Section 311 (c), (e)) or the Intervention on the High Seas Act.

CERCLA contains a similar liability regime whereby owners and operators of vessels are liable for cleanup, removal and remedial costs, as well as damages for injury to, or destruction or loss of, natural resources, including the reasonable costs associated with assessing the same, and health assessments or health effects studies. There is no liability if the discharge of a hazardous substance results solely from the act or omission of a third party, an act of God or an act of war. Liability under CERCLA is limited to the greater of $300 per gross ton or $5.0 million for vessels carrying a hazardous substance as cargo and the greater of $300 per gross ton or $500,000 for any other vessel. These limits do not apply (rendering the responsible person liable for the total cost of response and damages) if the release or threat of release of a hazardous substance resulted from willful misconduct or negligence, or the primary cause of the release was a violation of applicable safety, construction or operating standards or regulations. The limitation on liability also does not apply if the responsible person fails or refused to provide all reasonable cooperation and assistance as requested in connection with response activities where the vessel is subject to OPA.

OPA and CERCLA each preserve the right to recover damages under existing law, including maritime tort law. OPA and CERCLA both require owners and operators of vessels to establish and maintain with the USCG evidence of financial responsibility sufficient to meet the maximum amount of liability to which the particular responsible person may be subject. Vessel owners and operators may satisfy their financial responsibility obligations by providing a proof of insurance, a surety bond, qualification as a self-insurer or a guarantee. We comply and plan to comply going forward with the USCG’s financial responsibility regulations by providing applicable certificates of financial responsibility.

The 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico resulted in additional regulatory initiatives or statutes, including higher liability caps under OPA, new regulations regarding offshore oil and gas drilling, and a pilot inspection program for offshore facilities. However, several of these initiatives and regulations have been or may be revised. For example, the U.S.
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Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement’s, or BSEE, revised Production Safety Systems Rule, or PSSR, effective December 27, 2018, modified and relaxed certain environmental and safety protections under the 2016 PSSR. Additionally, the BSEE amended the Well Control Rule, effective July 15, 2019, which rolled back certain reforms regarding the safety of drilling operations, and the former U.S. President Trump had proposed leasing new sections of U.S. waters to oil and gas companies for offshore drilling. In January 2021, U.S. President Biden signed an executive order temporarily blocking new leases for oil and gas drilling in federal waters. However, attorney generals from 13 states filed suit in March 2021 to lift the executive order, and in June 2021, a federal judge in Louisiana granted a preliminary injunction against the Biden administration, stating that the power to pause offshore oil and gas leases “lies solely with Congress.” With these rapid changes, compliance with any new requirements of OPA and future legislation or regulations applicable to the operation of our vessels could impact the cost of our operations and adversely affect our business.

OPA specifically permits individual states to impose their own liability regimes with regard to oil pollution incidents occurring within their boundaries, provided they accept, at a minimum, the levels of liability established under OPA and some states have enacted legislation providing for unlimited liability for oil spills. Many U.S. states that border a navigable waterway have enacted environmental pollution laws that impose strict liability on a person for removal costs and damages resulting from a discharge of oil or a release of a hazardous substance. These laws may be more stringent than U.S. federal law. Moreover, some states have enacted legislation providing for unlimited liability for discharge of pollutants within their waters, although in some cases, states which have enacted this type of legislation have not yet issued implementing regulations defining tanker owners’ responsibilities under these laws. The Company intends to comply with all applicable state regulations in the ports where the Company’s vessels call.

We currently maintain pollution liability coverage insurance in the amount of $1.0 billion per incident for each of our vessels. If the damages from a catastrophic spill were to exceed our insurance coverage, it could have an adverse effect on our business and results of operation.

Other United States Environmental Initiatives

The U.S. Clean Air Act of 1970 (including its amendments of 1977 and 1990), or CAA requires the EPA to promulgate standards applicable to emissions of volatile organic compounds and other air contaminants. Our vessels are subject to vapor control and recovery requirements for certain cargoes when loading, unloading, ballasting, cleaning and conducting other operations in regulated port areas. The CAA also requires states to draft State Implementation Plans, or SIPs, designed to attain national health-based air quality standards in each state. Although state-specific, SIPs may include regulations concerning emissions resulting from vessel loading and unloading operations by requiring the installation of vapor control equipment. Our vessels operating in such regulated port areas with restricted cargoes are equipped with vapor recovery systems that satisfy these existing requirements.

The U.S. Clean Water Act, or CWA, prohibits the discharge of oil, hazardous substances and ballast water in U.S. navigable waters unless authorized by a duly issued permit or exemption, and imposes strict liability in the form of penalties for any unauthorized discharges. The CWA also imposes substantial liability for the costs of removal, remediation and damages and complements the remedies available under OPA and CERCLA. In 2015, the EPA expanded the definition of “waters of the United States”, or WOTUS, thereby expanding federal authority under the CWA. Following litigation on the revised WOTUS rule, in December 2018, the EPA and Department of the Army proposed a revised, limited definition of WOTUS. In 2019 and 2020, the agencies repealed the prior WOTUS Rule and promulgated the Navigable Waters Protection Rule (“NWPR”) which significantly reduced the scope and oversight of EPA and the Department of the Army in traditionally non-navigable waterways. On August 30, 2021, a federal district court in Arizona vacated the NWPR and directed the agencies to replace the rule. On December 7, 2021, the EPA and the Department of the Army proposed a rule that would reinstate the pre-2015 definition, which was subject to public comment until February 7, 2022. On January 24, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court granted certiorari for Sackett v. EPA, which will address the scope of WOTUS and may resolve this issue

The EPA and the USCG have also enacted rules relating to ballast water discharge, compliance with which requires the installation of equipment on our vessels to treat ballast water before it is discharged or the implementation of other port facility disposal arrangements or procedures at potentially substantial costs, and/or otherwise restrict our vessels from entering U.S. Waters. The EPA will regulate these ballast water discharges and other discharges incidental to the normal operation of certain vessels within United States waters pursuant to the VIDA, which was signed into law on December 4, 2018 and replaces the 2013 VGP program (which authorizes discharges incidental to operations of commercial vessels and contains numeric ballast water discharge limits for most vessels to reduce the risk of invasive species in U.S. waters, stringent requirements for exhaust gas scrubbers, and requirements for the use of environmentally acceptable lubricants) and current Coast Guard ballast water management regulations adopted under NISA, such as mid-ocean ballast exchange programs and installation of approved USCG technology for all vessels equipped with ballast water tanks bound for U.S. ports or entering U.S. waters. VIDA
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establishes a new framework for the regulation of vessel incidental discharges under Clean Water Act (CWA), requires the EPA to develop performance standards for those discharges within two years of enactment, and requires the U.S. Coast Guard to develop implementation, compliance, and enforcement regulations within two years of EPA’s promulgation of standards. Under VIDA, all provisions of the 2013 VGP and USCG regulations regarding ballast water treatment remain in force and effect until the EPA and U.S. Coast Guard regulations are finalized. Non-military, non-recreational vessels greater than 79 feet in length must continue to comply with the requirements of the VGP, including submission of a Notice of Intent, or NOI or retention of a PARI form and submission of annual reports. We have submitted NOIs for our vessels where required. Compliance with the EPA, U.S. Coast Guard and state regulations could require the installation of BWTS on our vessels or the implementation of other port facility disposal procedures at potentially substantial cost, or may otherwise restrict our vessels from entering U.S. waters.

European Union Regulations

In October 2009, the European Union amended a directive to impose criminal sanctions for illicit ship-source discharges of polluting substances, including minor discharges, if committed with intent, recklessly or with serious negligence and the discharges individually or in the aggregate result in deterioration of the quality of water. Aiding and abetting the discharge of a polluting substance may also lead to criminal penalties. The directive applies to all types of vessels, irrespective of their flag, but certain exceptions apply to warships or where human safety or that of the ship is in danger. Criminal liability for pollution may result in substantial penalties or fines and increased civil liability claims. Regulation (EU) 2015/757 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2015 (amending EU Directive 2009/16/EC) governs the monitoring, reporting and verification of carbon dioxide emissions from maritime transport, and, subject to some exclusions, requires companies with ships over 5,000 gross tonnage to monitor and report carbon dioxide emissions annually, which may cause us to incur additional expenses.

The European Union has adopted several regulations and directives requiring, among other things, more frequent inspections of high-risk ships, as determined by type, age, and flag as well as the number of times the ship has been detained. The European Union also adopted and extended a ban on substandard ships and enacted a minimum ban period and a definitive ban for repeated offenses. The regulation also provided the European Union with greater authority and control over classification societies, by imposing more requirements on classification societies and providing for fines or penalty payments for organizations that failed to comply. Furthermore, the EU has implemented regulations requiring vessels to use reduced sulfur content fuel for their main and auxiliary engines. The EU Directive 2005/33/EC (amending Directive 1999/32/EC) introduced requirements parallel to those in Annex VI relating to the sulfur content of marine fuels. In addition, the EU imposed a 0.1% maximum sulfur requirement for fuel used by ships at berth in the Baltic, the North Sea and the English Channel (the so called “SOx-Emission Control Area”). As of January 2020, EU member states must also ensure that ships in all EU waters, except the SOx-Emission Control Area, use fuels with a 0.5% maximum sulfur content.

On September 15, 2020, the European Parliament voted to include greenhouse gas emissions from the maritime sector in the European Union’s carbon market. On July 14, 2021, the European Parliament formally proposed its plan, which would involve gradually including the maritime sector from 2023 and phasing the sector in over a three-year period. This will require shipowners to buy permits to cover these emissions. Contingent on negotiations and a formal approval vote, these proposed regulations may not enter into force for another year or two.

International Labour Organization

The International Labour Organization, or the ILO, is a specialized agency of the UN that has adopted the Maritime Labor Convention 2006, or MLC 2006. A Maritime Labor Certificate and a Declaration of Maritime Labor Compliance is required to ensure compliance with the MLC 2006 for all ships that are 500 gross tonnage or over and are either engaged in international voyages or flying the flag of a Member and operating from a port, or between ports, in another country. We believe that all our vessels are in substantial compliance with and are certified to meet MLC 2006.

Greenhouse Gas Regulation

Currently, the emissions of greenhouse gases from international shipping are not subject to the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which entered into force in 2005 and pursuant to which adopting countries have been required to implement national programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions with targets extended through 2020. International negotiations are continuing with respect to a successor to the Kyoto Protocol, and restrictions on shipping emissions may be included in any new treaty. In December 2009, more than 27 nations, including the U.S. and China, signed the Copenhagen Accord, which includes a non-binding commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris resulted in the Paris Agreement, which entered into force on November 4, 2016
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and does not directly limit greenhouse gas emissions from ships. The U.S. initially entered into the agreement, but on June 1, 2017, former U.S. President Trump announced that the United States intends to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, and the withdrawal became effective on November 4, 2020. On January 20, 2021, U.S. President Biden signed an executive order to rejoin the Paris Agreement, which the U.S. officially rejoined on February 19, 2021.

At MEPC 70 and MEPC 71, a draft outline of the structure of the initial strategy for developing a comprehensive IMO strategy on reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from ships was approved. In accordance with this roadmap, in April 2018, nations at the MEPC 72 adopted an initial strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ships. The initial strategy identifies “levels of ambition” to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, including (1) decreasing the carbon intensity from ships through implementation of further phases of the EEDI for new ships; (2) reducing carbon dioxide emissions per transport work, as an average across international shipping, by at least 40% by 2030, pursuing efforts towards 70% by 2050, compared to 2008 emission levels; and (3) reducing the total annual greenhouse emissions by at least 50% by 2050 compared to 2008 while pursuing efforts towards phasing them out entirely. The initial strategy notes that technological innovation, alternative fuels and/or energy sources for international shipping will be integral to achieve the overall ambition. At MEPC 77, the Member States agreed to initiate the revision of the Initial IMO Strategy on Reduction of GHG emissions from ships, recognizing the need to strengthen the ambition during the revision process. A final draft Revised IMO GHG Strategy would be considered by MEPC 80 (scheduled to meet in spring 2023), with a view to adoption. Compliance with these regulations and other changes in laws, regulations and obligations relating to climate change affects the propulsion options in subsequent vessel designs and could increase our costs related to acquiring new vessels, operating and maintaining our existing vessels and require us to install new emission controls, acquire allowances or pay taxes related to our greenhouse gas emissions or administer and manage a greenhouse gas emissions program.

The EU made a unilateral commitment to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions from its member states from 20% of 1990 levels by 2020. The EU also committed to reduce its emissions by 20% under the Kyoto Protocol’s second period from 2013 to 2020. Starting in January 2018, large ships over 5,000 gross tonnage calling at EU ports are required to collect and publish data on carbon dioxide emissions and other information. As previously discussed, regulations relating to the inclusion of greenhouse gas emissions from the maritime sector in the European Union’s carbon market are also forthcoming.

In the United States, the EPA issued a finding that greenhouse gases endanger the public health and safety, adopted regulations to limit greenhouse gas emissions from certain mobile sources, and proposed regulations to limit greenhouse gas emissions from large stationary sources. However, in March 2017, former U.S. President Trump signed an executive order to review and possibly eliminate the EPA’s plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions, and in August 2019, the Administration announced plans to weaken regulations for methane emissions. On August 13, 2020, the EPA released rules rolling back standards to control methane and volatile organic compound emissions from new oil and gas facilities. However, U.S. President Biden recently directed the EPA to publish a proposed rule suspending, revising, or rescinding certain of these rules. On November 2, 2021, the EPA issued a proposed rule under the CAA designed to reduce methane emissions from oil and gas sources. The proposed rule would reduce 41 million tons of methane emissions between 2023 and 2035 and cut methane emissions in the oil and gas sector by approximately 74 percent compared to emissions from this sector in 2005. EPA also anticipates issuing a supplemental proposed rule in 2022 to include additional methane reduction measures following public input and anticipates issuing a final rule by the end of 2022. If these new regulations are finalized, they could affect our operations.

Any passage of climate control legislation or other regulatory initiatives by the IMO, the EU, the U.S. or other countries where we operate, or any treaty adopted at the international level to succeed the Kyoto Protocol or Paris Agreement, that restricts emissions of greenhouse gases could require us to make significant financial expenditures which we cannot predict with certainty at this time. Even in the absence of climate control legislation, our business may be indirectly affected to the extent that climate change may result in sea level changes or certain weather events.

For more information on the Company's approach to ESG issues, see our 2020 ESG Report at our website www.frontline.bm under “Environmental, Social and Governance.” None of the information or contents of our 2020 ESG Report are incorporated into this Annual Report on Form 20-F.

Vessel Security Regulations

Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 in the United States, there have been a variety of initiatives intended to enhance vessel security such as the U.S. Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002, or MTSA. To implement certain portions of the MTSA, the USCG issued regulations requiring the implementation of certain security requirements aboard vessels operating in waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and at certain ports and facilities, some of which are regulated by the EPA.

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Similarly, Chapter XI-2 of the SOLAS Convention imposes detailed security obligations on vessels and port authorities and mandates compliance with the ISPS Code. The ISPS Code is designed to enhance the security of ports and ships against terrorism. To trade internationally, a vessel must attain an International Ship Security Certificate, or ISSC, from a recognized security organization approved by the vessel’s flag state. Ships operating without a valid certificate may be detained, expelled from, or refused entry at port until they obtain an ISSC. The various requirements, some of which are found in the SOLAS Convention, include, for example, on-board installation of automatic identification systems to provide a means for the automatic transmission of safety-related information from among similarly equipped ships and shore stations, including information on a ship’s identity, position, course, speed and navigational status; on-board installation of ship security alert systems, which do not sound on the vessel but only alert the authorities on shore; the development of vessel security plans; ship identification number to be permanently marked on a vessel’s hull; a continuous synopsis record kept onboard showing a vessel's history including the name of the ship, the state whose flag the ship is entitled to fly, the date on which the ship was registered with that state, the ship's identification number, the port at which the ship is registered and the name of the registered owner(s) and their registered address; and compliance with flag state security certification requirements.

The USCG regulations, intended to align with international maritime security standards, exempt non-U.S. vessels from MTSA vessel security measures, provided such vessels have on board a valid ISSC that attests to the vessel’s compliance with the SOLAS Convention security requirements and the ISPS Code. Future security measures could have a significant financial impact on us. We intend to comply with the various security measures addressed by MTSA, the SOLAS Convention and the ISPS Code.

The cost of vessel security measures has also been affected by the escalation in the frequency of acts of piracy against ships, notably off the coast of Somalia, including the Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea area. Substantial loss of revenue and other costs may be incurred as a result of detention of a vessel or additional security measures, and the risk of uninsured losses could significantly affect our business. Costs are incurred in taking additional security measures in accordance with Best Management Practices to Deter Piracy, notably those contained in the BMP5 industry standard.

Inspection by Classification Societies

The hull and machinery of every commercial vessel must be classed by a classification society authorized by its country of registry. The classification society certifies that a vessel is safe and seaworthy in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations of the country of registry of the vessel and SOLAS. Most insurance underwriters make it a condition for insurance coverage and lending that a vessel be certified “in class” by a classification society which is a member of the International Association of Classification Societies, the IACS. The IACS has adopted harmonized Common Structural Rules, or the Rules, which apply to oil tankers and bulk carriers contracted for construction on or after July 1, 2015. The Rules attempt to create a level of consistency between IACS Societies. All of our vessels are certified as being “in class” by the applicable Classification Societies (e.g., American Bureau of Shipping., Lloyd's Register of Shipping or DNV GL).

A vessel must undergo annual surveys, intermediate surveys, drydockings and special surveys. In lieu of a special survey, a vessel’s machinery may be on a continuous survey cycle, under which the machinery would be surveyed periodically over a five-year period. Every vessel is also required to be drydocked every 30 to 36 months for inspection of the underwater parts of the vessel. If any vessel does not maintain its class and/or fails any annual survey, intermediate survey, drydocking or special survey, the vessel will be unable to carry cargo between ports and will be unemployable and uninsurable which could cause us to be in violation of certain covenants in our loan agreements. Any such inability to carry cargo or be employed, or any such violation of covenants, could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations.

Risk of Loss and Liability Insurance

The operation of any ocean-going vessel carries an inherent risk of catastrophic marine disasters and property losses caused by adverse weather conditions, mechanical failures, human error, war, terrorism and other circumstances or events. In addition, the transportation of crude oil is subject to the risk of spills, and business interruptions due to political circumstances in foreign countries, hostilities, labor strikes and boycotts. OPA has made liability insurance more expensive for ship owners and operators imposing potentially unlimited liability upon owners, operators and bareboat charterers for oil pollution incidents in the territorial waters of the United States. We believe that our current insurance coverage is adequate to protect us against the principal accident-related risks that we face in the conduct of our business.

Our protection and indemnity insurance, or P&I insurance, covers third party liabilities and other related expenses from, among other things, injury or death of crew, passengers and other third parties, claims arising from collisions, damage to cargo and other third party property and pollution arising from oil or other substances. Our current P&I insurance coverage for pollution is the maximum commercially available amount of $1.0 billion per vessel per incident and is provided by mutual protection and
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indemnity associations. Each of the vessels currently in our fleet is entered in a protection and indemnity association which is a member of the International Group of Protection & Indemnity Clubs. The 13 protection and indemnity associations that comprise the International Group insure approximately 90% of the world's commercial tonnage and have entered into a pooling agreement to re-insure each association's liabilities. The International Group’s website states that the Pool provides a mechanism for sharing all claims in excess of US$ 10 million up to, currently, approximately US$ 3.1 billion. As a member of protection and indemnity associations, which are, in turn, members of the International Group, we are subject to calls payable to the associations based on its claim records as well as the claim records of all other members of the individual associations and members of the pool of protection and indemnity associations comprising the International Group.

Our hull and machinery insurance covers actual or constructive total loss from covered risks of collision, fire, heavy weather, grounding and engine failure or damages from same. Our war risks insurance covers risks of confiscation, seizure, capture, vandalism, terrorism, sabotage and other war-related risks. Our loss-of-hire insurance covers loss of revenue for not less than $20,000 per day for Suezmax tankers and VLCCs for not less than 180 days resulting from an accident covered by the terms of our hull and machinery insurance for each of our vessels, with a 60 day deductible for all Suezmax tankers and VLCCs. Our LR2/Aframax product tankers are insured for not less than $20,000 for 90 days with a deductible of 14 days.


C.  ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

See Exhibit 8.1 to this Form 20-F for a list of our significant subsidiaries.

D.  PROPERTY, PLANTS AND EQUIPMENT

The Company's Vessels

The following table sets forth certain information regarding the fleet that we operated as of December 31, 2021: 
VesselBuiltApproximate Dwt.Flag
Type of Employment(1)
Tonnage Owned     
VLCCs
Front Kathrine2009298,000MISpot market
Front Queen2009298,000MISpot market
Front Eminence2009321,000MISpot market
Front Endurance2009321,000MISpot market
Front Cecilie2010297,000MISpot market
Front Signe2010297,000MISpot market
Front Duke2016299,000MISpot market
Front Duchess2017299,000MISpot market
Front Earl2017303,000MISpot market
Front Prince2017301,000MISpot market
Front Empire2018303,000MISpot market
Front Princess2018302,000MISpot market
Front Defender2019299,000MISpot market
Front Discovery2019299,000MISpot market
Front Dynamic2020299,000MISpot market
Front Driva2019319,000MISpot market
Front Nausta2019319,000MISpot market
Suezmax Tankers    
Front Ull2014157,000MISpot market
Front Idun2015157,000MISpot market
Front Thor 2010157,000MISpot market
39


Front Loki2010157,000MISpot market
Front Odin2010157,000MISpot market
Front Njord2010157,000MISpot market
Front Balder2009156,000MISpot market
Front Brage 2011157,000MISpot market
Front Crown2016157,000MISpot market
Front Challenger2016157,000MISpot market
Front Classic2017157,000MISpot market
Front Clipper2017157,000MISpot market
Front Crystal2017157,000MISpot market
Front Coral2017158,000MISpot market
Front Cosmos2017158,000MISpot market
Front Cascade2017157,000MISpot market
Front Sparta2019157,000HKSpot market
Front Samara(2)
2019157,000HKTime charter
Front Siena2019157,000HKSpot market
Front Singapore(2)
2019157,000HKTime charter
Front Seoul2019157,000HKSpot market
Front Santiago(2)
2019157,000HKTime charter
Front Savannah(2)
2019157,000HKTime charter
Front Suez2019157,000HKSpot market
Front Shanghai(2)
2019157,000HKTime charter
Front Silkeborg2019157,000HKSpot market
Front Cruiser2020157,000MISpot market
LR2/Aframax Tankers    
Front Lion2014115,000MISpot market
Front Panther2015115,000MISpot market
Front Ocelot2016110,000MISpot market
Front Cheetah2016110,000MISpot market
Front Lynx2016110,000MISpot market
Front Cougar2016110,000MISpot market
Front Leopard2016110,000MISpot market
Front Jaguar2016110,000MISpot market
Front Altair2016110,000MISpot market
Front Antares2017110,000MISpot market
Front Vega2017110,000MISpot market
Front Sirius2017110,000MISpot market
Front Castor2017110,000MISpot market
Front Pollux2017110,000MISpot market
Front Capella2017110,000MISpot market
Front Polaris2018110,000MISpot market
Front Fusion2021110,000MISpot market
Front Future2021110,000MISpot market
Front Favour2021110,000MISpot market
Front Feature2021110,000MISpot market
40


Tonnage chartered-in from SFL
VLCCs
Front Force2004305,000MISpot market
Front Energy2004305,000MISpot market


1.Time Charter includes those contracts with durations in excess of six months.
2.These vessels were chartered out on time charters in August 2019, with earliest redelivery in July 2022.

Our fleet chartered-in from SFL is contracted to us under leasing arrangements with remaining fixed terms approximately five years.

Key to Flags:

MI – Marshall Islands, HK – Hong Kong.

Other than our interests in the vessels described above, we do not own any material physical properties. We lease office space in Hamilton, Bermuda from an unaffiliated third party. Frontline Management AS leases office space, at market rates, in Oslo, Norway from Seatankers Management Norway AS (formerly Bryggegata AS), a company indirectly affiliated with Hemen, our principal shareholder. We also have other leased properties, which are not considered material. Further details of our lease commitments can be found in Note 11. to our consolidated financial statements.

ITEM 4A. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.

ITEM 5. OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS

A. OPERATING RESULTS

Overview

As of December 31, 2021, the Company’s fleet consisted of 70 vessels, with an aggregate capacity of approximately 12.7 million DWT:

(i)64 vessels owned by the Company (17 VLCCs, 27 Suezmax tankers, 20 LR2/Aframax tankers);
(ii)two VLCCs that are under finance leases; and
(iii)four vessels that are under the Company’s commercial management (two Suezmax tankers, and two Aframax tankers).

Furthermore, as of December 31, 2021, the Company’s newbuilding program consisted of six VLCCs which are expected to be delivered during 2022, starting in the first quarter.

A full fleet list is provided in "Item 4. Information on the Company - D. Property, Plants and Equipment" showing the vessels that we own, lease and charter-in as of December 31, 2021. See Note 30. to our audited Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for changes in our vessels subsequent to December 31, 2021.

41


Fleet Changes

Refer to "Item 4. Information on the Company - A. History and Development of the Company - Vessel Acquisitions, Disposals, Redeliveries and Newbuilding Contracts of the Company" for discussion on acquisitions and disposals of vessels. A summary of the changes in the vessels that we own, lease and charter-in for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 is summarized in the table below.
 202120202019
VLCCs
At start of period19 19 17 
Other acquisitions/newbuilding deliveries2 1 2 
Disposal/lease termination (1) 
Redelivered(2)  
At end of period19 19 19 
Suezmax tankers
At start of period27 26 16 
Other acquisitions/newbuilding deliveries(2)
 11  
Chartered-in/redelivered(2)
 (10)10 
At end of period27 27 26 
LR2/Aframax tankers
At start of period18 18 18 
Other acquisitions/newbuilding deliveries4   
Disposal/lease termination(2)  
At end of period20 18 18 
Total
At start of period64 63 51 
Other acquisitions/newbuilding deliveries6 12 2 
Disposal/lease termination(2)(1) 
Chartered-in/ redelivered(2)(10)10 
At end of period66 64 63 

1.The table above excludes vessels commercially managed on behalf of third parties and related parties and also the vessel previously recorded as an investment in finance lease and sold in the year ended December 31, 2020.
2.10 Suezmax tankers chartered-in from Trafigura have been recorded as owned vessels upon closing of the Acquisition in March 2020. See Note 5. to the financial statements for a detailed description of the accounting for this transaction.

Summary of Fleet Employment
42



As discussed below, our vessels are operated under time charters and voyage charters.
 
 As of December 31,
 202120202019
 Number of vesselsPercentage of fleetNumber of vesselsPercentage of fleetNumber of vesselsPercentage of fleet
VLCCs    
Spot 19 100 %17 89 %19 100 %
Time charter — %11 %— — %
19 100 %19 100 %19 100 %
Suezmax tankers
Spot 22 81 %22 81 %18 69 %
Time charter5 19 %19 %23 %
Market related time charter — %— — %%
27 100 %27 100 %26 100 %
LR2/Aframax tankers     
Spot 20 100 %17 94 %17 94 %
Time charter — %%%
20 100 %18 100 %18 100 %
Total fleet
Spot 61 92 %56 88 %54 86 %
Market related time charter — %— — %%
Time charter5 %12 %11 %
66 100 %64 100 %63 100 %

Market Overview and Trend Information

The statistical data provided in this section has been taken from the International Energy Agency, or IEA, Fearnleys and Clarksons Research, both independent third-party maritime research companies. The figures quoted below are estimates and may vary from estimates provided by other research services. The overviews set forth below are based on information, data and estimates derived from industry sources available as of the date of this annual report, and there can be no assurances that such trends will continue or that any anticipated developments referenced in such section will materialize. This information, data and estimates involve a number of assumptions and limitations, are subject to risks and uncertainties, and are subject to change based on various factors. You are cautioned not to give undue weight to such information, data and estimates. We have not independently verified any third-party information, verified that more recent information is not available and undertake no obligation to update this information unless legally obligated.

The past years have been characterized by large growth in the global crude oil tanker fleet, but the growth continued to slow in 2021 with 35 VLCCs delivered. In 2022 47 VLCCs are scheduled to be delivered, although some of these deliveries are expected to be delayed to 2023. Recycling started to accelerate in 2021 with 17 VLCCs reported sold for recycling. At the end of 2021, the VLCC fleet totaled 838 vessels, the Suezmax fleet totaled 579 vessels after 20 vessels were delivered during the year and 16 were sold for recycling, and the LR2 product tanker fleet totaled 393 vessels.

The estimated average spot charter rate for a VLCC trading on a standard ‘TD3C’ voyage between the Middle East and China in 2021 was an estimated negative daily TCE rate of $518. This compares to an estimated daily TCE rate of $48,300 in 2020. The average rate for a Suezmax tanker trading on a standard ‘TD20’ voyage between West Africa and Rotterdam in 2021 was an estimated daily TCE rate of $3,500. This compares to an estimated daily TCE rate of $26,600 in 2020. The average rate for an LR2 product tanker trading on a standard ‘TC1’ voyage between the Middle East and Japan was an estimated daily TCE rate of $5,900 in 2021. This compares to an estimated daily TCE rate of $27,400 in 2020. These indices offer an indication to what a broad selection of vessels would earn calculated using a strict methodology. As the tanker markets have evolved, so has technology and consumption. A modern low consuming vessel fitted with EGCS is estimated to earn significantly more and
43


estimated TCE for such vessels on a VLCC would in this respect be $14,000, a Suezmax $13,200 and an LR2 $14,400 per day for 2021.

Crude oil demand and the world economy is still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. The IEA estimates that world oil demand in 2022 will be 99.7 million barrels per day, or mbpd, rising by 3.3 mbpd by the end of the year, following the steep recovery of 5.5 mbpd in 2021.

World oil supply in 2022 has the potential for a Saudi-driven gain of 6.2 mbpd if OPEC+ fully unwinds its cuts, the IEA estimated, compared with a 1.5 mbpd rise in 2021. Data suggests that 2022 is starting off with global oil inventories well below pre-pandemic levels. A growing discrepancy between observed and calculated stock changes suggests demand could be higher or supply lower than reported or assumed according to IEA.

The recent outbreak of war between Russia and the Ukraine has disrupted supply chains and caused instability in the global economy, while the United States and the European Union, among other countries, announced sanctions against Russia. For example, on March 8, 2022, President Biden issued an executive order prohibiting the import of certain Russian energy products into the United States, including crude oil, petroleum, petroleum fuels, oils, liquefied natural gas and coal. Additionally, the executive order prohibits any investments in the Russian energy sector by US persons, among other restrictions. The ongoing conflict could result in the imposition of further economic sanctions against Russia, and the Company’s business may be adversely impacted.

Factors Affecting our Results

The principal factors which affect the results of our continuing operations and financial position include:

the earnings of our vessels;
other operating gains and losses;
contingent rental income or expense;
vessel operating expenses;
administrative income and expenses;
impairment losses on vessels and vessels held under finance lease;
impairment losses on goodwill;
depreciation;
interest expense;
impairment losses and unrealized gains and losses on marketable securities;
gains and losses on derivatives; and
share of results from associated company and gain on equity interest.

We have derived our earnings from time charters, voyage charters, pool arrangements and a finance lease. As of December 31, 2021, 61 of our 66 vessels, which are owned or leased in by us, were employed in the voyage charter market or on short-term or variable rate time charters. The tanker industry has historically been highly cyclical, experiencing volatility in profitability, vessel values and freight rates. In particular, freight and charter rates are strongly influenced by the supply of tanker vessels and the demand for oil transportation services.

Other operating gains (losses) relate to (i) gains and losses on the termination of finance leases before the expiration of the lease term, which are accounted for by removing the carrying value of the asset and obligation, with a gain or loss recognized for the difference. Gains and losses on the termination of leases are accounted for when the lease is terminated and the vessel is redelivered to the owners, (ii) gains and losses on the sale of vessels, which are recognized when the vessel has been delivered and all risks have been transferred and are determined by comparing the proceeds received with the carrying value of the vessel, (iii) gains and losses on the sale of subsidiary companies, which are recognized when the Company ceases to have a controlling financial interest of the subsidiary, (iv) gains or losses from pooling and other revenue sharing arrangements where the Company is considered the principal under the charter parties and records voyage revenues and costs gross, with the adjustments required as a result of the revenue sharing arrangement being recognized as other operating gains or losses and (v) cash inflows in relation to settlements of claims.

Contingent rental income or expense results from the Company's finance leases, which were acquired as a result of the merger between the Company and Frontline 2012 Ltd, or the Merger. Any variations in the estimated profit share expense that was included in the fair valuation of these lease obligations on the date of the Merger as compared to actual profit share expense incurred is accounted for as contingent rental income or expense.

44


Operating costs are the direct costs associated with running a vessel and include crew costs, vessel supplies, repairs and maintenance, drydockings, lubricating oils and insurance.

Administrative expenses are comprised of general corporate overhead expenses, including personnel costs, property costs, legal and professional fees and other general administrative expenses. Personnel costs include, among other things, salaries, pension costs, fringe benefits, travel costs and health insurance.

An impairment loss on a vessel or a vessel held under finance lease, equal to the difference between the vessel's carrying value and fair value, is recognized when the estimated future net undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying value of the vessel.

Depreciation, or the periodic costs charged to our income for the reduction in usefulness and long-term value of our vessels, is also related to the number of vessels we own or lease. We depreciate the cost of vessels we own, less their estimated residual value, over their estimated useful life on a straight-line basis. We depreciate the cost of vessels held under finance lease over the term of the lease. No charge is made for depreciation of vessels under construction until they are delivered.

Interest expense relates to vessel specific debt facilities and finance leases. Interest expense depends on our overall borrowing levels and may significantly increase when we acquire vessels or on the delivery of newbuildings. Interest incurred during the construction of a newbuilding is capitalized in the cost of the newbuilding. Interest expense may also change with prevailing interest rates, although the effect of these changes may be reduced by interest rate swaps or other derivative instruments.

Any change in the fair value of marketable securities are recorded in the Consolidated Statement of Operations in accordance with ASC 825.

None of the Company's interest rate swaps qualify for hedge accounting and changes in fair values are recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Lack of Historical Operating Data for Vessels before their Acquisition (other than those acquired in a Business Combination)

Consistent with shipping industry practice, other than inspection of the physical condition of the vessels and examinations of classification society records, there is no historical financial due diligence process when we acquire vessels. Accordingly, we do not obtain the historical operating data for the vessels from the sellers because that information is not material to our decision to make acquisitions, nor do we believe it would be helpful to potential investors in our ordinary shares in assessing our business or profitability. Most vessels are sold under a standardized agreement, which, among other things, provides the buyer with the right to inspect the vessel and the vessel's classification society records. The standard agreement does not give the buyer the right to inspect, or receive copies of, the historical operating data of the vessel. Prior to the delivery of a purchased vessel, the seller typically removes from the vessel all records, including past financial records and accounts related to the vessel. In addition, the technical management agreement between the seller's technical manager and the seller is automatically terminated and the vessel's trading certificates are revoked by its flag state following a change in ownership.

