ATHENS, GREECE--(Marketwired - Jun 16, 2014) - Star Bulk Carriers Corp. ("Star Bulk" or the " Company ") (
Conference Call
Our management team will host a conference call to discuss the Transaction on Monday, June 16, 2014 at 5 p.m. Eastern Time (ET).
Participants should dial into the call 10 minutes before the scheduled time using the following numbers: 1(866) 819-7111 (from the US),
0(800) 953-0329 (from the UK) or
+ (44) (0) 1452 542 301 (from outside the US).
Please quote "Star Bulk."
A replay of the conference call will be available until June 23, 2014. The United States replay number is 1(866) 247-4222; from the UK 0(800) 953-1533; the standard international replay number is (+44) (0) 1452 550 000 and the access code required for the replay is: 3128607#.
Slides and audio webcast:
There will also be a simultaneous live webcast over the Internet, through the Star Bulk website ( www.starbulk.com ). Participants to the live webcast should register on the website approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the webcast.
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 which include bauxite, fertilizers and steel products. Star Bulk was incorporated in the Marshall Islands on December 13, 2006 and maintains executive offices in Athens, Greece. Its common stock trades on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol "SBLK". Star Bulk has an operating fleet of seventeen dry bulk carriers, consisting of five Capesize, two Post Panamax, two Ultramax and eight Supramax dry bulk vessels with a combined cargo carrying capacity of 1,610,935 deadweight tons and an average age of approximately 9.0 years. In addition, Star Bulk provides vessel management services to fourteen third party dry bulk vessels, including five Capesize, two Post Panamax, two Kamsarmax, two Panamax and three Supramax vessels with a combined cargo carrying capacity of 1,569,255 deadweight tons. We have also entered into agreements for the construction of eleven fuel efficient dry bulk vessels, consisting of five Newcastlemax vessels, two Capesize vessels and four Ultramax vessels, with a combined cargo carrying capacity of 1,643,000 deadweight tons. All of the newbuilding vessels are expected to be delivered during 2015 and early 2016.
Star Bulk's common stock is listed for trading on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "SBLK."
About Oceanbulk Companies
The Oceanbulk Companies are international shipping companies that own and operate a fleet of dry bulk carrier vessels. On a fully delivered basis, the Oceanbulk Companies will have a fleet of 37 vessels consisting primarily of Capesize as well as Kamsarmax and Ultramax vessels with a carrying capacity between 55,000 dwt and 209,000 dwt. The Oceanbulk Companies' fleet includes 12 vessels in the water (five Capesize vessels, two post-Panamax vessel, three Kamsarmax vessels and two Supramax vessels), with aggregate cargo carrying capacity of approximately 1.5 million deadweight tons and 25 fuel-efficient "Eco-type" vessels currently under construction at leading shipyards in Japan and China for delivery in 2014 and 2015, with an aggregate cargo carrying capacity of 3.5 million deadweight tons. Oceanbulk Companies' vessels transport a broad range of major and minor bulk commodities, including ores, coal, grains and fertilizers, along worldwide shipping routes. In the Transaction, (i) Star Bulk will acquire the Oceanbulk Companies through a merger of their immediate parent companies with two Star Bulk subsidiaries, and (ii) Star Bulk has agreed to acquire, upon successful future delivery, two 2006 built Tsuneishi (Japan) Kamsarmax vessels to be distributed to Oceanbulk Shipping LLC from its Heron Ventures Ltd. joint venture. The shares for this acquisition are included in the 54.104 million shares being issued in total for the Transaction.
About Pappas Investors
Entities controlled by the Pappas Investors, which will be acquired by Star Bulk in the Transaction, currently own a 2014 built Kamsarmax dry bulk carrier and a contract for the construction of a newbuilding Capesize dry bulk carrier scheduled to be delivered in 2014.
Forward-Looking Statements Matters discussed in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbor protections for forward-looking statements in order to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their business. Forward-looking statements 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.
The Company desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words "believe," "anticipate," "intends," "estimate," "forecast," "project," "plan," "potential," "may," "should," "expect," "pending" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding:
- The effectuation of Star Bulk's subsidiary merger transaction;
- The delivery to and operation of assets by Star Bulk;
- Star Bulk's future operating or financial results;
- Future, pending or recent acquisitions, business strategy, areas of possible expansion, and expected capital spending or operating expenses; and
- Dry bulk market trends, including charter rates and factors affecting vessel supply and demand.
The forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, examination by the Company's management of historical operating trends, data contained in its records and other data available from third parties. Although the Company 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 the Company's control, the Company cannot assure you that it will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections.
In addition to these important factors, other important factors that, in the Company's view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions, including fluctuations in charter rates and vessel values, changes in demand for dry bulk shipping capacity, changes in the Company's operating expenses, including bunker prices, drydocking and insurance costs, the market for the Company's 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 or political events, vessels breakdowns and instances of off-hires and other factors. Please see our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a more complete discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties. The information set forth herein speaks only as of the date hereof, and the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this communication.
Additional Information
Nothing contained in this press release constitutes a solicitation of materials of any vote or approval in respect of the proposed merger or the proposed transactions involving Star Bulk or otherwise contemplated herein. In connection with the proposed merger and the proposed transaction, a special stockholder meeting is expected to be held on or about July 11, 2014, to obtain stockholder approval. In connection with the merger and the proposed transactions, Star Bulk intends to furnish relevant materials, including a proxy statement, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on Form 6-K. Investors and security holders of Star Bulk are urged to read the proxy statement and other relevant materials when they become available because they will contain important information about Star Bulk, Oceanbulk, the Merger and the proposed transactions. The proxy statement and other relevant materials (when they become available), and any other documents filed by Star Bulk with the SEC, may be obtained free of charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov , at Star Bulk's website at www.starbulk.com , or by sending a written request to Star Bulk at c/o Star Bulk Management Inc. 40, Agiou Konstantinou Str., Maroussi 15124, Athens, Greece, Attention: Investor Relations.
Star Bulk and its directors, executive officers, and certain other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in soliciting proxies from the stockholders of Star Bulk in favor of the Merger. Information regarding the persons who may be considered to be participants in the solicitation of Star Bulk's stockholders in connection with the proposed transaction and their ownership of Star Bulk's common stock will be set forth in Star Bulk's proxy statement for its special meeting. Investors can find more information about Star Bulk and its executive officers and directors in its Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 and in its proxy statement, when available, that will be furnished to the SEC on Form 6-K.
Contacts: Company: Simos Spyrou CFO Star Bulk Carriers Corp. c/o Star Bulk Management Inc. 40 Ag. Konstantinou Av. Maroussi 15124 Athens, Greece www.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: starbulk@capitallink.com www.capitallink.com
