d1009024_6-k.htm

 
FORM 6-K
 
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13A-16 OR 15D-16
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the month of June 2009
 
Commission File Number:  001-33869
 
Star Bulk Carriers Corp.
(Translation of registrant's name into English)
 
7, Fragoklisias Street, 2nd floor, Maroussi 151 25, Athens, Greece
(Address of principal executive office)
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
 
 
Form 20-F
[X]
Form 40-F
[_]
 
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ___
 
Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted solely to provide an attached annual report to security holders.
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)7: ___
 
Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted to furnish a report or other document that the registrant foreign private issuer must furnish and make public under the laws of the jurisdiction in which the registrant is incorporated, domiciled or legally organized (the registrant's "home country"), or under the rules of the home country exchange on which the registrant's securities are traded, as long as the report or other document is not a press release, is not required to be and has not been distributed to the registrant's security holders, and, if discussing a material event, has already been the subject of a Form 6-K submission or other Commission filing on EDGAR.

 
 

 

INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS FORM 6-K REPORT
 
Attached hereto as Exhibit 1 is a copy of the press release of Star Bulk Carriers Corp. (the "Company"), dated June 25, 2009, announcing a cash dividend of $0.05 per outstanding share of the Company's common stock for the three months ending June 30, 2008.
 
This report on Form 6-K, except for the section entitled "Akis Tsirigakis, President and CEO of Star Bulk commented," is hereby incorporated by reference into the Company's registration statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-153304) that was filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission") with an effective date of November 3, 2008, and the Company's registration statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-156843) that was filed with the Commission with an effective date of February 17, 2009.

 
 

 

Exhibit 1
 

 
STAR BULK CARRIERS CORP. DECLARES DIVIDEND OF $0.05 PER SHARE
FOR THE QUARTER ENDING JUNE 30, 2009

Athens, Greece, June 25, 2009 – Star Bulk Carriers Corp. (the "Company'' or "Star Bulk") (NASDAQ: SBLK) today announced that its Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.05 per outstanding share of the Company's common stock for the three months ending June 30, 2009. The dividend is payable on or about July 14, 2009 to shareholders of record as of July 7, 2009. The Company received written consent from each of its lenders for the declaration and payment of this dividend in respect of the second quarter of 2009.

Under the terms of the Company's waiver agreements with its lenders, in effect up to February 2010, any payment of dividends during the applicable waiver period is subject to the lenders' prior written consent. The Company will be required to obtain further consent of its lenders in order to pay dividends in respect of the quarters ending September 30 and December 31, 2009.

Akis Tsirigakis, President and CEO of Star Bulk, commented: "We are pleased to be able to implement our long-standing principle of rewarding our investors through the distribution of dividends. We are also pleased to have our lenders' vote of confidence, evidenced by their consent to the distribution of dividend. Currently, our fleet is contracted for 100% of 2009, 71% of 2010 and 42% of 2011, which provides long-term earnings visibility. We continue to focus on enhancing shareholder value supported by our strong balance sheet and liquidity."

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.  The total fleet consists of four Capesize, and eight Supramax dry bulk vessels with an average age of approximately 10.1 years and a combined cargo carrying capacity of 1,106,253 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 its 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, Annual Reports on Forms 20-F for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2008, in Registration Statement on Form F-3 filled in September 2008 and its amendments, in Registration Statement on Form F-3 filled in January 2009 and its amendments, 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.
 

 
Contacts:
 
Company
George Syllantavos
CFO
Star Bulk Carriers Corp.
7 Fragoklisias Str.
Maroussi 15125
Athens, Greece
www.starbulk.com
E-mail: ir@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


 

 
 

 

SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
   
Star Bulk Carriers Corp.
     
Dated: June 29, 2009
 
By:
/s/ Prokopios Tsirigakis
     
Name: Prokopios Tsirigakis
     
Title: Chief Executive Officer and President
     
     

SK 25767 0001 1009024