Under GAAP, a business is defined as an integrated set of activities and assets that is capable of being conducted and managed for the purpose of providing a return in the form of dividends, lower costs, or other economic benefits directly to investors or other owners, members, or participants. To be considered a business, a set of activities and assets requires two essential elements, inputs and processes applied to those inputs. A business need not include all the inputs or processes that the seller used in operating that business. However, to be considered a business, the set must include, at a minimum, an input and a substantive process that together significantly contribute to the ability to create output. GAAP also includes a single or similar asset threshold such that, if substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or group of similar identifiable assets, the set is not considered a business. We treat the acquisition of a vessel (whether acquired with or without charter) as the acquisition of an asset rather than a business. This is primarily due to the fact that an acquired vessel will not include processes applied to the asset. In addition, many transactions will meet the single or similar asset threshold as the fair value of the vessel, or vessels, is substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired.
45


Although vessels are generally acquired free of charter, we have agreed to acquire (and may in the future acquire) some vessels with time charters. Where a vessel has been under a voyage charter, the vessel is delivered to the buyer free of charter. It is rare in the shipping industry for the last charterer of the vessel in the hands of the seller to continue as the first charterer of the vessel in the hands of the buyer. In most cases, when a vessel is under time charter and the buyer wishes to assume that charter, the vessel cannot be acquired without the charterer's consent and the buyer entering into a separate direct agreement with the charterer to assume the charter. The purchase of a vessel itself does not transfer the charter, because it is a separate service agreement between the vessel owner and the charterer. When we purchase a vessel and assume a related time charter, we must take the following steps before the vessel will be ready to commence operations:

obtain the charterer's consent to us as the new owner;
obtain the charterer's consent to a new technical manager;
in some cases, obtain the charterer's consent to a new flag for the vessel;
arrange for a new crew for the vessel;
replace all hired equipment on board, such as gas cylinders and communication equipment;
negotiate and enter into new insurance contracts for the vessel through our own insurance brokers;
register the vessel under a flag state and perform the related inspections in order to obtain new trading certificates from the flag state;
implement a new planned maintenance program for the vessel; and
ensure that the new technical manager obtains new certificates for compliance with the safety and vessel security regulations of the flag state.

Inflation

Although inflation has had a moderate impact on our vessel operating expenses and corporate overheads, management does not consider inflation to be a significant risk to direct costs in the current and foreseeable economic environment. It is anticipated that insurance costs, which have risen over the last three years, may well continue to rise over the next few years. Oil transportation is a specialized area and the number of vessels is increasing. There will therefore be an increased demand for qualified crew and this has and will continue to put inflationary pressure on crew costs. However, in a shipping downturn, costs subject to inflation can usually be controlled because shipping companies typically monitor costs to preserve liquidity and encourage suppliers and service providers to lower rates and prices in the event of a downturn.

Selected Financial Data

The selected statement of operations data of the Company with respect to the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 and the selected balance sheet data of the Company as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 have been derived from the Company's consolidated financial statements included herein and should be read in conjunction with such statements and the notes thereto. The selected balance sheet data as of December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 have been derived from consolidated financial statements of the Company not included herein. The selected statement of operations data with respect to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 have been derived from consolidated financial statements of the Company not included herein.

The following table should also be read in conjunction with the Company's consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included herein. The Company's accounts are maintained in U.S. dollars.
46


 20212020201920182017
(in thousands of $, except ordinary shares, per share data and ratios)
Statement of Operations Data :
    
Total operating revenues (1)
749,381 1,221,187 957,322 742,266 646,326 
Total operating expenses743,058 743,294 721,222 669,761 844,978 
Net operating income12,216 507,795 239,522 82,711 (196,271)
Net (loss) income(11,148)413,006 139,986 (8,398)(264,322)
Net (loss) income attributable to the Company(11,148)412,875 139,972 (8,880)(264,861)
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to the Company $(0.06)$2.11 $0.81 $(0.05)$(1.56)
Diluted earnings per share attributable to the Company$(0.06)$2.09 $0.78 $(0.05)$(1.56)
Dividends per share declared$ $1.60 $0.10 $— $0.30 

 20212020201920182017
(in thousands of $, except ordinary shares and ratios)
Balance Sheet Data (at end of year) :    
Cash and cash equivalents113,073 174,721 174,223 66,484 104,145 
Newbuildings130,633 48,498 46,068 52,254 79,602 
Vessels and equipment, net3,477,801 3,307,144 2,579,905 2,476,755 2,342,130 
Vessels and equipment under finance leases, net44,880 53,518 418,390 90,676 251,698 
Investment in associated company555 1,279 4,927 6,246 — 
Total assets4,117,098 3,918,221 3,697,818 3,077,841 3,133,728 
Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt189,286 167,082 438,962 120,479 113,078 
Current portion of obligations under finance leases to related party7,601 7,810 283,463 11,854 43,316 
Long-term debt2,126,910 1,968,924 1,254,417 1,610,293 1,467,074 
Obligations under finance leases to related party40,865 48,467 76,447 87,930 255,700 
Share capital203,531 197,692 196,894 169,821 169,809 
Total equity attributable to the Company1,653,014 1,612,025 1,509,976 1,163,800 1,187,308 
Ordinary shares outstanding (000s) (2)203,531 197,692 196,894 169,821 169,809 
Weighted average ordinary shares outstanding (000s) (2)198,965 195,637 173,576 169,810 169,809 
Other Financial Data:
Equity to assets ratio (percentage) (2)40.1 %41.1 %40.8 %37.8 %37.9 %
Debt to equity ratio (3)1.4 1.4 1.4 1.6 1.6 
Price earnings ratio (4)(117.8)2.9 15.9 (110.6)(2.9)
Time charter equivalent revenue (5)337,133 840,658 527,446 339,196 365,059 

Notes:


1.The Company adopted ASC 606 effective from January 1, 2018 and ASC 842 lease from January 1, 2019. Prior periods have not been restated for the impact of these standards.

2.Equity-to-assets ratio is calculated as total equity attributable to the Company divided by total assets.

3.Debt-to-equity ratio is calculated as total interest bearing current and long-term liabilities, including obligations under finance leases, divided by total equity attributable to the Company.

47


4.Price earnings ratio is calculated by dividing the closing year end share price by basic earnings per share attributable to the Company.

5.A reconciliation of time charter equivalent revenues to total operating revenues as reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Operations is as follows:

(in thousands of $)20212020201920182017
Total operating revenues749,381 1,221,187 957,322 742,266 646,326 
Less:
Finance lease interest income — (690)(1,293)(1,748)
Other income(14,150)(22,331)(33,704)(24,005)(20,185)
Other non-vessel related income(5,401)(5,100)— — — 
Voyage expenses and commissions(392,697)(353,098)(395,482)(377,772)(259,334)
Time charter equivalent revenue337,133 840,658 527,446 339,196 365,059 

Consistent with general practice in the shipping industry, the Company uses time charter equivalent revenue, or TCE, which represents operating revenues less finance lease interest income, other income, other non-vessel related income, and voyage expenses and commissions, as a measure to compare revenue generated from a voyage charter to revenue generated from a time charter. Time charter equivalent revenue, a non-GAAP measure, provides additional meaningful information in conjunction with operating revenues, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, because it assists Company management in making decisions regarding the deployment and use of its vessels and in evaluating the Company's financial performance.

Results of Operations
Total operating revenues and voyage expenses
  Change
(in thousands of $)20212020$%
Voyage charter revenues663,995 1,013,068 (349,073)(34.5)
Time charter revenues71,236 185,788 (114,552)(61.7)
Other income14,150 22,331 (8,181)(36.6)
Total operating revenues749,381 1,221,187 (471,806)(38.6)
Voyage expenses and commissions392,697 353,098 39,599 11.2 

Voyage charter revenues decreased in the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2020 primarily due to:

a decrease of $368.0 million due to decreased market rates,
a decrease of $26.3 million due to the termination of operating leases for two VLCCs since January 2020, and
a decrease of $5.4 million due to the termination of the finance lease for one VLCC since January 2020.

These factors were offset by:

an increase of $29.2 million due to the delivery of four LR2/Aframax tanker newbuildings, one VLCC newbuilding, one Suezmax tanker newbuilding since January 1, 2020,
an increase of $17.9 million due to the delivery of five VLCCs, four Suezmax tankers and four LR2/Aframax tankers onto voyage charters as a result of the time charters coming to an end between January 2020 and December 2021, and
an increase of $3.8 million due to the delivery of two 2019-built VLCCs.


Time charter revenues decreased in the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2020 primarily due to:

48


a decrease of $101.1 million due to the delivery of five VLCCs, four Suezmax tankers and four LR2/Aframax tankers onto voyage charters as a result of the time charters coming to an end between January 2020 and December 2021, and
a decrease of $17.6 million due to the termination of leases for three VLCCs since January 2020.

These factors were offset by:

an increase of $4.2 million due to the delivery of five Suezmax tankers onto time charter in August 2019 as part of the Acquisition. For accounting purposes the leases did not commence until closing of the transaction which took place on March 16, 2020.

Other income primarily comprises the income earned from the technical and commercial management of related party and third party vessels and newbuilding supervision fees derived from related parties. The decrease in the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2020 was primarily due to:

a decrease in technical management fees earned of $2.8 million as a result of the sale of Seateam Management in October 2020,
a decrease in newbuilding supervision fees of $3.8 million as a result of a reduction in the number of newbuildings under management, and
a reduction in commercial management fees of $1.5 million as a result of the termination of three commercial management agreements since January 1, 2020.

Voyage expenses and commissions increased in the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2020 primarily due to:

an increase of $30.9 million due to the delivery of five VLCCs, four Suezmax tankers and four LR2/Aframax tankers onto voyage charters as a result of the time charters coming to an end between January 2020 and December 2021,
an increase of $16.6 million due to the delivery of four LR2/Aframax tanker newbuildings, one VLCC newbuilding, one Suezmax tanker newbuilding since January 1, 2020,
an increase of $2.8 million due to the delivery of two 2019-built VLCCs,
an increase of $7.3 million due to increased bunker costs, and
an increase of $6.5 million due to increased port costs.

These factors were offset by:

a decrease of $11.5 million due to the termination of the operating leases for two VLCCs since January 2020,
a decrease of $10.0 million due to a reduction in commissions as a result of lower charter rates, and
a decrease of $1.9 million due to the termination of the finance lease for one VLCC since January 2020.

Other operating gains
  Change
(in thousands of $)20212020$%
Gain on settlement of claim 3,422 (3,422)(100.0)
Gain on sale of vessel5,059 12,354 (7,295)(59.0)
Gain on sale of subsidiary 6,928 (6,928)(100.0)
Gain on termination of vessel lease 7,409 (7,409)(100.0)
Gain on pool arrangements315 (564)879 (155.9)
Other gains519 353 166 47.0 
5,893 29,902 (24,009)(80.3)

In the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company recorded a $3.4 million gain on settlement of a claim.

In the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company recorded other gains of $0.5 million (2020: $0.4 million) in relation to the settlement of miscellaneous claims.

In the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company entered into an agreement to sell four of its scrubber fitted LR2 tankers at a combined purchase price of $160.0 million to SFL Tanker Holding Ltd., a company related to Hemen, its largest shareholder. In
49


December 2021 two vessels were delivered to the new owners. The Company recorded a gain on sale in relation to the first two vessels of $5.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2021. In the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company sold one VLCC previously recorded as an investment in finance lease at a purchase price of $25.5 million. The vessel was delivered to the new owners in June 2020 and the Company recorded a gain on sale of $12.4 million.

In the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company completed the sale of its 71.38% ownership interest in SeaTeam Management to OSM. Golden Ocean, and the other owners of SeaTeam Management also sold their interests in SeaTeam Management to OSM. In connection with this transaction, the total consideration allocated to the Company amounted to $10.7 million, $5.4 million of which was received on October 20, 2020 upon the completion of the sale. The outstanding amount was paid in two equal payments of $2.7 million on March 31, 2021 and on December 1, 2021. A gain from the sale of $6.9 million was recorded in the year ended December 31, 2020.

In the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company agreed with SFL to terminate the long-term charter for the 2002-built VLCC Front Hakata upon the sale and delivery of the vessel by SFL to an unrelated third party. The Company received a compensation payment of $3.2 million from SFL for the termination of the current charter and recognized a gain on termination, including the compensation payment, of $7.4 million.

In the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company recorded a $0.3 million gain (2020: $0.6 million loss) related to the pooling arrangement with SFL between two of its Suezmax tankers Front Odin and Front Njord and two SFL vessels Glorycrown and Everbright.

Contingent rental (income) expense
  Change
(in thousands of $)20212020$%
Contingent rental (income) expense(3,606)14,568 (18,174)(124.8)

Contingent rental income in the year ended December 31, 2021 and expense in the year ended December 31, 2020 relates to the Company's charter party contracts with SFL and is primarily due to the fact that the actual profit share payable of $0.3 million (2020: $18.7 million) was $3.6 million less (2020: $14.6 million more) than the amount accrued in the lease obligation payable when the leases were recorded at fair value at the time of the Merger.

Ship operating expenses
  Change
(in thousands of $)20212020$%
Ship operating expenses175,607 183,063 (7,456)(4.1)

Ship operating expenses are the direct costs associated with running a vessel and include crew costs, vessel supplies, repairs and maintenance, drydocking expenses, lubricating oils and insurance.

Ship operating expenses decreased in the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2020 primarily due to:

a decrease of $5.4 million in drydocking costs,
a decrease of $4.9 million due to the termination of operating leases for two VLCCs in 2021,
a decrease of $2.8 million due to lower spares costs in 2021,
a decrease of $1.5 million due to the sale of one VLCC in 2020, and
a decrease of $0.4 million due to the termination of the finance lease for one VLCC in 2020.

These factors were partially offset by:

an increase of $6.0 million due to the delivery of four LR2/Aframax tanker newbuildings, one VLCC newbuilding, one Suezmax tanker newbuilding since January 1, 2020,
an increase of $0.7 million primarily due to the delivery of 10 Suezmax tankers in August 2019. For accounting purposes, five of the vessels were not accounted for until closing of the transaction which took place on March 16, 2020,
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an increase of $0.6 million due to the delivery of two 2019-built VLCCs in December 2021, and
an increase of $0.6 million due to additional crew related costs as primarily as a result of COVID-19.

Included in the above are an additional $2.3 million of additional crew related expenses attributable to COVID-19 in the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2020.

Charter hire expenses
  Change
(in thousands of $)20212020$%
Charter hire expenses2,695 9,557 (6,862)(71.8)

Charter hire expense decreased in the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared with the year ended December 31, 2020 primarily due to the redelivery of two VLCCs to their owners in the first half of 2021.

Administrative expenses
  Change
(in thousands of $)20212020$%
Administrative expenses27,891 44,238 (16,347)(37.0)

Administrative expenses decreased in the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2020 primarily due

a $6.7 million decrease as a result of the sale of a subsidiary, SeaTeam Management, in 2020,
a $5.8 million reduction due to lower staff costs, and
a $3.4 million decrease as a result of lower costs incurred in relation to the management of related party newbuilding construction.

Depreciation 
  Change
(in thousands of $)20212020$%
Depreciation147,774 138,770 9,004 6.5 

Depreciation expense increased in the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2020 primarily due to:

an increase of $2.4 million due to the delivery of 10 Suezmax tankers in August 2019. For accounting purposes, five of the vessels were not accounted for until closing of the transaction which took place on March 16, 2020. See Note 5 to our audited Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for further details on the accounting for this transaction,
an increase of $5.5 million due to the delivery of four LR2/Aframax newbuilding, one VLCC newbuilding and one Suezmax newbuilding between January 2020 and December 2021,
an increase of $1.6 million primarily due to EGCS and BWTS additions, and
an increase of $1.0 million due to the purchase of two 2019-built VLCCs in 2021.

These factors were offset by:

a decrease of $0.4 million due to the termination of the lease for one VLCC in February 2020.

Interest income
  Change
(in thousands of $)20212020$%
Interest income119 705 (586)(83.1)

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Interest income in the year ended December 31, 2021 and the year ended December 31, 2020 relates to interest received on bank deposits and the shareholder loan to TFG Marine (see Note 19 to our audited Consolidated Financial Statements included herein).

 Interest expense
  Change
(in thousands of $)20212020$%
Interest expense(61,435)(72,160)10,725 (14.9)

Interest expense decreased in the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2020 primarily due to:

decrease of $12.8 million related the reduced balances on the Company’s floating rate debt as a result of ongoing repayments,
a decrease of $1.6 million due to the closing of the acquisition of 10 Suezmax tankers in March 2020 and subsequent refinancing of the vessels previously recorded under finance lease,
a decrease of $0.6 million in finance lease interest expense due to termination of the lease for one VLCC in 2020 and the sale of two LR2 tankers in 2021,
a decrease $0.6 million due to a reduction in finance lease interest expense as a result of ongoing repayments of the obligations on the remaining two vessels leased from SFL,
decrease of $0.5 million as a result of higher capitalized interest in relation to the newbuilding program, and
a decrease of $0.4 million in amortization of deferred charges.

These factors are partially offset by:

increase of $3.4 million as a result of the additional drawdown on the senior unsecured facility with an affiliate of Hemen,
an increase of $1.9 million due to additional borrowings relating to the delivery of six newbuildings between January 2020 and December 2021, and
an increase of $0.4 million due to the delivery of two 2019-built VLCCs in 2021.

Gain (loss) on marketable securities
  Change
(in thousands of $)20212020$%
Gain (loss) on marketable securities7,677 (2,491)10,168 (408.2)

The Company recognized a gain of $7.7 million and a loss of $2.5 million the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. See Note 13. to our consolidated financial statements for a detailed description of the gains and losses recorded.

Share of results of associated company
  Change
(in thousands of $)20212020$%
Share of results of associated company(724)(4,424)3,700 (83.6)

A share of losses of TFG Marine of $0.7 million (2020: $0.6 million gain) was recognized in the year ended December 31, 2021.

In the year ended December 31, 2021, the investment in FMS Holdco remained unchanged from December 31, 2020. In the year ended December 31, 2020, a share of losses of FMS Holdco of $5.0 million was recognized.

See Note 19 to our audited Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for further details on our equity method investments.
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Other income (expenses)
  Change
(in thousands of $)20212020$%
Foreign currency exchange (loss) gain(116)2,035 (2,151)(105.7)
Gain (loss) on derivatives17,509 (18,577)36,086 (194.3)
Other non-operating items, net18,239 109 18,130 16,633.0 

Foreign currency exchange differences relate to movements of U.S. dollar against other currencies used in day-to-day transactions.

The gain on derivatives in 2021 and the loss in 2020 relates to interest rate swaps of $17.5 million and $18.6 million, respectively.
Other non-operating income primarily relates to dividends received, offset by bank charges. The increase in the year ended December 31, 2021 primarily due to the recognition of a distribution from Den Norske Krigsforsikring for Skib, or DNK, the Norwegian Shipowners Mutual War Risk Insurance Association. The Company's share of the distribution was $17.9 million, before withholding tax of $4.5 million.

Tax
  Change
(in thousands of $)20212020$%
Income tax benefit (expense)(4,633)14 (4,647)(33,192.9)

Income tax increased by $4.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2020 primarily due to the $4.5 million of withholding tax in relation to the receipt of a distribution of $17.9 million.

For the discussion of our operating results in 2020 compared with 2019, we refer to "Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects - A. Operating Results" included in our annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2020, which was filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on March 18, 2021.

Recent accounting pronouncements

See Note 3 to our audited Consolidated Financial Statements included herein.

B. LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

We operate in a capital intensive industry and have historically financed our purchase of tankers and other capital expenditures through a combination of cash generated from operations, equity capital and borrowings from commercial banks. Our ability to generate adequate cash flows on a short and medium term basis depends substantially on the trading performance of our vessels in the market. Historically, market rates for charters of our vessels have been volatile. Periodic adjustments to the supply of and demand for oil and product tankers causes the industry to be cyclical in nature. We expect continued volatility in market rates for our vessels in the foreseeable future with a consequent effect on our short and medium term liquidity.

Our funding and treasury activities are conducted within corporate policies to increase investment returns while maintaining appropriate liquidity for our requirements. Cash and cash equivalents are held primarily in U.S. dollars with some balances held in British pounds, Euros, Norwegian kroner and Singapore dollars.

Our short-term liquidity requirements relate to payment of operating costs (including drydocking), funding working capital requirements, repayment of debt financing, payment of newbuilding installments, payment of commitments for upgrading vessels such as for EGCS and BWTS, lease payments for our chartered-in fleet, contingent rental expense and maintaining cash reserves against fluctuations in operating cash flows. Sources of short-term liquidity include cash balances, short-term investments and receipts from our customers. Revenues from time charters are generally received monthly or fortnightly in advance while revenues from voyage charters are received upon completion of the voyage.

53


As of December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, we had cash and cash equivalents of $113.1 million, $174.7 million and $174.2 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, we had restricted cash balances of nil, $14.9 million and $3.2 million, respectively. Restricted cash does not include cash balances of $67.0 million (2020: $103.5 million), which represents 64% (2020: 100%) of the cash required to be maintained by the financial covenants in our loan agreements. The Company is permitted to satisfy up to 50% of the cash requirement by maintaining a committed undrawn credit facility with a remaining availability of greater than 12 months. The Company did not satisfy any of the minimum cash requirement with a committed undrawn credit facility as of December 31, 2020 because the Company's senior unsecured facility agreement with an affiliate of Hemen was repayable in May 2021 as of this date. In November 2021, the Company extended the terms of the facility by 12 months to May 2023. Furthermore, FSL, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company and the chartering counterparty with SFL with respect to the remaining two VLCCs leased from them, has agreed to certain dividend restrictions as a result of the amendment of the terms of the long-term charter agreements in May 2015. In order to make or pay any dividend or other distribution to the Company, FSL shall demonstrate a cash buffer of $2.0 million per vessel both prior to and following such payment, and following payment of the next monthly hire due plus any profit share accrued under the agreement. As at December 31, 2021, the cash held by FSL was $2.0 million (2020: $15.6 million), and these amounts are included in "Cash and cash equivalents".

Our interest rate swaps require us to post cash as collateral based on their fair value. As of December 31, 2021 no amounts were recorded as collateral within restricted cash (2020: $13.4 million) in relation to our interest rate swaps.

As of December 31, 2021, the remaining commitments for the Company's six newbuilding contracts amounted to $437.4 million, all of which is due to be paid in 2022, and of which $390.0 million will be financed by committed term loan facilities.

As of December 31, 2021, the Company has no further commitments for the installations of EGCS.

As of December 31, 2021, the Company has no further commitments for the purchase of BWTS.

As of December 31, 2021, the Company has agreed to provide a $50.0 million guarantee in respect of the performance of its subsidiaries, and two subsidiaries of an affiliate of Hemen, under a bunker supply arrangement with TFG Marine. As of December 31, 2021, there are no amounts payable under this guarantee. In addition, should TFG Marine be required to provide a parent company guarantee to its bunker suppliers or finance providers then for any guarantee that is provided by the Trafigura Group and becomes payable, Frontline shall pay a pro rata amount based on its share of the equity in TFG Marine. The maximum liability under this guarantee is $6.0 million and there are no amounts payable under this guarantee as of December 31, 2021.

We believe that cash on hand and borrowings under our current and committed credit facilities, along with cash generated from operating activities will be sufficient to fund our requirements for, at least, the twelve months from the date of this annual report.

Medium to Long-term Liquidity and Cash Requirements

Our medium and long-term liquidity requirements include payment of newbuilding installments, funding the equity portion of investments in new or replacement vessels and repayment of bank loans. Additional sources of funding for our medium and long-term liquidity requirements include new loans, refinancing of existing arrangements, equity issues, public and private debt offerings, vessel sales, sale and leaseback arrangements and asset sales.

Cash Flows

The following table summarizes our cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities for the periods indicated.
(in thousands of $)202120202019
Net cash provided by operating activities62,932 604,058 280,187 
Net cash used in investing activities(363,058)(715,968)(190,571)
Net cash provided by financing activities223,550 124,183 19,856 
Net change in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash(76,576)12,273 109,472 
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year189,649 177,376 67,904 
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of year113,073 189,649 177,376 

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Net cash provided by operating activities

Net cash provided by operating activities decreased by $541.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2020.

Net cash provided by operating activities was primarily impacted by: (i) overall market conditions as reflected by TCE rates, (ii) the size and composition of our fleet that we own, lease and charter-in, (iii) whether our vessels were operated under time charters or voyage charters, and (iv) changes in operating assets and liabilities.

i.Our reliance on the spot market contributes to fluctuations in cash flows from operating activities as a result of its exposure to highly cyclical tanker rates. Any increase or decrease in the average TCE rates earned by our vessels will have a positive or negative comparative impact, respectively, on the amount of cash provided by operating activities. TCE represents operating revenues less other income and voyage expenses. TCE is therefore impacted by both movements in operating revenues, as determined by market freight rates, and voyage expenses, which are primarily comprised of bunker expenses, port charges and canal tolls. In 2021, average market quoted TCE rates decreased for VLCCs, Suezmax tankers and LR2 product tankers as compared to 2020, see "Item 5. Operating Financial Review and Prospects - A. Operating Results" The net decrease in average quoted market rates led to a $368.0 million decrease in cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2021, due to lower operating revenues. In addition, the increase in bunker prices and port costs, also a component of TCE, in 2021 compared to 2020, resulted in a $2.6 million decrease in cash provided by operating activities.

ii.Detailed information on the size and composition of our fleet, along with whether our vessels were operated under time charters or voyage charters, including changes between the periods presented, is disclosed in "Item 5. Operating Financial Review and Prospects - A. Operating Results". Changes in the size and composition of our fleet resulted in a net decrease in cash provided by operating activities of $12.6 million. The decrease is primarily due to the redelivery of three VLCCs as a result of the termination of their leases and the sale of two LR2 tankers, offset by the delivery of six newbuildings and two 2019 built vessels, between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2021. These changes led to a decrease of $13.2 million in cash received from revenues. The aforementioned decrease was partially offset by the decrease in cash paid for voyage expenses, ship operating expenses and interest of $0.6 million.

iii.The net decrease in vessels trading under time charters and voyage charters in 2021 as compared to 2020 resulted in a $114.2 million decrease in cash provided by operating activities, as the previous time charters with higher rates were terminated, and the vessels redelivered to spot voyages were traded at lower TCE rates following the decrease in market rates.

iv.Changes in operating assets and liabilities resulted in a decrease in cash provided by operating activities of $80.3 million. The movement in working capital balances are impacted by the timing of voyages, and also by the timing of fueling and consumption of fuel on board our vessels. Revenues for vessels that operate under time charters are typically billed in advance, whereas revenues under voyage charters are typically billed upon completion of a voyage. In 2020, the hire rates were at their highest level during the first half of the year and decreased towards the end of the year. Rates remained subdued for the first nine months of 2021 before increasing in the fourth quarter of 2021. This movement resulted in a net decrease in cash generated from settlements of trade receivables. In addition, increased bunker prices caused a corresponding increase in inventories held, which adversely impacted cash provided by operating activities. The aforementioned were offset by the high volume of accrued operating expenses settled in 2020, in comparison to those settled in 2021, resulting in an increase in cash provided by operating activities.

The above factors were offset by an increase in net cash provided by operating activities due to the following:

the receipt of a dividend distribution from DNK of $13.4 million, after withholding tax of $4.5 million.
a net increase of $8.2 million in cash provided by operating activities due to the decrease in administrative expenses and administrative income,
a $5.4 million decrease in drydocking expenses and
a $9.9 million decrease in interest expense primarily as a result of debt repayments on the Company's fixed and floating rate facilities.

Net cash used in investing activities

Net cash used in investing activities of $363.1 million in 2021 comprised mainly of:

55


additions to newbuildings, vessels and equipment of $462.4 million, consisting of $276.3 million in respect of the four newbuildings delivered in the period and the installments paid for the six remaining newbuilding contracts, $180.9 million paid for the acquisition of two 2019-built VLCCs and $5.2 million paid for various vessel upgrades, and
$0.4 million in relation to the purchase of marketable securities.

This was offset by:

$80.0 million proceeds from the sale of two LR2 tankers,
$14.1 million proceeds from the sale of marketable securities, and
a $5.6 million settlement in relation to the sale of Seateam Management in October 2020.

Net cash used in investing activities of $716.0 million in 2020 comprised mainly of:

$533.8 million paid for the purchase of 10 Suezmax tankers upon closing of the Acquisition,
additions to newbuildings, vessels and equipment of $190.6 million, consisting of $164.7 million in respect of the two vessels delivered in the period and the installments paid for the four remaining newbuilding contracts and $25.9 million primarily due to ECGS additions,
a net cash outflow of $14.1 million in relation to the sale of SeaTeam Management in October 2020,
a $1.5 million outflow on issuance of shareholder loan to TFG, and
$0.8 million in relation to the share purchase in Clean Marine.

This was partially offset by $24.7 million net proceeds from the sale of one vessel previously held as investment in finance lease.


Net cash provided by financing activities

Net cash provided by financing activities in 2021 of $223.6 million was primarily due to:

debt drawdowns of $403.9 million, and
the issuance of 5,838,658 new ordinary shares as part of the Company's ATM program and options exercise which generated net proceeds of $52.4 million.

These items were partially offset by:

debt repayments of $219.5 million,
debt fees paid of $8.1 million, and
finance lease repayments of $5.2 million.

Net cash provided by financing activities in 2020 of $124.2 million was primarily due to:

debt drawdowns of $1,377.0 million, including those that were refinanced in the period,
the issuance of 798,000 new ordinary shares as part of options exercise which generated net proceeds of $5.8 million, and
a $3.2 million compensation receipt in relation to the termination of the finance lease of one VLCC with SFL.

These items were partially offset by:
dividend payments of $312.4 million,
debt repayments of $921.8 million, including those that were refinanced in the period,
finance lease repayments of $11.2 million, and
debt fees paid of $16.5 million.


Equity

In June 2020, the Company entered into an Equity Distribution Agreement with Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC for the offer and sale of up to $100.0 million of common shares of the Company through an ATM program. In the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company issued 5,499,658 shares for combined gross proceeds of $51.2 million.

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In the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company issued 339,000 ordinary shares under its share option scheme at a strike price of $5.70 per share. The shares were issued to John Fredriksen (198,000 shares), Inger M. Klemp (120,000 shares), and Ola Lorentzon (21,000 shares). See Note 25 for further details.

In the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company issued 798,000 ordinary shares under its share option scheme to Robert Hvide Macleod at a strike share price of $7.30 per share. See Note 25 for further details.

Borrowing Activities

$250.7 million term loan facility
In November 2020, the Company entered into a senior secured term loan facility with a number of banks in an amount of up to $250.7 million to refinance the $466.5 million loan facility maturing in April 2021. The new facility matures in May 2025, carries an interest rate of LIBOR plus a margin of 190 basis points and has an amortization profile of 18 years counting as from delivery date from the yard. In November 2020, the Company drew down $250.7 million and repaid the outstanding balance of the original facility of $252.4 million. The facility is fully drawn down as of December 31, 2021. In the year ended December 31, 2021, the sale of two LR2 tankers resulted in a prepayment of $46.5 million under the facility.

$50.0 million term loan facility
In May 2020, the Company signed a restated and amended senior secured term loan facility with Nordea in an amount of up to $50.0 million to refinance the $60.6 million loan facility maturing in March 2021. The new facility matures in March 2023, carries an interest rate of LIBOR plus a margin of 190 basis points and has an amortization profile of 20 years. In July 2020, the Company drew down $45.0 million and repaid the outstanding balance of the original facility of $42.4 million. The facility is fully drawn down as of December 31, 2021.

$328.6 million term loan facility
In July 2020, the Company entered into a senior secured term loan facility with a number of banks in an amount of up to $328.6 million to refinance the $500.1 million loan facility maturing in December 2020. The new facility matures in February 2023, carries an interest rate of LIBOR plus a margin of 190 basis points and has an amortization profile of 18 years counting as from delivery date from the yard. In July 2020, the Company drew down $328.6 million and repaid the outstanding balance of the original facility of $328.6 million. The facility is fully drawn down as of December 31, 2021.

$275.0 million revolving credit facility
In June 2016, the Company signed a $275.0 million senior unsecured facility agreement with an affiliate of Hemen, the Company's largest shareholder. The $275.0 million facility carries an interest rate of 6.25%. The original facility was available to the Company for a period of 18 months from the first utilization date and was repayable in full on the 18 month anniversary of the first utilization date. There were no scheduled loan repayments before this date. The facility does not include any financial covenants and will be used to part finance the Company's current newbuilding program, partially finance potential acquisitions of newbuildings or vessels on the water and for general corporate purposes.

The Company repaid $60.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2020 and up to $215.0 million remained available and undrawn under this facility as of December 31, 2020. In February 2021, the Company extended the terms of the facility by 12 months. Following the extension, the facility was repayable in May 2022. $60.0 million of the extended facility was recorded as long-term debt as of December 31, 2020.

In November 2021, the Company extended the terms of the facility by 12 months to May 2023. In the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company drew down $149.7 million under the facility to finance installments for the six VLCCs under construction, the deposits on two 2019 built VLCCs and for general corporate purposes. $65.3 million remains available and undrawn under this facility as of December 31, 2021. The balance outstanding is included in long-term debt as of December 31, 2021.

$100.8 million term loan facility
In November 2020, the Company entered into a senior secured term loan facility with ING and Credit Suisse in an amount of up to $100.8 million to refinance the $109.2 million loan facility maturing in June 2021. The new facility matures in November 2025, carries an interest rate of LIBOR plus a margin of 190 basis points and has an amortization profile of 17 years counting as from delivery date from yard. In November 2020, the Company drew down $100.8 million and repaid the outstanding balance of the original facility of $84.3 million. The facility is fully drawn down as of December 31, 2021.

$328.4 million term loan facility
In August 2016, the Company signed a senior secured term loan facility in an amount of up to $328.4 million with China Exim Bank. The facility matures in 2029, carries an interest rate of LIBOR plus a margin in line with the Company's other facilities
57


and has an amortization profile of 18 years. The Company drew down $109.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2016 in connection with one LR2 tanker and two Suezmax tanker newbuildings, which were delivered in the year. The Company drew down a further $165.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2017 in connection with two Suezmax tankers and three LR2/Aframax tankers delivered in the year. The facility is fully drawn down as of December 31, 2021.

