SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON,
D.C. 20549
FORM
10-K
ANNUAL
REPORT
PURSUANT
TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(Mark
one)
x
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT
TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934
For
the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2006
OR
o
TRANSITION REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934
For
the
transition period from ________________ to ________________
Commission
File No.: 001-32685
Star
Maritime Acquisition Corp.
(Exact
Name of issuer as specified in its charter)
Delaware
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20-202873585
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(State
or other jurisdiction of
incorporation
or organization)
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(I.R.S.
Employer
Identification
No.)
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103
Foulk
Road
Wilmington,
DE 19803
(Address
of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's
telephone number, including area code: 302-656-1950
Securities
registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Common
Stock, $.0001 par value
(Title
of
Class)
Common
Stock Purchase Warrants
(Title
of
Class)
Securities
registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to
Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes o No
x
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to
be
filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the
preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required
to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements
for
the past 90 days.
Yes
x No o
Indicate
by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of
Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best
of the registrant's knowledge in definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to
this
Form 10-K. x
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated
filer or a non-accelerated filer.
Large Accelerated Filer o |
Accelerated Filer x |
Non-Accelerated Filer o |
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule
12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes
x No
o
State
the
aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting stock held by non-affiliates
of the Issuer: $191,693,800 (based upon the closing price of Issuer's Common
Stock, $.0001 par value, as of the last business day of the Issuer's most
recently completed second fiscal quarter (June 30, 2006).
Indicate
the number of shares outstanding of each of the Registrant's classes of common
stock, as of the latest practicable.
Common
Stock, $.0001 Par Value
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29,026,924
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(Title
of Class)
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(No.
of Shares Outstanding at March ___,
2007)
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DOCUMENTS
INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE: NONE
TABLE
OF
CONTENTS
PART
I
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1
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Item
1.
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Business
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1
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Item
1A.
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Risk
Factors
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13
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Item
1B.
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Unresolved
Staff Comments
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40
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Item
2.
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Properties
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40
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Item
3.
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Legal
Proceedings
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41
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Item
4.
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Submission
of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
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41
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PART
II
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41
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Item
5.
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Market
for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and
Issuer
Purchases of Equity Securities
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41
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Item
6.
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Selected
Financial Data
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43
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Item
7.
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Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations
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43
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Item
7A.
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Quantitative
and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
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46
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Item
8.
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Financial
Statements and Supplementary Data
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F-1
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Item
9.
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Changes
in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial
Disclosure
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47
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Item
9A.
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Controls
and Procedures
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48
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Item
9B.
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Other
Information
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48
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PART
III
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48
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Item
10.
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Directors
and Executive Officers of the Registrant
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48
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Item
11.
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Executive
Compensation
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51
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Item
12.
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Security
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related
Stockholder Matters
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52
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Item
13.
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Certain
Relationships, Related Transactions and Director
Independence
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53
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Item
14.
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Principal
Accountant Fees and Services
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54
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PART
IV
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55
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Item
15.
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Exhibits
and Financial Statement Schedules
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55
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PART
I
Item
1. Business
Overview
Star
Maritime is a blank check company organized under the laws of the State of
Delaware on May 13, 2005 to acquire, through a merger, capital stock exchange,
asset acquisition or similar business combination, one or more “target
businesses” in the shipping industry. A “target business” includes one or more
entities with agreements to acquire vessels or an operating business in the
shipping industry. Following our formation, our officers and directors were
the
holders of 9,026,924 shares of common stock representing all of our issued
and
outstanding capital stock at such time. On December 21, 2005, we consummated
our
initial public offering of 18,867,500 units, which we refer to as the Initial
Public Offering, with each unit consisting of one share of Star Maritime common
stock and one warrant to purchase one share of Star Maritime common stock.
