Star Bulk Carriers Corp. Announces an Amended Dividend Policy and Share Buy-Back Under a New Share Repurchase Program

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Star Bulk Carriers Corp.
Star Bulk Carriers Corp.

ATHENS, Greece, Dec. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Star Bulk Carriers Corp. (the "Company" or "Star Bulk") (Nasdaq: SBLK), a global shipping company focusing on the transportation of dry bulk cargoes, today announced that the Company’s Board further amended its dividend policy which was in place since 2021. Unless otherwise indicated or unless the context requires otherwise, all references in this press release to "we," "us," "our," or similar references, mean Star Bulk Carriers Corp. and, where applicable, its consolidated subsidiaries.

Under the amended dividend policy, as set out herein below, the Company may approve an allocation of up to 60% of cash flow from operations less debt amortization, less maintenance/upgrade CAPEX less any deficit of cash below $2.1 million per owned vessel (“Cash Flow”), towards quarterly shareholder dividends.

Any remaining Cash Flow to be allocated, at the Company’s discretion, to:

  • Share repurchases: Buybacks will be prioritized when the share price is trading at a significant discount to the estimated net liquidation value of the Company’s hard assets

  • Growth Opportunities: Cash Flow may be also used for opportunistic vessel acquisitions and investments that will create enhanced returns over time and for general corporate purposes.

New Share Repurchase Program

On December 13, 2024 our Board of Directors cancelled the existing $50.0 million share repurchase program and authorized a new share repurchase program of up to an aggregate of $100.0 million (“New Share Repurchase Program”) under the same conditions applying as per the previous share repurchase program. Pursuant to the New Share Repurchase Program and using proceeds from previous vessel sales, the Company bought back 293,474 shares at an average price of $15.5. The repurchased shares will be withdrawn and cancelled, leaving the total number of shares issued and outstanding post cancellation at 117,730,112.

Petros Pappas, Chief Executive Officer of Star Bulk, commented:

“For the past several months, our share has been available for purchase at prices that appear to be more attractive than the corresponding prices for dry bulk vessels. We are amending the Company’s dividend policy to increase its flexibility to take advantage of this market inefficiency for the benefit of all shareholders.”

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, minerals 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, New York, Limassol, Singapore, Germany and Denmark. Its common stock trades on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “SBLK”. As of the date of this release on a fully delivered basis and as adjusted for the delivery of a) the vessels agreed to be sold as discussed above and b) the five firm Kamsarmax vessels currently under construction, we own a fleet of 156 vessels, with an aggregate capacity of 15.0 million dwt consisting of 17 Newcastlemax, 15 Capesize, 1 Mini Capesize, 7 Post Panamax, 44 Kamsarmax, 1 Panamax, 48 Ultramax and 23 Supramax vessels with carrying capacities between 53,489 dwt and 209,537 dwt.