$110.5 million term loan facility (Credit Suisse)
In December 2016, the Company signed a senior secured term loan facility in an amount of up to $110.5 million with Credit Suisse. The facility matures in 2023, carries an interest rate of LIBOR plus a margin of 190 basis points and has an amortization profile of 18 years. The Company drew down $54.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2017 in connection with one VLCC delivered in the period. The Company drew down $54.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2018 in connection with one VLCC delivered in the period. The Company extended the facility by $15.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2019. The facility is fully drawn down as of December 31, 2021.

$321.6 million term loan facility
In February 2017, the Company signed a second senior secured term loan facility in an amount of up to $321.6 million. The facility provided by China Exim Bank is insured by China Export and Credit Insurance Corporation. The facility matures in 2033, carries an interest rate of LIBOR plus a margin in line with the Company's other credit facilities and has an amortization profile of 15 years. The Company drew down $252.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2017 in connection with four Suezmax tankers and three LR2/Aframax tankers delivered in the period. The Company drew down $32.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2018 in connection with one LR2 tanker delivered in the period. The facility is fully drawn down as of December 31, 2021.

$110.5 million term loan facility (Credit Suisse #2)
In June 2017, the Company signed a senior secured term loan facility in an amount of up to $110.5 million with Credit Suisse. The facility matures in 2024, carries an interest rate of LIBOR plus a margin of 190 basis points and has an amortization profile of 18 years. The Company drew down $54.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2018 in connection with one VLCC delivered in the period. The Company drew down $55.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2019 in connection with one VLCC delivered in the period. The Company extended the facility by $15.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2019. The facility is fully drawn down as of December 31, 2021.

$110.5 million term loan facility (ING)
In June 2017, the Company signed a senior secured term loan facility in an amount of up to $110.5 million with ING. The facility matures in 2023, carries an interest rate of LIBOR plus a margin of 190 basis points and has an amortization profile of 18 years. The Company drew down $55.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2017 in connection with one VLCC delivered in the period. The Company drew down $55.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2019 in connection with one VLCC delivered in the period. The Company extended the facility by $4.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2019 and drew down the $4.1 million in connection with the installation of an EGCS on the VLCC delivered in the period. The facility is fully drawn down as of December 31, 2021.

$544.0 million lease financing
In March 2020, the Company signed a sale-and-leaseback agreement in an amount of $544.0 million with ICBCL to finance the cash amount payable upon closing of the Acquisition, which took place on March 16, 2020. The lease financing has a tenor of seven years, carries an interest rate of LIBOR plus a margin of 230 basis points, has an amortization profile of 17.8 years and includes purchase options for the Company throughout the term with a purchase obligation at the end of the term. The Company is precluded from accounting for the sale of the vessels due to the purchase obligation at the end of the term which prevents the lessor from obtaining control of the vessels and as such the lease has been accounted for as a secured borrowing, with the vessels recorded under "Vessels and equipment, net". The facility is fully drawn down as of December 31, 2021.

$42.9 million term loan facility
In November 2019, the Company signed a senior secured term loan facility in an amount of up to $42.9 million with Credit Suisse to partially finance the delivery of one Suezmax tanker. The facility matures five years after the vessel's delivery date, carries an interest rate of LIBOR plus a margin of 190 basis points and has an amortization profile of 18 years. In May 2020, the Company drew down $42.9 million under the facility in connection with the delivery of one Suezmax tanker. The facility is fully drawn down as of December 31, 2021.

$62.5 million term loan facility
In May 2020, the Company signed a senior secured term loan facility in an amount of up to $62.5 million with Crédit Agricole to partially finance the delivery of one VLCC. The facility matures five years after the vessel's delivery date, carries an interest rate of LIBOR plus a margin of 190 basis points and has an amortization profile of 18 years. In June 2020, the Company drew
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down $62.5 million under the facility in connection with the delivery of one VLCC. The facility is fully drawn down as of December 31, 2021.

$133.7 million term loan facility
In November 2020, the Company entered into a senior secured term loan facility with CEXIM and Sinosure in an amount of up to $133.7 million to partially finance four LR2 tanker newbuildings. The facility has a tenor of 12 years, carries an interest rate of LIBOR plus a margin in line with the Company's other loan facilities and has an amortization profile of 17 years commencing on the delivery date from the yard. The Company drew down $33.4 million in March 2021, $33.4 million in April 2021, $33.4 million in September 2021 and $33.4 million in November 2021 under the facility to partially finance the delivery of four LR2 tankers. The facility is fully drawn down as of December 31, 2021.

$58.5 million term loan facility (SEB)
In September 2021, the Company entered into a senior secured term loan facility in an amount of up to $58.5 million with SEB to partially finance the acquisition of one 2019-built VLCC. The facility has a tenor of five years, carries an interest rate of LIBOR plus a margin of 170 basis points and has an amortization profile of 20 years commencing on the delivery date from the yard. In October 2021, the Company took delivery of the vessel and drew down $58.5 million under the facility to partially finance the delivery. The facility is fully drawn down as of December 31, 2021.

$58.5 million term loan facility (KFW)
In September 2021, the Company entered into a senior secured term loan facility in an amount of up to $58.5 million with KFW to partially finance the acquisition of one 2019-built VLCC. The facility has a tenor of five years, carries an interest rate of LIBOR plus a margin of 170 basis points and has an amortization profile of 20 years commencing on the delivery date from the yard. In November 2021, the Company took delivery of the vessel and drew down $58.5 million under the facility to partially finance the delivery. The facility is fully drawn down as of December 31, 2021.

$130.0 million term loan facility
In October 2021, the Company entered into a senior secured term loan facility in an amount of up to $130.0 million with DNB to partially finance the acquisition of two of the six resale VLCC newbuilding contracts. The facility has a tenor of five years, carries an interest rate of LIBOR plus a margin of 170 basis points and has an amortization profile of 20 years commencing on the delivery date from the yard. The facility was fully undrawn as of December 31, 2021.

$65.0 million term loan facility (ABN)
In December 2021, the Company entered into a senior secured term loan facility in an amount of up to $65.0 million from ABN AMRO Bank N.V. to partially finance the acquisition of one of the six resale VLCC newbuilding contracts. The facility will have a tenor of five years, carry an interest rate of LIBOR plus a margin of 170 basis points and have an amortization profile of 20 years commencing on the delivery date from the yard. The facility was fully undrawn as of December 31, 2021.

$65.0 million term loan facility (KFW)
In December 2021, the Company entered into a senior secured term loan facility in an amount of up to $65.0 million from KFW to partially finance the acquisition of one of the six resale VLCC newbuilding contracts. The facility will have a tenor of five years, carry an interest rate of LIBOR plus a margin of 170 basis points and have an amortization profile of 20 years commencing on the delivery date from the yard. The facility was fully undrawn as of December 31, 2021.

$65.0 million term loan facility (ING)
In December 2021, the Company entered into a senior secured term loan facility in an amount of up to $65.0 million from ING Bank to partially finance the acquisition of one of the six resale VLCC newbuilding contracts. The facility will have a tenor of five years, carry an interest rate of LIBOR plus a margin of 170 basis points and have an amortization profile of 20 years commencing on the delivery date from the yard. The facility includes a sustainability margin adjustment linked to the fleet sustainability score. The facility was fully undrawn as of December 31, 2021.

$65.0 million term loan facility (Crédit Agricole)
In December 2021, the Company entered into a senior secured term loan facility in an amount of up to $65.0 million from Crédit Agricole to partially finance the acquisition of one of the six resale VLCC newbuilding contracts. The facility will have a tenor of five years, carry an interest rate of LIBOR plus a margin of 170 basis points and have an amortization profile of 18 years commencing on the delivery date from the yard. The facility was fully undrawn as of December 31, 2021.

As of December 31, 2021, the weighted average margin on our short-term and current portion of long-term LIBOR denominated floating rate debt was 194 basis points (2020: 196 basis points).

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Secured borrowings
As of December 31, 2020, the Company had entered into a forward contract to repurchase the 1.3 million shares of Golden Ocean in March 2021 for $6.2 million, with the shares recorded in marketable securities pledged to creditors and a liability recorded as of December 31, 2020 within short-term debt for $6.3 million, after adjusting for the effect of foreign exchange. The Company was required to post collateral of 20% of the total repurchase price for the duration of the agreement which was held in Restricted cash as of December 31, 2020. In the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company sold the Golden Ocean shares previously held as marketable securities pledged to creditors. See Note 13 for further details.

Debt restrictions
The Company's loan agreements contain loan-to-value clauses, which could require the Company to post additional collateral or prepay a portion of the outstanding borrowings should the value of the vessels securing borrowings under each of such agreements decrease below required levels. In addition, the loan agreements contain certain financial covenants, including the requirement to maintain a certain level of free cash, positive working capital and a value adjusted equity covenant. Restricted cash does not include cash balances of $67.0 million (2020: $103.5 million), which represents 64% (2020: 100%) of the cash required to be maintained by the financial covenants in our loan agreements. The Company is permitted to satisfy up to 50% of the cash requirements by maintaining a committed undrawn credit facility with a remaining availability of greater than 12 months. The Company did not satisfy any of the minimum cash requirements with a committed undrawn credit facility as of December 31, 2020 because the Company's senior unsecured facility agreement with an affiliate of Hemen was repayable in May 2021 as of this date. In November 2021, the Company extended the terms of the facility by 12 months to May 2023. These amounts are included in Cash and cash equivalents. Failure to comply with any of the covenants in the loan agreements could result in a default, which would permit the lender to accelerate the maturity of the debt and to foreclose upon any collateral securing the debt. Under those circumstances, the Company might not have sufficient funds or other resources to satisfy its obligations. The Company was in compliance with all of the financial covenants contained in the Company's loan agreements as of December 31, 2021.


C.  RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, PATENTS AND LICENSES, ETC.
 
We do not undertake any significant expenditures on research and development, and have no significant interests in patents or licenses.

D.  TREND INFORMATION
 
The oil tanker and product tanker industry has been highly cyclical, experiencing volatility in charter hire rates and vessel values resulting from changes in the supply of and demand for crude oil and tanker capacity. See "Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects – A. Operating Results".

E.  CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

The preparation of our financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires that management make estimates and assumptions affecting the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.

Management believes that the following accounting policies are the most critical in fully understanding and evaluating our reported financial results as they require a higher degree of judgment in their application resulting from the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. See Note 2. to our audited Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for details of all of our material accounting policies.

Goodwill and impairment of goodwill

We allocate the cost of acquired companies to identifiable tangible and intangible assets and liabilities acquired, with the remaining amount being classified as goodwill. Our future operating performance may be affected by potential impairment charges related to goodwill. Goodwill is not amortized, but rather reviewed for impairment annually, or more frequently if impairment indicators arise. The Company may assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not (that is, a likelihood of more than 50 percent) that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, including goodwill. The Company may elect to bypass the qualitative assessment in any period and proceed directly to performing the goodwill impairment test. In evaluating whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, the Company assesses relevant events and circumstances. Examples of such events and circumstances include: (i)
60


macroeconomic conditions; (ii) industry and market conditions; (iii) changes in cost factors that may impact earnings and cash flows; (iv) overall financial performance; (v) other entity specific events such as changes in management, strategy, customers or key personnel (vi) other events and (vii) if applicable, changes in the Company's share price, both in absolute terms and relative to peers.

The Company adopted ASU 2017-04 (ASC 350 Intangibles - Goodwill) at January 1, 2020, which simplified the test for goodwill impairment. Subsequent to the adoption of the accounting update, impairment of goodwill in excess of amounts allocable to identifiable assets and liabilities is determined using a one-step approach, based on a comparison of the fair value of the reporting unit to the book value of its net assets; if the fair value of the reporting unit is lower than the book value of its net assets, then an impairment loss is recognized for the difference. Prior to the adoption of this codification, impairment of goodwill in excess of amounts allocable to identifiable assets and liabilities was determined using a two-step approach, initially based on a comparison of the fair value of the reporting unit to the book value of its net assets; if the fair value of the reporting unit was lower than the book value of its net assets, then the second step compared the implied fair value of the Company's goodwill with its carrying value to measure the amount of the impairment. The Company has one reporting unit for the purpose of assessing potential goodwill impairment and has selected September 30 as its annual goodwill impairment testing date. The process of evaluating the potential impairment of goodwill and intangible assets is highly subjective and requires significant judgment at many points during the analysis.

We estimate the fair value of the Company based on its market capitalization plus a control premium and compare this to the carrying value of its net assets. Control premium assumptions require judgment and actual results may differ from assumed or estimated amounts.

The Company's market capitalization at September 30, 2021 was $1,855.6 million (based on a share price of $9.37) compared to its carrying value of approximately $1,582.2 million. As the fair value of the Company was above the carrying value, the Company concluded that there was no requirement for an impairment.

As of December 31, 2021 the Company's share price had fallen $7.07 per share, and as such the Company concluded that the requirement to complete goodwill impairment analysis was triggered. The Company's market capitalization as of December 31, 2021 was $1,439.0 million (based on a share price of $7.07) compared to its carrying value of approximately $1,652.5 million. The Company reviewed merger transactions in North America with values of over $25.0 million in the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, global deals between public companies of more than $100.0 million in the last three years and global marine transport sector transactions of more than $100.0 million in the last five years and observed average control premiums (based on the one month average share price before the bid) of between 29.3% to 32.2%. Using 30.7% as the average of the range as of December 31, 2021, the fair value of the Company was calculated as $1,880.7 million. As the fair value of the Company was above the carrying value, the Company concluded that there was no requirement for an impairment.

If our stock price declines, or if our control premium declines, this could result in an impairment of some or all of the $112.5 million of goodwill. A share price of $5.79 per share at the end of the fourth quarter would have resulted in the impairment of all of the carrying value of goodwill. A control premium of 7.0% at the end of the fourth quarter would have resulted in the impairment of all of the carrying value of goodwill. Control premium assumptions require judgment and actual results may differ from assumed or estimated amounts. The Company believes that a control premium may be attributable, in part or in whole, to the expected synergies from combining the operations of the Company and an acquirer, particularly in respect of the benefits of operating an enlarged oil tanker fleet and assembled workforce as well as being able to take advantage of an expected reduction in costs from an expansion in scale. Events or circumstances may occur that could negatively impact our stock price, including changes in our anticipated revenues and profits and our ability to execute on our strategies. An impairment could have a material negative effect on our consolidated balance sheet and results of operations.

Vessels and equipment

The cost of the vessels less estimated residual value is depreciated on a straight-line basis over the vessels' estimated remaining economic useful lives. The estimated economic useful life of the Company's vessels is 25 years. Other equipment, excluding vessel upgrades, is depreciated over its estimated remaining useful life, which approximates five years. The residual value for owned vessels is calculated by multiplying the lightweight tonnage of the vessel by the market price of scrap per tonne. The market price of scrap per tonne is calculated as the ten year average, up to the date of delivery of the vessel, across the three main recycling markets (Far East, Indian sub-continent and Bangladesh). Residual values are reviewed annually.

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Impairment of long-lived assets

The carrying values of the Company's vessels or right-of-use assets may not represent their fair market value at any point in time since the market prices of secondhand vessels tend to fluctuate with changes in charter rates and the cost of newbuildings. Historically, both charter rates and vessel values tend to be cyclical. The carrying amounts of vessels held and used by the Company and newbuildings are reviewed for potential impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of a particular vessel may not be fully recoverable. Such indicators may include depressed spot rates and depressed secondhand tanker values. In such instances, an impairment charge would be recognized if the estimate of the undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use of the vessel and its eventual disposition is less than the vessel's carrying amount. The impairment charge is measured as the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the estimated fair value. Fair values may be estimated using discounted cash flows or through estimating the amount to be received if a vessel were to be sold in an arm's-length transaction. This assessment is made at the individual vessel level as separately identifiable cash flow information for each vessel is available. As of December 31, 2021, management determined that, on an undiscounted basis, expected cash flows exceeded the carrying value for each of the individual assets, and no impairment was indicated.

In developing estimates of future cash flows, the Company must make assumptions about future performance, with significant assumptions being related to charter rates, ship operating expenses, utilization, drydocking requirements, residual value, the estimated remaining useful lives of the vessels and the probability of lease terminations for vessels held under finance lease. These assumptions are based on historical trends as well as future expectations. Specifically, in estimating future charter rates, management takes into consideration rates currently in effect for existing time charters and estimated daily time charter equivalent rates for each vessel class for the unfixed days over the estimated remaining lives of each of the vessels. The estimated daily time charter equivalent rates used for unfixed days are based on a combination of (i) internally developed forecasts, and (ii) the trailing seven-year historical average rates, based on quarterly average rates published by an independent third party maritime research service. Recognizing that the transportation of crude oil is cyclical and subject to significant volatility based on factors beyond the Company's control, management believes the use of estimates based on the combination of internally forecast rates and seven year historical average rates calculated as of the reporting date to be reasonable.

Estimated outflows for operating expenses and drydocking requirements are based on historical and budgeted costs and are adjusted for assumed inflation. Finally, utilization is based on historical levels achieved and estimates of a residual value are consistent with the pattern of scrap rates used in management's evaluation of salvage value.

The more significant factors that could impact management's assumptions regarding time charter equivalent rates include (i) loss or reduction in business from significant customers, (ii) unanticipated changes in demand for transportation of crude oil and oil products, (iii) changes in production of or demand for oil, generally or in particular regions, (iv) greater than anticipated levels of tanker newbuilding orders or lower than anticipated levels of tanker scrapping, and (v) changes in rules and regulations applicable to the tanker industry, including legislation adopted by international organizations such as IMO and the EU or by individual countries. Although management believes that the assumptions used to evaluate potential impairment are reasonable and appropriate at the time they were made, such assumptions are highly subjective and likely to change, possibly materially, in the future. Tanker charter rates are volatile and can experience long periods at depressed levels. Future assessments of vessel impairment would be adversely affected by reductions in vessel values and charter rates.


Our Fleet – Comparison of Possible Excess of Carrying Value Over Estimated Charter-Free Market Value of Certain Vessels
 
In "Critical Accounting Policies – Impairment of long-lived assets" we discuss our policy for impairing the carrying values of our vessels. During the past few years, the market values of vessels have experienced particular volatility. As a result, the charter-free market value, or basic market value, of certain of our vessels may have declined below those vessels' carrying value, even though we did not impair those vessels' carrying value under our accounting impairment policy, due to our belief that future undiscounted cash flows expected to be earned by such vessels over their operating lives would exceed such vessels' carrying amounts.

Our estimates of basic market value assume that our vessels are all in good and seaworthy condition without need for repair and, if inspected, would be certified in class without notations of any kind. Our estimates are based on the estimated market values for our vessels that we have received from independent ship brokers and are inherently uncertain. In addition, vessel values are highly volatile; as such, our estimates may not be indicative of the current or future basic market value of our vessels or prices that we could achieve if we were to sell them.

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The table set forth below indicates the carrying value of each of our owned vessels as of December 31, 2021 and 2020. As of December 31, 2021, December 31, 2020 and the date of this annual report, we were not holding any of the vessels listed in the table below as held for sale. We believe that the future undiscounted cash flows expected to be earned by those vessels, which have experienced a decline in charter-free market value below such vessels' carrying value, over their operating lives would exceed such vessels' carrying values as of December 31, 2021.

Carrying Value at Dec 31
 
 
Built
 
Approximate
Dwt.
20212020
VLCCs   
Front Kathrine*2009298,00051.0 54.2 
Front Queen*2009298,00052.7 55.9 
Front Eminence*2009321,00053.3 56.4 
Front Endurance*2009321,00053.4 56.5 
Front Cecilie*2010297,00052.9 55.8 
Front Signe*2010297,00053.1 56.0 
Front Duke2016299,00073.1 72.4 
Front Duchess2017299,00070.9 73.6 
Front Earl*2017303,00084.8 88.2 
Front Prince2017301,00068.0 70.6 
Front Empire*2018303,00087.0 90.3 
Front Princess2018302,00069.1 71.5 
Front Defender2019299,00077.2 80.0 
Front Discovery2019299,00077.9 80.7 
Front Driva2019319,00090.0 — 
Front Nausta2019319,00089.9 — 
Front Dynamic2020299,00090.2 93.4 
Suezmax tankers
Front Ull*2014157,00054.6 57.1 
Front Idun*2015157,00056.9 59.5 
Front Thor*2010157,00040.2 42.7 
Front Loki*2010157,00040.6 43.1 
Front Odin*2010157,00040.6 43.1 
Front Njord*2010157,00038.0 40.2 
Front Balder*
2009156,00039.0 41.3 
Front Brage*
2011157,00042.2 40.0 
Front Crown*
2016157,00049.5 51.5 
Front Challenger*
2016157,00049.5 51.5 
Front Classic*
2017157,00050.3 52.3 
Front Clipper*
2017157,00050.6 52.6 
Front Crystal*
2017157,00052.9 55.0 
Front Coral*2017158,00054.1 56.3 
Front Cosmos*
2017158,00052.2 54.3 
Front Cascade*
2017157,00052.4 54.5 
Front Sparta2019157,00060.2 62.5 
Front Samara2019157,00059.2 61.4 
Front Siena*
2019157,00062.9 65.3 
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Front Singapore*
2019157,00061.9 64.3 
Front Seoul*
2019157,00063.0 65.4 
Front Santiago*
2019157,00062.1 64.4 
Front Savannah*
2019157,00062.0 64.4 
Front Suez*
2019157,00063.0 65.4 
Front Shanghai*
2019157,00061.9 64.3 
Front Silkeborg*
2019157,00062.4 64.8 
Front Cruiser2020157,00063.7 66.0 
LR2/Aframax tankers  
Front Lion
 
2014115,00036.9 38.6 
Front Puma2015115,000 39.0 
Front Panther2015115,00037.0 38.7 
Front Tiger2015115,000 39.0 
Front Ocelot2016110,00037.7 39.1 
Front Cheetah2016110,00037.0 38.3 
Front Lynx2016110,00037.2 38.6 
Front Cougar2016110,00037.2 38.7 
Front Leopard2016110,00037.7 39.1 
Front Jaguar2016110,00038.3 39.7 
Front Altair*
2016110,00042.1 43.8 
Front Antares*
2017110,00042.6 44.3 
Front Vega*
2017110,00042.5 44.2 
Front Sirius*
2017110,00043.0 44.7 
Front Castor*
2017110,00044.1 45.9 
Front Pollux*
2017110,00043.3 45.0 
Front Capella*
2017110,00043.6 45.3 
Front Polaris2018110,00044.3 46.1 
Front Fusion2021110,00047.6 — 
Front Future2021110,00047.5 — 
Front Favour2021110,00048.3 — 
Front Feature2021110,00048.7 — 
3,477.0 3,306.8 
* We believe the basic charter-free market value as of December 31, 2021 for each vessel marked with an asterisk in the table above is lower than the vessel's carrying value. We believe that the aggregate carrying value of these vessels exceeds their aggregate basic charter-free market value by approximately $227.0 million. We refer you to the risk factor entitled "The market values of our vessels may decline, which could limit the amount of funds that we can borrow, cause us to breach certain financial covenants in our credit facilities, or result in an impairment charge, and cause us to incur a loss if we sell vessels following a decline in their market value".

ITEM 6. DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES

A.  DIRECTORS AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth information regarding our executive officers and directors and certain key officers of our wholly owned subsidiary, Frontline Management AS, who are responsible for overseeing our management.
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NameAgePosition
John Fredriksen77Director
James O'Shaughnessy
58Director and Audit Committee Chairman
Tor Svelland54Director
Ola Lorentzon72Chairman and Director
Jens Martin Jensen58Director
Lars H. Barstad51Chief Executive Officer of Frontline Management AS
Inger M. Klemp58Chief Financial Officer of Frontline Management AS

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

John Fredriksen has served as a Director of the Company since November 3, 1997. Mr. Fredriksen was a director of Frontline 2012 at the date of the Merger. Mr. Fredriksen is also a Director of a related party Golden Ocean, a Bermuda company listed on Nasdaq and the OSE whose principal shareholder is Hemen.

James O'Shaughnessy has been a Director and member of the Audit Committee of the Company since September 2018. James O'Shaughnessy served as an Executive Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Corporate Controller of Axis Capital Holdings Limited since March 26, 2012. Prior to that Mr. O'Shaughnessy has served as Chief Financial Officer of Flagstone Reinsurance Holdings and as Chief Accounting Officer and Senior Vice President of Scottish Re Group Ltd., and Chief Financial Officer of XL Re Ltd. at XL Group plc. Mr. O'Shaughnessy received a Bachelor of Commerce degree from University College, Cork, Ireland and is a Chartered Director, Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ireland and an Associate Member of the Chartered Insurance Institute of the UK.

Tor Svelland has been a Director of the Company since August 2020. Mr. Svelland is the Founder and CEO of Svelland Capital and he has 30 years’ experience trading commodities, equities and freight derivatives. Prior to Svelland Capital, Mr. Svelland was the Desk Manager of the dry cargo freight desk, at Trafigura in Geneva, where he was responsible for all physical commodity, commodity derivative and commodity/freight-related-equity trading. 2010 to 2014, Mr. Svelland was the Executive Director of the Oil Desk at Goldman Sachs in London, trading oil and was responsible for the global freight book. Between 2005 and 2010, Mr. Svelland was Head of Commodities and Head of Freight Derivatives at Carnegie and Pareto in Oslo. From 1989 to 2005, Mr. Svelland held various positions within commodity and freight markets across shipping merchants, brokers and charterers, in Athens and Oslo.

Ola Lorentzon has been Director of the Company since May 2015. Mr. Lorentzon was the Managing Director of Frontline Management AS, a subsidiary of the Company, from April 2000 until September 2003. Mr. Lorentzon has served as a director of FLEX LNG Ltd. since June 2017 and is also a director and Chairman of Golden Ocean and a director of Erik Thun AB. Mr Lorentzon was appointed Chairman of the Company in May 2021.

Jens Martin Jensen has been a Director of the Company since March 2022. Mr. Jensen joined Seatankers Management in March 2022, and prior to that he was the CEO of Athenian Holdings. He previously served as Head of Shipping at New Fortress Energy (USA) and prior to that he was a Partner at Pillarstone Europe. From May 2008 to September 2014, he was the CEO of Frontline Management AS. Mr. Jensen has served as a Director of various companies, including 2020 Bulkers Ltd, Frontline Ltd and Flex LNG Limited. Prior to these roles, he was a Partner/Director at Island Shipbrokers between the periods of 1996 - 2004 and held various positions at A.P. Moller/Maersk Group during 1985-1996 in Copenhagen, Mexico City, Tokyo and Singapore.

Lars H. Barstad has served as Chief Executive Officer of Frontline Management AS since October 2020, and as Commercial Director since 2015. Mr. Barstad has close to 17 years’ experience in the wider shipping and oil trading industry, firstly as Director of Imarex Pte Ltd (now Marex) in Singapore. He joined Glencore Ltd in 2007, working in London as head of FFA trading. In 2012 he moved to Noble Group Ltd, heading up their freight derivatives desk in London with a cross commodities mandate. Mr. Barstad holds a BSc in Financial Economics from BI Norwegian Business School.

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Inger M. Klemp has served as Chief Financial Officer of Frontline Management AS since June 1, 2006 and served as principal financial officer of Frontline 2012 at the date of the Merger. Mrs. Klemp has served as a director of Independent Tankers Corporation Limited since February 2008 and has served as Chief Financial Officer of Golden Ocean from September 2007 to March 2015. Mrs. Klemp served as Vice President Finance from August 2001 until she was promoted in May 2006. Mrs. Klemp graduated as MSc in Business and Economics from the Norwegian School of Management (BI) in 1986. Prior to joining the Company, Mrs. Klemp was Assistant Director Finance in Color Group ASA and Group Financial Manager in Color Line ASA, an OSE listed company and before that was Assistant Vice President in Nordea Bank Norge ASA handling structuring and syndication of loan facilities in the international banking market and a lending officer of Danske Bank A/S.

B.  COMPENSATION

During the year ended December 31, 2021, we paid aggregate cash compensation of approximately $1.1 million and an aggregate amount of approximately $0.1 million for pension and retirement benefits to our directors and executive officers (six persons).

C.  BOARD PRACTICES

In accordance with our bye-laws the number of directors shall be such number not less than two as our shareholders by Ordinary Resolution may from time to time determine and each director shall hold office until the next annual general meeting following his or her election or until his or her successor is elected. We currently have four directors.

We currently have an audit committee, which is responsible for overseeing the quality and integrity of our financial statements and our accounting, auditing and financial reporting practices, our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, the independent auditor's qualifications, independence and performance and our internal audit function. In 2018, James O'Shaughnessy was appointed to serve on the Audit Committee. James O'Shaughnessy is the Chairperson of the Audit Committee and the Audit Committee Financial Expert.

In lieu of a compensation committee comprised of independent directors, our Board is responsible for establishing the executive officers' compensation and benefits. In lieu of a nomination committee comprised of independent directors, our Board is responsible for identifying and recommending potential candidates to become board members and recommending directors for appointment to board committees.

Our officers are elected by the Board as soon as possible following each Annual General Meeting and shall hold office for such period and on such terms as the Board may determine.

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

As a foreign private issuer we are exempt from certain requirements of the NYSE that are applicable to U.S. listed companies. For a listing and further discussion of how our corporate governance practices differ from those required of U.S. companies listed on the NYSE, please see "Item 16G. Corporate Governance" or visit the corporate governance section of our website at www.frontline.bm. The information on our website is not incorporated by reference into this annual report.

D.  EMPLOYEES

As of December 31, 2021, we employed approximately 79 people in our offices in Bermuda, London, Glasgow, Oslo, Singapore and China, compared to 84 employees in 2020 and 157 employees in 2019. We contract with independent ship managers to provide technical management services in respect of our vessels.

E.  SHARE OWNERSHIP

As of February 28, 2022, the beneficial interests of our directors and officers in our ordinary shares were as follows:
 
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Director or Officer
Ordinary
shares
of $1.00 each
Options to
acquire ordinary shares
which have vested
Percentage of
ordinary shares outstanding
John Fredriksen*198,000*— 
Less than 1%
James O'Shaughnessy
— — — 
Tor Svelland— — — 
Ola Lorentzon24,000 — 
Less than 1%
Lars H. Barstad— — — 
Inger M. Klemp300,000 — 
Less than 1%
 
* Please see “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions—A. Major Shareholders.”


Share Option Scheme

In September 2009, the Board approved a share option plan, or the Frontline Scheme. The Frontline Scheme permitted the Board, at its discretion, to grant options to acquire shares in the Company to employees and directors of the Company or its subsidiaries. The subscription price for all options granted under the scheme is reduced by the amount of all dividends declared by the Company in the period from the date of grant until the date the option is exercised, provided the subscription price is never reduced below the par value of the share. The vesting periods of options granted under the plan will be specific to each grant. There is no maximum number of shares authorized for awards of equity share options and authorized, un-issued or treasury shares of the Company may be used to satisfy exercised options.

In July 2016, the Company granted 1,170,000 share options with an exercise price of $8.00 per share, reduced for dividends paid of $2.30 per share up until December 31, 2020, to directors and officers in accordance with the terms of the Frontline Scheme. One third of the options vest over one year, one third vest over two years and one third vest over three years. The options have a five year term. In November 2018, the Company granted an additional 180,000 options, all of which were to employees and none were to directors and officers.

In January 2020, the Company issued 798,000 ordinary shares under its share option scheme to Robert Hvide Macleod, former Chief Executive Officer of Frontline Management AS, at a strike price of $7.30 per share.

In July 2021, the Company issued 339,000 ordinary shares under its share option scheme at a strike price of $5.70 per share. The shares were issued to John Fredriksen (198,000 shares), Inger M. Klemp (120,000 shares), and Ola Lorentzon (21,000 shares).

In December 2021, the Board of Directors approved the grant of 1,280,000 synthetic options to employees and board members according to the rules of the Company’s synthetic option scheme approved on December 7, 2021. The synthetic options have a five year term expiring in December 2026. The vesting period is 12 months for the first 27.5% of options, 24 months for the next 27.5% of options and 36 months for the final 45% of options. The synthetic options will be settled in cash based on the difference between the market price of the Company’s shares and the exercise price on the date of exercise, and as such, have been classified as a liability.



ITEM 7. MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

A.  MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS

The following table presents certain information as of March 17, 2022, regarding the ownership of our ordinary shares with respect to each shareholder whom we know to beneficially own more than 5% of our outstanding ordinary shares.
OwnerNumber of shares%*
Hemen Holding Ltd.**79,321,042 39.0 %
Folketrygdfondet11,499,940 5.7 %

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*Based on issued share capital of 203,530,979.

** C.K. Limited is the trustee of two trusts (the “Trusts”) settled by Mr. John Fredriksen. The Trusts indirectly hold all of the shares of Hemen and Greenwich Holdings Limited, the sole shareholder of Hemen. Accordingly, C.K. Limited, as trustee, may be deemed to beneficially own the 79,321,042 Ordinary Shares of the Company that are owned by Hemen and beneficially owned by Greenwich Holdings Limited. The beneficiaries of the Trusts are members of Mr. Fredriksen’s family. Mr. Fredriksen is neither a beneficiary nor a trustee of either Trust. Therefore, Mr. Fredriksen has no economic interest in such 79,321,042 Ordinary Shares and Mr. Fredriksen disclaims any control over such 79,321,042 Ordinary Shares, save for any indirect influence he may have with C.K. Limited, as the trustee of the Trusts, in his capacity as the settlor of the Trusts.

Our major shareholders have the same voting rights as our other shareholders. We are not aware of any arrangements, the operation of which may at a subsequent date result in a change in control of the Company.

B.  RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

See Note 27. to our audited Consolidated Financial Statements included herein.

C.  INTERESTS OF EXPERTS AND COUNSEL

Not applicable.

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

A. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION

See "Item 18. Financial Statements".

Legal Proceedings

We are a party, as plaintiff or defendant, to several lawsuits in various jurisdictions for demurrage, damages, off-hire and other claims and commercial disputes arising from the operation of our vessels, in the ordinary course of business or in connection with our acquisition activities. We believe that the resolution of such claims will not have a material adverse effect on our operations or financial condition.

Dividend Policy

In December 2015, our Board approved implementing a dividend policy to distribute quarterly dividends to shareholders equal to or close to earnings per share adjusted for non-cash items. No dividends were declared in 2021. In August 2020, we declared a dividend of $0.50 per share for the second quarter of 2020. In May 2020, we declared a dividend of $0.70 per share in relation to the first quarter of 2020. In February 2020, we declared a dividend of $0.40 per share for the fourth quarter of 2019. In November 2019, we declared a dividend of $0.10 per share for the third quarter of 2019. The timing and amount of dividends, if any, is at the discretion of the Board. We cannot guarantee that our Board will declare dividends in the future.

B. SIGNIFICANT CHANGES

None.

