Star Bulk Announces New Charter for Capesize Star Beta and Agrees With Its Lenders on Loan Covenant Waivers
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ATHENS, GREECE, Feb 12, 2009 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) -- Star Bulk Carriers Corp. (the "Company" or "Star Bulk") (SBLK:
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4:00pm 02/12/2009
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SBLK 2.27, -0.51, -18.3%) , a global maritime transportation company focusing on dry bulk cargoes, announced today that:
Star Beta
The Star Beta, a Capesize vessel of 174,691 dwt, built in 1993, has been time chartered for a period of 13 to 15 months at a gross daily rate of $32,500. The vessel is expected to be delivered to its new charterers within February 2009.
Covenant Waivers
The Company has reached agreements in principle with its lenders to obtain waivers for certain covenants including minimum asset coverage covenants contained in its loan agreements. The related terms are described below.
With respect to the $120 million facility, the lender will waive the loan-to-value ratio covenant through January 31, 2010. The Company will provide a first preferred mortgage on the currently debt-free vessel Star Alpha and pledge an account containing $6 million as further security for this facility.
With respect to the $150 million facility, the lenders will waive the security cover requirement through February 28, 2010, and the Minimum Asset Coverage Ratio for the year 2010 will be reduced to 110% from 125%. The Company will provide first preferred mortgages on the currently debt-free vessels Star Kappa and Star Ypsilon and will pledge an account containing $9 million as further security for this facility.
With respect to the $35 million facility, the lender will waive the security cover requirement through February 28, 2010, and the Minimum Asset Coverage Ratio for the year 2010 will be reduced to 110% from 125%. The Company will pledge an account containing $5 million as further security for this facility.
The interest spread for each of the above loans will be adjusted to 2% per annum for the duration of the respective waiver period.
The above agreements require final approval by the credit committees of the respective lenders.
The Company also announced that, under the terms of the above referenced agreements, its cash dividends and its share repurchases are being suspended.
Akis Tsirigakis, CEO of Star Bulk, commented: "We are pleased with the successful outcome of our discussions with our lenders and the recent significant fleet employment developments strengthening the position of the Company in the current market environment. Our fleet's contracted operating days coverage is now 93% in 2009 when taking into account time charter and COA contracts, providing significant cash flow visibility. The suspension of our dividend will reinforce our liquidity and balance sheet."
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 9.7 years and a combined cargo carrying capacity of 1,106,250 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 Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2007 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 Street
Maroussi 15125
Athens, Greece
Tel: +30 210 6178400
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
www.capitallink.com
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Originally Posted by dread
Money isn't finished transferring....no SBLK this morning for me.... (chewing off edge of desk)...........grrrr