In
addition, we completed the Private Placement of an aggregate of 1,132,500 units,
which we refer to as the Private Placement, to Messrs. Tsirigakis and
Syllantavos, our senior executive officers and Messrs. Pappas and Erhardt,
two
of our directors. The gross proceeds of the Private Placement of $11,325,500
were used to pay all fees and expenses of the Initial Public Offering. After
deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions, the placement fee and
the
offering expenses, the total net proceeds to us from the Initial Public Offering
and the Private Placement were approximately $189,125,000 of which $188,675,000
was deposited into a trust account, $599,163 was used to repay interest and
debt
to our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Akis Tsirigakis, for a loan
advanced to us to cover expenses related to the Initial Public Offering and
the
remaining proceeds of $533,172, which after payment of approximately $170,000
of
additional financing fees, provided us with approximately $363,172, which was
deposited and held outside of the trust account to be used to provide for
business, legal and accounting due diligence on prospective business
combinations and continuing operating expenses. During the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2006, we incurred $1,211,100 of operating expenses. $363,172 of
such operating expenses were provided by the net proceeds of the Initial Public
Offering that were not deposited in the trust account, and $847,928 of such
operating expenses were provided by distributions of interest income from the
trust account, made in accordance with the procedures set forth in the
Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated December 21, 2005 between Star
Maritime and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company. The net proceeds
deposited into the trust account remain on deposit in the trust account earning
interest. As of December 31, 2006, there was $192,915,257 held in the trust
account, including interest income of $4,240,257.
Shipping
Industry Overview
The
shipping industry provides a practical and cost-effective means of transporting
large volumes of cargoes. This is accomplished predominantly by the dry bulk
and
tanker sectors, while other related sectors tend to be specialized. The dry
bulk
sector involves the transportation of dry bulk and general cargoes, including,
among other products, coal, minerals, ore, steel products, forest products,
agricultural products, construction materials and heavy equipment, machinery
and
spare parts via dry bulk cargo vessels. The tanker sector involves the
transportation of wet products such as crude oil, refined petroleum cargoes
and
liquid chemicals via different types of tankers. Related sectors comprise,
but
are not limited to, the operation of vessels such as containerships, liquefied
gas carriers, offshore supply and anchor-handling vessels.
We
may
seek to acquire a company with agreements to purchase individual vessels, a
company with a fleet of vessels, a number of such companies as a group, or
an
entity which provides commercial management, operational and technical
management or other services to one or more segments of the shipping industry.
A
target company might be a holding company, the sole assets of which are one
or
more agreements to acquire individual vessels. If a company we acquire is a
holding company rather than an operating company, we will need to retain current
management, seek to retain new management or outsource the commercial and
technical management of the vessels by contracting with a shipping company
engaged in this business.
Dry
bulk sector overview
Dry
bulk
vessels are used to transport commodities such as iron ore, minerals, grains,
forest products, fertilizers, coking and steam coal. The dry bulk sector can
be
divided into four major vessel categories with reference to size. We may explore
acquisitions of either one or more vessels and/or operating companies that
are
focused on these segments of the dry bulk sector, including:
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Capesize.
The largest of the dry bulk carrier vessels, with typical cargo capacity
over 80,000 dead weight tons, or dwt. Capesize vessels are used primarily
for transporting cargoes consisting of iron ore and coal. Due to the
size of the vessels, there are a limited number of ports around the
world that have the infrastructure to accommodate them. Capesize
vessels
cannot traverse through the Panama Canal due to their
size.
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Panamax.
The second largest of the dry bulk vessels, with cargo capacity typically
between 60,000 and 80,000 dwt. Panamax vessels are the largest bulk
carriers able to transit the Panama Canal. These vessels typically
carry
cargoes consisting of coal, grains,
fertilizers.
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Handymax.
Versatile vessels that are dispersed in various geographic locations
throughout the world. Handymax vessels typically have cargo capacity
of
35,000 to 60,000 dwt, and are primarily used to transport grains,
forest
products and fertilizers. These vessels are equipped with onboard
cranes
which allow for the loading and unloading of cargo. Supramax vessels
are a
sub-category of Handymax vessels which have cargo capacity in excess
of
50,000 dwt.
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Handysize.
The smallest of the dry bulk carrier vessels with cargo capacity
up to
35,000 dwt. These vessels are used mainly for regional voyages, are
extremely versatile and can be used in smaller ports that lack
infrastructure. Like Handymax vessels, Handysize vessels are also
equipped
with onboard cranes.
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Prices
for individual vessels vary widely depending on the type, quality, age and
discounted future earnings.
Tanker
sector overview
The
world
tanker fleet is divided into two primary categories, crude oil and product
tankers. Tanker charterers of wet cargoes will typically charter the appropriate
sized tanker based on the length of journey, cargo size and port and canal
restrictions. Crude oil tankers are typically larger than product tankers.