ITEM 9. THE OFFER AND LISTING

The Company's ordinary shares are traded on the NYSE and OSE under the symbol "FRO". As at the date of this Annual Report, the Company had 203,530,979 ordinary shares outstanding.
 
The NYSE is the Company's "primary listing". As an overseas company with a secondary listing on the OSE, the Company is not required to comply with certain OSE listing rules applicable to companies with a primary listing on the OSE.



ITEM 10. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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A.  SHARE CAPITAL

Not applicable.

B.  MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION AND BYE-LAWS
 
The Memorandum of Association of the Company has previously been filed as Exhibit 1.1 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2013 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 21, 2014, and is hereby incorporated by reference into this Annual Report.

At the 2016 Annual General Meeting of the Company, our shareholders voted to amend the Company's bye-laws to ensure conformity with revisions to the Bermuda Companies Act 1981, as amended, and to update the Company’s bye-laws governing general meetings, delegation of the Board’s powers and proceedings of the Board. These amended bye-laws of the Company as adopted on September 23, 2016, has previously been filed as Exhibit 1.2 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2016 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 16, 2017, and is hereby incorporated by reference into this Annual Report.

The purposes and powers of the Company are set forth in Items 7(2)-(4) and 8(2)-(4) of our Memorandum of Association and by reference to the Second Schedule of the Bermuda Companies Act of 1981 which is attached as an exhibit to our Memorandum of Association. These purposes include acting as a group holding company, exploring, drilling, moving, transporting and refining petroleum and hydro-carbon products, including oil and oil products; the acquisition, ownership, chartering, selling, management and operation of ships and aircraft; the entering into of any guarantee, contract, indemnity or suretyship and to assure, support, secure, with or without the consideration or benefit, the performance of any obligations of any person or persons; and the borrowing and raising of money in any currency or currencies to secure or discharge any debt or obligation in any manner.

Shareholder Meetings.  Under our bye-laws, annual shareholder meetings will be held in accordance with the Companies Act at our registered office in Bermuda or such other location suitable for such purpose (other than Norway or the United Kingdom) at a time selected by our Board. The quorum at any annual or general meeting, save as otherwise provided by our bye-laws, is at least two shareholders present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote (whatever the number of shares held by them), provided however that if the Company shall have only one shareholder, such shareholder, present in person or by proxy, shall constitute the necessary quorum. The meetings may be held at any place, in or outside of Bermuda that is not a jurisdiction which applies a controlled foreign company tax legislation or similar regime. Special meetings may be called at the discretion of the Board and at the request of shareholders holding at least one-tenth of all outstanding shares entitled to vote at a meeting. Annual shareholder meetings and special meetings must be called by not less than seven days' prior written notice specifying the place, day and time of the meeting. The Board may fix any date as the record date for determining those shareholders eligible to receive notice of and to vote at the meeting.

The Companies Act provides that a company must have a general meeting of its shareholders in each calendar year unless that requirement is waived by a resolution of the shareholders. The Companies Act does not impose any general requirements regarding the number of voting shares which must be present or represented at a general meeting in order for the business transacted at the general meeting to be valid. The Companies Act generally leaves the quorum for shareholders meeting to the company to determine in its bye-laws. The Companies Act specifically imposes special quorum requirements where the shareholders are being asked to approve the modification of rights attaching to a particular class of shares (33.33%) or an amalgamation or merger transaction (more than 33.33%) unless in either case the bye-laws provide otherwise. The Company's bye-laws do not provide for a quorum requirement other than 33.33% where the shareholders are being asked to approve the modifications of rights attaching to a particular class of shares, but where the shareholders are being asked to approve an amalgamation or merger, the Company’s bye-laws provide for a quorum requirement of at least two shareholders present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote (whatever the number of shares held by them), or only one shareholder present in person or by proxy, if the Company shall have only one shareholder.

The key powers of our shareholders include the power to alter the terms of the Company's memorandum of association and to approve and thereby make effective any alterations to the Company's bye-laws made by the directors. Dissenting shareholders holding 20% of the Company's shares may apply to the Court to annul or vary an alteration to the Company's memorandum of association. A majority vote against an alteration to the Company's bye-laws made by the directors will prevent the alteration from becoming effective. Other key powers are to approve the alteration of the Company's capital including an increase in share capital, a reduction in share capital, to approve the removal of a director, to resolve that the Company be wound up or discontinued from Bermuda to another jurisdiction or to enter into an amalgamation or winding up. Under the Companies Act, all of the foregoing corporate actions require approval by an ordinary resolution (a simple majority of votes cast), except in the
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case of an amalgamation or merger transaction, which requires approval by 75% of the votes cast (unless the bye-laws provide otherwise). The Company's bye-laws only require an ordinary resolution to approve an amalgamation or merger whether or not the Company is the surviving company. In addition, the Company's bye-laws confer express power on the Board to reduce its issued share capital selectively with the authority of an ordinary resolution.

The Companies Act provides shareholders holding 10% of the Company's voting shares the ability to request that the Board shall convene a meeting of shareholders to consider any business which the shareholders wish to be discussed by the shareholders including (as noted below) the removal of any director. However, the shareholders are not permitted to pass any resolutions relating to the management of the Company's business affairs unless there is a pre-existing provision in the Company's bye-laws which confers such rights on the shareholders. Subject to compliance with the time limits prescribed by the Companies Act, shareholders holding 20% of the voting shares (or alternatively, 100 shareholders) may also require the directors to circulate a written statement not exceeding 1,000 words relating to any resolution or other matter proposed to be put before, or dealt with at, the annual general meeting of the Company.

Majority shareholders do not generally owe any duties to other shareholders to refrain from exercising all of the votes attached to their shares. There are no deadlines in the Companies Act relating to the time when votes must be exercised.

The Companies Act provides that a company shall not be bound to take notice of any trust or other interest in its shares. There is a presumption that all the rights attaching to shares are held by, and are exercisable by, the registered holder, by virtue of being registered as a member of the company. The company's relationship is with the registered holder of its shares. If the registered holder of the shares holds the shares for someone else (the beneficial owner) then if the beneficial owner is entitled to the shares, the beneficial owner may give instructions to the registered holder on how to vote the shares. The Companies Act provides that the registered holder may appoint more than one proxy to attend a shareholder meeting, and consequently where rights to shares are held in a chain the registered holder may appoint the beneficial owner as the registered holder's proxy.

Directors. The Companies Act provides that the directors shall be elected or appointed by the shareholders. A director may be elected by a simple majority vote of shareholders, at a meeting where at least two shareholders entitled to vote (whatever the number of shares held by them), or only one shareholder, if the Company shall have only one shareholder, are present in person or by proxy. A person holding a majority of the voting shares of the Company will be able to elect all of the directors, and to prevent the election of any person whom such shareholder does not wish to be elected. There are no provisions for cumulative voting in the Companies Act or the bye-laws and the Company's bye-laws do not contain any super-majority voting requirements.

There are also procedures for the removal of one or more of the directors by the shareholders before the expiration of his or her term of office. Shareholders holding 10% or more of the voting shares of the Company may require the Board to convene a shareholder meeting to consider a resolution for the removal of a director. At least 14 days written notice of a resolution to remove a director must be given to the director affected, and that director must be permitted to speak at the shareholder meeting at which the resolution for his or her removal is considered by the shareholders.

The Companies Act stipulates that an undischarged bankruptcy of a director (in any country) shall prohibit that director from acting as a director, directly or indirectly, and taking part in or being concerned with the management of a company, except with leave of the court. The Company's bye-laws are more restrictive in that they stipulate that the office of a director shall be vacated upon the happening of any of the following events (in addition to the director's resignation or removal from office by the shareholders):

If that director becomes of unsound mind or a patient for any purpose of any statute or applicable law relating to mental health and the Board resolves that such director shall be removed from office;

If that director becomes bankrupt or compounds with his or her creditors;

If that director is prohibited by law from being a director; or

If that director ceases to be a director by virtue of the Companies Act (as defined in the bye-laws).

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Under the Company's bye-laws, the minimum number of directors comprising the Board at any time shall be two. The Board currently consists of four directors. The minimum and maximum number of directors comprising the Board from time to time shall be determined by way of an ordinary resolution of the shareholders of the Company. The shareholders may, at the annual general meeting by ordinary resolution, determine that one or more vacancies in the Board be deemed casual vacancies. The Board, so long as a quorum remains in office, shall have the power to fill such casual vacancies. Under the Company’s bye-laws, the Board shall at all times comprise a majority of directors who are not resident in the United Kingdom. Each director will hold office until the next annual general meeting or until his or her successor is appointed or elected. The Company may, at a Special General Meeting called for the purpose of removing a director, do so, provided notice is served upon the concerned director 14 days prior to the meeting and he or she is entitled to be heard. Any vacancy created by such a removal may be filled at the meeting by the election of another person by the shareholders or in the absence of such election, by the Board.

Bermuda law permits the bye-laws of a Bermuda company to contain provisions excluding personal liability of a director, alternate director, officer, member of a committee authorized under Bye-law 108, resident representative or their respective heirs, executors or administrators to the company for any loss arising or liability attaching to him by virtue of any rule of law in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust of which the officer or person may be guilty. Bermuda law also grants companies the power generally to indemnify directors, alternate directors and officers of the Company and any members of a committee authorized under Bye-law 108, resident representatives or their respective heirs, executors or administrators if any such person was or is a party or threatened to be made a party to a threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director, alternate director or officer of the Company or member of a committee authorized under Bye-law 108, resident representative or their respective heirs, executors or administrators or was serving in a similar capacity for another entity at the company's request.

The Company's bye-laws do not prohibit a director from being a party to, or otherwise having an interest in, any transaction or arrangement with the Company or in which the Company is otherwise interested. The Company's bye-laws provide that a director who has an interest in any transaction or arrangement with the Company and who has complied with the provisions of the Companies Act and with its bye-laws with regard to disclosure of such interest shall be taken into account in ascertaining whether a quorum is present, and will be entitled to vote in respect of any transaction or arrangement in which he is so interested. The Company's bye-laws provide its Board the authority to exercise all of the powers of the Company to borrow money and to mortgage or charge all or any part of our property and assets as collateral security for any debt, liability or obligation. The Company's directors are not required to retire because of their age, and the directors are not required to be holders of the Company's ordinary shares. Directors serve for one year terms, and shall serve until re-elected or until their successors are appointed at the next annual general meeting.  The Company's bye-laws provide that no director, alternate director, officer, person or member of a committee, if any, resident representative, or his or her heirs, executors or administrators, which we refer to collectively as an indemnitee, is liable for the acts, receipts, neglects, or defaults of any other such person or any person involved in our formation, or for any loss or expense incurred by us through the insufficiency or deficiency of title to any property acquired by us, or for the insufficiency of deficiency of any security in or upon which any of our monies shall be invested, or for any loss or damage arising from the bankruptcy, insolvency, or tortious act of any person with whom any monies, securities, or effects shall be deposited, or for any loss occasioned by any error of judgment, omission, default, or oversight on his or her part, or for any other loss, damage or misfortune whatever which shall happen in relation to the execution of his or her duties, or supposed duties, to us or otherwise in relation thereto. Each indemnitee will be indemnified and held harmless out of our funds to the fullest extent permitted by Bermuda law against all liabilities, loss, damage or expense (including but not limited to liabilities under contract, tort and statute or any applicable foreign law or regulation and all reasonable legal and other costs and expenses properly payable) incurred or suffered by him or her as such director, alternate director, officer, person or committee member or resident representative (or in his or her reasonable belief that he is acting as any of the above). In addition, each indemnitee shall be indemnified against all liabilities incurred in defending any proceedings, whether civil or criminal, in which judgment is given in such indemnitee's favor, or in which he is acquitted, or in connection with any application under the Companies Acts in which relief from liability is granted to him by the court. The Company is authorized to purchase insurance to cover any liability it may incur under the indemnification provisions of its bye-laws.

Dividends.  Holders of ordinary shares are entitled to receive dividend and distribution payments, pro rata based on the number of ordinary shares held, when, as and if declared by the Board, in its sole discretion. Any future dividends declared will be at the discretion of the Board and will depend upon our financial condition, earnings and other factors.

As a Bermuda exempted company, we are subject to Bermuda law relating to the payment of dividends. We may not pay any dividends if, at the time the dividend is declared or at the time the dividend is paid, there are reasonable grounds for believing that, after giving effect to that payment;

we will not be able to pay our liabilities as they fall due; or
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the realizable value of our assets is less than our liabilities.

In addition, since we are a holding company with no material assets, and conduct our operations through subsidiaries, our ability to pay any dividends to shareholders will depend on our subsidiaries' distributing to us their earnings and cash flow. Some of our loan agreements currently limit or prohibit our subsidiaries' ability to make distributions to us and our ability to make distributions to our shareholders.

Oslo Stock Exchange. The Company's bye-laws provide that any person, other than its registrar, who acquires or disposes of an interest in shares which triggers a notice requirement of the Oslo Stock Exchange must notify the Company's registrar immediately of such acquisition or disposal and the resulting interest of that person in shares. There are no limitations on the right of non-Bermudians or non-residents of Bermuda to hold or vote our ordinary shares.

The Company's bye-laws require the Company to provide notice to the OSE if a person resident for tax purposes in Norway (or such other jurisdiction as the Board may nominate from time to time) is found to hold 50% or more of the Company's aggregate issued share capital, or holds shares with 50% or more of the outstanding voting power, other than the Company's registrar. The Company's bye-laws also require it to comply with requirements that the OSE may impose from time to time relating to notification of the OSE in the event of specified changes in the ownership of the Company's ordinary shares.

Shares and preemptive rights. Subject to certain balance sheet restrictions, the Companies Act permits a company to purchase its own shares if it is able to do so without becoming cash flow insolvent as a result. The restrictions are that the par value of the share must be charged against the company's issued share capital account or a company fund which is available for dividend or distribution or be paid for out of the proceeds of a fresh issue of shares. Any premium paid on the repurchase of shares must be charged to the company's current share premium account or charged to a company fund which is available for dividend or distribution. The Companies Act does not impose any requirement that the directors shall make a general offer to all shareholders to purchase their shares pro rata to their respective shareholdings. The Company's bye-laws do not contain any specific rules regarding the procedures to be followed by the Company when purchasing its own shares, and consequently the primary source of the Company's obligations to shareholders when the Company tenders for its shares will be the rules of the listing exchanges on which the Company's shares are listed.

The Companies Act and our bye-laws do not confer any pre-emptive, redemption, conversion or sinking fund rights attached to our ordinary shares. Holders of ordinary shares are entitled to one vote per share on all matters submitted to a vote of holders of ordinary shares. Unless a different majority is required by law or by our bye-laws, resolutions to be approved by holders of ordinary shares require approval by a simple majority of votes cast at a meeting at which a quorum is present.

Bye-law 19 specifically provides that the issuance of more shares ranking pari passu with the shares in issue shall not constitute a variation of class rights, unless the rights attached to shares in issue state that the issuance of further shares shall constitute a variation of class rights. Bye-law 3 confers on the directors the right to dispose of any number of unissued shares forming part of the authorized share capital of the Company without any requirement for shareholder approval. Bye-law 93 contains certain stipulations regarding the Company's (or any of its subsidiaries') transactions with any of its Principal Shareholders (or any Associate of a Principal Shareholder). When Bye-law 93 applies, the Company is required to send to each shareholder a disclosure statement containing information about the proposed transaction. However, this bye-law provision specifically exempts from this requirement the issuance of new shares to a Principal Shareholder for cash.

Liquidation. In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of ordinary shares are entitled to share in our assets, if any, remaining after the payment of all of our debts and liabilities, subject to any liquidation preference on any outstanding preference shares.
 
C. MATERIAL CONTRACTS

SFL

Charter Ancillary Agreements and Amendments

In May 2015, the Company and SFL agreed to amendments to the leases on 12 VLCCs and five Suezmax tankers, the related management agreements and further amendments to the charter ancillary agreements for the remainder of the charter periods. As a result of the amendments to the charter ancillary agreements, which took effect on July 1, 2015, the daily hire payable to SFL was reduced to $20,000 per day and $15,000 per day for VLCCs and Suezmax tankers, respectively. The fee due from SFL for operating costs was increased from $6,500 per day per vessel to $9,000 per day per vessel. In return, the Company issued
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11.0 million new shares (as adjusted for the 1-for-5 reverse share split in February 2016) to SFL and the profit share above the new daily hire rates was increased from 25% to 50%. The Company was released from its guarantee obligation and in exchange, FSL, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company and the chartering counterparty with SFL, has agreed to certain dividend restrictions. In order to make or pay any dividend or other distribution to the Company, FSL shall demonstrate a cash buffer of $2.0 million per vessel both prior to and following such payment, and following payment of the next monthly hire due plus any profit share accrued under the agreement. As of December 31, 2021, the cash held by FSL was $2.0 million (2020: $15.6 million).

As the Merger with Frontline 2012 was accounted for as a reverse business acquisition in which Frontline 2012 is treated as the accounting acquirer, all of the Company's assets and liabilities were recorded at fair value on November 30, 2015 such that estimated profit share over the remaining terms of the leases has been recorded in the balance sheet obligations. Consequently, the Company will only record profit share expense following the Merger when the actual expense is different to that estimated at the date of the Merger. The Company recorded contingent rental income of $3.6 million in 2021 primarily due to the fact that the actual profit share expense payable of $0.3 million was $3.6 million less than the amount accrued in the lease obligation payable when the leases were recorded at fair value at the time of the Merger. The Company recorded contingent rental expense of $14.6 million in 2020 primarily due to the fact that the actual profit share expenses earned by SFL of $18.7 million was $14.6 million more than the amount accrued in the lease obligation payable when the leases were recorded at fair value at the time of the Merger.

We also refer you to “Item 4. Information on the Company -A. History and Development of the Company,” “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects -B. Liquidity and Capital Resources” and “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions -B. Related Party Transactions” for a discussion of other material agreements that we have entered into outside the ordinary course of our business during the two-year period immediately preceding the date of this annual report.

D.  EXCHANGE CONTROLS

The Bermuda Monetary Authority (the "BMA") must give permission for all issuances and transfers of securities of a Bermuda exempted company like ours, unless the proposed transaction is exempted by the BMA's written general permissions. We have received general permission from the BMA to issue any unissued Ordinary Shares and for the free transferability of our ordinary shares as long as our ordinary shares are listed on an "appointed stock exchange". Our ordinary shares are listed on the New York and Oslo Stock Exchanges. The NYSE, which is an "appointed stock exchange" is the Company's "primary listing". Our ordinary shares may therefore be freely transferred among persons who are residents and non-residents of Bermuda.

Although we are incorporated in Bermuda, we are classified as a non-resident of Bermuda for exchange control purposes by the BMA.  Other than transferring Bermuda Dollars out of Bermuda, there are no restrictions on our ability to transfer funds into and out of Bermuda or to pay dividends to U.S. residents who are holders of ordinary shares or other non-residents of Bermuda who are holders of our ordinary shares in currency other than Bermuda Dollars.

In accordance with Bermuda law, share certificates may be issued only in the names of corporations, individuals or legal persons. In the case of an applicant acting in a special capacity (for example, as an executor or trustee), certificates may, at the request of the applicant, record the capacity in which the applicant is acting. Notwithstanding the recording of any such special capacity, we are not bound to investigate or incur any responsibility in respect of the proper administration of any such estate or trust.

We will take no notice of any trust applicable to any of our shares or other securities whether or not we had notice of such trust.

As an "exempted company", we are exempt from Bermuda laws which restrict the percentage of share capital that may be held by non-Bermudians, but as an exempted company, we may not participate in certain business transactions including: (i) the acquisition or holding of land in Bermuda (except that required for its business and held by way of lease or tenancy for terms of not more than 21 years) without the express authorization of the Bermuda legislature; (ii) the taking of mortgages on land in Bermuda to secure an amount in excess of $50,000 without the consent of the Minister of Finance of Bermuda; (iii) the acquisition of any bonds or debentures secured on any land in Bermuda except bonds or debentures issued by the Government of Bermuda or by a public authority in Bermuda; or (iv) the carrying on of business of any kind in Bermuda, except in so far as may be necessary for the carrying on of its business outside Bermuda or under a license granted under the Companies Act.

The Bermuda government actively encourages foreign investment in "exempted" entities like us that are based in Bermuda but do not operate in competition with local business. In addition to having no restrictions on the degree of foreign ownership, we are subject neither to taxes on our income or dividends nor to any exchange controls in Bermuda. In addition, there is no capital
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gains tax in Bermuda, and profits can be accumulated by us, as required, without limitation. There is no income tax treaty between the United States and Bermuda pertaining to the taxation of income other than applicable to insurance enterprises.

E.  TAXATION

The following discussion summarizes the material United States federal income tax and Bermuda tax consequences to United States Holders, as defined below, of the purchase, ownership and disposition of ordinary shares. This summary does not purport to deal with all aspects of United States federal income taxation and Bermuda taxation that may be relevant to an investor's decision to purchase ordinary shares, nor any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, locality or other foreign jurisdiction.

United States Federal Income Tax Considerations

In the opinion of Seward & Kissel LLP, our United States counsel, the following are the material United States federal income tax consequences to us of our activities and to United States Holders of our ordinary shares. The following discussion of United States federal income tax matters is based on the Code, judicial decisions, administrative pronouncements, and existing and proposed regulations issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. Except as otherwise noted, this discussion is based on the assumption that we will not maintain an office or other fixed place of business within the United States.

Taxation of the Company's Shipping Income: In General

The Company anticipates that it will derive substantially all of its gross income from the use and operation of vessels in international commerce and that this income will principally consist of freights from the transportation of cargoes, charter hire from time or voyage charters and the performance of services directly related thereto, which the Company refers to as "shipping income."

Shipping income that is attributable to transportation that begins or ends, but that does not both begin and end, in the United States will be considered to be 50% derived from sources within the United States. Shipping income attributable to transportation that both begins and ends in the United States will be considered to be 100% derived from sources within the United States. The Company is not permitted by law to engage in transportation that gives rise to 100% United States source income.

Shipping income attributable to transportation exclusively between non-United States ports will be considered to be 100% derived from sources outside the United States. Shipping income derived from sources outside the United States will not be subject to United States federal income tax.

Based upon the Company's current and anticipated shipping operations, the Company's vessels will operate in various parts of the world, including to or from United States ports. Unless exempt from United States federal income taxation under Section 883 of the Code, or Section 883, the Company will be subject to United States federal income taxation, in the manner discussed below, to the extent its shipping income is considered derived from sources within the United States.

Application of Section 883

Under the relevant provisions of Section 883, the Company will be exempt from United States federal income taxation on its United States source shipping income if:

It is organized in a "qualified foreign country," which is one that grants an equivalent exemption from taxation to corporations organized in the United States in respect of the shipping income for which exemption is being claimed under Section 883, and which the Company refers to as the "country of organization requirement"; and

It can satisfy any one of the following two ownership requirements for more than half the days during the taxable year:

the Company's stock is "primarily and regularly" traded on an established securities market located in the United States or a qualified foreign country, which the Company refers to as the "Publicly-Traded Test"; or

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more than 50% of the Company's stock, in terms of value, is beneficially owned by any combination of one or more qualified shareholders which, as defined, includes individuals who are residents of a qualified foreign country or foreign corporations that satisfy the country of organization requirement and the Publicly-Traded Test.

The United States Treasury Department has recognized Bermuda, the country of incorporation of the Company and certain of its subsidiaries, as a qualified foreign country. In addition, the United States Treasury Department has recognized Liberia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Singapore and Bermuda, the countries of incorporation of certain of the Company's vessel-owning or chartering subsidiaries, as qualified foreign countries. Accordingly, the Company and its vessel owning subsidiaries satisfy the country of organization requirement.

Therefore, the Company's eligibility for exemption under Section 883 is wholly dependent upon being able to satisfy one of the stock ownership requirements.

Prior to the Merger, the Company qualified for exemption under Section 883 while Frontline 2012 did not so qualify. In addition, the Company currently does not anticipate circumstances under which the Company would be able to satisfy the 50% ownership test described above. The Company’s ability to satisfy the Publicly-Traded Test is described below.

Under the Treasury Regulations, stock of a foreign corporation is considered "primarily traded" on an established securities market in a country if the number of shares of each class of stock that is traded during the taxable year on all established securities markets in that country exceeds the number of shares in each such class that is traded during that year on established securities markets in any other single country. The Company's ordinary shares were "primarily traded" on the NYSE during the 2021 taxable year.

Under the Treasury Regulations, the Company's ordinary shares will be considered to be "regularly traded" on the NYSE if: (1) more than 50% of its ordinary shares, by voting power and total value, is listed on the NYSE, referred to as the "Listing Threshold", (2) its ordinary shares are traded on the NYSE, other than in minimal quantities, on at least 60 days during the taxable year (or one-sixth of the days during a short taxable year), which is referred to as the "Trading Frequency Test"; and (3) the aggregate number of its ordinary shares traded on the NYSE during the taxable year are at least 10% of the average number of its ordinary shares outstanding during such taxable year (as appropriately adjusted in the case of a short taxable year), which is referred to as the "Trading Volume Test". The Trading Frequency Test and Trading Volume Test are deemed to be satisfied under the Treasury Regulations if the Company's ordinary shares are regularly quoted by dealers making a market in the ordinary shares.

The Company believes that its ordinary shares have satisfied the Listing Threshold, as well as the Trading Frequency Test and Trading Volume Tests, during the 2021 taxable year.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Treasury Regulations provide, in pertinent part, that stock of a foreign corporation will not be considered to be "regularly traded" on an established securities market for any taxable year during which 50% or more of such stock is owned, actually or constructively under specified stock attribution rules, on more than half the days during the taxable year by persons, or "5% Shareholders", who each own 5% or more of the vote and value of such stock, which is referred to as the "50% Override Rule." For purposes of determining the persons who are 5% Shareholders, a foreign corporation may rely on Schedules 13D and 13G filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

During the 2021 taxable year, 5% Shareholders owned less than 50% of the Company's ordinary shares for more than half the number of days in the year. Therefore, the Company was not subject to the 50% Override Rule, and therefore the Company believes that it satisfied the Publicly-Traded Test for the 2021 taxable year.

However, the Company may not satisfy the Publicly-Traded Test in future taxable years. In this regard, Hemen, who we believe to be a non-qualified shareholder, currently owns less than 50% of the ordinary shares. If Hemen and other 5% Shareholders hold more than 50% of our ordinary shares, the Company would be subject to the 50% Override Rule for such taxable year unless it could establish that, among the ordinary shares owned by the 5% Shareholders, sufficient shares are owned by qualified shareholders, for purposes of Section 883 of the Code, to preclude non-qualified shareholders from owning 50% or more of the Company's ordinary shares for more than half the number of days during the taxable year. The requirements of establishing this exception to the 50% Override Rule are onerous and the Company may not be able to satisfy them.

Taxation in Absence of Section 883 Exemption

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If the benefits of Section 883 are unavailable for any taxable year, the Company's United States source shipping income will be subject to a 4% tax imposed by Section 887 of the Code on a gross basis, without the benefit of deductions, which the Company refers to as the "4% gross basis tax regime". Since under the sourcing rules described above, no more than 50% of the Company's shipping income would be treated as being derived from United States sources, the maximum effective rate of United States federal income tax on the Company's shipping income would never exceed 2% under the 4% gross basis tax regime.

Gain on Sale of Vessels

Regardless of whether the Company qualifies for exemption under Section 883, the Company will not be subject to United States federal income taxation with respect to gain realized on a sale of a vessel, provided the sale is considered to occur outside of the United States under United States federal income tax principles. In general, a sale of a vessel will be considered to occur outside of the United States for this purpose if title to the vessel, and risk of loss with respect to the vessel, pass to the buyer outside of the United States. It is expected that any sale of a vessel by the Company will be considered to occur outside of the United States.

Taxation of United States Holders

The following is a discussion of the material United States federal income tax considerations relevant to an investment decision by a United States Holder, as defined below, with respect to the ordinary shares. This summary is not intended to be applicable to all categories of investors, such as dealers in securities, traders in securities that elect the mark-to-market method of accounting, banks, thrifts or other financial institutions, insurance companies, regulated investment companies, tax-exempt organizations, United States expatriates, persons that hold ordinary shares as part of a straddle, conversion transaction or hedge, persons who own 10% or more, actually or constructively, of our outstanding stock (by vote or value), persons deemed to sell ordinary shares under the constructive sale provisions of the Code, United States Holders whose "functional currency" is other than the United States dollar, holders required to recognize income for United States federal income tax purposes no later than when such item of income is included on an “applicable financial statement,” persons subject to the “base erosion and anti-avoidance” tax, or holders subject to the alternative minimum tax, each of which may be subject to special rules. In addition, this discussion is limited to persons who hold ordinary shares as "capital assets" (generally, property held for investment) within the meaning of Code Section 1221. This summary does not contain a detailed description of all the United States federal income tax consequences to United States Holders in light of their particular circumstances and does not address the Medicare tax on net investment income, or the effects of any state, local or non-United States tax laws. You are encouraged to consult your own tax advisors concerning the overall tax consequences arising in your own particular situation under United States federal, state, local or foreign law of the ownership of ordinary shares.

As used herein, the term "United States Holder" means a beneficial owner of ordinary shares that is (i) a United States citizen or resident, (ii) a United States corporation or other United States entity taxable as a corporation, (iii) an estate, the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source, or (iv) a trust if (a) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary jurisdiction over the administration of the trust and one or more United States persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (b) it has made an election to be treated as a United States person for United States federal income tax purposes.

If a partnership holds ordinary shares, the tax treatment of a partner will generally depend upon the status of the partner and upon the activities of the partnership. If you are a partner in a partnership holding ordinary shares, you are encouraged to consult your own tax advisor regarding the United States federal income tax consequences of owning an interest in a partnership that holds ordinary shares.

Distributions

Subject to the discussion of passive foreign investment companies below, any distributions made by the Company with respect to ordinary shares to a United States Holder will generally constitute foreign source dividends, which may be taxable as ordinary income or "qualified dividend income" as described in more detail below, to the extent of the Company's current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under United States federal income tax principles. Distributions in excess of the Company's earnings and profits will be treated first as a non-taxable return of capital to the extent of the United States Holder's tax basis in its ordinary shares on a dollar-for-dollar basis and thereafter as capital gain. Because the Company is not a United States corporation, United States Holders that are corporations will not be entitled to claim a dividends-received deduction with respect to any distributions they receive from the Company.
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Dividends paid on ordinary shares to a United States Holder which is an individual, trust or estate (a "United States Non-Corporate Holder") will generally be treated as "qualified dividend income" that is taxable to such shareholder at preferential United States federal income tax rates provided that (1) the ordinary shares are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States (such as the NYSE on which the ordinary shares are listed); (2) the Company is not a passive foreign investment company for the taxable year during which the dividend is paid or the immediately preceding taxable year (which the Company does not believe it is, has been or will be); and (3) the United States Non-Corporate Holder has owned the ordinary shares for more than 60 days in the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the date on which the ordinary shares become ex-dividend.

Any dividends paid by the Company which are not eligible for these preferential rates will be taxed as ordinary income to a United States Holder.

Special rules may apply to any “extraordinary dividend,” generally, a dividend paid by the Company in an amount which is equal to or in excess of 10% of a shareholder’s adjusted tax basis or dividends received within a one-year period that, in the aggregate, exceed 20% of a shareholder's adjusted tax basis (or fair market value upon the shareholder's election) in an ordinary share. If the Company pays an “extraordinary dividend” on its ordinary shares that is treated as “qualified dividend income,” then any loss derived by a United States Non-Corporate Holder from the sale or exchange of such ordinary shares will be treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of such dividend.

Sale, Exchange or other Disposition of Our Ordinary Shares

Assuming the Company does not constitute a passive foreign investment company for any taxable year, a United States Holder generally will recognize taxable gain or loss from U.S. sources upon a sale, exchange or other disposition of the Company's ordinary shares in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized by the United States Holder from such sale, exchange or other disposition and the United States Holder's tax basis in the ordinary shares. Such gain or loss will be capital gain or loss and will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the United States Holder's holding period in the ordinary shares is greater than one year at the time of the sale, exchange or other disposition. Long-term capital gains of a United States Non-Corporate Holder are taxable at preferential United States federal income tax rates. A United States Holder's ability to deduct capital losses is subject to certain limitations.

Passive Foreign Investment Company Status and Significant Tax Consequences

Special United States federal income tax rules apply to a United States Holder that holds stock in a foreign corporation classified as a passive foreign investment company, or a PFIC, for United States federal income tax purposes. In general, the Company will be treated as a PFIC with respect to a United States Holder if, for any taxable year in which such holder held the Company's ordinary shares, either;

at least 75% of the Company's gross income for such taxable year consists of passive income (e.g., dividends, interest, capital gains and rents and royalties other than rents and royalties which are received from unrelated parties in connection with the active conduct of a trade or business), or

at least 50% of the average value of the assets held by the Company during such taxable year produce, or are held for the production of, passive income.

For purposes of determining whether the Company is a PFIC, the Company will be treated as earning and owning its proportionate share of the income and assets, respectively, of any of its subsidiary corporations in which it owns at least 25% of the value of the subsidiary's stock. Income earned, or deemed earned, by the Company in connection with the performance of services would not constitute passive income. By contrast, rental income would generally constitute "passive income" unless the Company is treated under specific rules as deriving its rental income in the active conduct of a trade or business.

Based on the Company's current operations and future projections, the Company does not believe that it is, or that it has been, nor does it expect to become, a PFIC with respect to any taxable year. Although there is no legal authority directly on point, the Company's belief is based principally on the position that, for purposes of determining whether the Company is a PFIC, the gross income the Company derives or is deemed to derive from the time chartering and voyage chartering activities should constitute services income, rather than rental income. Correspondingly, the Company believes that such income does not
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constitute passive income, and the assets that the Company or its wholly owned subsidiaries own and operate in connection with the production of such income, in particular, the vessels, do not constitute assets that produce, or are held for the production of, passive income for purposes of determining whether the Company is a PFIC.

Although there is no direct legal authority under the PFIC rules, the Company believes there is substantial legal authority supporting its position consisting of case law and IRS pronouncements concerning the characterization of income derived from time charters and voyage charters as services income for other tax purposes. However, there is also authority which characterizes time charter income as rental income rather than services income for other tax purposes. Accordingly, in the absence of any legal authority specifically relating to the Code provisions governing PFICs, the IRS or a court could disagree with our position. In addition, although the Company intends to conduct its affairs in such a manner as to avoid being classified as a PFIC with respect to any taxable year, there can be no assurance that the nature of its operations will not change in the future.

As discussed more fully below, if the Company were to be treated as a PFIC for any taxable year, a United States Holder would be subject to different taxation rules depending on whether the United States Holder makes an election to treat the Company as a "Qualified Electing Fund," which the Company refers to as a "QEF election." As an alternative to making a QEF election, a United States Holder should be able to elect to mark-to-market the Company's ordinary shares, which the Company refers to as a "Mark-to-Market election" as discussed below.

