Contact Information: Contacts: Company: George Syllantavos CFO Star Bulk Carriers Corp. 7 Fragoklisias Street Maroussi 15125, Athens, Greece E-mail: ir@starbulk.com 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
Star Bulk Carriers Corp. Updates on Ownership of Insider Holdings
| Source: Star Bulk Carriers Corp.
ATHENS, GREECE--(Marketwire - July 30, 2008) - Star Bulk Carriers Corp. (the "Company" or
"Star Bulk") (NASDAQ : SBLK ) announced today that F5 Capital, a company
affiliated with Mr. Nobu Su, one of the Company's directors, filed a
Schedule 13D report yesterday with the Securities and Exchange Commission
to disclose its disposition of approximately 9.5 million Star Bulk common
shares in certain private transactions. According to the Schedule 13D, F5
Capital's beneficial ownership in the Company has been reduced to
approximately 3.8 million shares, representing roughly 7% of the Company's
issued and outstanding shares.
Akis Tsirigakis, President and CEO of Star Bulk, commented: "The sale of a
number of Star Bulk shares held by a company affiliated with Nobu Su was
effected with the consent of our Board of Directors. It does not affect our
business plan and does not diminish our confidence in the positive outlook
of the dry bulk sector and the prospects of our company. Further, Mr. Su's
affiliated company continues to be a significant shareholder. There has
been no change in our Board of Directors and Mr. Su remains a Director. We
welcome the higher free float and the potential for increased liquidity of
our shares."
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, fertilizers 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.
Currently, Star Bulk has an operating fleet of twelve dry bulk carriers,
plus definitive agreements to acquire one Capesize dry bulk carrier and
sell its Panamax dry bulk carrier. The total fleet consists of four
Capesize, one Panamax and eight Supramax dry bulk vessels with an average
age of approximately 10 years and a combined cargo carrying capacity of
1,184,835 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," "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
Annual Report on Form 20-F, 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.