The
four major tanker categories with reference to size are:
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Very
Large Crude Carriers, or VLCCs.
Tanker vessels that are used to transport crude oil with cargo capacity
typically 200,000 to 320,000 dwt that are more than 300 meters in
length.
VLCCs are highly automated and their advanced computer systems allow
for a
minimal crew. The majority of the world’s crude oil is transported via
VLCCs.
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Suezmax.
Tanker vessels with cargo capacity typically 120,000 to 200,000 dwt.
These
vessels carry primarily crude oil and are used in some of the fastest
growing oil producing regions of the world, including the Caspian
Sea and
West Africa. Suezmax tankers are the largest ships able to transit
the
Suez Canal with a full payload and are capable of both long and short
haul
voyages.
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Aframax.
Tanker vessels with cargo capacity typically 80,000 to 120,000 dwt.
These
tankers carry crude oil and serve various trade routes from short
to
medium distances mainly in the North Sea and Venezuela. These vessels
are
able to enter a larger number of ports throughout the world as compared
to
the larger crude oil tankers.
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Product.
Tanker vessels with cargo capacity typically less than 60,000 dwt.
Product
tankers are capable of carrying refined petroleum products, such
as fuel
oils, gasoline and jet fuel, as well as various edible oils, such
as
vegetable and palm oil.
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Prices
for individual vessels vary widely depending on the type, quality, age and
discounted future earnings.
Container
sector overview
As
opposed to dry bulk vessels, which carry raw materials such as iron ore,
minerals, grains, forest products, coking and steam coal, container vessels
transport finished goods that are shipped in large containers. Instead of the
number of dead weight tons that they can carry, container vessels are sized
according to the number of containers that they can carry and whether the
vessels can traverse the Panama Canal. We may explore acquisitions of one or
more vessels and/or operating companies that operate container vessels that
can
ship products regionally or globally. Prices for individual vessels vary widely
depending on the type, quality, age and discounted future earnings.
Related
sectors
Related
sectors in which we might seek a business combination include, but are not
limited to, supply vessels, service vessels and anchor handlers that perform
various functions related to the supply and maintenance of offshore oil
rigs.
Shipping
services sector overview
In
addition to acquiring individual vessels and/or an operating company or
companies with a fleet of vessels, service businesses we may seek to acquire
could be engaged in, among other activities, operational management, brokerage,
maintenance and technical support. Service businesses we may seek to acquire
would typically be engaged in:
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Technical
management services, such as crew retention and training, maintenance,
repair, capital expenditures, dry-docking, payment of vessel tonnage
tax,
maintaining insurance and other vessel operating activities;
or
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Commercial
management services, such as finding employment for vessels, vessel
acquisition and disposition, freight and charter hire collection,
accounts
control, appointment of agents, bunkering and cargo claims handling
and
settlements.
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Government
Regulations
Government
regulation significantly affects the ownership and operation of vessels
including international conventions, national, state and local laws and
regulations in force in the countries in which vessels may operate or are
registered.
A
variety
of governmental and private entities subject vessels to both scheduled and
unscheduled inspections. These entities include the local port authorities
(U.S.
Coast Guard, harbor master or equivalent), classification societies, flag state
administration (country of registry) and charterers, particularly terminal
operators. Certain of these entities require vessel owners to obtain permits,
licenses and certificates for the operation of their vessels. Failure to
maintain necessary permits or approvals could require a vessel owner to incur
substantial costs or temporarily suspend operation of one or more of its
vessels.
We
believe that the heightened level of environmental and quality concerns among
insurance underwriters, regulators and charterers is leading to greater
inspection and safety requirements on all vessels and may accelerate the
scrapping of older vessels throughout the industry. Increasing environmental
concerns have created a demand for vessels that conform to the stricter
environmental standards. Vessel owners are required to maintain operating
standards for all vessels that will emphasize operational safety, quality
maintenance, continuous training of officers and crews and compliance with
United States and international regulations. Because these laws and regulations
are frequently changed and may impose increasingly stricter requirements, we
cannot predict the ultimate cost of complying with these requirements, or the
impact of these requirements on our proposed business.