Taxation of United States Holders Making a Timely QEF Election

If a United States Holder makes a timely QEF election, which United States Holder is referred to by the Company as an "Electing United States Holder," the Electing United States Holder must report each year for United States federal income tax purposes its pro rata share of the Company's ordinary earnings and its net capital gain, if any, for the Company's taxable year that ends with or within the taxable year of the Electing United States Holder, regardless of whether or not distributions were received from the Company by the Electing United States Holder. The Electing United States Holder's adjusted tax basis in the ordinary shares will be increased to reflect taxed but undistributed earnings and profits. Distributions of earnings and profits that had been previously taxed will result in a corresponding reduction in the adjusted tax basis in the ordinary shares and will not be taxed again once distributed. An Electing United States Holder would generally recognize capital gain or loss on the sale, exchange or other disposition of the ordinary shares. A United States Holder will be eligible to make a QEF election with respect to its ordinary shares only if the Company provides the United States Holder with annual tax information relating to the Company. There can be no assurance that the Company will provide such tax information on an annual basis.

Taxation of United States Holders Making a "Mark-to-Market" Election

Alternatively, if the Company were to be treated as a PFIC for any taxable year and, as anticipated, the ordinary shares are treated as "marketable stock," a United States Holder would be allowed to make a Mark-to-Market election with respect to the Company's ordinary shares. If that election is made, the United States Holder generally would include as ordinary income in each taxable year that the Company is a PFIC the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the ordinary shares at the end of the taxable year over such holder's adjusted tax basis in the ordinary shares. The United States Holder would also be permitted an ordinary loss for each such taxable year in respect of the excess, if any, of the United States Holder's adjusted tax basis in the ordinary shares over their fair market value at the end of the taxable year, but only to the extent of the net amount previously included in income as a result of the Mark-to-Market election. A United States Holder's tax basis in its ordinary shares would be adjusted to reflect any such income or loss amount. In any taxable year that the Company is a PFIC, gain realized on the sale, exchange or other disposition of the ordinary shares would be treated as ordinary income, and any loss realized on the sale, exchange or other disposition of the ordinary shares would be treated as ordinary loss to the extent that such loss does not exceed the net mark-to-market gains previously included by the United States Holder.

Taxation of United States Holders Not Making a Timely QEF or Mark-to-Market Election

Finally, if the Company were to be treated as a PFIC for any taxable year, a United States Holder who does not make either a QEF election or a Mark-to-Market election for that year, who is referred to as a "Non-Electing United States Holder," would be subject to special rules with respect to (1) any excess distribution (i.e., the portion of any distributions received by the Non-Electing United States Holder on the ordinary shares in a taxable year in excess of 125% of the average annual distributions received by the Non-Electing United States Holder in the three preceding taxable years, or, if shorter, the Non-Electing United States Holder's holding period for the ordinary shares), and (2) any gain realized on the sale, exchange or other disposition of the ordinary shares. Under these special rules:
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the excess distribution or gain would be allocated ratably over the Non-Electing United States Holder's aggregate holding period for the ordinary shares;

the amount allocated to the current taxable year and any taxable years before the Company became a PFIC would be taxed as ordinary income; and

the amount allocated to each of the other taxable years would be subject to tax at the highest rate of tax in effect for the applicable class of taxpayer for that year, and an interest charge for the deemed tax deferral benefit would be imposed with respect to the resulting tax attributable to each such other taxable year.

These penalties would not apply to a pension or profit sharing trust or other tax-exempt organization that did not borrow funds or otherwise utilize leverage in connection with its acquisition of the ordinary shares. If a Non-Electing United States Holder who is an individual dies while owning the ordinary shares, the successor of such deceased Non-Electing United States Holder generally would not receive a step-up in tax basis with respect to such stock.

PFIC Annual Filing Requirements

If the Company were to be treated as a PFIC for any taxable year, a United States Holder will generally be required to file an information return on an IRS Form 8621 with respect to its ownership of the Company’s ordinary shares.

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting

In general, dividend payments, or other taxable distributions, made within the United States to a United States Holder and proceeds from the sale or other disposition of the ordinary shares that are paid to a United States Holder within the United States (and in certain cases, outside the United States) will be subject to information reporting requirements. Such payments will generally also be subject to "backup withholding" if paid to a non-corporate United States Holder who:

fails to provide an accurate taxpayer identification number;

is notified by the IRS that he has failed to report all interest or dividends required to be shown on his United States federal income tax returns; or

in certain circumstances, fails to comply with applicable certification requirements.

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, a taxpayer generally may obtain a refund of any amounts withheld under backup withholding rules that exceed the taxpayer's income tax liability by filing a refund claim with the IRS.

Other U.S. Information Reporting Obligations

Individuals who are United States Holders (and to the extent specified in applicable Treasury Regulations, certain United States entities) who hold "specified foreign financial assets" (as defined in Section 6038D of the Code) are required to file IRS Form 8938 with information relating to the assets for each taxable year in which the aggregate value of all such assets exceeds $75,000 at any time during the taxable year or $50,000 on the last day of the taxable year (or such higher dollar amount as prescribed by applicable Treasury Regulations). Specified foreign financial assets would include, among other assets, the ordinary shares, unless the ordinary shares are held through an account maintained with a United States financial institution. Substantial penalties apply to any failure to timely file IRS Form 8938, unless the failure is shown to be due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect. Additionally, in the event an individual United States Holder (and to the extent specified in applicable Treasury Regulations, a United States entity) that is required to file IRS Form 8938 does not file such form, the statute of limitations on the assessment and collection of United States federal income taxes of such holder for the related tax year may not close until three years after the date that the required information is filed. United States Holders (including United States entities) are encouraged to consult their own tax advisors regarding their reporting obligations under this legislation.

Bermuda Taxation
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As of the date of this annual report, we are not subject to taxation under the laws of Bermuda and distributions to us by our subsidiaries also are not subject to any Bermuda tax. As of the date of this document, there is no Bermuda income, corporation or profits tax, withholding tax, capital gains tax, capital transfer tax, estate duty or inheritance tax payable by non-residents of Bermuda in respect of capital gains realized on a disposition of our ordinary shares or in respect of distributions by us with respect to our ordinary shares. This does not, however, apply to the taxation of persons ordinarily resident in Bermuda. Bermuda holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding possible Bermuda taxes with respect to dispositions of, and distributions on, our ordinary shares.

The Minister of Finance in Bermuda has granted the Company a tax exempt status until March 31, 2035, under which no income taxes or other taxes (other than duty on goods imported into Bermuda and payroll tax in respect of any Bermuda-resident employees) are payable by the Company in Bermuda. If the Minister of Finance in Bermuda does not grant a new exemption or extend the current tax exemption, and if the Bermudian Parliament passes legislation imposing taxes on exempted companies, the Company may become subject to taxation in Bermuda after March 31, 2035.

Currently, there are no withholding taxes payable in Bermuda on dividends distributed by the Company to its shareholders.

F. DIVIDENDS AND PAYING AGENTS

Not applicable.

G. STATEMENT BY EXPERTS

Not applicable.

H. DOCUMENTS ON DISPLAY

We are subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In accordance with these requirements, we file reports and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These materials, including this annual report and the accompanying exhibits, are available at http://www.sec.gov.. In addition, documents referred to in this annual report may be inspected at our principal executive offices at Par-la-Ville Place, 14 Par-la-Ville Road, Hamilton, Bermuda HM 08. Our filings are also available on our website at https://www.frontline.bm/. The information on our website, however, is not, and should not be deemed to be a part of this annual report. You may also obtain copies of the incorporated documents, without charge, upon written or oral request to

I.  SUBSIDIARY INFORMATION

Not applicable.

 ITEM 11. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Interest Rate Risk
The Company is exposed to the impact of interest rate changes primarily through its floating-rate borrowings that require the Company to make interest payments based on LIBOR. Significant increases in interest rates could adversely affect operating margins, results of operations and ability to service debt. The Company uses interest rate swaps to reduce its exposure to market risk from changes in interest rates. The principal objective of these contracts is to minimize the risks and costs associated with its floating-rate debt. The Company is exposed to the risk of credit loss in the event of non-performance by the counterparty to the interest rate swap agreements.

As of December 31, 2021, the Company's outstanding debt which was at variable interest rates, net of the amount subject to interest rate swap agreements, was $1,580.8 million. Based on this, a one percentage point increase in annual LIBOR interest rates would increase its annual interest expense by approximately $15.8 million, excluding the effects of capitalization of interest.

Currency Risk
The majority of the Company's transactions, assets and liabilities are denominated in U.S. dollars, its functional currency. Certain of its subsidiaries report in British pounds, Norwegian kroner or Singapore dollars and risks of two kinds arise as a result: a transaction risk, that is, the risk that currency fluctuations will have an effect on the value of cash flows; and a
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translation risk, which is the impact of currency fluctuations in the translation of foreign operations and foreign assets and liabilities into U.S. dollars in the consolidated financial statements.

Inflation
Inflation has only a moderate effect on the Company's expenses given current economic conditions. In the event that significant global inflationary pressures appear, these pressures would increase operating, voyage, general and administrative, and financing costs.

Interest Rate Swap Agreements
In February 2013, the Company entered into six interest rate swaps with Nordea Bank, whereby the floating interest rate on an original principal amount of $260.0 million was switched to a fixed rate. All of these swaps were settled as of December 31, 2021. In February 2016, the Company entered into an interest rate swap with DNB whereby the floating interest on notional debt of $150.0 million was switched to fixed rate. In the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company entered into three interest rate swaps with DNB whereby the floating interest rate on notional debt totaling $250.0 million was switched to a fixed rate. In the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company entered into two interest rate swaps with Nordea Bank whereby the floating interest rate on notional debt of $150.0 million was switched to a fixed rate. The fair value of these swaps as of December 31, 2021 was an asset of $9.7 million (2020: nil) and a liability of $5.7 million (2020: $19.3 million). Credit risk exists to the extent that the counterparty is unable to perform under the contracts, but this risk is considered remote as the counterparty is a bank, which participates in the loan facility to which the interest rate swaps are related. The Company recorded a gain on these interest rate swaps of $17.5 million in 2021 (2020: loss of $18.6 million).



ITEM 12. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES

Not applicable.
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PART II

ITEM 13. DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES

None.

ITEM 14. MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS

None.

ITEM 15. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

a)   Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Management assessed the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rule 13a-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as of the end of the period covered by this annual report as of December 31, 2021. Based upon that evaluation, the principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures are effective as of the evaluation date.

b)   Management's annual report on internal control over financial reporting

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Internal control over financial reporting is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) or 15d-15(f) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the Company's principal executive and principal financial officers and effected by the Company's Board of Directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and includes those policies and procedures that:

Pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company;
Provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with the authorizations of Company's management and directors; and
Provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
 
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Management conducted the evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company's internal controls over financial reporting using the control criteria framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in its report entitled Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013).

Our management with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer assessed the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company's internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Rule 13a-15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as of December 31, 2021. Based upon that evaluation, our management with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that the Company's internal controls over financial reporting are effective as of December 31, 2021.

The effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021 has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers AS, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which appears herein.

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c)   Attestation Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The independent registered public accounting firm that audited the consolidated financial statements, PricewaterhouseCoopers AS, has issued an attestation report on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, appearing under "Item 18. Financial Statements", and such report is incorporated herein by reference.

d)   Changes in internal control over financial reporting

There were no changes in the Company's internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this annual report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

ITEM 16. RESERVED

ITEM 16A. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT

Our Board has determined that Mr. James O'Shaughnessy is an independent director as determined in accordance with the NYSE's listing standards and audit committee financial expert.

ITEM 16B. CODE OF ETHICS

We have adopted a code of ethics that applies to all entities controlled by us and all employees, directors, officers and agents of the Company. We have posted a copy of our code of ethics on our website at www.frontline.bm. The information on our website is not incorporated by reference into this annual report. We will provide any person, free of charge, a copy of our code of ethics upon written request to our registered office.

ITEM 16C. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

The Company's principal accountant for 2021 and 2020 was PricewaterhouseCoopers AS (PCAOB ID 01318). The following table sets forth for the two most recent fiscal years the fees paid or accrued for audit and services provided by PricewaterhouseCoopers AS to the Company.
(in thousands of $)20212020
Audit Fees (a)1,121 1,223 
Audit-Related Fees (b)132 124 
Tax Fees (c)8 46 
All Other Fees (d)4 
Total1,265 1,396 

(a)  Audit Fees

Audit fees represent professional services rendered for the audit of our annual financial statements and services provided by the principal accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.

(b)  Audit–Related Fees

Audit-related fees consisted of assurance and related services rendered by the principal accountant related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements which have not been reported under Audit Fees above.

(c)  Tax Fees

Tax fees represent fees for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning.

(d)  All Other Fees

All other fees include services other than audit fees, audit-related fees and tax fees set forth above.
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The Company's Board has adopted pre-approval policies and procedures in compliance with paragraph (c) (7)(i) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X that require the Board to approve the appointment of the independent auditor of the Company before such auditor is engaged and approve each of the audit and non-audit related services to be provided by such auditor under such engagement by the Company. All services provided by the principal auditor in 2021 and 2020 were approved by the Board pursuant to the pre-approval policy.

ITEM 16D. EXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES

Not applicable.

ITEM 16E. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS

None.

ITEM 16F. CHANGE IN REGISTRANT'S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT

Not applicable.

ITEM 16G. CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Pursuant to an exception under the NYSE 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 NYSE listing standards, which are available at www.nyse.com.  Pursuant to Section 303A.11 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual, we are required to list the significant differences between our corporate governance practices and the NYSE standards applicable to listed U.S. companies. Set forth below is a list of those differences:

Independence of Directors. The NYSE requires that a U.S. listed company maintain a majority of independent directors. As permitted under Bermuda law and our bye-laws, three members of our Board, Mr. Ola Lorentzon, Mr. James O'Shaughnessy and Mr. Tor Svelland are independent according to the NYSE's standards for independence applicable to a foreign private issuer.

Executive Sessions.  The NYSE requires that non-management directors meet regularly in executive sessions without management. We intend to hold executive sessions at which all non-management directors are present at least twice a year. The NYSE also requires that all independent directors meet in an executive session at least once a year. We intend to hold executive sessions at which only independent directors are present at least twice a year.

Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee.  The NYSE requires that a listed U.S. company have a nominating/corporate governance committee of independent directors and a committee charter specifying the purpose, duties and evaluation procedures of the committee. As permitted under Bermuda law and our bye-laws, we do not currently have a nominating or corporate governance committee.

Compensation Committee. The NYSE requires U.S. listed companies to have a compensation committee composed entirely of independent directors and a committee charter addressing the purpose, responsibility, rights and performance evaluation of the committee. As permitted under Bermuda law and our bye-laws, we do not currently have a compensation committee and compensation of executive officers is not required to be determined by a committee composed of independent members.

Audit Committee.  The NYSE requires, among other things, that a listed U.S. company have an audit committee with a minimum of three members, all of whom are independent. Additionally, one member of the audit committee must have accounting or related financial management expertise. As permitted by Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, our audit committee consists of one independent member of our Board, Mr. James O'Shaughnessy, who is the Audit Committee Financial Expert.

Shareholder Approval Requirements. The NYSE requires that a listed U.S. company obtain prior shareholder approval for certain issuances of authorized stock or the approval of, and material revisions to, equity compensation plans. As permitted under Bermuda law and our bye-laws, we do not seek shareholder approval prior to issuances of authorized stock but we do seek shareholder approval to equity compensation plans and to material revisions thereof.

84


Corporate Governance Guidelines.  The NYSE requires U.S. companies to adopt and disclose corporate governance guidelines. The guidelines must address, among other things: director qualification standards, director responsibilities, director access to management and independent advisers, director compensation, director orientation and continuing education, management succession and an annual performance evaluation of the Board. We are not required to adopt such guidelines under Bermuda law and we have not adopted such guidelines.

Quorum. The NYSE “gives careful consideration” to provisions that fix a quorum for stockholders' meetings that is less than a majority of outstanding shares, but in general, the NYSE has not objected to reasonably lesser quorum requirements in cases where the companies have agreed to make general proxy solicitations for future meetings of shareholders. The Company follows applicable Bermuda laws with respect to quorum requirements. The Company’s quorum requirement is set forth in its bye-laws, which provide that a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of shareholders is two or more shareholders either present in person or represented by proxy. If we only have one shareholder, then one shareholder present in person or proxy shall constitute the necessary quorum.



ITEM 16H. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

ITEM 16I. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS

Not applicable.
85


PART III

ITEM 17. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Not applicable.

ITEM 18. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The following financial statements listed below and set forth on pages F-1 through F-52 are filed as part of this annual report:
Consolidated Financial Statements of Frontline Ltd. 
  
F -1
F -2
 
F -5
F -6
F -7
 
F -9
 
F -11
 
F -13

86


ITEM 19. EXHIBITS
 
No.Description of Exhibit
  
1.1*
  
1.2*
  
1.3*
  
1.4*
2.1*
2.2*
4.1*
  
4.2*
  
4.3*
4.4
  
4.5*
  
4.8*
4.09*
4.10*
8.1
  
12.1
  
12.2
  
13.1
  
13.2
15.1
Incorporated herein by reference.
87


101.INS*XBRLInstance Document
101.SCH*XBRLTaxonomy Extension Schema
101.CAL*XBRLTaxonomy Extension Schema Calculation Linkbase
101.DEF*XBRLTaxonomy Extension Schema Definition Linkbase
101.LAB*XBRLTaxonomy Extension Schema Label Linkbase
101.PRE*XBRLTaxonomy Extension Schema Presentation Linkbase
 
88


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.


  Frontline Ltd.
  (Registrant)
   
Date: March 17, 2022 By:/s/ Inger M. Klemp 
   Name:Inger M. Klemp 
   Title:Principal Financial Officer 
89



Index to Consolidated Financial Statements of Frontline Ltd.
F -2
F -5
F -6
F -7
F -9
F -11
F -13
F -1


Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Frontline Ltd.

Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Frontline Ltd. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the related consolidated statements of operations, consolidated statements of comprehensive income, consolidated statements of cash flows and consolidated statements of changes in equity for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). We also have audited the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the COSO.


Change in Accounting Principle

As discussed in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company changed the manner in which it accounts for leases in 2019.

Basis for Opinions

The Company's management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting appearing under Item 15(b). Our responsibility is to express opinions on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.

Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the
F -2


company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Critical Audit Matters

The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (i) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (ii) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.

Goodwill impairment assessment - control premium

As described in Notes 2 and 4 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company’s goodwill balance was $112.5 million as of December 31, 2021. The Company has one reporting unit for the purpose of assessing potential goodwill impairment and has selected September 30 as its annual goodwill impairment testing date. Goodwill is tested for impairment between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount. If the fair value of the reporting unit is lower than the book value of its net assets, then an impairment loss is recognized for the difference. Management estimates the fair value of the Company based on its market capitalization plus a control premium and compares this to the carrying value of its net assets. Management performed its annual impairment test as of September 30, 2021. At December 31, 2021, the Company's share price had fallen from its September 30 share price and as such, management performed an additional impairment analysis. Management concluded that no impairment was required following these impairment tests. In determining the Company’s control premium, management reviewed merger transactions in North America with values of over $25.0 million in the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, global deals between public companies above $100.0 million in the last three years and global marine transport sector transactions above $100.0 million in the last five years.

The principal considerations for our determination that performing procedures relating to the goodwill impairment assessment - control premium is a critical audit matter are that there was significant judgment by management when estimating the control premium used in determining the fair value of the Company. This in turn led to a high degree of auditor judgment, subjectivity, and effort in performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence obtained related to significant assumptions in management’s control premium used. In addition, the audit effort involved the use of professionals with specialized skill and knowledge to assist in performing these procedures and evaluating the audit evidence obtained.

Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on the consolidated financial statements. These procedures included testing the effectiveness of controls over management's goodwill impairment assessment, including controls over the estimation of the control premium. These procedures also included, among others, testing management’s process for estimating the control premium; testing the completeness and accuracy of underlying data used in the estimate of the control premium; and evaluating the significant assumptions used by management in developing the control premium estimate, including data from historical merger transactions. Evaluating management’s significant assumptions related to the control premium involved i) developing our independent expectation of the control premium and ii) evaluating whether the assumptions used by management were reasonable considering the underlying external market and industry data used to develop the control premium. Professionals with specialized skills and knowledge were used to assist in the evaluation of management’s control premium assumption.

Impairment assessment for long-lived assets held and used

As described in Notes 2, 16, 17 and 18 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company’s newbuildings, vessels and equipment, net, and vessels and equipment under finance lease, net, were $130.6 million, $3,477.8 million and $44.9 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2021, collectively “long-lived assets held and used by the Company”. The carrying amounts of long-lived assets held and used by the Company are reviewed for potential impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of a particular vessel may not be fully recoverable. Management assesses recoverability of the carrying value of each asset or newbuildings on an individual basis by estimating the future undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the asset. In developing estimates of future undiscounted cash flows, management must make significant judgments and assumptions related to estimates of future charter rates. Management takes into consideration rates currently in effect for existing time charters and estimated daily time charter equivalent rates for each vessel class for the unfixed days over the estimated remaining lives of each of the vessels. The estimated daily time charter equivalent rates used for unfixed days are based on a combination of internally developed forecasts and the trailing seven years historical average
F -3


rates. As at December 31, 2021, management determined that, on an undiscounted basis, expected cash flows exceeded the carrying value for each of the individual assets, and no impairment was indicated.

The principal considerations for our determination that performing procedures relating to the impairment assessment for long-lived assets held and used by the Company is a critical audit matter are the significant judgment by management in estimating future charter rates. This in turn led to a high degree of auditor judgment, effort and subjectivity in performing procedures to evaluate the assumptions used by management.

Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on the consolidated financial statements. These procedures included testing the effectiveness of controls related to management’s impairment assessment for long-lived assets held and used by the Company including controls over the estimation of future undiscounted cash flows. These procedures also included, among others, testing management’s process for developing future undiscounted cash flows; evaluating the appropriateness of the undiscounted cash flow model; testing the completeness and accuracy of underlying data used in the model; and evaluating the significant assumptions used by management, including the estimates of future charter rates. Evaluating management’s assumptions related to the future charter rates involved evaluating whether the assumptions used by management were reasonable considering (i) the consistency with external market and industry data and (ii) whether the assumptions were consistent with evidence obtained in other areas of the audit.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers AS


Oslo, Norway
March 17, 2022

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2012.















F -4


Frontline Ltd.
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019
(in thousands of $, except per share data)
 202120202019
Operating revenues   
Voyage charter revenues (including related party amounts of $2,792, $18,019 and $3,197 for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively)
663,995 1,013,068 887,495 
Time charter revenues (including related party amounts of $132 and $31,046 for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively)
71,236 185,788 35,433 
Finance lease interest income  690 
Other income (including related party amounts of $14,105, $21,093 and $32,037 for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively)
14,150 22,331 33,704 
Total operating revenues749,381 1,221,187 957,322 
Other operating gains (including related party gain (loss) of $5,375, $6,816 and $(1,451) for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively)
5,893 29,902 3,422 
Operating expenses  
Voyage expenses and commission392,697 353,098 395,482 
Related party contingent rental (income) expense(3,606)14,568 (2,607)
Ship operating expenses175,607 183,063 157,007 
Charter hire expenses2,695 9,557 8,471 
Administrative expenses (including related party amounts of $1,386, $1,569 and $1,276 for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively)
27,891 44,238 45,019 
Depreciation147,774 138,770 117,850 
Total operating expenses743,058 743,294 721,222 
Net operating income12,216 507,795 239,522 
Other income (expenses)   
Interest income119 705 1,506 
Interest expense (including related party amounts of $12,149, $10,962 and $19,564 for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively)
(61,435)(72,160)(94,461)
Gain (loss) on marketable securities7,677 (2,491)1,737 
Share of results of associated company(724)(4,424)1,681 
Foreign currency exchange gain (loss)(116)2,035 (26)
Gain (loss) on derivatives17,509 (18,577)(10,069)
Other non-operating items, net18,239 109 403 
Net other expenses(18,731)(94,803)(99,229)
Net income (loss) before income taxes and non-controlling interest(6,515)412,992 140,293 
Income tax benefit (expense)(4,633)14 (307)
Net income (loss)(11,148)413,006 139,986 
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest (131)(14)
Net income (loss) attributable to the Company(11,148)412,875 139,972 
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to the Company $(0.06)$2.11$0.81
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to the Company $(0.06)$2.09$0.78


See accompanying Notes that are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.
F -5


Frontline Ltd.
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019
(in thousands of $)
 
 202120202019
Comprehensive income   
Net income (loss)(11,148)413,006 139,986 
Foreign currency translation gain (loss)28 (130)106 
Other comprehensive income (loss)28 (130)106 
Comprehensive income (loss)(11,120)412,876 140,092 
Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interest 131 14 
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Company(11,120)412,745 140,078 
Comprehensive income (loss)(11,120)412,876 140,092 
 
See accompanying Notes that are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.
F -6


Frontline Ltd.
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2021 and 2020
(in thousands of $) 
 20212020
ASSETS  
Current Assets  
Cash and cash equivalents113,073 174,721 
Restricted cash  14,928 
Marketable securities2,435 2,639 
Marketable securities pledged to creditors 5,835 
Trade accounts receivable, net63,423 40,974 
Related party receivables11,676 13,255 
Other receivables10,109 22,950 
Inventories80,787 57,858 
Voyages in progress38,492 34,705 
Prepaid expenses and accrued income8,899 7,725 
Other current assets3,851 2,729 
Total current assets332,745 378,319 
Long-term assets 
Newbuildings130,633 48,498 
Vessels and equipment, net3,477,801 3,307,144 
Vessels and equipment under finance leases, net44,880 53,518 
Right-of-use assets under operating leases3,914 8,426 
Goodwill112,452 112,452 
Derivative instruments receivable9,675  
Investment in associated company555 1,279 
Loan notes receivable from related party1,388 1,388 
Other long-term assets3,055 7,197 
Total assets4,117,098 3,918,221 
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY  
Current liabilities  
Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt189,286 167,082 
Current portion of obligations under finance leases to related party7,601 7,810 
Current portion of obligations under operating leases (including related party amounts of $685 and $661 as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively)
1,122 4,548 
Related party payables36,250 19,853 
Trade accounts payable2,327 7,860 
Accrued expenses42,836 42,529 
Derivative instruments payable 5,673 19,261 
Other current liabilities7,580 12,418 
Total current liabilities292,675 281,361 
Long-term liabilities  
Long-term debt (including related party amounts of $209,700 and $60,000 as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively)
2,126,910 1,968,924 
Obligations under finance leases to related party40,865 48,467 
Obligations under operating leases (including related party amounts of $2,355 and $3,142 as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively)
3,114 4,177 
Other long-term liabilities992 3,739 
F -7


Total liabilities2,464,556 2,306,668 
Commitments and contingencies
Equity  
Share capital (203,530,979 shares. 2020: 197,692,321 shares. All shares are issued and outstanding at par value $1.00 per share)
203,531 197,692 
Additional paid in capital448,291 402,021 
Contributed surplus1,004,094 1,004,094 
Accumulated other comprehensive income228 200 
Retained earnings (deficit)(3,130)8,018 
Total equity attributable to the Company1,653,014 1,612,025 
Non-controlling interest(472)(472)
Total equity1,652,542 1,611,553 
Total liabilities and equity4,117,098 3,918,221 

See accompanying Notes that are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.
F -8


Frontline Ltd.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019
(in thousands of $) 
202120202019
Net income (loss)(11,148)413,006 139,986 
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation147,773 138,770 117,850 
Amortization of deferred charges5,208 5,624 4,646 
Other operating gains(5,058)(19,763) 
Amortization of acquired time charters(5,045)(4,022) 
Related party contingent rental (income) expense(3,607)14,568 (2,607)
Finance lease payments received 438 15,149 
Gain on sale of subsidiary (6,928) 
(Gain) loss on marketable securities(7,677)2,491 (1,737)
Share of results from associated company724 4,424 (1,681)
Gain (loss) on derivatives(23,262)15,145 11,757 
Other, net432 (4,605)756 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Trade accounts receivable(22,449)21,990 (13,608)
Other receivables7,216 5,989 (8,400)
Inventories(22,929)7,221 2,102 
Voyages in progress(3,787)36,634 (11,902)
Prepaid expenses and accrued income(1,174)3,332 (3,364)
Other current assets(1,128)3,801 6,006 
Trade accounts payable(5,533)(3,841)(9,171)
Accrued expenses(1,911)(35,201)36,342 
Related party balances18,968 (6,587)(5,388)
Other current liabilities135 8,901 3,641 
Other(2,816)2,671 (190)
Net cash provided by operating activities62,932 604,058 280,187 
Investing activities   
Additions to newbuildings, vessels and equipment (including related party amounts of $8,630 and $9,128 for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively)
(462,400)(190,568)(195,972)
Purchase of shares(357)  
Net proceeds from sale of vessel (including related party amounts of $80,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021)
80,000 24,738  
Investment in associated company (750) 
Net cash inflow (outflow) on sale of subsidiary5,625 (14,140) 
Cash outflow on issuance of loan to associated company (1,500) 
Cash inflow on repayment of loan to associated company  3,000 
Proceeds from sale of marketable securities14,074   
Trafigura asset acquisition (533,748)2,401 
Net cash used in investing activities(363,058)(715,968)(190,571)
Financing activities   
Net proceeds from issuance of shares (including related party amounts of $1,932 and $5,825 for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively)
52,447 5,825 98,415 
F -9


Proceeds from issuance of debt (including related party amounts of $149,700 for the year ended December 31, 2021)
403,868 1,376,997 146,007 
Repayment of debt (including related party amounts of $80,084 and $67,809 for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively)
(219,521)(921,751)(185,262)
Repayment of obligations under finance leases (including related party amounts of $5,194, $8,391 and $10,893 for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively)
(5,194)(11,214)(15,228)
Lease termination compensation receipt from related party 3,186  
Purchase of shares from non-controlling interest  (269)
Debt fees paid (including related party amounts of $3,419 for the year ended December 31, 2019)
(8,050)(16,471)(4,119)
Cash dividends paid (312,389)(19,688)
Net cash provided by financing activities223,550 124,183 19,856 
Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash(76,576)12,273 109,472 
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
 at beginning of year
189,649 177,376 67,904 
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
 at end of year
113,073 189,649 177,376 
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:   
Interest paid, net of interest capitalized54,650 67,861 90,602 
Income taxes paid4,986 27 324 

Details of non-cash investing and financing activities are given in Note 29.

See accompanying Notes that are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.
F -10


Frontline Ltd.
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019
(in thousands of $, except number of shares)
 202120202019
Number of shares outstanding
Balance at the beginning of the year197,692,321 196,894,321 169,821,192 
Shares issued on exercise of options339,000 798,000  
Shares issued under ATM program5,499,658  11,037,273 
Shares issued as consideration for Trafigura acquisition  16,035,856 
Balance at the end of the year203,530,979 197,692,321 196,894,321 
Share capital   
Balance at the beginning of the year197,692 196,894 169,821 
Shares issued on exercise of options339 798  
Shares issued under ATM program5,500  11,037 
Shares issued as consideration for Trafigura acquisition  16,036 
Balance at the end of the year203,531 197,692 196,894 
Additional paid in capital   
Balance at the beginning of year402,021 397,210 198,497 
Stock compensation expense(338)(216)438 
Adjustment on repurchase of non-controlling interest   (70)
Shares issued on exercise of options1,593 5,027  
Shares issued under ATM program45,015  87,378 
Shares issued as consideration for Trafigura acquisition  110,967 
Balance at the end of year448,291 402,021 397,210 
Contributed surplus   
Balance at the beginning of year1,004,094 1,070,688 1,090,376 
Cash dividends (66,594)(19,688)
Balance at the end of year1,004,094 1,004,094 1,070,688 
Accumulated other comprehensive income   
Balance at the beginning of year200 330 224 
Other comprehensive income (loss)28 (130)106 
Balance at the end of year228 200 330 
Retained earnings (deficit)   
Balance at the beginning of year8,018 (155,146)(295,118)
Net income (loss)(11,148)412,875 139,972 
Cash dividends (249,711) 
Balance at the end of year(3,130)8,018 (155,146)
Total equity attributable to the Company1,653,014 1,612,025 1,509,976 
Non-controlling interest   
Balance at the beginning of year(472)232 417 
Adjustment on sale of subsidiary (835) 
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest 131 14 
Adjustment on repurchase of non-controlling interest  (199)
Balance at the end of year(472)(472)232 
Total equity1,652,542 1,611,553 1,510,208 
F -11



See accompanying Notes that are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements
F -12


Frontline Ltd.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

1.ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS

Historical Structure of the Company

Frontline Ltd., the Company or Frontline, is an international shipping company incorporated in Bermuda as an exempted company under the Bermuda Companies Law of 1981 on June 12, 1992. The Company's ordinary shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the Oslo Stock Exchange under the symbol of "FRO".

On July 1, 2015, the Company, Frontline Acquisition Ltd, or Frontline Acquisition, a newly formed and wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, and Frontline 2012 Ltd, or Frontline 2012, entered into an agreement and plan of merger, (as amended from time to time, the "Merger Agreement") pursuant to which Frontline Acquisition and Frontline 2012 agreed to enter into a merger transaction, or the Merger, with Frontline 2012 as the surviving legal entity and thus becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. For accounting purposes, the acquisition of Frontline 2012 was treated as a reverse business acquisition. The Merger was completed on November 30, 2015 and shareholders in Frontline 2012 received shares in the Company as merger consideration. One share in Frontline 2012 gave the right to receive 2.55 shares in the Company and 583.6 million shares were issued as merger consideration based on the total number of Frontline 2012 shares of 249.1 million less 6.8 million treasury shares held by Frontline 2012 and 13.46 million Frontline 2012 shares held by the Company, which were cancelled upon completion of the Merger.

Business

The Company operates oil tankers of two sizes: VLCCs, which are between 200,000 and 320,000 dwt, and Suezmax tankers, which are vessels between 120,000 and 170,000 dwt, and operates LR2/Aframax tankers, which are clean product tankers, and range in size from 110,000 to 115,000 dwt. The Company operates through subsidiaries located in Bermuda, Liberia, the Marshall Islands, Norway, the United Kingdom, Singapore and China. The Company is also involved in the charter, purchase and sale of vessels.

As of December 31, 2021, the Company's fleet consisted of 70 vessels, with an aggregate capacity of approximately 12.7 million DWT:

(i)64 vessels owned by the Company (17 VLCCs, 27 Suezmax tankers and 20 LR2/Aframax tankers);
(ii)two VLCCs that are under finance leases; and
(iii)four vessels that are under the Company's commercial management (two Suezmax tankers and two Aframax tankers).

