DFDS EXPANDS TONNAGE COOPERATION WITH DEFENCE

Copenhagen, 16 November 2010

DFDS' current tonnage cooperation with the Danish and German defence is expanded to at least five ships. DFDS orders two ro-ro newbuildings for delivery in 2012.

DFDS has since 2003 cooperated with the Danish defence, and since 2006 also with the German defence, on delivery of tonnage capacity for defence transport assignments (ARK project). A new agreement has now been entered into with charter agreements covering the period 2010-2021 replacing the current charter agreements which expire between 2010 and 2012.

The number of DFDS ships in the cooperation is increased to at least five ships from the present two ships. The agreement is contingent on two ships being newbuildings for delivery in the first half of 2012. Moreover, one ship is on a full time charter to the defence, while the other ships are available with varying periods of notice between 15 and 60 days. When the ships are not deployed by the defence, they are deployed in DFDS' route network. All ships are Danish flagged.

On this background DFDS has ordered two ro-ro newbuildings with a freight capacity of each 3,000 lanemetres plus container capacity of 342 TEU. The ships will be built by the German shipyard P+S Werften GmbH, Stralsund, and the design accommodates both defence as well as DFDS requirements. The total order sum is DKK 950 m (EUR 128 m) of which 80% is financed by a 12 year loan extended by KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH. The investment is carried out over three years with DKK 200 m in 2010, DKK 560 m in 2011 and DKK 190 m in 2012.

- Our cooperation with the Danish and German defence has been very effective and to the benefit of all parties since the beginning in 2003. We are happy to be able to extend and expand the cooperation. DFDS' investment in two newbuildings is in itself a sound investment and at the same time part of the ongoing renewal of our fleet. The two newbuildings will be able to replace chartered freight ships and thereby a high level of flexibility is maintained in the fleet, says Niels Smedegaard, CEO of DFDS.

DFDS