Environmental
regulations
The
International Maritime Organization or “IMO” has negotiated international
conventions that impose liability for oil pollution in international waters
and
a signatory’s territorial waters. In September 1997, the IMO adopted Annex VI to
the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, which
was ratified on May 18, 2004, and became effective on May 19, 2005. Annex VI
sets limits on sulfur oxide and nitrogen oxide emissions from ship exhausts
and
prohibits deliberate emissions of ozone depleting substances, such as
chlorofluorocarbons. Annex VI also includes a global cap on the sulfur content
of fuel oil and allows for special areas to be established with more stringent
controls on sulfur emissions. Annex VI and new conventions, laws and regulations
that may be adopted, in the future, could adversely affect our ability to manage
vessels we acquire or operate.
Under
the
International Safety Management Code or “ISM Code”, promulgated by the IMO, the
party with operational control of a vessel is required to develop an extensive
safety management system that includes, among other things, the adoption of
a
safety and environmental protection policy setting forth instructions and
procedures for operating its vessels safely and describing procedures for
responding to emergencies.
The
ISM
Code requires that vessel operators obtain a safety management certificate
for
each vessel they operate. This certificate evidences compliance by a vessel’s
management with code requirements for a safety management system. No vessel
can
obtain a certificate unless its manager has been awarded a document of
compliance, issued by the respective flag state for the vessel, under the ISM
Code.
Noncompliance
with the ISM Code and other IMO regulations may subject a ship owner to
increased liability, may lead to decreases in available insurance coverage
for
affected vessels and may result in the denial of access to, or detention in,
some ports. For example, the United States Coast Guard and European Union
authorities have indicated that vessels not in compliance with the ISM Code
will
be prohibited from trading in ports in the United States and European Union.
The
United States Oil Pollution Act of 1990
The
United States Oil Pollution Act of 1990, or OPA, established an extensive
regulatory and liability regime for the protection and cleanup of the
environment from oil spills. OPA affects all owners and operators whose vessels
trade in the United States, its territories and possessions or whose vessels
operate in United States waters, which includes the United States’ territorial
sea and its two hundred nautical mile exclusive economic zone.
Under
OPA, vessel owners, operators and bareboat charterers are “responsible parties”
and are jointly, severally and strictly liable (unless the spill results solely
from the act or omission of a third party, an act of God or an act of war)
for
all containment and clean-up costs and other damages arising from discharges
or
threatened discharges of oil from their vessels. OPA defines these other damages
broadly to include:
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natural
resources damages and the costs of assessment
thereof;
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real
and personal property damages;
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net
loss of taxes, royalties, rents, fees and other lost
revenues;
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lost
profits or impairment of earning capacity due to property or natural
resources damage; and
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net
cost of public services necessitated by a spill response, such as
protection from fire, safety or health hazards, and loss of subsistence
use of natural resources.
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OPA
limits the liability of responsible parties to the greater of $600 per gross
ton
or $500,000 per dry bulk vessel that is over 300 gross tons (subject to possible
adjustment for inflation). These limits of liability do not apply if an incident
was directly caused by violation of applicable United States federal safety,
construction or operating regulations or by a responsible party’s gross
negligence or willful misconduct, or if the responsible party fails or refuses
to report the incident or to cooperate and assist in connection with oil removal
activities.
OPA
requires owners and operators of vessels to establish and maintain with the
U.S.
Coast Guard evidence of financial responsibility sufficient to meet their
potential liabilities under OPA. In December 1994, the U.S. Coast Guard
implemented regulations requiring evidence of financial responsibility in the
amount of $1,500 per gross ton, which includes the OPA limitation on liability
of $1,200 per gross ton and the United States Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act liability limit of $300 per gross
ton.
Under the regulations, vessel owners and operators may evidence their financial
responsibility by showing proof of insurance, surety bond, self-insurance or
guaranty. Under OPA, an owner or operator of a fleet of vessels is required
only
to demonstrate evidence of financial responsibility in an amount sufficient
to
cover the vessels in the fleet having the greatest maximum liability under
OPA.