Furthermore, as of December 31, 2021, the Company’s newbuilding program consisted of six VLCCs, which are expected to be delivered during 2022, starting in the first quarter.

2.ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
Basis of presentation
Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The consolidated financial statements include the assets and liabilities of us and our wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated upon consolidation.

Investments in companies over which the Company has the ability to exercise significant influence, but does not control, are accounted for using the equity method. The Company records its investments in equity-method investees in the consolidated balance sheets as "Investment in associated companies" and its share of the investees' earnings or losses in the consolidated statements of operations as "Share of results of associated companies". The excess, if any, of purchase price over book value of the Company's investments in equity method investees is included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets in "Investment in associated companies".

Use of estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Such estimates and assumptions impact, among others, the following: the fair value of the Company used in the goodwill
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impairment test, vessels and obligations under finance leases, the amount of uncollectible accounts and accounts receivable, the amount to be paid for certain liabilities, including contingent liabilities, the amount of costs to be capitalized in connection with the construction of our newbuildings and the lives of our vessels. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
    
Fair values
We have determined the estimated fair value amounts presented in these consolidated financial statements using available market information and appropriate methodologies. However, considerable judgment is required in interpreting market data to develop the estimates of fair value. The estimates presented in these consolidated financial statements are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that we could realize in a current market exchange. Estimating the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination requires the use of estimates and significant judgments, among others, the following: the expected revenues earned by vessels held under finance lease and the operating costs (including drydocking costs) of those vessels, the expected contingent rental expense, if applicable, to be included in obligations under finance lease, the discount rate used in cash flow based valuations, the market assumptions used when valuing acquired time charter contracts and the value of contingent claims. The use of different market assumptions and/or estimation methodologies may have a material effect on the estimated fair value amounts.

The fair value of vessels acquired are valued based on valuations from ship broker companies. The brokers assess each vessel based on, among others, age, yard, deadweight capacity and compare this to market transactions. Time charter contracts acquired are fair valued using an 'excess earnings' technique whereby the terms of the contract are assessed relative to current market conditions and they are recorded at the sum of the incremental or decremental cash flows arising over the life of the contracts.

Principles of consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts for us and our wholly owned subsidiaries. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated on consolidation. The operating results of acquired companies are included in our Consolidated Statement of Operations from the date of acquisition.

For investments in which we own 20% to 50% of the voting shares and have significant influence over the operating and financial policies, the equity method of accounting is used. Accordingly, our share of the earnings and losses of these companies are included in the share of results from associated company and gain on equity interest in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations.
    
Foreign currency translation
Our functional currency is the U.S. dollar. Exchange gains and losses on translation of our net equity investments in subsidiaries are reported as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive loss in shareholders’ equity. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are recorded in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Cash and cash equivalents
For the purposes of the Consolidated Balance Sheet and the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows, all demand and time deposits and highly liquid, low risk investments with original maturities of three months or less are considered equivalent to cash.
 
Restricted cash
Restricted cash consists of cash, which may only be used for certain purposes and is held under a contractual arrangement.

Marketable securities
Marketable equity securities held by the Company are considered to be available-for-sale securities and as such are carried at fair value. The Company records the movement in the fair value of marketable securities in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
 
Inventories
Inventories comprise principally of fuel and lubricating oils and are stated at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Cost is determined on a first-in, first-out basis.

Vessels and equipment
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The cost of the vessels less estimated residual value is depreciated on a straight-line basis over the vessels' estimated remaining economic useful lives. The estimated economic useful life of the Company's vessels is 25 years. Other equipment, excluding vessel upgrades, is depreciated over its estimated remaining useful life, which approximates five years. The residual value for owned vessels is calculated by multiplying the lightweight tonnage of the vessel by the market price of scrap per tonne. The market price of scrap per tonne is calculated as the ten year average, up to the date of delivery of the vessel, across the three main recycling markets (Far East, Indian sub-continent and Bangladesh). Residual values are reviewed annually.

The Company capitalizes and depreciates the costs of significant replacements, renewals and upgrades to its vessels over the shorter of the vessel’s remaining useful life or the life of the renewal or upgrade. The amount capitalized is based on management’s judgment as to expenditures that extend a vessel’s useful life or increase the operational efficiency of a vessel. Costs that are not capitalized are recorded as a component of direct vessel operating expenses during the period incurred. Expenses for routine maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. Advances paid in respect of vessel upgrades in relation to EGCS and BWTS are included within "other long-term assets", until such time as the equipment is installed on a vessel, at which point it is transferred to "Vessels and equipment, net".

Vessels and equipment under finance lease
The Company classifies a lease as a finance lease when the lease meets any of the following criteria at lease commencement:
The lease transfers ownership of the underlying asset to the lessee by the end of the lease term.
The lease grants the lessee an option to purchase the underlying asset that the lessee is reasonably certain to exercise.
The lease term is for the major part of the remaining economic life of the underlying asset. However, if the commencement date falls at or near the end of the economic life of the underlying asset, this criterion shall not be used for purposes of classifying the lease.
The present value of the sum of the lease payments and any residual value guaranteed by the lessee that is not already reflected in the lease payments equals or exceeds substantially all of the fair value of the underlying asset.
The underlying asset is of such a specialized nature that it is expected to have no alternative use to the lessor at the end of the lease term.

When none of these criteria are met the Company classifies the lease as an operating lease.

At the commencement date, Frontline shall recognize a lease liability at the present value of the lease payments not yet paid, discounted using the discount rate for the lease at lease commencement and a right-of-use asset. The right-of-use asset shall consist of all of the lease liability, any lease payments made to the lessor at or before the commencement date, minus any lease incentives received, and any initial direct costs incurred by the lessee. Each lease payment is allocated between liability and finance charges to achieve a constant rate on the balance outstanding. The interest element of the finance cost is charged to the Consolidated Statement of Operations over the lease period.

Two (2020: two) of the Company's finance leases were acquired as a result of the Merger and contain a profit share (contingent rental expense), which was reflected in the fair valuation of the obligations under finance lease at the date of the Merger. Any variations in the estimated profit share expense as compared to actual profit share expense incurred is accounted for as contingent rental income or expense and is recorded in the Consolidated Statement of Operations in the period in which it becomes realizable.

Depreciation of vessels and equipment under finance lease is included within "Depreciation" in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Vessels and equipment under finance lease are depreciated on a straight-line basis from the commencement date to the earlier of the end of the useful life of the right-of-use asset or the end of the lease term. However, if the lease transfers ownership of the underlying asset to the Company or the Company is reasonably certain to exercise an option to purchase the underlying asset, the Company depreciates the right-of-use asset to the end of the useful life of the underlying asset.

Upon termination of a finance lease, any remaining assets and obligations related to the vessel are written off to the Statement of Operations. The net position, including any termination payments, are presented in Other operating gains (losses).

Vessels and equipment under operating lease
The Company as lessee currently has two major categories of operating leases: chartered-in vessels and leased office and other space. The Company recognizes right-of-use assets and corresponding lease liabilities for its operating leases.

The Company has not elected the practical expedient to not separate lease and non-lease components for all of our leases where we are the lessee. ASC 842 also allows lessees to elect as an accounting policy not to apply the provisions of ASC 842 to short-term leases (i.e., leases with an original term of 12-months or less). Instead, a lessee may recognize the lease payments in profit
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or loss on a straight-line basis over the lease term and variable lease payments in the period in which the obligation for those payments is incurred. The accounting policy election for short-term leases shall be made by class of underlying asset to which the right of use relates. The Company has elected not to apply the provisions of ASC 842 to short-term leases.

Where the Company is lessee, operating lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

In determining the appropriate discount rate to use in calculating the present value of the Company’s contractual lease payments, the Company makes significant judgments and assumptions to estimate the incremental borrowing rate, or IBR, as the rate implicit in the Company’s leases cannot be readily determined. The incremental borrowing rate is defined as the rate of interest that a lessee would have to pay to borrow on a 100% collateralized basis over a term similar to the lease term and amount equal to the lease payments in a similar economic environment.

The Company makes significant judgments and assumptions to separate lease components from non-lease components of our contracts. For purposes of determining the standalone selling price of the vessel lease and non-lease components of the Company’s time charters and voyage charters, the Company uses the residual approach given that vessel rates are highly variable depending on shipping market conditions. The Company believes that the standalone transaction price attributable to the non-lease component is more readily determinable than the price of the lease component and, accordingly, the price of the service components is estimated using cost plus a margin and the residual transaction price is attributed to the lease component.

Newbuildings
The carrying value of the vessels under construction, or newbuildings, represents the accumulated costs to the balance sheet date which the Company has had to pay by way of purchase installments and other capital expenditures together with capitalized interest and associated finance costs. No charge for depreciation is made until the vessel is available for use.

Goodwill and impairment of goodwill
Goodwill arising from a business combination, being the value of purchase consideration in excess of amounts allocable to identifiable assets and liabilities is not amortized and is subject to annual review for impairment or more frequently should indications of impairment arise. For purposes of performing the impairment test of goodwill, we have established that the Company has one reporting unit: tankers.

The Company adopted ASU 2017-04 (ASC 350 Intangibles - Goodwill) at January 1, 2020, which simplified the test for goodwill impairment. Subsequent to the adoption of the accounting update, impairment of goodwill in excess of amounts allocable to identifiable assets and liabilities is determined using a one-step approach, based on a comparison of the fair value of the reporting unit to the book value of its net assets; if the fair value of the reporting unit is lower than the book value of its net assets, then an impairment loss is recognized for the difference. Prior to the adoption of this codification, impairment of goodwill in excess of amounts allocable to identifiable assets and liabilities was determined using a two-step approach, initially based on a comparison of the fair value of the reporting unit to the book value of its net assets; if the fair value of the reporting unit was lower than the book value of its net assets, then the second step compared the implied fair value of the Company's goodwill with its carrying value to measure the amount of the impairment. We estimate the fair value of the Company based on its market capitalization plus a control premium and compare this to the carrying value of its net assets. Control premium assumptions require judgment and actual results may differ from assumed or estimated amounts.

The Company has selected September 30 as its annual goodwill impairment testing date. Goodwill is tested for impairment between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount.

Interest expense
Interest costs are expensed as incurred except for interest costs that are capitalized. Interest expenses are capitalized during construction of newbuildings based on accumulated expenditures for the applicable project at the Company's current rate of borrowing. The amount of interest expense capitalized in an accounting period shall be determined by applying an interest rate, or the capitalization rate, to the average amount of accumulated expenditures for the asset during the period. The capitalization rates used in an accounting period shall be based on the rates applicable to borrowings outstanding during the period. The Company does not capitalize amounts beyond the actual interest expense incurred in the period.

If the Company's financing plans associate a specific new borrowing with a qualifying asset, the Company uses the rate on that borrowing as the capitalization rate to be applied to that portion of the average accumulated expenditures for the asset that does not exceed the amount of that borrowing. If average accumulated expenditures for the asset exceed the amounts of specific new borrowings associated with the asset, the capitalization rate to be applied to such excess shall be a weighted average of the rates applicable to other borrowings of the Company.
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Impairment of long-lived assets
The carrying values of long-lived assets held and used by the Company and newbuildings are reviewed whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may no longer be recoverable. Such indicators may include depressed spot rates, depressed secondhand tanker values and issues at the shipyard. The Company assesses recoverability of the carrying value of each asset or newbuilding on an individual basis by estimating the future net cash flows expected to result from the asset, including eventual disposal. In developing estimates of future cash flows, the Company must make assumptions about future performance, with significant assumptions being related to charter rates, ship operating expenses, utilization, drydocking requirements, residual values, the estimated remaining useful lives of the vessels and the probability of lease terminations. These assumptions are based on historical trends as well as future expectations. If the future net undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying value of the asset, or the current carrying value plus future newbuilding commitments, an impairment loss is recorded equal to the difference between the asset's or newbuildings carrying value and fair value. In addition, long-lived assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of carrying amount and fair value less estimated costs to sell.

Deferred charges
Loan costs, including debt arrangement fees, are capitalized and amortized on a straight-line basis over the term of the relevant loan. The straight line basis of amortization approximates the effective interest method. Amortization of loan costs is included in interest expense. If a loan is repaid early, any unamortized portion of the related deferred charges is charged against income in the period in which the loan is repaid. Debt modifications are accounted for prospectively and any applicable new loan costs are deferred and amortized together with the existing unamortized deferred charges as of the date of the modification. Unamortized deferred charges related to debt extinguishments are written off as of the date of the extinguishment. The Company has recorded debt issuance costs (i.e. deferred charges) as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt.

Trade accounts receivable
Trade and other receivables are presented net of allowances for credit losses and doubtful amounts. The Company assesses allowances for its estimate of expected credit losses based on historical experience, other currently available evidence, and reasonable and supportable forecasts about the future, including the use of credit default ratings from third party providers of credit rating data. The Company assesses credit risk in relation to its non-operating lease receivables using a portfolio approach. The Company's main portfolio segments include (i) state-owned enterprises, (ii) oil majors, (iii) commodities traders and (iv) related parties. In addition, the Company performs individual assessments for customers that do not share risk characteristics with other customers (for example a customer under bankruptcy or a customer with known disputes or collectability issues). The Company makes significant judgements and assumptions to estimate its expected losses.

Revenue and expense recognition
The Company recognizes revenue when promised goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled for those goods or services. To do so, the Company performs the following five steps: (1) identifies the contract(s) with a customer; (2) identifies the performance obligations of the contract; (3) determines the transaction price; (4) allocates the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (5) recognizes revenue when (or as) the Company satisfies a performance obligation.

Our shipping revenues are primarily generated from time charters and voyage charters. In a time charter voyage, the vessel is hired by the charterer for a specified period of time in exchange for consideration which is based on a daily hire rate. Generally, the charterer has the discretion over the ports visited, shipping routes and vessel speed. The contract/charter party generally provides typical warranties regarding the speed and performance of the vessel. The charter party generally has some owner protective restrictions such that the vessel is sent only to safe ports by the charterer and carries only lawful or non-hazardous cargo. In a time charter contract, we are responsible for all the costs incurred for running the vessel such as crew costs, vessel insurance, repairs and maintenance and lubes. The charterer bears the voyage related costs such as bunker expenses, port charges, and canal tolls during the hire period. The performance obligations in a time charter contract are satisfied over the term of the contract beginning when the vessel is delivered to the charterer until it is redelivered back to us. The charterer generally pays the charter hire in advance of the upcoming contract period. Time charter contracts, bareboat charter contracts and the lease component in those voyage charter contracts which we consider to be leases are accounted for under ASC 842 Leases, and revenues are recorded over the term of the charter as a service is provided. When a time charter contract is linked to an index, we recognize revenue for the applicable period based on the actual index for that period.

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Certain of our voyage charter contracts contain a lease. Voyage charters contain a lease component if the contract (i) specifies a specific vessel asset; and (ii) has terms that allow the charterer to exercise substantive decision-making rights, which have an economic value to the charterer and therefore allow the charterer to direct how and for what purpose the vessel is used. Voyage charter revenues and expenses are recognized ratably over the estimated length of each voyage, which the Company has assessed commence on loading of the cargo. ASC 842 Leases provides a practical expedient for lessors in which the lessor may elect, by class of underlying asset, to not separate non-lease components from the associated lease component and, instead, to account for these components as a single component if both of the following are met: (1) the timing and pattern of transfer of the non-lease component(s) and associated lease component are the same and (2) the lease component, if accounted for separately, would be classified as an operating lease. When a lessor, we have elected this expedient for our time charter contracts and voyage charter contracts that qualify as leases and thus not separate the non-lease component, or service element, from the lease. Furthermore, ASC 842 Leases requires the Company to account for the combined component in accordance with ASC 606 revenues from contracts with customers if the non-lease components are the predominant components. Under this guidance the Company has assessed that the lease components were the predominant component for all of its time charter contracts. Furthermore, for certain of its voyage charter contracts the lease components were the predominant components.

In a voyage charter contract, the charterer hires the vessel to transport a specific agreed-upon cargo for a single voyage. The consideration in such a contract is determined on the basis of a freight rate per metric ton of cargo carried or occasionally on a lump sum basis. The charterer is responsible for any short loading of cargo or "dead" freight. The voyage charter party generally has standard payment terms with freight paid on completion of discharge. The voyage charter party generally has a "demurrage" clause. As per this clause, the charterer reimburses us for any potential delays exceeding the allowed laytime as per the charter party clause at the ports visited, which is recorded as voyage revenue, as such, demurrage is considered variable consideration under the contract. Estimates and judgments are required in ascertaining the most likely outcome of a particular voyage and actual outcomes may differ from estimates. Such estimates are reviewed and updated over the term of the voyage charter contract. In a voyage charter contract, the performance obligations begin to be satisfied once the vessel begins loading the cargo.

Voyage and other contracts not qualifying as leases are accounted for under the provisions of ASC 606. The Company has determined that its voyage charter contracts that qualify for accounting under ASC 606 consist of a single performance obligation of transporting the cargo within a specified time period. Therefore, the performance obligation is met evenly as the voyage progresses, and the revenue is recognized on a straight line basis over the voyage days from the commencement of loading to completion of discharge. Contract assets with regards to voyage revenues are reported as "Voyages in progress" as the performance obligation is satisfied over time. Voyage revenues typically become billable and due for payment on completion of the voyage and discharge of the cargo, at which point the receivable is recognized as "Trade accounts receivable, net".

In a voyage contract, the Company bears all voyage related costs such as fuel costs, port charges and canal tolls. To recognize costs incurred to fulfill a contract as an asset, the following criteria shall be met: (i) the costs relate directly to the contract, (ii) the costs generate or enhance resources of the entity that will be used in satisfying performance obligations in the future and (iii) the costs are expected to be recovered. The costs incurred during the period prior to commencement of loading the cargo, primarily bunkers, are deferred as they represent setup costs and recorded as a current asset and are subsequently amortized on a straight-line basis as we satisfy the performance obligations under the contract. Costs incurred to obtain a contract, such as commissions, are also deferred and expensed over the same period. Costs incurred during the performance of a voyage are expensed as incurred.

For our vessels operating under revenue sharing agreements, or in pools, revenues and voyage expenses are pooled and allocated to each pool’s participants on a time charter equivalent income, or TCE, basis in accordance with an agreed-upon formula. Revenues generated through revenue sharing agreements are presented gross when we are considered the principal under the charter parties with the net income allocated under the revenue sharing agreement presented as other operating income, net. For revenue sharing agreements that meet the definition of a lease, we account for such contracts as variable rate operating leases and recognize revenue for the applicable period based on the actual net revenue distributed by the pool.

Rental payments from the Company's sales-type lease are allocated between lease service revenue, lease interest income and repayment of net investment in leases. The amount allocated to lease service revenue is based on the estimated fair value, at the time of entering the lease agreement, of the services provided which consist of ship management and operating services.

Other income primarily comprises income earned from the commercial and technical management of related party and third party vessels and newbuilding supervision fees derived from related parties and third parties. Other revenues are recognized over time on a straight line basis using the accruals method as the services are provided and performance obligations are met.

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Other operating gains (losses)
Other operating gains (losses) relate to (i) gains and losses on the termination of finance leases before the expiration of the lease term, which are accounted for by removing the carrying value of the asset and obligation, with a gain or loss recognized for the difference. Gains and losses on the termination of leases are accounted for when the lease is terminated and the vessel is redelivered to the owners, (ii) gains and losses on the sale of vessels, which are recognized when the vessel has been delivered and all risks have been transferred and are determined by comparing the proceeds received with the carrying value of the vessel, (iii) gains and losses on the sale of subsidiary companies, which are recognized when the Company ceases to have a controlling financial interest of the subsidiary, (iv) gains or losses from pooling and other revenue sharing arrangements where the Company is considered the principal under the charter parties and records voyage revenues and costs gross, with the adjustments required as a result of the revenue sharing arrangement being recognized as other operating gains or losses and (v) cash inflows in relation to settlements of claims.

Drydocking
Normal vessel repair and maintenance costs are expensed when incurred. The Company recognizes the cost of a drydocking at the time the drydocking takes place, that is, it applies the "expense as incurred" method.

Contingent rental income (expense)
Contingent rental income (expense) results from the Company's finance leases acquired as a result of the Merger. Any variations in the estimated profit share expense that was included in the fair valuation of these lease obligations on the date of the Merger as compared to actual profit share expense incurred is accounted for as contingent rental income (expense). Any contingent rental expense on operating leases is recorded as charter hire expense. When a lease is terminated, the estimated profit share included with the lease obligation, as calculated at the time of the Merger, is written off to other operating gains or losses in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Financial instruments
In determining the fair value of its financial instruments, the Company uses a variety of methods and assumptions that are based on market conditions and risks existing at each balance sheet date. All methods of assessing fair value result in a general approximation of value, and such value may never actually be realized.

Derivatives
Interest rate and bunker swaps
The Company enters into interest rate and bunker swap transactions from time to time to hedge a portion of its exposure to floating interest rates and movements in bunker prices. These transactions involve the conversion of floating rates into fixed rates over the life of the transactions without an exchange of underlying principal. The fair values of the interest rate and bunker swap contracts are recognized as assets or liabilities. None of the interest rate and bunker swaps qualify for hedge accounting and changes in fair values are recognized in 'gain (loss) on derivatives' in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Cash outflows and inflows resulting from derivative contracts are presented as cash flows from operations in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.

Earnings per share
Basic earnings per share is computed based on the income available to ordinary shareholders and the weighted average number of shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share includes the effect of the assumed conversion of potentially dilutive instruments. ASC 260 defines issued shares that are held in escrow and all or part must be returned if specified conditions are not met as "contingently returnable" and as such are omitted from the calculation of basic earnings per share. Such shares are included in diluted earnings per share.

Share-based compensation
The Company accounts for share-based payments in accordance with ASC 718 Compensation – Stock Compensation, under which the fair value of issued stock options is expensed over the period in which the options vest. If the Company is required under any circumstances to settle the option in cash or other assets, including equity instruments classified as liabilities, then a corresponding credit is recognized in liabilities. If the Company will settle the option with the issuance of equity, then a corresponding credit to additional paid-in capital is recorded.

Dividends received
The Company records dividends received as a credit to income in the period in which they are declared and receivable from investments recorded as marketable securities and interests in mutual associations.


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3.RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

ASU 2020-04 (ASC 848 Reference Rate Reform)
In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04 (ASC 848 Reference Rate Reform), which provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. In January 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-01, which clarified the scope of Topic 848 in relation to derivative instruments and contract modifications. The amendments in these updates are elective and apply to all entities, subject to meeting certain criteria, that have contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions that reference LIBOR or another reference rate expected to be discontinued because of reference rate reform. The amendments in these updates are effective for all entities as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. The Company has determined that reference rate reforms will primarily impact its floating rate debt facilities and the interest rate derivatives to which it is a party. Based on the latest guidance from the applicable LIBOR administrator, the reference rates currently in use are expected to be available until June 30, 2023. The Company expects to agree alternative reference rates with its counterparties before the applicable discontinuation date. We expect to take advantage of the expedients and exceptions for applying GAAP provided by the updates to the extent reference rates currently in use are replaced with alternative reference rates before December 31, 2022.

Accounting Standards Updates, recently adopted

ASU 2016-13 (ASC 326 Financial Instruments - Credit losses)
The Company has adopted this update effective January 1, 2020 using the modified retrospective transition approach. The new standard introduces an approach, based on expected losses, to estimate credit losses on certain types of financial instruments and modifies the impairment model for available-for-sale debt securities. In May 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-05 Codification improvements to Financial instruments-Credit Losses, (Topic 326), which provides an option to irrevocably elect the fair value option for certain financial assets previously measured at amortized cost basis. In April 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-04, Codification improvements to Financial instruments-Credit Losses, (Topic 326), which includes amendments related to the estimate of equity method losses. In November 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-19, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses, which clarifies that receivables arising from operating leases are not within the scope of Subtopic 326-20. Instead, impairment of receivables arising from operating leases should be accounted for in accordance with Topic 842, Leases. The Company assesses allowances for its estimate of expected credit losses based on historical experience, other currently available evidence, and reasonable and supportable forecasts about the future, including the use of credit default ratings from third party providers of credit rating data. The Company assesses credit risk in relation to its non-operating lease receivables using a portfolio approach. The Company's main portfolio segments include (i) state-owned enterprises, (ii) oil majors, (iii) commodities traders and (iv) related parties. In addition, the Company performs individual assessments for customers that do not share risk characteristics with other customers (for example a customer under bankruptcy or a customer with known disputes or collectability issues). The Company makes significant judgements and assumptions to estimate its expected losses. Based on the Company's evaluation, these standard updates have not materially impacted its Consolidated Financial Statements on adoption or as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2021 and the years then ended.

ASU 2017-04 (ASC 350 Intangibles - Goodwill)
The Company has adopted this update effective January 1, 2020, which simplifies the test for goodwill impairment. The accounting update eliminates Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. In computing the implied fair value of goodwill under Step 2, an entity had to perform procedures to determine the fair value at the impairment testing date of its assets and liabilities (including unrecognized assets and liabilities) following the procedure that would be required in determining the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination. Instead, an entity should perform its annual, or interim, goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An entity should recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit's fair value, however the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit. The Company will apply the one step approach in our quantitative impairment assessments henceforth which may result in the recognition of impairment losses sooner as compared to the two-step impairment test. There has been no impact of this accounting standard on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements on adoption or as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2021 and the years then ended.

ASU 2018-13 (ASC 820 Fair Value Measurement)
The Company has adopted this update effective January 1, 2020, which removes, modifies and adds specific disclosure requirements in relation to fair value measurement with the aim of improving the effectiveness of disclosures to the financial statements. The standard update did not materially impact the Consolidated Financial Statements on adoption or as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2021 and the years then ended.

ASU 2018-18 (ASC 808 Collaborative Arrangements)
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The Company has adopted this update effective January 1, 2020, which provides clarity on when transactions between entities in a collaborative arrangement should be accounted for under the new revenue standard, ASC 606. In determining whether transactions in collaborative arrangements should be accounted under the revenue standard, the update specifies that entities shall apply unit of account guidance to identify distinct goods or services and whether such goods and services are separately identifiable from other promises in the contract. The accounting update also precludes entities from presenting transactions with a collaborative partner which are not in scope of the new revenue standard together with revenue from contracts with customers. The standard update did not materially impact the Consolidated Financial Statements on adoption or as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2021 and the years then ended.

ASC 842 (Leases)
The Company has adopted ASC 842 effective January 1, 2019 using the modified retrospective transition approach, which allows the Company to recognize a cumulative effect adjustment to the opening balance of accumulated deficit in the period of adoption rather than restate our comparative prior year periods. Based on the Company's analysis, the cumulative effect adjustment to the opening balance of accumulated deficit is zero because (i) the Company did not have any unamortized initial direct costs as of January 1, 2019 that needed to be written off; (ii) the Company did not have any lease incentives or accrued rental transactions that needed to be recognized; and (iii) the timing and pattern of revenue recognition under its revenue contracts that have lease and non-lease components is the same and even if accounted for separately, the lease component of such contracts would be considered operating leases.

Upon adoption of ASC 842, the Company has recognized right-of-use assets and corresponding lease liabilities of $18.5 million on the balance sheet in relation to our operating leases, which have then been amortized over the remaining lease term. The implementation of this standard has not caused a material change in the Company's operating expenses in the fiscal year 2019. For arrangements where we are the lessor, the adoption of the new lease standard has not had a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

ASU 2018-07 (ASC 718 Compensation - Stock Compensation)
The Company has adopted this update effective January 1, 2019. The amendments in this update expand the scope of Topic 718 to include share-based payment transactions for acquiring goods and services from nonemployees. An entity should apply the requirements of Topic 718 to nonemployee awards except for specific guidance on inputs to an option pricing model and the attribution of cost (that is, the period of time over which share-based payment awards vest and the pattern of cost recognition over that period). The amendments specify that Topic 718 applies to all share-based payment transactions in which a grantor acquires goods or services to be used or consumed in a grantor’s own operations by issuing share-based payment awards. The amendments also clarify that Topic 718 does not apply to share-based payments used to effectively provide (1) financing to the issuer or (2) awards granted in conjunction with selling goods or services to customers as part of a contract accounted for under Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. Consistent with the accounting requirement for employee share-based payment awards, nonemployee share-based payment awards within the scope of Topic 718 are measured at grant-date fair value of the equity instruments that an entity is obligated to issue when the good has been delivered or the service has been rendered and any other conditions necessary to earn the right to benefit from the instruments have been satisfied. Equity-classified nonemployee share- based payment awards are measured at the grant date. The definition of the term grant date was also amended to generally state the date at which a grantor and a grantee reach a mutual understanding of the key terms and conditions of a share-based payment award. Consistent with the accounting for employee share-based payment awards, an entity considers the probability of satisfying performance conditions when nonemployee share-based payment awards contain such conditions. An entity should only remeasure liability-classified awards that have not been settled by the date of adoption and equity-classified awards for which a measurement date has not been established through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. Upon transition, the entity is required to measure these nonemployee awards at fair value as of the adoption date. No such remeasurement is required upon adoption of the Update by the Company. The revised definition of the grant date of share-based awards has been applied in accounting for the share consideration transferred to Trafigura on signing of the SPA. The shares have been accounted for as prepaid consideration at the grant date when a mutual understanding of the key terms and conditions for the issuance is reached on signing of the SPA and furthermore the shares are legally issued to Trafigura. Further details of the accounting for the transaction are disclosed in Note 5.

4. GOODWILL
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(in thousands of $)GoodwillAccumulated impairment lossesNet carrying value
Balance as of December 31, 2019225,273 (112,821)112,452 
Balance as of December 31, 2020225,273 (112,821)112,452 
Balance as of December 31, 2021225,273 (112,821)112,452 

On the date of the Merger the share price of the Company was $15.15, adjusted for the 1-for-5 reverse share split in February 2016, and the Company recorded goodwill of $225.3 million. An impairment loss of $112.8 million was recognized in the year ended December 31, 2017. The Company has one reporting unit for the purpose of assessing potential goodwill impairment and has selected September 30 as its annual goodwill impairment testing date.

During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company both assessed qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not (that is, a likelihood of more than 50 percent) that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, including goodwill, as well as performing the first step of the two step impairment analysis. The Company concluded that no impairment was required following these impairment tests.
During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company elected to bypass the qualitative assessment and proceeded directly to performing the quantitative impairment assessment. The Company performed its annual impairment test as of September 30, 2020 and concluded that there was no requirement for an impairment. At December 31, 2020, the Company's share price had fallen from its September 30, 2020 share price and as such, the Company performed an additional impairment analysis. The Company concluded that no impairment was required following these impairment tests.

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company elected to bypass the qualitative assessment and proceeded directly to performing the quantitative impairment assessment. The Company performed its annual impairment test as of September 30, 2021 and concluded that there was no requirement for an impairment. At December 31, 2021, the Company's share price had fallen from its September 30, 2021 share price and as such, the Company performed an additional impairment analysis. The Company concluded that no impairment was required following these impairment tests.


5.TRAFIGURA TRANSACTION

In August 2019, the Company entered into a sale and purchase agreement, or SPA, with Trafigura to acquire 10 Suezmax tankers built in 2019 through the acquisition of a special purpose vehicle which held the vessels, or the Acquisition. The Acquisition has been accounted for as an asset acquisition rather than a business combination as substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired on closing of the Acquisition is concentrated in the value of the vessels, being a group of similar identifiable assets.

The Acquisition consideration under the SPA consisted of (i) 16,035,856 ordinary shares of Frontline at an agreed price of $8.00 per share issuable upon signing; and (ii) a cash amount of $538.2 million, payable upon the closing of the Acquisition, which took place on March 16, 2020. The 16,035,856 shares issued to Trafigura as consideration as part of the Acquisition were legally issued and outstanding as of the grant date on August 23, 2019 and were therefore included in share capital from this date. Trafigura was the beneficial owner of the shares, was entitled to exercise voting rights, and was also eligible for any dividends if-and-when declared. Frontline agreed to time charter-in all the 10 vessels from Trafigura until closing of the Acquisition at a daily rate of approximately $23,000. In addition, Frontline agreed to charter-out five of the vessels to Trafigura for a period of three years at a daily base rate of $28,400 plus a 50% profit share.

Upon commencement of the charters for the five vessels which the Company did not charter back to Trafigura, the Company concluded that the charter-in constituted a finance lease, due to the obligation to purchase the underlying asset, and recognized a right-of-use asset and finance lease obligation until closing of the Acquisition. The lease obligation for these vessels on signing of the agreement includes the scheduled charter payments and the cash amount to be paid on closing of $269.2 million, discounted using the rate implicit in the lease. On issuance of the shares on August 23, 2019, the Company initially recorded a prepayment of $63.5 million, based on the grant date fair value of the shares of $7.92 per share, which was subsequently adjusted to the right-of-use asset on commencement of the leases. The Company recognized a right-of-use asset of $336.0 million and a finance lease obligation of $272.0 million in respect of these vessels as of December 31, 2019. Depreciation of $6.3 million (2020: $2.5 million, 2019: $3.8 million) and finance lease interest expense of $6.1 million (2020: $2.4 million,
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2019: $3.7 million) has been recognized up until March 16, 2020 in relation to these vessels. The weighted average discount rate for these finance leases was 4.36%. On closing of the Acquisition, the lease and purchase obligations were settled, and the right-of-use assets were transferred to vessels and equipment.

For the five vessels chartered back to Trafigura, the Company determined that the charter-in of the vessels did not commence until closing of the Acquisition, as control of the right-of-use asset did not transfer to Frontline until then as a result of the lease back to Trafigura. The Company allocated 8,017,928 of the shares issued to the purchase consideration for these vessels, which was recognized as prepaid acquisition cost. The grant date fair value of these shares was $63.5 million, based on a share price of $7.92. In addition, the Company committed to pay a cash amount of $269.0 million on closing of the Acquisition. The net difference between the cash amounts paid and received on the charter-in and charter-out of these vessels has been treated as a reduction of the transaction price for all of the vessels. Accordingly, $17.0 million of receipts, net of payments, including profit share due under the charter-out with Trafigura, has not been recognized in net income and has been treated as a reduction of the Acquisition cost of all of the vessels. Of this amount, $13.9 million (2020: $5.7 million, 2019: $8.2 million) has been offset against prepaid consideration and $3.1 million (2020: $1.4 million, 2019: $1.7 million) has been recorded under the finance lease obligations. On closing of the Acquisition, the purchase obligations were settled and the vessels were recognized on the balance sheet. In addition, the Company assessed that part of the consideration should be allocated to the time charters attached to the vessels as a result of the movement in the market value of these charters since signing of the SPA and up until the date of closing.

