Stolt-nielsen

Earnings Release • Jan 27, 2011

Stolt-Nielsen Limited Reports Unaudited Results For the Fourth Quarter and Full Year of 2010

LONDON, January 27, 2011 - Stolt-Nielsen Limited (Oslo Børs: SNI) today reported

unaudited results for the fourth quarter and full year ended November 30, 2010.

Net profit attributable to shareholders in the fourth quarter was $33.0

million, with revenue of $459.4 million, compared with $26.8 million and $449.6

million, respectively, in the third quarter. Net profit attributable to

shareholders for the full year was $106.1 million, with revenue of $1,793.7

million, compared with $95.2 million and $1,645.1 million, respectively, in

Highlights for the fourth quarter of 2010, compared with the third quarter of

2010, were:

·        Stolt Tankers reported an operating profit of $11.0 million, up from

$7.5 million.  Fourth-quarter results included a $3.3 million gain on the sale

of Stolt Pride for recycling, versus a $0.8 million gain on the sale of assets

in the prior quarter.

·        The Stolt Tankers Joint Service Sailed-in Time-Charter Index[1]

decreased to 1.17 from 1.20.

·        Stolthaven Terminals' operating profit increased to $14.4 million from

$13.5 million, with good operating results from its wholly owned terminal in

Houston and its joint venture terminals in Antwerp and Ulsan.

·        Stolt Tank Containers reported an operating profit of $21.0 million, up

from $16.9 million.  STC's growth in operating profit was driven mainly by lower

ocean freight costs and increased demurrage revenue.

·        Stolt Sea Farm reported an operating profit of $3.9 million, up from

$2.5 million.  SSF's results reflected a positive impact of $2.5 million from

the fair value accounting for inventories, compared with a positive impact of

$0.3 million.

·        Stolt-Nielsen Gas reported a loss of $1.1 million, compared with a loss

of $0.4 million, as freight rates eased after having strengthened during the

summer.

Stolt-Nielsen Gas' results are reported under discontinued operations as

subsequent to year end they entered into a joint venture agreement with Sungas

Holdings (Sungas).

Commenting on the Company's results, Mr. Niels G. Stolt-Nielsen, Chief Executive

Officer of SNL, said:

"Considering current economic and business conditions, I am pleased with SNL's

fourth-quarter and full-year results.  Stolt Tankers' underlying results were

essentially flat in the last quarter.  Stolthaven Terminals had another good

quarter, given the current environment.  Stolt Tank Containers reported another

solid year, though the fourth quarter reflected the usual seasonal slowdown in

activity compared with the preceding quarter.  Stolt Sea Farm also had a good

quarter, as turbot prices held up well in the typically softer fourth quarter."

"Looking back on 2010 as a whole, SNL performed well in what was, as expected, a

challenging year.  It was also a year highlighted by a number of significant

events and achievements.  In settling with the South Korean shipyard SLS, we

received a refund including interest of $340 million for the eight ships we

cancelled, and with our joint venture partner Gulf Navigation we were able to

secure four other newbuildings at a discount.  In a time charter contract with

JO Tankers, we took on six sophisticated parcel tankers for a period of three

years, effectively bridging the tonnage gap created by the cancellation of the

eight SLS ships.  Finally, as the year drew to a close, we took advantage of

attractive opportunities in the second-hand market to acquire seven all

stainless parcel tankers for $255 million.  As a net result of these

transactions, Stolt Tankers' near-term tonnage needs have been effectively

addressed.  Other highlights of 2010 included finding a partner for Stolt-

Nielsen Gas, a move that has substantially advanced our LPG plans.  We were also

pleased with the results of both Stolt Tank Containers and Stolthaven

Terminals.  These growing businesses generated a combined operating profit of

more than $120 million in 2010.  Given the multiple businesses that we operate

and the cash flow they generate, combined with our current debt level, we

believe SNL is well positioned to face 2011 and make the most of opportunities

that may arise, as well as generate a healthy profit once market conditions

eventually improve.  However, in tankers we do not see any signs of an improving

market and expect 2011 to be yet another challenging year, so we will continue

to manage our businesses conservatively, to protect our balance sheet, and to

appropriately prioritise our liquidity as we invest for the future."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[1] The Stolt Tankers Joint Service Sailed-in Time-Charter Index is an indexed

measurement of the sailed-in rate for the Joint Service and was set at 1.00 in

the first quarter of 1990 based on the average sailed-in time-charter result for

the fleet at the time.  The sailed-in rate is a measure frequently used by

shipping companies, which subtracts from the ships' operating revenue the

variable costs associated with a voyage, primarily commissions, sublets,

transshipments, port costs, and bunker fuel.

This information is subject of the disclosure requirements acc. to §5-12 vphl

(Norwegian Securities Trading Act)

[HUG#1482733]