Star Bulk Board of Directors Approves Share and Warrant Re-Purchase Plan
Thursday January 24, 8:30 am ET
biz.yahoo.com
NEW YORK, NY--(MARKET WIRE)--Jan 24, 2008 -- Star Bulk Carriers Corp. (SBLK - News) announced today that its board of directors has approved a plan for the repurchase of up to an aggregate of $50 million of its Common Stock and Warrants which may be repurchased by the Company from time to time until December 31, 2008.
The plan calls for the repurchases of both Common Stock and Warrants to be made in open market or privately negotiated transactions in compliance with Rule 10b-18 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, subject to market and business conditions, applicable legal requirements and other factors. The plan will be implemented by the Company's management at its discretion. The plan calls for the repurchased shares and warrants to be retired as soon as practicable following the repurchase. The plan does not obligate the Company to purchase any particular number of shares, and may be suspended at any time at the Company's discretion in accordance with Rule 10b-18.
Akis Tsirigakis, President and CEO of Star Maritime, commented: "Our plan to repurchase and retire a portion of our Common Stock and Warrants reaffirms our confidence and optimism in the long term future of the Company and is a testimony of our commitment to seek ways to increase shareholder value. We believe it is in the best interest of the Company and its stockholders to utilize the Company's healthy cash position and strong contracted revenue stream to repurchase a portion of the Company's Common Stock and Warrants at these levels."
Fleet Table
The following table sets forth summary information regarding Star Bulk's fleet. Star Bulk expects to take delivery of the last remaining vessel of its fleet within February 2008 as shown in the table below.
Vessel Type DWT Year Charter Time
Name Built Party Charter rate
Expiry (1) (2)
CURRENT FLEET
Star Alpha Capesize 175,075 1992 Oct. 5, 2009 $47,500
Star Beta Capesize 174,691 1993 Mar. 31, 2010 $106,500
Star Gamma Supramax 53,098 2002 Jan. 25, 2009 $28,500
Star Zeta Supramax 52,994 2003 Mar. 28, 2008 $30,500
Mar. 2013 $38,750
Star Delta Supramax 52,434 2000 May 7, 2009 $25,800
Star Theta Supramax 52,425 2003 Jun. 16, 2009 $32,500
Star Epsilon Supramax 52,402 2001 Mar. 15, 2009 $25,550
Star Kappa Supramax 52,055 2001 Nov. 23, 2010 $47,800
Total 665,174
VESSELS TO BE DELIVERED
Star Iota Panamax 78,585 1983 Feb. 15, 2009 $18,000
Total 78,585
Fleet Total 743,759
* Indicates expected delivery
(1)Represents the latest expiry date allowed by the charter party
(2)Represents the gross daily rate
About Star Bulk
Star Bulk is a global shipping company providing worldwide seaborne transportation solutions in the dry bulk sector. Star Bulk's vessels transport major bulks, which include iron ore, coal and grain and minor bulks such as bauxite, phosphate and steel products. Star Bulk was incorporated in the Marshall Islands on December 13, 2006 and is headquartered in Athens, Greece. Its common stock and warrants trade on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbols "SBLK" and "SBLKW" respectively. Star Bulk has definitive agreements to acquire a fleet of nine dry bulk carriers, eight of which have been delivered to date. The nine dry bulk carriers consist of two Capesize, one Panamax and six Supramax dry bulk vessels with an average age of approximately 10 years and a combined cargo carrying capacity of 743,759 deadweight tons.
Forward-Looking Statements
The information in this press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: (1) the delivery and operation of assets of Star Bulk; (2) Star Bulk's future operating or financial results; (3) future, pending or recent acquisitions, business strategy, areas of possible expansion, and expected capital spending or operating expenses; (4) drybulk market trends, including charter rates and factors affecting vessel supply and demand; and (5) other statements identified by words such as "anticipate," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "will," "should," "may," or words of similar meaning.
Such forward-looking statements are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, Star Bulk's examination of historical operating trends, data contained in their records and other data available from third parties. Although Star Bulk believes 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 their control, Star Bulk cannot assure you that Star Bulk will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include the failure of a seller to deliver one or more vessels, the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions, including changes in charterhire rates and vessel values, changes in demand that may affect attitudes of time charterers to scheduled and unscheduled drydocking, changes in Star Bulk's operating expenses, including bunker prices, dry-docking and insurance costs, or actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, domestic and international political conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents and political events or acts by terrorists. Additional factors that could cause Star Bulk's results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in Star Bulk's Registration Statement on Form F-1/F-4 and reports on Form 6-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and available at the SEC's Internet site (http://www.sec.gov). The information set forth herein speaks only as of the date hereof, and Star Bulk disclaims any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this communication.
Contact:
Company:
Akis Tsirigakis
President and CEO
Star Bulk Carriers Corp.
Aethrion Center, Suite B-34
40 Ag. Konstantinou
Maroussi 15124
Athens, Greece
Email: ir@starbulk.com
starbulk.com
Investor Relations / Financial Media:
Nicolas Bornozis
President
Capital Link, Inc.
230 Park Avenue, Suite 1536
New York, NY 10169
Tel. (212) 661-7566
E-mail: nbornozis@capitallink.com
capitallink.com
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Source: Star Bulk Carriers Corp. |