On closing of the Acquisition, the total fair value of the consideration comprised primarily of (i) the 16,035,856 shares issued on signing of the SPA and measured at the grant date fair value of $127.0 million, (ii) the cash amount payable upon closing of $538.2 million and (iii) a reduction in purchase consideration of $13.9 million related to the net difference between the cash amounts paid and received on the charter-in and charter-out of the vessels to Trafigura, along with the associated profit share. The Company has allocated the fair value of the consideration proportionately to the vessels and the time charters that have been treated as acquired on the date of closing. As such, $11.9 million of the combined fair value of the consideration was recognized within other current and long-term liabilities in relation to the time charters, and the vessels were recorded at a combined fair value of $663.7 million at the date of closing. In the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company has recorded amortization of $5.0 million (2020: $4.0 million) of the fair value of the acquired time charters in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

6.SEGMENT INFORMATION

The Company and the chief operating decision maker, or CODM, measure performance based on the Company's overall return to shareholders based on consolidated net income. The CODM does not review a measure of operating result at a lower level than the consolidated group. Consequently, the Company has only one reportable segment: tankers. The tankers segment includes crude oil tankers and product tankers.

The Company's management does not evaluate performance by geographical region as this information is not meaningful.

No customers in the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 individually accounted for 10% or more of the Company's consolidated operating revenues.

7.INCOME TAXES

Bermuda
Under current Bermuda law, the Company is not required to pay taxes in Bermuda on either income or capital gains. The Company has received written assurance from the Minister of Finance in Bermuda that, in the event of any such taxes being imposed, the Company will be exempted from taxation until March 31, 2035.
 
United States
For the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company did not accrue U.S. income taxes as the Company is not engaged in a U.S. trade or business and is exempted from a gross basis tax under Section 883 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code.

Under Section 863(c)(2)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, 50% of all transportation revenue attributable to transportation which begins or ends in the United States shall be treated as from sources within the United States where no Section 883 exemption is available. Such revenue is subject to 4% tax. No revenue tax has been recorded in voyage expenses and commissions in the year ended December 31, 2021 (2020: nil, 2019: nil).

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Other Jurisdictions
In the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company received a distribution from Den Norske Krigsforsikring for Skib (“DNK”), the Norwegian Shipowners Mutual War Risk Insurance Association, in the amount of $17.9 million which was subject to withholding tax of $4.5 million which the Company recognized as income tax expense in the period.

Certain of the Company's subsidiaries in Singapore, China, Norway and the United Kingdom are subject to income tax in their respective jurisdictions. The tax paid by subsidiaries of the Company that are subject to income tax is not material to our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

The Company does not have any unrecognized tax benefits, material accrued interest or penalties relating to income taxes.

8.EARNINGS PER SHARE

The computation of basic earnings per share is based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the year and net income attributable to the Company. The impact of stock options using the treasury stock method was anti-dilutive in 2021 as the exercise price was higher than the average share price and, therefore 58,000 options were excluded from the denominator in the calculation for 2021. The impact of stock options using the treasury stock method was dilutive in 2020 and 2019 as the exercise price was lower than the average share price and therefore 129,000 and 141,000 options were included in the denominator, respectively.

The 16,035,856 shares issued to Trafigura as consideration as part of the Acquisition were legally issued and outstanding as of the grant date on August 23, 2019 and were therefore included in share capital from this date. Trafigura was the beneficial owner of the shares, was entitled to exercise voting rights, and was also eligible for any dividends if-and-when declared. ASC 260 defines issued shares that are held in escrow and all or part must be returned if specified conditions are not met as "contingently returnable". The shares issued as part of the Acquisition were treated as contingently returnable shares for the purpose of calculating earnings per share as they were held in escrow until such date after November 30, 2019 that Trafigura wished to dispose of such shares, in which case they could be removed from escrow and sold, with the proceeds being placed in a cash escrow account until closing of the Acquisition. Shares not disposed of prior to closing of the Acquisition remained in the escrow account until the closing of the Acquisition which took place on March 16, 2020. In the year ended December 31, 2020, 2,041,795 shares were treated as contingently returnable and have been excluded from the denominator in the calculation of basic earnings per share and included in the denominator in the calculation of diluted earnings per share until the closing date. Following the closing of the Acquisition on March 16, 2020, all shares have been released from the escrow account and are included in the weighted average number of ordinary shares from the date of release from that account as they are no longer contingently returnable.

The components of the numerator and the denominator in the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share are as follows:
(in thousands of $)202120202019
Net income (loss) attributable to the Company(11,148)412,875 139,972 
(in thousands)202120202019
Weighted average number of shares198,965 195,637 173,576 
Dilutive effect of contingently returnable shares 2,042 5,598 
Dilutive effect of share options 129 141 
Denominator for diluted earnings per share198,965 197,808 179,315 
202120202019
Cash dividends per share declared$0.00$1.60$0.10

9.OPERATING REVENUES
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Certain of our voyage charter contracts contain a lease. Voyage charters contain a lease component if the contract (i) specifies a specific vessel asset; and (ii) has terms that allow the charterer to exercise substantive decision-making rights, which have an economic value to the charterer and therefore allow the charterer to direct how and for what purpose the vessel is used. Voyage charter revenues and expenses are recognized ratably over the estimated length of each voyage, which the Company has assessed commence on loading of the cargo. ASC 842 Leases provides a practical expedient for lessors in which the lessor may elect, by class of underlying asset, to not separate non-lease components from the associated lease component and, instead, to account for these components as a single component if both of the following are met: (1) the timing and pattern of transfer of the non-lease component(s) and associated lease component are the same and (2) the lease component, if accounted for separately, would be classified as an operating lease. When a lessor, we have elected this expedient for our time charter contracts and voyage charter contracts that qualify as leases and thus not separate the non-lease component, or service element, from the lease. Furthermore, ASC 842 Leases requires the Company to account for the combined component in accordance with ASC 606 revenues from contracts with customers if the non-lease components are the predominant components. Under this guidance the Company has assessed that the lease components were the predominant component for all of its time charter contracts. Furthermore, for certain of its voyage charter contracts the lease components were the predominant components.

The lease and non-lease components of our revenues in the year ended December 31, 2021 were as follows:
(in thousands of $)LeaseNon-leaseTotal
Time charter revenues71,236  71,236 
Voyage charter revenues37,818 626,177 663,995 
Other income 14,150 14,150 
Total 109,054 640,327 749,381 

The lease and non-lease components of our revenues in the year ended December 31, 2020 were as follows:
(in thousands of $)LeaseNon-leaseTotal
Time charter revenues185,788  185,788 
Voyage charter revenues606,969 406,099 1,013,068 
Other income 22,331 22,331 
Total 792,757 428,430 1,221,187 

The lease and non-lease components of our revenues in the year ended December 31, 2019 were as follows:
(in thousands of $)LeaseNon-leaseTotal
Time charter revenues35,433  35,433 
Voyage charter revenues292,720 594,775 887,495 
Finance lease interest income690  690 
Other income 33,704 33,704 
Total 328,843 628,479 957,322 

Certain voyage expenses are capitalized between the previous discharge port, or contract date if later, and the next load port and amortized between load port and discharge port. $7.4 million of contract assets were capitalized in the year ended December 31, 2021 (2020: $4.3 million) as Other current assets, of which $3.6 million was amortized up to December 31, 2021 (2020: $1.8 million), leaving a remaining balance of $3.8 million (2020: $2.5 million) as of December 31, 2021. $2.5 million of contract assets were amortized in the year ended December 31, 2021 in relation to voyages in progress at the end of December 31, 2020. No impairment losses were recognized in the period.

As at December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company reported the following contract assets in relation to its contracts with customers, including those contracts containing lease components where the non-lease component was the predominant component and the revenues were therefore accounted for under ASC 606:
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(in thousands of $)20212020
Voyages in progress38,145 27,621 
Trade accounts receivable60,568 25,615 
Related party receivables5,397 7,195 
Other current assets3,813 2,527 
Total 107,923 62,958 


10.OTHER OPERATING GAINS
(in thousands of $)202120202019
Gain on settlement of claim 3,422 3,737 
Other gains519 353 628 
Gain on sale of vessel5,059 12,354  
Gain on sale of subsidiary 6,928  
Gain on termination of vessel leases 7,409  
Gain (loss) on pool arrangements315 (564)(943)
 5,893 29,902 3,422 

In the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company recorded a $3.4 million gain on settlement of a claim. In the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company recorded a $3.7 million insurance recovery for loss of hire insurance for Front Altair.

In the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company recorded other gains of $0.5 million (2020: $0.4 million, 2019: $0.6 million) in relation to the settlement of miscellaneous claims.

In the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company entered into an agreement to sell four of its scrubber fitted LR2 tankers at a combined purchase price of $160.0 million to SFL Tanker Holding Ltd., a company related to Hemen, its largest shareholder. In December 2021 two vessels were delivered to the new owners. The Company recorded a gain on sale in relation to the first two vessels of $5.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2021. Further information on the sale of these vessels to a related party can be found in Note 27. In the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company sold one VLCC previously recorded as an investment in finance lease at a purchase price of $25.5 million. The vessel was delivered to the new owners in June 2020 and the Company recorded a gain on sale of $12.4 million.

In the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company completed the sale of its 71.38% ownership interest in SeaTeam Management to OSM. Golden Ocean, and the other owners of SeaTeam Management also sold their interests in SeaTeam Management to OSM. In connection with this transaction, the total consideration allocated to the Company amounted to $10.7 million, $5.4 million of which was received on October 20, 2020 upon the completion of the sale. The outstanding amount was paid in two equal payments of $2.7 million on March 31, 2021 and on December 1, 2021. A gain from the sale of $6.9 million was recorded in the year ended December 31, 2020.

In the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company agreed with SFL to terminate the long-term charter for the 2002-built VLCC Front Hakata upon the sale and delivery of the vessel by SFL to an unrelated third party. The Company received a compensation payment of $3.2 million from SFL for the termination of the current charter and recognized a gain on termination, including the compensation payment, of $7.4 million. Further information on the gain on termination of vessel leases can be found in Note 18.

In the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company recorded a $0.3 million gain (2020: $0.6 million loss, 2019: $1.5 million loss) related to the pooling arrangement with SFL between two of its Suezmax tankers Front Odin and Front Njord and two SFL vessels Glorycrown and Everbright. A gain of $0.6 million was recorded in the year ended December 31, 2019 related to other pooling arrangements.


11.LEASES

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As of December 31, 2021, the Company leased in two vessels (2020: two vessels) from SFL on time charters classified as finance leases. See Note 18 for further details.

In the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company redelivered two VLCCs to an unrelated third party at the end of the respective charter-in agreements that were previously classified as operating leases. The Company has allocated the consideration due under the operating leases between the lease and non-lease components based upon the estimated stand-alone price of the services provided by the owner of the vessels, which include the provision of crewing, vessel insurance, repairs and maintenance and lubes. In the year end December 31, 2021, the Company has recorded the non-lease component of $1.7 million (2020: $6.7 million) within Ship operating expenses and has recognized the lease component of $2.7 million (2020: $9.6 million) within Charter hire expense within the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

The Company is also committed to make rental payments under operating leases for office premises. Certain of these leases include variable lease elements linked to inflation indexes. Such variable payments have been estimated on the date of adoption of ASC 842 based on the index at that time and are included in the minimum lease payments. In the year end December 31, 2021, rental expense for office premises of $1.4 million (2020: $2.5 million) is recorded in Administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
 
Rental expense
The future minimum lease payments under the Company's non-cancellable operating leases as at December 31, 2021 are as follows:
(in thousands of $) 
20221,289 
20231,048 
20241,076 
20251,105 
Total minimum lease payments4,518 
Less: Imputed interest(282)
Present value of operating lease liabilities4,236 

The future minimum lease payments under the Company's non-cancellable operating leases as at December 31, 2020 are as follows:
(in thousands of $) 
20214,705 
20221,182 
20231,078 
20241,107 
20251,137 
Total minimum lease payments9,209 
Less: Imputed interest(484)
Present value of operating lease liabilities8,725 

Total expense for operating leases was $4.1 million, $12.1 million and $11.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Cash paid for amounts included in operating lease liabilities was $4.0 million (2020: $12.1 million) in the year ended December 31, 2021. The weighted-average discount rate based on the Company's incremental borrowing rate, or IBR, in relation to the operating leases was 3.2% (2020: 3.5%) for the year ended December 31, 2021 and the weighted-average remaining lease term was four years (2020: three years) as of December 31, 2021.

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Rental income
One LR2 tanker and two VLCCs were on fixed rate time charters as of December 31, 2020, the terms of which all ended in the year ended December 31, 2021. In addition, the Company agreed to charter-out five Suezmax tankers to Trafigura under the SPA, for a period of three years commencing in August 2019, at a daily base rate of $28,400 plus 50% profit share. For accounting purposes the leases did not commence until closing of the transaction which took place on March 16, 2020. See Note 5 for further details. The minimum future revenues to be received under our fixed rate contracts as of December 31, 2021 are as follows:
(in thousands of $) 
202228,968 
Total minimum lease payments28,968 

The minimum future revenues to be received under our fixed rate contracts as of December 31, 2020 are as follows:
(in thousands of $) 
202163,613 
202228,968 
Total minimum lease payments92,581 

Profit share to be earned under our chartering arrangements has been excluded from the minimum future revenues above. Our revenues from these leases have been included within time charter revenues in the Consolidated Statement of Operations, which solely relates to leasing revenues.

There are no options to extend our operating leases where we are the lessor.

The cost and accumulated depreciation of vessels leased to third parties under time charters as of December 31, 2021 were $328.0 million and $21.0 million, respectively, and as of December 31, 2020 were $509.5 million and $49.4 million, respectively.

Contingent rental income
In the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company recognized profit share income of nil in relation to the five time charters to Trafigura (2020: $6.9 million). The Company recognized profit share income of $2.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2020 in relation to the two Suezmax tankers on fixed rate time charters with profit sharing clauses, which were both terminated in 2020.

12.RESTRICTED CASH

Restricted cash consists of cash, which may only be used for certain purposes and is held under a contractual arrangement.

As of December 31, 2021, restricted cash does not include cash balances of $67.0 million (2020: $103.5 million), which represents 64% (2020: 100%) of the cash required to be maintained by the financial covenants in our loan agreements. The Company is permitted to satisfy up to 50% of the cash requirements by maintaining a committed undrawn credit facility with a remaining availability of greater than 12 months. The Company did not satisfy any of the minimum cash requirements with a committed undrawn credit facility as of December 31, 2020 because the Company's senior unsecured facility agreement with an affiliate of Hemen was repayable in May 2021 as of this date. In November 2021, the Company extended the terms of the facility by 12 months to May 2023.

Furthermore, FSL, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company and the chartering counterparty with SFL with respect to the remaining two VLCCs leased from them, has agreed to certain dividend restrictions as a result of the amendment of the terms of the long-term charter agreements in May 2015. In order to make or pay any dividend or other distribution to the Company, FSL shall demonstrate a cash buffer of $2.0 million per vessel both prior to and following such payment, and following payment of the next monthly hire due plus any profit share accrued under the agreement. As of December 31, 2021 the cash held by FSL was $2.0 million (2020: $15.6 million), and these amounts are included in "Cash and cash equivalents".

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Our interest rate swaps can require us to post cash as collateral based on their fair value. As of December 31, 2021, no cash was posted as collateral in relation to our interest rate swaps (2020: $13.4 million). See Note 26 for additional information on our interest rate swaps.

13.MARKETABLE SECURITIES

Marketable securities held by the Company are listed equity securities considered to be available-for-sale securities.

The cost of sale of available-for-sale marketable securities is calculated on an average cost basis.

A summary of the movements in marketable securities for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 is presented in the table below:
(in thousands of $)20212020
Balance at the beginning of the year2,639 3,642 
Repurchase of marketable securities pledged to creditors5,836 7,323 
Marketable securities acquired357  
Proceeds from sale of marketable securities(14,074) 
Gain on sale of marketable securities7,881  
Unrealized loss on marketable securities held at period end(204)(2,491)
Marketable securities pledged to creditors (5,835)
Balance at the end of the year2,435 2,639 

Avance Gas
As of December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, the Company held 442,384 shares in Avance Gas. In the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company recognized an unrealized loss of $0.4 million (2020: loss of $0.4 million, 2019: gain of $1.9 million) in relation to the shares held in Avance Gas in the Statement of Operations.

SFL
As of December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, the Company held 73,165 shares in SFL. In the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company recognized an unrealized gain of $0.1 million (2020: loss of $0.6 million, 2019: gain of $0.3 million) in relation to the shares held in SFL in the Statement of Operations.

Golden Ocean
As of December 31, 2021, the Company held 10,299 (2020 and 2019: 1,270,657) shares in Golden Ocean, none (2020 and 2019: 1,260,358) of which were held as marketable securities pledged to creditors.

As of December 31, 2020, the Company had entered into a forward contract to repurchase 1.3 million shares of Golden Ocean in March 2021 for $6.2 million. The transaction was accounted for as a secured borrowing, with the shares retained in marketable securities pledged to creditors and a liability recorded within short-term debt for $6.3 million as of December 31, 2020, after adjusting for the effect of foreign exchange.

In March 2021, the Company repurchased the shares and subsequently sold them for proceeds of $9.8 million. Simultaneously, the Company entered into a forward contract to repurchase 1.3 million shares in Golden Ocean in June 2021 for $9.8 million and received net cash proceeds of $3.6 million in connection therewith, after adjustment for foreign exchange differences. The net cash proceeds were treated as a drawdown of debt in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.

In June 2021, the Company repurchased the shares and subsequently sold them for proceeds of $13.4 million. The repurchase of the shares for $9.8 million was treated as a settlement of debt in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.

In the year ended December 31, 2021 the Company recognized a gain on marketable securities sold of $7.6 million in relation to the Golden Ocean shares previously held as marketable securities pledged to creditors.

In April 2021, the Company purchased 55,959 Golden Ocean shares in connection with the exercise of subscription rights in the subsequent offering for $0.4 million. In June 2021, the Company sold these shares for proceeds of $0.7 million, resulting in a gain on marketable securities sold of $0.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2021.
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In the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company recognized an unrealized gain of $0.1 million (2020: loss of $1.5 million, 2019: loss of $0.4 million) in relation to the shares still held in Golden Ocean in the Statement of Operations.
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14.TRADE ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, NET

Trade accounts receivable are presented net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1.9 million (2020: $2.6 million). Movements in the allowance for doubtful accounts in the three years ended December 31, 2021 are summarized as follows;
(in thousands of $)
Balance at December 31, 20185,795 
Deductions credited to income(2,847)
Balance at December 31, 20192,948 
Deductions credited to income(301)
Balance at December 31, 20202,647 
Deductions credited to income(731)
Balance at December 31, 20211,916 

15.OTHER RECEIVABLES
(in thousands of $)20212020
Claims receivable1,097 3,022 
Agent receivables149 2,229 
Other receivables8,863 17,699 
 10,109 22,950 

Claims receivable is primarily attributable to insurance claims.

Other receivables are presented net of allowances for doubtful accounts amounting to nil as of December 31, 2021 (2020: nil).
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16.NEWBUILDINGS

Movements in the three years ended December 31, 2021 are summarized as follows:
(in thousands of $) 
Balance at December 31, 201852,254 
Additions, net, continuing basis158,846 
Transfer to Vessels and equipment, net(166,121)
Interest capitalized, continuing basis1,089 
Balance at December 31, 201946,068 
Additions, net, continuing basis163,090 
Transfer to Vessels and equipment, net(162,221)
Interest capitalized, continuing basis1,561 
Balance at December 31, 202048,498 
Additions, net, continuing basis274,248 
Transfer to Vessels and equipment, net(194,162)
Interest capitalized, continuing basis2,049 
Balance at December 31, 2021130,633 

The following table sets forth certain details of our newbuildings delivered in the three years ended December 31, 2021:
(in thousands of $)
Vessel nameVessel typeDate of delivery
Front FeatureLR2November 2021
Front FavourLR2September 2021
Front FutureLR2April 2021
Front FusionLR2March 2021
Front DynamicVLCCJune 2020
Front CruiserSuezmaxMay 2020
Front DiscoveryVLCCApril 2019
Front DefenderVLCCJanuary 2019

As of December 31, 2019, the Company’s newbuilding program consisted of one Suezmax tanker, one VLCC, and four LR2 tankers.

In the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company took delivery of one VLCC newbuilding and one Suezmax tanker newbuilding.

As of December 31, 2020, the Company's newbuilding program comprised four LR2 tankers, all of which were delivered in the year ended December 31, 2021.

As of December 31, 2021, the Company’s newbuilding program consisted of six VLCCs, which are expected to be delivered during 2022, starting in the first quarter.

17.VESSELS AND EQUIPMENT, NET

Movements in the three years ended December 31, 2021 are summarized as follows:
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(in thousands of $)CostAccumulated DepreciationNet Carrying Value
Balance at December 31, 20182,808,356 (331,601)2,476,755 
Transfers from Newbuildings166,121 — 
Additions39,029 —  
Depreciation— (102,000) 
Balance at December 31, 20193,013,506 (433,601)2,579,905 
Depreciation— (127,126)
Additions28,461 — 
Trafigura asset acquisition663,683 — 
Transfers from Newbuildings162,221  
Balance at December 31, 20203,867,871 (560,727)3,307,144 
Depreciation— (139,136)
Additions190,572 — 
Disposals(94,645)19,704 
Transfers from Newbuildings194,162  
Balance at December 31, 20214,157,960 (680,159)3,477,801 

A summary of the newbuildings delivered in the three years ended December 31, 2021 can be found in Note 16. In the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company completed the acquisition of 10 Suezmax tankers from Trafigura. See Note 5 for full details of the accounting for this transaction. In the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company took delivery of two VLCCs, Front Driva and Front Nausta. In the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company also completed the installation of EGCS on two vessels and the installation of BWTS on one vessel (2020: EGCS on seven vessels and BWTS on seven vessels, 2019: EGCS on nine vessels and BWTS on five vessels). In the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company sold two LR2 tankers, Front Puma and Front Tiger. See Note 9 and Note 27 for full details of this transaction.

18.VESSELS AND EQUIPMENT UNDER FINANCE LEASE, NET

Movements in the three years ended December 31, 2021 are summarized as follows:

(in thousands of $)
CostAccumulated DepreciationNet Carrying Value
Balance at December 31, 2018140,501 (49,825)90,676 
Additions343,564 
Depreciation— (15,850)
Balance at December 31, 2019484,065 (65,675)418,390 
Additions53 
Lease termination(40,412)20,682 
Trafigura asset acquisition (339,818)6,267 
Depreciation— (11,644)
Balance at December 31, 2020103,888 (50,370)53,518 
Depreciation (8,638)
Balance at December 31, 2021103,888 (59,008)44,880 

The outstanding obligations under finance leases as of December 31, 2021 are payable as follows: 
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(in thousands of $) 
202210,946 
202311,705 
202410,978 
202511,705 
202611,705 
Thereafter1,641 
Minimum lease payments58,680 
Less: imputed interest(10,214)
Present value of obligations under finance leases48,466 

The outstanding obligations under finance leases as of December 31, 2020 are payable as follows: 

(in thousands of $) 
202111,705 
202210,946 
202311,705 
202410,978 
202511,705 
Thereafter13,347 
Minimum lease payments70,386 
Less: imputed interest(14,109)
Present value of obligations under finance leases56,277 

In August 2019, the Company recognized additional right-of-use assets and finance lease obligations in relation to five vessels chartered in from Trafigura in connections with the SPA. On closing of the Acquisition on March 16, 2020, the lease and purchase obligations were settled, and the right-of-use assets were transferred to vessels and equipment. See Note 5. for full details of the accounting for this transaction.

In May 2015, the Company and SFL agreed to amendments to the leases on 12 VLCCs and five Suezmax tankers, the related management agreements and further amendments to the charter ancillary agreements for the remainder of the charter periods. As a result of the amendments to the charter ancillary agreements, which took effect on July 1, 2015, the daily hire payable to SFL was reduced to $20,000 per day and $15,000 per day for VLCCs and Suezmax tankers, respectively. The fee due from SFL for operating costs was increased from $6,500 per day per vessel to $9,000 per day per vessel. In return, the Company issued 11.0 million new shares (as adjusted for the 1-for-5 reverse share split in February 2016) to SFL and the profit share above the new daily hire rates was increased from 25% to 50%. The Company was released from its guarantee obligation and in exchange FSL, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company and the chartering counterparty with SFL, has agreed to certain dividend restrictions. In order to make or pay any dividend or other distribution to the Company, FSL shall demonstrate a cash buffer of $2.0 million per vessel both prior to and following such payment, and following payment of the next monthly hire due plus any profit share accrued under the agreement. As of December 31, 2021, the cash held by FSL of $2.0 million (2020: $15.6 million) may solely be used for vessel operations, payment of hire to SFL or other amounts incurred under the charters and Charter Ancillary Agreement including the settlement of interest and principal due on any notes payable and any other amounts incurred in the ordinary course of business.

As the Merger has been accounted for as a reverse business acquisition in which Frontline 2012 is treated as the accounting acquirer, all of the Company's assets and liabilities were recorded at fair value on November 30, 2015 such that estimated profit share over the remaining terms of the leases has been recorded in the balance sheet obligations. Consequently, the Company will only record profit share expense following the Merger when the actual expense is different to that estimated at the date of the Merger. As of December 31, 2021, the Company has recorded total obligations under these finance leases of $48.5 million of which $30.5 million is in respect of the minimum contractual payments and $18.0 million is in respect of contingent rental expense. Profit share arising in the year ended December 31, 2021 was $0.3 million, which was $3.6 million less than the amount accrued in the lease obligations payable when the leases were recorded at fair value at the time of the merger with Frontline 2012. Profit share arising in the year ended December 31, 2020 was $18.7 million, which was $14.6 million more
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than the amount accrued in the lease obligations payable when the leases were recorded at fair value at the time of the merger with Frontline 2012. Profit share arising in the year ended December 31, 2019 was $4.8 million, which was $2.2 million less than the amount accrued in the lease obligations payable when the leases were recorded at fair value at the time of the merger with Frontline 2012.

The following table sets forth certain details of vessel lease termination in the year ended December 31, 2020. There were no vessel lease terminations in the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2019.
(in thousands of $)
VesselYearTermination agreedTermination dateTermination receiptGain on termination
Front Hakata2020February 2020February 20203,183 7,409 
Vessels terminated in 20203,183 7,409 

In February 2020, the Company agreed with SFL to terminate the long-term charter for the 2002-built VLCC Front Hakata upon the sale and delivery of the vessel by SFL to an unrelated third party. Frontline received a compensation payment of approximately $3.2 million from SFL for the termination of the current charter. The Company recognized a gain on termination, including the compensation payment, of $7.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2020. The charter with SFL terminated in February 2020. In conjunction with the termination of the lease, the Company has settled the outstanding balances due under the notes payable in relation to the termination of the leases for Front Circassia, Front Page, Front Serenade, Front Stratus and Front Ariake in the year ended December 31, 2018 of approximately $20.0 million.

As of December 31, 2021, the Company leased in two vessels on long-term charter from SFL (2020: two vessels from SFL). The remaining periods on these leases as of December 31, 2021 was 5 years. The Company recognized finance lease interest expense in the year ended December 31, 2021 of $3.9 million (2020: $7.0 million, 2019: $10.7 million). None of these vessels was subleased under a non-cancellable operating lease as of December 31, 2021 (2020: one vessel).

19.EQUITY METHOD INVESTMENTS

FMS Holdco

In June 2018, the Company announced that it had entered into memorandum of agreement to acquire a 20% ownership interest in FMSI. The Company recorded its initial investment at a cost of $6.0 million. The Company’s investment is in the form of an interest free loan with no fixed repayment date. The Company became a shareholder in the third quarter of 2018 when the nominal value of the shares was paid and the loan was advanced. The investment was accounted for under the equity method.

In January 2019, the Company announced that its ownership interest in FMSI had increased to 28.9% following the purchase by FMSI of a 30.8% stake in FMSI from Bjørnar Feen, one of FMSI’s founders.
In January 2019, FMSI repaid $3.0 million of the $6.0 million Shareholder Loan. The repayment of the loan was recorded against the investment in associated company.

In October 2019, the Company announced that FMSI and Clean Marine AS had entered into a term sheet pursuant to which the entities would effect a business combination to create a leading provider of EGCS. In order to facilitate the merger a new holding company, FMS Holdco, was established into which the former shareholders of FMSI contributed their shareholdings in FMSI in exchange for shares in FMS Holdco. As a result of this transaction, the Company owned 28.9% of the issued share capital of FMS Holdco. FMSI was subsequently sold to Clean Marine AS by FMS Holdco as a result of the merger in exchange for 50% of the issued share capital of Clean Marine AS. The merger completed on January 23, 2020. Furthermore, the Company acquired an additional stake in FMS Holdco from another shareholder for $0.8 million. Following the transactions, Frontline owns an effective 17.34% interest in Clean Marine AS through its 34.7% equity interest in FMS Holdco, which is accounted for under the equity method.

In the year ended December 31, 2021, the investment in FMS Holdco remained unchanged from December 31, 2020. In the year ended December 31, 2020, a share of losses of FMS Holdco of $5.0 million was recognized (2019: $1.7 million income).

TFG Marine
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In January 2020, the joint venture agreement with Golden Ocean and companies in the Trafigura Group to establish a leading global supplier of marine fuels was completed. As a result, Frontline took a 15% interest in the joint venture company, TFG Marine, and made a $1.5 million shareholder loan to TFG Marine. In the year ended December 31, 2020, $0.1 million of the shareholder loan was converted to equity. There was no change in ownership interest as a result of this transaction as each shareholder converted a portion of shareholder debt to equity in reference to their respective ownership interest. Frontline concluded that it is able to exercise significant influence over TFG Marine as a result of its equity shareholding and board representation and therefore its investment is accounted for under the equity method.

In the year ended December 31, 2021, a share of losses of TFG Marine of $0.7 million (2020: $0.6 million gain) was recognized. The carrying value of the investment as of December 31, 2021 is zero as our share of accumulated losses is in excess of the total investment.

20.OTHER LONG-TERM ASSETS

Other long-term assets are comprised of advances paid and costs incurred in respect of vessel upgrades in relation to EGCS and BWTS until such time as the equipment is installed on a vessel, at which point it is transferred to Vessels and equipment, net.

21.ACCRUED EXPENSES
 
(in thousands of $)20212020
Voyage expenses18,306 16,582 
Ship operating expenses11,063 10,180 
Administrative expenses3,773 7,293 
Interest expense9,379 7,805 
Taxes315 669 
 42,836 42,529 

22.OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES
 
(in thousands of $)20212020
Deferred charter revenue3,124 5,687 
Fair value of acquired time charters2,806 5,045 
Other1,650 1,686 
 7,580 12,418 

On March 16, 2020, the Company completed the Acquisition with Trafigura and recorded $11.9 million within other current and long-term liabilities in relation to the fair value of the time charters acquired. In the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company recorded amortization of $5.0 million (2020: $4.0 million) and the remaining unamortized balance of $2.8 million (2020: $5.0 million) and nil (2020: $2.9 million), is included in Other Current Liabilities and Other Long Term Liabilities, respectively, as of December 31, 2021. See Note 5 for full details of the accounting for this transaction.
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23.DEBT
 
A summary of outstanding debt as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 is as follows:
(in thousands of $)20212020
U.S. dollar denominated floating rate debt
  $328.6 million term loan facility
281,009 319,112 
  $50.0 million term loan facility
39,348 43,880 
  $250.7 million term loan facility
185,627 250,738 
  $100.8 million term loan facility
93,075 100,750 
  $328.4 million term loan facility
200,255 215,529 
  $321.6 million term loan facility
203,163 222,145 
  $110.5 million term loan facility (ING)
91,709 98,949 
  $110.5 million term loan facility (Credit Suisse)
98,166 105,178 
  $110.5 million term loan facility (Credit Suisse #2)
103,116 110,107 
  $544.0 million lease financing
490,500 521,071 
  $42.9 million term loan facility
39,325 41,708 
  $62.5 million term loan facility
57,292 60,764 
  $133.7 million term loan facility
131,229  
  $58.5 million term loan facility (SEB)
58,500  
  $58.5 million term loan facility (KFW)
58,500  
Total U.S. dollar denominated floating rate debt2,130,814 2,089,931 
U.S. dollar denominated fixed rate debt
 $275.0 million revolving credit facility
209,700 60,000 
Total U.S. dollar denominated fixed rate debt209,700 60,000 
Secured borrowings 6,251 
Total debt2,340,514 2,156,182 
Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt189,286 167,082 
Deferred charges24,318 20,176 
Long-term portion of debt2,126,910 1,968,924 

The outstanding debt as of December 31, 2021 is repayable as follows:
(in thousands of $) 
2022189,286 
2023777,085 
2024211,244 
2025336,218 
2026164,992 
Thereafter661,689 
 2,340,514 

$250.7 million term loan facility
In November 2020, the Company entered into a senior secured term loan facility with a number of banks in an amount of up to $250.7 million to refinance the $466.5 million loan facility maturing in April 2021. The new facility matures in May 2025, carries an interest rate of LIBOR plus a margin of 190 basis points and has an amortization profile of 18 years counting as from delivery date from the yard. In November 2020, the Company drew down $250.7 million and repaid the outstanding balance of the original facility of $252.4 million. The facility is fully drawn down as of December 31, 2021. In the year ended December 31, 2021, the sale of two LR2 tankers resulted in a prepayment of $46.5 million under the facility.

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$50.0 million term loan facility
In May 2020, the Company signed a restated and amended senior secured term loan facility with Nordea in an amount of up to $50.0 million to refinance the $60.6 million loan facility maturing in March 2021. The new facility matures in March 2023, carries an interest rate of LIBOR plus a margin of 190 basis points and has an amortization profile of 20 years. In July 2020, the Company drew down $45.0 million and repaid the outstanding balance of the original facility of $42.4 million. The facility is fully drawn down as of December 31, 2021.

$328.6 million term loan facility
In July 2020, the Company entered into a senior secured term loan facility with a number of banks in an amount of up to $328.6 million to refinance the $500.1 million loan facility maturing in December 2020. The new facility matures in February 2023, carries an interest rate of LIBOR plus a margin of 190 basis points and has an amortization profile of 18 years counting as from delivery date from the yard. In July 2020, the Company drew down $328.6 million and repaid the outstanding balance of the original facility of $328.6 million. The facility is fully drawn down as of December 31, 2021.

$275.0 million revolving credit facility
In June 2016, the Company signed a $275.0 million senior unsecured facility agreement with an affiliate of Hemen, the Company's largest shareholder. The $275.0 million facility carries an interest rate of 6.25%. The original facility was available to the Company for a period of 18 months from the first utilization date and was repayable in full on the 18 month anniversary of the first utilization date. There were no scheduled loan repayments before this date. The facility does not include any financial covenants and will be used to part finance the Company's current newbuilding program, partially finance potential acquisitions of newbuildings or vessels on the water and for general corporate purposes.