The
United States Coast Guard’s regulations concerning certificates of financial
responsibility provide, in accordance with OPA, that claimants may bring suit
directly against an insurer or guarantor that furnishes certificates of
financial responsibility. In the event that such insurer or guarantor is sued
directly, it is prohibited from asserting any contractual defense that it may
have had against the responsible party and is limited to asserting those
defenses available to the responsible party and the defense that the incident
was caused by the willful misconduct of the responsible party. Certain
organizations, which had typically provided certificates of financial
responsibility under pre-OPA laws, including the major protection and indemnity
organizations, have declined to furnish evidence of insurance for vessel owners
and operators if they are subject to direct actions or required to waive
insurance policy defenses.
The
United States Coast Guard’s financial responsibility regulations may also be
satisfied by evidence of surety bond, guaranty or by self-insurance. Under
the
self-insurance provisions, the vessel owner or operator must have a net worth
and working capital, measured in assets located in the United States against
liabilities located anywhere in the world, that exceeds the applicable amount
of
financial responsibility.
OPA
specifically permits individual states to impose their own liability regimes
with regard to oil pollution incidents occurring within their boundaries, and
some states have enacted legislation providing for unlimited liability for
oil
spills. Some states which have enacted such legislation have not yet issued
implementing regulations defining vessels owners’ responsibilities under these
laws.
Other
environmental initiatives
The
European Union is considering legislation that will affect the operation of
vessels and the liability of owners for oil pollution. It is difficult to
predict what legislation, if any, may be promulgated by the European Union
or
any other country or authority.
Although
the United States is not a party thereto, many countries have ratified and
follow the liability scheme adopted by the IMO and set out in the International
Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage, 1969, as amended, or
the
CLC, and the Convention for the Establishment of an International Fund for
Oil
Pollution of 1971, as amended. Under these conventions, a vessel’s registered
owner is strictly liable for pollution damage caused on the territorial waters
of a contracting state by discharge of persistent oil, subject to certain
complete defenses. Many of the countries that have ratified the CLC have
increased the liability limits through a 1992 Protocol to the CLC. The liability
limits in the countries that have ratified this Protocol are currently
approximately $4 million plus approximately $566 per gross registered ton above
5,000 gross tons with an approximate maximum of $80.5 million per vessel, with
the exact amount tied to a unit of account which varies according to a basket
of
currencies. The right to limit liability is forfeited under the CLC where the
spill is caused by the owner’s actual fault or privity and, under the 1992
Protocol, where the spill is caused by the owner’s intentional or reckless
conduct. Vessels trading to contracting states must provide evidence of
insurance covering the limited liability of the owner. In jurisdictions where
the CLC has not been adopted, various legislative schemes or common law govern,
and liability is imposed either on the basis of fault or in a manner similar
to
the CLC.
Security
regulation
Since
the
terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, there have been a variety of
initiatives intended to enhance vessel security. On November 25, 2002, the
Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002, or MTSA, came into effect. To
implement certain portions of the MTSA, in July 2003, the United States Coast
Guard issued regulations requiring the implementation of certain security
requirements aboard vessels operating in waters subject to the jurisdiction
of
the United States. Similarly, in December 2002, amendments to the International
Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, or SOLAS, created a new chapter of
the
convention dealing specifically with maritime security. The new chapter went
into effect on July 1, 2004 and imposes various detailed security obligations
on
vessels and port authorities, most of which are contained in the newly created
International Ship and Port Facilities Security, or ISPS Code. Among the various
requirements are:
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on-board
installation of automatic information systems, or AIS, to enhance
vessel-to-vessel and vessel-to-shore communications;
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on-board
installation of ship security alert systems;
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the
development of vessel security plans; and
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compliance
with flag state security certification requirements.
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The
United States Coast Guard regulations, intended to align with international
maritime security standards, exempt non-U.S. vessels from MTSA vessel security
measures provided such vessels have on board, by July 1, 2004, a valid
International Ship Security Certificate, or ISSC, that attests to the vessel’s
compliance with SOLAS security requirements and the ISPS Code.
Opportunity
for stockholder approval of business combination
Prior
to
the completion of a business combination, we will submit the transaction to
our
stockholders for approval, even if the nature of the acquisition is such as
would not ordinarily require stockholder approval under applicable state law.
