Golden Ocean Group

Earnings Release • Aug 17, 2017

GOGL - Second Quarter 2017 Results

GOGL - Second Quarter 2017 Results

Golden Ocean Group Limited (NASDAQ: GOGL / OSE: GOGL) (the "Company" or "Golden

Ocean"), a leading dry bulk shipping company, today announced its results for

the quarter ended June 30, 2017.

Highlights

·      Net loss of $12.0 million and loss per share of $0.10 for the second

quarter of 2017, compared with net loss of $17.9 million and loss per share of

$0.17 for the first quarter of 2017 and net loss of $39.2 million and loss per

share of $0.37 for the second quarter of 2016. Net loss of $29.8 million and

loss per share of $0.26 for the first six months of 2017, compared with net loss

of $107.5 million and loss per share of $1.27 for the first six months of 2016.

·      Adjusted EBITDA of $29.7 million for the second quarter of 2017 compared

with $17.5 million in the prior quarter and negative $0.8 million for the second

quarter of 2016.

·      Completed the acquisitions of 14 modern dry bulk vessels from Quintana in

ship-for-share transactions in exchange for 14.5 million shares and the

assumption of $262.7 million in debt. Eleven vessels delivered in the second

quarter and remaining three vessels delivered in July.

·      Took delivery of two Panamax ice-class vessels in June acquired from

Hemen, in ship-for-share transactions in exchange for 3.3 million shares and the

assumption of a $22.5 million seller's credit debt.

·      Joint venture company agreed to sell Golden Opus for $28.9 million, with

expected delivery in third quarter. Net cash proceeds are expected to be

approximately $6 million.

Birgitte Ringstad Vartdal, Chief Executive Officer of Golden Ocean Management AS

commented:

"Our second quarter results were positively impacted by the improved freight

rate environment going into the quarter and by a small increase in our fleet

operating days. The majority of the 16 modern, high quality vessels we agreed to

acquire earlier this year were delivered in the second half of the quarter.  All

of these vessels have now been delivered and we view the acquisition as timely

based on the developments both in freight rates and asset values. Our large

fleet of young, modern vessels with the majority trading in the spot market

gives us strong leverage to further improvements in the dry bulk market and

positions the company to create significant value for our shareholders."

The Board of Directors

Hamilton, Bermuda

August 17, 2017

Questions should be directed to:

Birgitte Ringstad Vartdal: Chief Executive Officer, Golden Ocean Management AS

+47 22 01 73 53

Per Heiberg: Chief Financial Officer, Golden Ocean Management AS

+47 22 01 73 45

The full report is available in the link below.

Forward Looking Statements

Matters discussed in this report 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. Words such as "believe," "anticipate," "intends," "estimate,"

"forecast," "project," "plan," "potential," "may," "should," "expect," "pending"

and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking

statements in this report are based upon various assumptions.  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. The information set forth herein speaks

only as of the date hereof, and we disclaim any intention or obligation to

update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring

after the date of this communication.

In addition to these important factors and matters discussed elsewhere 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 demand in the dry bulk market, changes in our

operating expenses, including bunker prices, drydocking and insurance costs, the

market for our  vessels, availability of financing and refinancing, changes in

governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities,

potential liability from pending or future litigation, general domestic and

international political conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due

to accidents, political events or acts by terrorists, and other important

factors described from time to time in the reports filed by the Company with the

Securities and Exchange Commission.

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section

5 -12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.