The Company repaid $60.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2020 and up to $215.0 million remained available and undrawn under this facility as of December 31, 2020. In February 2021, the Company extended the terms of the facility by 12 months. Following the extension, the facility was repayable in May 2022. $60.0 million of the extended facility was recorded as long-term debt as of December 31, 2020.

In November 2021, the Company extended the terms of the facility by 12 months to May 2023. In the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company drew down $149.7 million under the facility to finance installments for the six VLCCs under construction, the deposits on two 2019 built VLCCs and for general corporate purposes. $65.3 million remains available and undrawn under this facility as of December 31, 2021. The balance outstanding is included in long-term debt as of December 31, 2021.

$100.8 million term loan facility
In November 2020, the Company entered into a senior secured term loan facility with ING and Credit Suisse in an amount of up to $100.8 million to refinance the $109.2 million loan facility maturing in June 2021. The new facility matures in November 2025, carries an interest rate of LIBOR plus a margin of 190 basis points and has an amortization profile of 17 years counting as from delivery date from yard. In November 2020, the Company drew down $100.8 million and repaid the outstanding balance of the original facility of $84.3 million. The facility is fully drawn down as of December 31, 2021.

$328.4 million term loan facility
In August 2016, the Company signed a senior secured term loan facility in an amount of up to $328.4 million with China Exim Bank. The facility matures in 2029, carries an interest rate of LIBOR plus a margin in line with the Company's other facilities and has an amortization profile of 18 years. The Company drew down $109.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2016 in connection with one LR2 tanker and two Suezmax tanker newbuildings, which were delivered in the year. The Company drew down a further $165.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2017 in connection with two Suezmax tankers and three LR2/Aframax tankers delivered in the year. The facility is fully drawn down as of December 31, 2021.

$110.5 million term loan facility (Credit Suisse)
In December 2016, the Company signed a senior secured term loan facility in an amount of up to $110.5 million with Credit Suisse. The facility matures in 2023, carries an interest rate of LIBOR plus a margin of 190 basis points and has an amortization profile of 18 years. The Company drew down $54.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2017 in connection with one VLCC delivered in the period. The Company drew down $54.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2018 in connection with one VLCC delivered in the period. The Company extended the facility by $15.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2019. The facility is fully drawn down as of December 31, 2021.

$321.6 million term loan facility
In February 2017, the Company signed a second senior secured term loan facility in an amount of up to $321.6 million. The facility provided by China Exim Bank is insured by China Export and Credit Insurance Corporation. The facility matures in 2033, carries an interest rate of LIBOR plus a margin in line with the Company's other credit facilities and has an amortization
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profile of 15 years. The Company drew down $252.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2017 in connection with four Suezmax tankers and three LR2/Aframax tankers delivered in the period. The Company drew down $32.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2018 in connection with one LR2 tanker delivered in the period. The facility is fully drawn down as of December 31, 2021.

$110.5 million term loan facility (Credit Suisse #2)
In June 2017, the Company signed a senior secured term loan facility in an amount of up to $110.5 million with Credit Suisse. The facility matures in 2024, carries an interest rate of LIBOR plus a margin of 190 basis points and has an amortization profile of 18 years. The Company drew down $54.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2018 in connection with one VLCC delivered in the period. The Company drew down $55.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2019 in connection with one VLCC delivered in the period. The Company extended the facility by $15.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2019. The facility is fully drawn down as of December 31, 2021.

$110.5 million term loan facility (ING)
In June 2017, the Company signed a senior secured term loan facility in an amount of up to $110.5 million with ING. The facility matures in 2023, carries an interest rate of LIBOR plus a margin of 190 basis points and has an amortization profile of 18 years. The Company drew down $55.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2017 in connection with one VLCC delivered in the period. The Company drew down $55.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2019 in connection with one VLCC delivered in the period. The Company extended the facility by $4.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2019 and drew down the $4.1 million in connection with the installation of an EGCS on the VLCC delivered in the period. The facility is fully drawn down as of December 31, 2021.

$544.0 million lease financing
In March 2020, the Company signed a sale-and-leaseback agreement in an amount of $544.0 million with ICBCL to finance the cash amount payable upon closing of the Acquisition, which took place on March 16, 2020. The lease financing has a tenor of seven years, carries an interest rate of LIBOR plus a margin of 230 basis points, has an amortization profile of 17.8 years and includes purchase options for the Company throughout the term with a purchase obligation at the end of the term. The Company is precluded from accounting for the sale of the vessels due to the purchase obligation at the end of the term which prevents the lessor from obtaining control of the vessels and as such the lease has been accounted for as a secured borrowing, with the vessels recorded under "Vessels and equipment, net". The facility is fully drawn down as of December 31, 2021.

$42.9 million term loan facility
In November 2019, the Company signed a senior secured term loan facility in an amount of up to $42.9 million with Credit Suisse to partially finance the delivery of one Suezmax tanker. The facility matures five years after the vessel's delivery date, carries an interest rate of LIBOR plus a margin of 190 basis points and has an amortization profile of 18 years. In May 2020, the Company drew down $42.9 million under the facility in connection with the delivery of one Suezmax tanker. The facility is fully drawn down as of December 31, 2021.

$62.5 million term loan facility
In May 2020, the Company signed a senior secured term loan facility in an amount of up to $62.5 million with Crédit Agricole to partially finance the delivery of one VLCC. The facility matures five years after the vessel's delivery date, carries an interest rate of LIBOR plus a margin of 190 basis points and has an amortization profile of 18 years. In June 2020, the Company drew down $62.5 million under the facility in connection with the delivery of one VLCC. The facility is fully drawn down as of December 31, 2021.

$133.7 million term loan facility
In November 2020, the Company entered into a senior secured term loan facility with CEXIM and Sinosure in an amount of up to $133.7 million to partially finance four LR2 tanker newbuildings. The facility has a tenor of 12 years, carries an interest rate of LIBOR plus a margin in line with the Company's other loan facilities and has an amortization profile of 17 years commencing on the delivery date from the yard. The Company drew down $33.4 million in March 2021, $33.4 million in April 2021, $33.4 million in September 2021 and $33.4 million in November 2021 under the facility to partially finance the delivery of four LR2 tankers. The facility is fully drawn down as of December 31, 2021.

$58.5 million term loan facility (SEB)
In September 2021, the Company entered into a senior secured term loan facility in an amount of up to $58.5 million with SEB to partially finance the acquisition of one 2019-built VLCC. The facility has a tenor of five years, carries an interest rate of LIBOR plus a margin of 170 basis points and has an amortization profile of 20 years commencing on the delivery date from the yard. In October 2021, the Company took delivery of the vessel and drew down $58.5 million under the facility to partially finance the delivery. The facility is fully drawn down as of December 31, 2021.
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$58.5 million term loan facility (KFW)
In September 2021, the Company entered into a senior secured term loan facility in an amount of up to $58.5 million with KFW to partially finance the acquisition of one 2019-built VLCC. The facility has a tenor of five years, carries an interest rate of LIBOR plus a margin of 170 basis points and has an amortization profile of 20 years commencing on the delivery date from the yard. In November 2021, the Company took delivery of the vessel and drew down $58.5 million under the facility to partially finance the delivery. The facility is fully drawn down as of December 31, 2021.

$130.0 million term loan facility
In October 2021, the Company entered into a senior secured term loan facility in an amount of up to $130.0 million with DNB to partially finance the acquisition of two of the six resale VLCC newbuilding contracts. The facility has a tenor of five years, carries an interest rate of LIBOR plus a margin of 170 basis points and has an amortization profile of 20 years commencing on the delivery date from the yard. The facility was fully undrawn as of December 31, 2021.

$65.0 million term loan facility (ABN)
In December 2021, the Company entered into a senior secured term loan facility in an amount of up to $65.0 million from ABN AMRO Bank N.V. to partially finance the acquisition of one of the six resale VLCC newbuilding contracts. The facility will have a tenor of five years, carry an interest rate of LIBOR plus a margin of 170 basis points and have an amortization profile of 20 years commencing on the delivery date from the yard. The facility was fully undrawn as of December 31, 2021.

$65.0 million term loan facility (KFW)
In December 2021, the Company entered into a senior secured term loan facility in an amount of up to $65.0 million from KFW to partially finance the acquisition of one of the six resale VLCC newbuilding contracts. The facility will have a tenor of five years, carry an interest rate of LIBOR plus a margin of 170 basis points and have an amortization profile of 20 years commencing on the delivery date from the yard. The facility was fully undrawn as of December 31, 2021.

$65.0 million term loan facility (ING)
In December 2021, the Company entered into a senior secured term loan facility in an amount of up to $65.0 million from ING Bank to partially finance the acquisition of one of the six resale VLCC newbuilding contracts. The facility will have a tenor of five years, carry an interest rate of LIBOR plus a margin of 170 basis points and have an amortization profile of 20 years commencing on the delivery date from the yard. The facility includes a sustainability margin adjustment linked to the fleet sustainability score. The facility was fully undrawn as of December 31, 2021.

$65.0 million term loan facility (Crédit Agricole)
In December 2021, the Company entered into a senior secured term loan facility in an amount of up to $65.0 million from Crédit Agricole to partially finance the acquisition of one of the six resale VLCC newbuilding contracts. The facility will have a tenor of five years, carry an interest rate of LIBOR plus a margin of 170 basis points and have an amortization profile of 18 years commencing on the delivery date from the yard. The facility was fully undrawn as of December 31, 2021.

As of December 31, 2021, the weighted average margin on our short-term and current portion of long-term LIBOR denominated floating rate debt was 194 basis points (2020: 196 basis points).

Secured borrowings
As of December 31, 2020, the Company had entered into a forward contract to repurchase the 1.3 million shares of Golden Ocean in March 2021 for $6.2 million, with the shares recorded in marketable securities pledged to creditors and a liability recorded as of December 31, 2020 within short-term debt for $6.3 million, after adjusting for the effect of foreign exchange. The Company was required to post collateral of 20% of the total repurchase price for the duration of the agreement which was held in Restricted cash as of December 31, 2020. In the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company sold the Golden Ocean shares previously held as marketable securities pledged to creditors. See Note 13 for further details.

Debt restrictions
The Company's loan agreements contain loan-to-value clauses, which could require the Company to post additional collateral or prepay a portion of the outstanding borrowings should the value of the vessels securing borrowings under each of such agreements decrease below required levels. In addition, the loan agreements contain certain financial covenants, including the requirement to maintain a certain level of free cash, positive working capital and a value adjusted equity covenant. Restricted cash does not include cash balances of $67.0 million (2020: $103.5 million), which represents 64% (2020: 100%) of the cash required to be maintained by the financial covenants in our loan agreements. The Company is permitted to satisfy up to 50% of the cash requirements by maintaining a committed undrawn credit facility with a remaining availability of greater than 12 months. The Company did not satisfy any of the minimum cash requirements with a committed undrawn credit facility as of
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December 31, 2020 because the Company's senior unsecured facility agreement with an affiliate of Hemen was repayable in May 2021 as of this date. In November 2021, the Company extended the terms of the facility by 12 months to May 2023. These amounts are included in Cash and cash equivalents. Failure to comply with any of the covenants in the loan agreements could result in a default, which would permit the lender to accelerate the maturity of the debt and to foreclose upon any collateral securing the debt. Under those circumstances, the Company might not have sufficient funds or other resources to satisfy its obligations. The Company was in compliance with all of the financial covenants contained in the Company's loan agreements as of December 31, 2021.

Assets pledged
(in thousands of $)20212020
Vessels, net3,477,283 3,306,863 

Deferred charges 
(in thousands of $)20212020
Debt arrangement fees41,691 31,129 
Accumulated amortization(17,373)(10,953)
 24,318 20,176 

The Company paid $8.1 million of debt arrangement fees in the year ended December 31, 2021 (2020: $16.5 million). The Company paid a $3.4 million guarantee fee to an affiliate of Hemen in the year ended December 31, 2019, further details can be found in Note 27. The Company recognized $1.3 million of the guarantee fee within Interest expense in the year ended December 31, 2020 (2019: $2.1 million).

24.SHARE CAPITAL

The authorized share capital of the Company as of December 31, 2021 is $500,000,000 divided into 500,000,000 shares of $1.00 par value each, of which 203,530,979 shares (December 31, 2020: 197,692,321 shares) of $1.00 par value each are in issue and fully paid.

Equity distribution

In June 2020, the Company entered into an Equity Distribution Agreement with Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC for the offer and sale of up to $100.0 million of common shares of the Company through an ATM program. In the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company issued 5,499,658 shares for combined gross proceeds of $51.2 million.

Share options

In the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company issued 339,000 ordinary shares under its share option scheme at a strike price of $5.70 per share. The shares were issued to John Fredriksen (198,000 shares), Inger M. Klemp (120,000 shares), and Ola Lorentzon (21,000 shares). See Note 25 for further details.

In the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company issued 798,000 ordinary shares under its share option scheme to Robert Hvide Macleod at a strike share price of $7.30 per share. See Note 25 for further details.

The following table summarizes the movement in the number of shares outstanding during the two years ended December 31, 2021;
Outstanding shares at December 31, 2019196,894,321 
Shares issued on exercise of options798,000 
Outstanding shares at December 31, 2020197,692,321 
Shares issued under ATM program5,499,658 
Shares issued on exercise of options339,000 
Outstanding shares at December 31, 2021203,530,979 

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25.SHARE OPTIONS
 
In November 2006, the Company's Board of Directors approved a share option plan, which was cancelled in 2009 and replaced with the Frontline Ltd. Share Option Scheme, or the Frontline Scheme. The Frontline Scheme permits the Board of Directors, at its discretion, to grant options to acquire shares in the Company to employees and directors of the Company or its subsidiaries. The subscription price for all options granted under the scheme is reduced by the amount of all dividends declared by the Company in the period from the date of grant until the date the option is exercised, provided the subscription price is never reduced below the par value of the share. The vesting periods of options granted under the Frontline Scheme will be specific to each grant. There is no maximum number of shares authorized for awards of equity share options and authorized, un-issued or treasury shares of the Company may be used to satisfy exercised options.

In July 2016, the Company granted 1,170,000 share options, with an exercise price of $8.00 per share, to directors and officers in accordance with the terms of the Frontline Scheme. One third of the options vested over one year, one third vested over two years and one third vested over three years. The options had a five year term which expired in July 2021.

In November 2018, the Company granted 180,000 share options, with an exercise price of $7.40 per share, to employees in accordance with the terms of the Frontline Scheme. All options vested in July 2019. The options had a thirty-three month term which expired in July 2021.

In December 2021, the Board of Directors approved the grant of 1,280,000 synthetic options to employees and board members according to the rules of the Company’s synthetic option scheme approved on December 7, 2021. The synthetic options have a five years term expiring in December 2026. The vesting period is 12 months for the first 27.5% of options, 24 months for the next 27.5% of options and 36 months for the final 45% of options. The synthetic options will be settled in cash based on the difference between the market price of the Company’s shares and the exercise price on the date of exercise, and as such, have been classified as a liability.

The fair value of the granted option awards was estimated on the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option valuation model with the following assumptions:
 July 2016November 2018December 2021
Risk free interest rate0.69 %2.78 %1.04 %
Expected life (years)3.51.63.4
Expected volatility79.80 %38.24 %58.42 %
Expected dividend yield0.00 %0.00 %0.00 %

The risk-free interest rate was estimated using the interest rate on three year U.S. treasury zero coupon issues for the options granted in July 2016 and December 2021 and on prorated one to two and year U.S. treasury zero coupon issues for the options granted in November 2018. The volatility was estimated using historical share price data. The dividend yield was estimated at 0% as the exercise price is reduced by all dividends declared by the Company from the date of grant to the exercise date. It was assumed that all of the options granted in July 2016, November 2018 and December 2021 will vest.

Exercises and forfeitures of July 2016 and November 2018 grants
The initial exercise price for the options granted in July 2016 and November 2018 was reduced by the amount of dividends paid after the date of grants. As of December 31, 2021, 1,350,000 of these options had vested. As of December 31, 2021, 43,000 of these share options had been forfeited. In the year ended December 31, 2021, 339,000 (2020: 798,000) options were exercised and the Company issued 339,000 (2020: 798,000) shares for proceeds of $1.9 million (2020: $5.8 million). In the year ended December 31, 2021, 130,000 (2020: 40,000) options were exercised and settled for a cash payment of $0.3 million (2020: $0.2 million). As of December 31, 2021, no options remained exercisable (2020: 479,000). As of December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, there was no unrecognized stock compensation expense related to non-vested options. No stock compensation expense was recognized in the year ended December 31, 2021 (2020: nil, 2019: $0.4 million).

As of December 31, 2021, the exercise price of these options was $8.05 and the Company's share price was $7.07. In the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company recorded $0.2 million of expense related to the December 2021 options.

The weighted average grant-date fair value of the options granted in 2016 was $4.06 per share and $1.53 per share for the options granted in 2018.

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26.FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
 
Interest rate swap agreements
In February 2013, the Company entered into six interest rate swaps with Nordea Bank, whereby the floating interest rate on an original principal amount of $260.0 million was switched to a fixed rate. All of these swaps were settled as of December 31, 2021.

In February 2016, the Company entered into an interest rate swap with DNB whereby the floating interest on notional debt of $150.0 million was switched to fixed rate. The contract had a forward start date of February 2019.

In March 2020, the Company entered into three interest rate swaps with DNB whereby the floating interest rate on notional debt totaling $250.0 million was switched to a fixed rate.

In April 2020, the Company entered into two interest rate swaps with Nordea Bank whereby the floating interest rate on notional debt totaling $150.0 million was switched to a fixed rate.

The reference rate for our interest rate swaps is LIBOR.

The aggregate fair value of these swaps at December 31, 2021 was an asset of $9.7 million (2020: nil ) and a liability of $5.7 million (2020: $19.3 million). The fair value (Level 2) of the Company’s interest rate swap agreements is the estimated amount that the Company would receive or pay to terminate the agreements at the reporting date, taking into account, as applicable, fixed interest rates on interest rate swaps, current interest rates, forward rate curves and the current credit worthiness of both the Company and the derivative counterparty. The estimated fair value is the present value of future cash flows. In the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company recorded a gain on these interest rate swaps of $17.5 million (2020: loss of $18.6 million, 2019: loss of $10.1 million).

The interest rate swaps are not designated as hedges and are summarized as of December 31, 2021 as follows:
Notional AmountInception DateMaturity DateFixed Interest Rate
($000s)
150,000 February 2019February 20262.1970 %
100,000 March 2020March 20270.9750 %
50,000 March 2020March 20270.6000 %
100,000 March 2020March 20250.9000 %
100,000 April 2020April 20270.5970 %
50,000 April 2020April 20250.5000 %
550,000 

Foreign currency risk
The majority of the Company's transactions, assets and liabilities are denominated in U.S. dollars, the functional currency of the Company. There is a risk that currency fluctuations will have a negative effect on the value of the Company's cash flows. The Company has not entered into forward contracts for either transaction or translation risk, which may have an adverse effect on the Company's financial condition and results of operations. Certain of the Company's subsidiaries report in Sterling, Singapore dollars and Norwegian kroner and risks of two kinds arise as a result:
 
a transaction risk, that is, the risk that currency fluctuations will have a negative effect on the value of the Company's cash flows; and
a translation risk, that is, the impact of adverse currency fluctuations in the translation of foreign operations and foreign assets and liabilities into U.S. dollars for the Company's consolidated financial statements.

Accordingly, such risk may have an adverse effect on the Company's financial condition and results of operations. The Company has not entered into material derivative contracts for either transaction or translation risk.

Fair Values
The carrying value and estimated fair value of the Company's financial instruments as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 are as follows:
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 20212020
 
(in thousands of $)
Carrying
Value
Fair
Value
Carrying
Value
Fair
Value
Assets:    
Cash and cash equivalents113,073 113,073 174,721 174,721 
Restricted cash   14,928 14,928 
Marketable securities2,435 2,435 2,639 2,639 
Marketable securities pledged to creditors  5,835 5,835 
Derivative instruments receivable9,675 9,675   
Liabilities:    
Floating rate debt2,130,812 2,130,812 2,089,930 2,089,930 
Fixed rate debt209,700 206,552 66,251 65,348 
Derivative instruments payable5,673 5,673 19,261 19,261 
 
The estimated fair value of financial assets and liabilities are as follows:
(in thousands of $)2021
Fair Value
Level 1Level 2Level 3
Assets:    
Cash and cash equivalents113,073 113,073   
Marketable securities2,435 2,435   
Derivative instruments receivable9,675 9,675   
Liabilities:    
Floating rate debt2,130,812  2,130,812  
Fixed rate debt206,552   206,552 
Derivative instruments payable5,673  5,673  

(in thousands of $)2020
Fair Value
Level 1Level 2Level 3
Assets:    
Cash and cash equivalents174,721 174,721   
Restricted cash 14,928 14,928   
Marketable securities2,639 2,639   
Marketable securities pledged to creditors5,835 5,835   
Liabilities:    
Floating rate debt2,089,930  2,089,930  
Fixed rate debt65,348  6,251 59,097 
Derivative instruments payable19,261  19,261  

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instrument;

Cash and cash equivalents – the carrying values in the balance sheet approximate fair value.

Restricted cash – the carrying values in the balance sheet approximate fair value.

Floating rate debt - the fair value of floating rate debt has been determined using level 2 inputs and is considered to be equal to the carrying value since it bears variable interest rates, which are reset on a quarterly basis.

Fixed rate debt - short-term debt held with a third party bank has been valued using level 2 inputs, the remaining fixed rate debt has been determined using level 3 inputs being the discounted expected cash flows of the outstanding debt.

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Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis
Nonrecurring fair value measurements include a goodwill impairment assessment completed during the year. The impairment test used Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 inputs. See Note 4.

On March 16, 2020, the Company closed the Acquisition with Trafigura and recorded the vessels and time charters acquired based on their proportionate share of the fair value of the total consideration of $651.8 million. As such, $11.9 million of the combined fair value of the consideration was recognized within other current and long-term liabilities in relation to the time charters, and the vessels were recorded at a combined fair value of $663.7 million. See Note 5 for further details. The fair value of the vessels acquired were valued (level two) based on the average of broker valuations from two different ship broker companies. The brokers assess each vessel based on, among others, age, yard, deadweight capacity and compare this to market transactions. The time charter contracts were fair valued (level three) using an 'excess earnings' technique whereby the terms of the contract are assessed relative to current market conditions and they were recorded at the sum of the incremental or decremental cash flows arising over the life of the contracts.

Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
Marketable securities are listed equity securities considered to be available-for-sale securities for which the fair value as of the balance sheet date is the aggregate market value based on quoted market prices (level 1).

The fair value (level 2) of interest rate swaps is the present value of the estimated future cash flows that the Company would receive or pay to terminate the agreements at the balance sheet date, taking into account, as applicable, fixed interest rates on interest rate swaps, current interest rates, forward rate curves and the credit worthiness of both the Company and the derivative counterparty.

Concentrations of risk
There is a concentration of credit risk with respect to cash and cash equivalents to the extent that substantially all of the amounts are carried with Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken, or SEB, HSBC, Royal Bank of Scotland, DNB Bank ASA and Nordea Bank Norge, or Nordea, Crédit Agricole, Credit Suisse AG and Citibank N.A. However, the Company believes this risk is remote.

27.RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

We transact business with the following related parties, being companies in which Hemen and companies associated with Hemen have a significant interest: SFL, Seadrill Limited, Seatankers Management Norway AS, Seatankers Management Co. Ltd, Golden Ocean, Alta Trading UK Limited (formerly known as Arcadia Petroleum Limited), Archer Limited, Flex LNG Ltd, Avance Gas and Front Ocean Management AS. We also own interests in TFG Marine and Clean Marine AS (through our interest in FMS Holdco) which are accounted for as equity method investments.

SFL Transactions

SFL is the counterparty to two vessels we hold as Vessels Under Finance Lease, further information can be found in Note 18.

In February 2020, the Company agreed with SFL to terminate the long-term charter for the 2002-built VLCC Front Hakata upon the sale and delivery of the vessel by SFL to an unrelated third party. Frontline received a compensation payment of approximately $3.2 million from SFL for the termination of the current charter. The Company recognized a gain on termination, including the compensation payment, of $7.4 million in the first quarter of 2020. The charter with SFL terminated in February 2020. In conjunction with the termination of the lease, the Company settled the outstanding balances due under the notes payable in relation to the termination of the leases for Front Circassia, Front Page, Front Serenade, Front Stratus and Front Ariake of approximately $20.0 million. In the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company was charged $0.2 million (2019: $1.6 million) for interest expense in relation to these notes.

A summary of leasing transactions with SFL in the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 are as follows;
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(in thousands of $)202120202019
Charter hire paid (principal and interest)7,830 8,248 11,745 
Lease termination receipts 3,183  
Lease interest expense3,895 4,628 6,940 
Contingent rental (income) expense(3,606)14,568 (2,607)
Remaining lease obligation48,466 56,277 87,930 

Contingent rental income in the year ended December 31, 2021 was primarily due to the fact that the actual profit share expense earned by SFL in 2021 of $0.3 million (2020: $18.7 million, 2019: $4.8 million) was $3.6 million less (2020: $14.6 million more, 2019: $2.2 million less) than the amount accrued in the lease obligation payable when the leases were recorded at fair value at the time of the Merger.

In January 2014, the Company commenced a pooling arrangement with SFL, between two of its Suezmax tankers Front Odin and Front Njord and two SFL vessels Glorycrown and Everbright. In the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company recognized a gain of $0.3 million in relation to the pooling arrangement which is payable from SFL (2020: loss of $0.6 million, 2019: loss of $1.5 million).

In November 2021, the Company announced that it has entered into an agreement whereby the Company will sell four of its scrubber fitted LR2 tankers built in 2014 and 2015 for an aggregate sale price of $160.0 million to SFL Tanker Holding Ltd., a company related to Hemen, our largest shareholder. In December 2021, two vessels were delivered to the new owners. The remaining two vessels were delivered to the new owners in January 2022. The company recorded a gain on sale in relation to the first two vessels of $5.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2021.

Transactions with associated companies

In the year ended December 31, 2021, the investment in FMS Holdco remained unchanged from December 31, 2020. In the year ended December 31, 2020, a share of results of FMS Holdco of $5.0 million was recognized (2019: $1.7 million income). In the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company did not pay or accrue any amounts due to Clean Marine AS in relation to the installation of EGCS on its owned and leased vessels (2020: $8.6 million, 2019: $9.1 million).

The Company accounts for its 15% of the share capital of TFG Marine under the equity method. In the year ended December 31, 2021, a share of losses of TFG Marine of $0.7 million (2020: $0.6 million losses) was recognized. As a result of this transaction the Company advanced a shareholder loan of $1.5 million to TFG Marine. The Company subsequently converted $0.1 million of the shareholder loan to equity. The Company has also entered into a bunker supply arrangement with TFG Marine, under which it has paid $240.5 million (2020: $88.1 million) to TFG Marine in the year ended December 31, 2021 and $20.6 million (2020: $5.4 million) remains due as of December 31, 2021. The Company has also agreed to provide a $50.0 million guarantee in respect of the performance of its subsidiaries, and two subsidiaries of an affiliate of Hemen, under a bunker supply arrangement with TFG Marine. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, there are no amounts payable under this guarantee. In addition, should TFG Marine be required to provide a parent company guarantee to its bunker suppliers or finance providers then for any guarantee that is provided by the Trafigura Group and becomes payable, the Company shall pay a pro-rata amount based on its share of the equity in TFG Marine. The maximum liability under this guarantee is $6.0 million and there are no amounts payable under this guarantee as of December 31, 2021 and 2020.

Transactions with other affiliates of Hemen

In June 2016, the Company signed a $275.0 million senior unsecured facility agreement with an affiliate of Hemen, the Company's largest shareholder. The Company repaid $60.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2020 and up to $215.0 million remained available and undrawn as of December 31, 2020. In November 2021, the Company extended the terms of the facility by 12 months to May 2023. In the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company drew down $149.7 million under the facility to finance installments for the six VLCCs under construction, the deposits on two 2019 built VLCCs and for general corporate purposes. $209.7 million (2020: $60.0 million) of the extended facility has been recorded as long-term debt as of December 31, 2021. In the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company recognized interest expense of $8.2 million (2020: $4.8 million, 2019: $8.9 million).

In the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company chartered five (2020: ten) of its vessels to an affiliate of Hemen, of which one was a time charter with an initial term of 8 months. The remaining charters had terms of less than 6 months. The Company recognized revenue of $2.9 million (2020: $49.1 million) in relation to these charters in the year ended December 31, 2021.
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Summary

A summary of net amounts earned from (paid to) related parties for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 are as follows:
(in thousands of $)202120202019
Seatankers Management Co. Ltd1,810 7,844 18,878 
SFL2,555 2,112 1,591 
Golden Ocean3,912 5,630 6,851 
Seatankers Management Norway AS (461)(515)(705)
Alta Trading UK Limited2,942 49,238 3,197 
Seadrill Limited277 348 367 
Archer Limited 143 372 418 
Flex LNG Ltd1,637 1,289 1,195 
Avance Gas2,404 880 518 
TFG Marine786 557  
Front Ocean Management AS(252)  
Other related parties208 240 197 

Amounts earned from other related parties comprise office rental income, technical and commercial management fees, newbuilding supervision fees, freights, corporate and administrative services and income interest income. Amounts paid to related parties comprise primarily rental for office space, support staff costs and guarantee fees.

Related party balances

A summary of balances due from related parties at December 31, 2021 and 2020 is as follows:
(in thousands of $)20212020
SFL3,886 4,835 
Seatankers Management Co. Ltd1,546 3,578 
Archer Limited30 88 
Golden Ocean3,376 2,336 
Seadrill Limited625 25 
Alta Trading UK Limited280 1,263 
Flex LNG Ltd425 366 
TFG Marine199 16 
Avance Gas737 540 
Front Ocean Management AS402  
Other related parties170 208 
 11,676 13,255 

A summary of balances due to related parties at December 31, 2021 and 2020 is as follows:
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(in thousands of $)20212020
SFL6,878 8,978 
Seatankers Management Co. Ltd2,226 3,147 
Golden Ocean6,016 2,040 
Flex LNG Ltd191 143 
TFG Marine 20,605 5,369 
Avance Gas334 176 
 36,250 19,853 

28.COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
 
As of December 31, 2021, the Company's newbuilding program consisted of six VLCCs which are expected to be delivered in 2022, starting in the first quarter. As of December 31, 2021, total installments of $128.4 million had been paid in connection with the Company’s remaining newbuilding program and remaining commitments amounted to $437.4 million, all of which is due to be paid in 2022, of which $390.0 million will be financed by committed term loan facilities.

The Company insures the legal liability risks for its shipping activities with mutual protection and indemnity associations, who are members of the International Group of P&I Clubs. As a member of these mutual associations, 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 result in additional calls on the members.

The Company is a party, as plaintiff or defendant, to several lawsuits in various jurisdictions for unpaid charter hire, demurrage, damages, off-hire and other claims and commercial disputes arising from the operation of its vessels, in the ordinary course of business or in connection with its acquisition activities. The Company believes that the resolution of such claims will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's operations or financial condition individually and in the aggregate.

Following assignments of two property leases in 2015, each to a related party, a subsidiary of the Company has guaranteed the remaining outstanding payments due under the leases of approximately $3.2 million as of December 31, 2021 (2020: approximately $4.4 million). The Company does not believe that it will be required to make any payments under these guarantees and has not recorded a liability in the balance sheet in this respect.

As of December 31, 2021, the Company has no further remaining commitments for the installation of EGCS (2020: nil).

As of December 31, 2021, the Company has no remaining commitments for the purchase of BWTS (2020: $0.2 million).

As of December 31, 2020, the Company had entered into forward bunker purchase arrangements for the delivery of 5,000 MT of bunker fuel per month for delivery between October 2020 to December 2021. The contracts obliged the Company to purchase and take delivery of the physical fuel at prices between $325 per MT and $365 per MT. In addition, the Company had entered into a further arrangement for the delivery of 5,000 MT of bunker fuel per month for delivery between January 2021 to December 2021. The contract obliged the Company to purchase and take delivery of the physical fuel at $232 per MT. As of December 31, 2021, the Company had no remaining commitments under these forward bunker purchase agreements.

As of December 31, 2021, the Company has agreed to provide a $50.0 million guarantee in respect of the performance of its subsidiaries, and two subsidiaries of an affiliate of Hemen, under a bunker supply arrangement with TFG Marine. As of December 31, 2021, there are no amounts payable under this guarantee. In addition, should TFG Marine be required to provide a parent company guarantee to its bunker suppliers or finance providers then for any guarantee that is provided by the Trafigura Group and becomes payable Frontline shall pay a pro rata amount based on its share of the equity in TFG Marine. The maximum liability under this guarantee is $6.0 million and there are no amounts payable under this guarantee as of December 31, 2021.

29.SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

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In the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company received a distribution from DNK, the Norwegian Shipowners Mutual War Risk Insurance Association, of $13.4 million, after tax of $4.5 million. The gross distribution of $17.9 million was recorded in Other non-operating items, net in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

In the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company agreed with SFL to terminate the long-term charter for one vessel. The Company recognized a reduction in finance lease obligations of $24.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2020 in respect of this vessel.

Further information on the termination of long-term charters with SFL can be found in Note 18.

In the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company completed the sale of its 71.38% ownership interest in SeaTeam Management to OSM for consideration of $10.7 million, $5.4 million of which was received on October 20, 2020 upon the completion of the sale. In the year ended December 31, 2021 the Company received two equal payments of $2.7 million on April 1, 2021 and on December 1, 2021. Further information on the sale of Seateam Management can be found in Note 10.

In the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company issued 16,035,856 shares as part of the consideration under the SPA to acquire 10 Suezmax tankers from Trafigura. The shares have been recorded at the grant date fair value of $7.92 per share, totaling $127.0 million. In the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company delivered 5 vessels previously recognized as finance leases. On closing of the Acquisition, $333.5 million right-of-use assets were transferred to vessels and equipment. See Note 5. for full details of the accounting for this transaction.

30.SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

In November 2021, Frontline announced that it has entered into an agreement whereby the Company will sell four of its scrubber fitted LR2 tankers built in 2014 and 2015 for an aggregate sale price of $160.0 million to SFL Tanker Holding Ltd., a company related to Hemen, our largest shareholder. In December 2021 two vessels were delivered to the new owners. The remaining two vessels were delivered to the new owners in January 2022. After repayment of debt on the vessels, the transaction will generate total net cash proceeds of $68.6 million with net cash proceeds of $35.1 million to be recorded in the first quarter of 2022. The Company recorded a gain on sale in relation to the first two vessels of $5.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2021 and expects to record a gain of approximately $6.0 million in the first quarter of 2022.



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