In
connection with seeking stockholder approval of a business combination, we
will
furnish our stockholders with proxy solicitation materials prepared in
accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
In
connection with the vote required for any business combination, all of our
officers and directors, have agreed to vote their respective shares of common
stock owned by them immediately prior to the Private Placement and the Initial
Public Offering in accordance with the majority of the shares of common stock
voted by the public stockholders. Our officers and directors have agreed to
vote
all the shares of our common stock acquired in the Private Placement, the
Initial Public Offering or in the aftermarket in favor of any transaction that
they negotiate and present for approval to our stockholders. We will proceed
with the business combination only if a majority of the shares of common stock
voted by the public stockholders are voted in favor of the business combination
and public stockholders owning less than 33% of the shares sold in our Initial
Public Offering and the Private Placement exercise their redemption rights.
Redemption
rights
At
the
time we seek stockholder approval of any business combination, we will offer
each public stockholder the right to have such stockholder’s shares of common
stock redeemed for cash if the stockholder votes against the business
combination and the business combination is approved and completed. The actual
per-share redemption price will be equal to $10.00 plus any interest not
previously released to us earned on their pro rata portion of the trust account
and on that pro rata portion of the underwriters’ contingent compensation
comprising the redemption price (calculated as of two business days prior to
the
consummation of the proposed business combination (net of taxes payable)).
An
eligible stockholder may request redemption at any time after the mailing to
our
stockholders of the proxy statement and prior to the vote taken with respect
to
a proposed business combination at a meeting held for that purpose, but the
request will not be granted unless the stockholder votes against the business
combination and the business combination is approved and completed. If a
stockholder votes against the business combination but fails to properly
exercise its redemption rights, such stockholder will not have its shares of
common stock redeemed. Any request for redemption, once made, may be withdrawn
at any time up to the date of the meeting. It is anticipated that the funds
to
be distributed to stockholders entitled to redeem their shares who elect
redemption will be distributed promptly after completion of a business
combination. Public stockholders who redeem their stock for their share of
the
trust account still have the right to exercise the warrants that they received
as part of the units. We will not complete any business combination if public
stockholders, owning 33% or more of the shares sold in our Initial Public
Offering and the Private Placement, exercise their redemption
rights.
Liquidation
if no business combination
If
we do
not complete a business combination on or prior to June 21, 2007, or December
21, 2007 if the extension criteria described below have been satisfied, we
will
dissolve, the trust account will be liquidated and we will distribute to all
of
our public stockholders in proportion to their respective equity interests,
an
aggregate sum equal to the amount in the trust account, inclusive of any
interest (net of taxes payable) not previously released to us, plus any
remaining net assets. Messrs. Tsirigakis, Syllantavos, Anagnostou, Nikiforos,
Pappas, Erhardt and Søfteland have waived their rights to participate in any
liquidation distribution with respect to the shares of common stock owned by
them. In addition, Maxim Group LLC and EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. have agreed to
waive their rights to the $4,000,000 of contingent underwriting compensation
and
placement fees deposited in the trust account for their benefit. There will
be
no distribution from the trust account with respect to our warrants, which
will
expire worthless.
If
we are
unable to consummate a business combination and expend all of the funds in
our
trust account, other than the proceeds deposited in the trust account, and
without taking into account interest, if any, earned on the trust account,
the
initial per-share liquidation price to holders of the 18,867,500 shares entitled
to participate in liquidation distributions would be equal to the $10.00 per
unit offering price. The funds in the trust account could, however, become
subject to the claims of our creditors which could be prior to the claims of
our
public stockholders. Each member of our board of directors has agreed pursuant
to agreements with us and Maxim Group LLC, if we liquidate prior to the
consummation of a business combination, they will be personally liable to pay
debts and obligations to target businesses or vendors that are owed money by
us
for services rendered or products sold to us in excess of the net proceeds
of
the Initial Public Offering not held in the trust account at that time. We
cannot assure you, however, that they would be able to satisfy those
obligations. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that the actual per-share
liquidation price will not be less than $10.00, plus interest (net of taxes
payable), due to claims of creditors.
If
we
enter into either a letter of intent, an agreement in principle or a definitive
agreement to complete a business combination on or prior to June 21, 2007,
but
are unable to complete the business combination by such date, then we will
have
an additional six months in which to complete the business combination
contemplated by the letter of intent, agreement in principle or definitive
agreement. If we are unable to do so on or prior to December 21, 2007, we will
then liquidate. Upon notice from us, the trustee of the trust account will
commence liquidating the investments constituting the trust account and will
turn over the proceeds to our transfer agent for distribution to our public
stockholders.
