GOGL - Fourth Quarter and preliminary Year End 2012 Results

Hamilton, Bermuda, February 19, 2012

Highlights
• Golden Ocean generates fourth quarter 2012 EBITDA* of $23.3 million
• Golden Ocean reports profit of $9.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2012 and $11.6 million for the year of 2012
• The Company has in the 4th quarter cancelled 4 newbuilding contracts
• The Company has in January 2013 cancelled one newbuilding contract
• The Company took delivery of Golden Brilliant from Pipavav in January 2013
• The Company received in December upfront payment related to five vessels of $25 million

*EBITDA is equal to operating profit plus depreciations (including impairment related to vessels) and amortisation.

Fourth Quarter and preliminary Year End 2012 Results

Golden Ocean Group Limited (the "Company" or "Golden Ocean") reports profit of $9.3 million and earnings per share of $0.02 for the fourth quarter of 2012. This compares with the profit and earnings per share of $6.1 million and $0.01 respectively for the fourth quarter of 2011. Total operating revenues for the fourth quarter were $55.9 million, total operating expenses were $41.3 million and other gains/losses net were a loss of $0.4 million. Net financial items were negative with $4.8 million.

The Company reports a profit of $11.6 million and earnings per share of $0.03 for the full year 2012. Total operating revenues were $229.8 million, total operating expenses were $193.8 million and other gain/losses net were negative with $1.7 million. Net financial items for the year ended December 31, 2012 were negative with $22.7 million.

The profit for the period of $9.3 million is an increase of $26.4 million compared to last quarter. The operating revenues decreased by $0.6 million, and the operating expenses decreased by $25.5 million. Total other gains/ (losses) net decreased by $1.0 million. This leads to a net operating result of $14.2, which is $23.9 million higher than previous quarter. The main difference between the quarters is that the Company took impairment on several vessels in a total of $25.2 million in the third quarter. The Company's operating result before impairment is more or less in line with earlier quarters, due to the high contract coverage. The difference is mainly related to change in total other gains/ (losses) net. Net financial items decreased by $2.7 million from last quarter.

Cash and cash equivalents increased by $11.3 million during the quarter. The Company generated cash from operating activities of $44.9 million during the quarter. The Company paid $8.6 million in installments, docking and other predelivery costs in the quarter. Financing activities were negative with $27.1 million in the quarter. Ordinary and extraordinary repayments of long term debt amounted to $22.0 million, the buy back of the convertible bond used $1.8 million.

Full report available at: www.goldenocean.no

Golden Ocean Group Limited press release