Our
public stockholders shall be entitled to receive funds from the trust account
only in the event of liquidation or if the stockholders seek to redeem their
respective shares for cash upon a business combination which the stockholder
voted against and which is actually completed by us. In no other circumstances
shall a stockholder have any right or interest of any kind to or in the trust
account.
Competition
In
identifying, evaluating and selecting a target business, we may encounter
intense competition from other entities having a business objective similar
to
ours. Many of these entities are well established and have extensive experience
identifying and effecting business combinations directly or through affiliates.
Many of these competitors possess greater technical, human and other resources
than us and our financial resources will be relatively limited when contrasted
with those of many of these competitors, which may limit our ability to compete
in acquiring certain sizable target businesses. This inherent competitive
limitation gives others an advantage in pursuing the acquisition of a target
business. Further:
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our
obligation to seek stockholder approval of a business combination
or
obtain the necessary financial information to be included in the
proxy
statement to be sent to stockholders in connection with such business
combination may delay or prevent the completion of a
transaction;
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our
obligation to redeem for cash up to 6,599,999 shares of common stock
held
by our public stockholders in certain instances will limit the manner
in
which we may structure a business combination (i.e., we will not
be able
to undertake an all cash acquisition transaction) and may reduce
the
resources available to us for this purpose, as well as for funding
a
target company’s business;
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our
outstanding warrants, and the future dilution they potentially represent,
may not be viewed favorably by certain target businesses;
and
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the
requirement to acquire either an entity with purchase agreements
for one
or more vessels or an operating business that has a fair market value
equal to at least 80% of our net assets at the time of the acquisition
could require us to acquire several companies or closely related
operating
businesses at the same time, all of which sales would be contingent
on the
closings of the other sales, which could make it more difficult to
consummate the business
combination.
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Any
of
these factors may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully
negotiating a business combination. Our management believes, however, that
to
the extent that our target business is a privately held entity, our status
as a
well-financed public entity may give us a competitive advantage over entities
having a similar business objective as ours in acquiring a target business
with
significant growth potential on favorable terms.
If
we
succeed in effecting a business combination, there will be, in all likelihood,
intense competition from competitors of the target business. We cannot assure
you that, subsequent to a business combination, we will have the resources
or
ability to compete effectively.
Employees
We
have
four officers, two of whom are also members of our board of directors. These
individuals are not obligated to contribute any specific number of hours per
week and intend to devote only as much time as they deem necessary to our
affairs. The amount of time they will devote in any time period will vary based
on the availability of suitable target businesses to investigate, although
we
expect Mr. Tsirigakis to devote an average of approximately 10 hours per week
to
our business during the target identification stage, and close to full time
during due diligence and negotiation of a business combination. We do not intend
to have any full time employees prior to the consummation of a business
combination.
SUBSEQUENT
EVENTS
Proposed
Business Combination
On
January 12, 2007, we agreed to purchase, through our newly-formed, wholly-owned
subsidiary Star Bulk Carriers Corp., a Marshall Islands company ("Star Bulk"),
eight drybulk carriers (the "Vessels") from certain wholly-owned subsidiary
affiliates of TMT Co., Ltd., a Taiwan corporation (TMT Co., Ltd. and such
subsidiary affiliates, collectively, "TMT"), pursuant to separate definitive
Memoranda of Agreement by and between the Star Bulk and TMT (collectively,
the
"MOAs"), as supplemented by a Supplemental Agreement by and among the Company,
Star Bulk and TMT (the "Supplemental Agreement") and a Master Agreement by
and
among the Company, Star Bulk and TMT (the "Master Agreement" and collectively
with the MOAs and the Supplemental Agreement, the "Acquisition Agreements"),
which transaction is hereinafter referred to as the "Asset Acquisition". As
required under our Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation,
we
will hold a special meeting of ourstockholders to vote on the Asset Acquisition
and a proposed merger of the Company into Star Bulk in which Star Bulk will
be
the surviving entity (the "Redomiciliation Merger" and together with the Asset
Acquisition, the "Business Combination"). The Redomiciliation Merger shall
occur
promptly following the approval by our stockholders of the Business
Combination.
On
February 7, 2007, Star Bulk formed the following wholly-owned subsidiaries
registered in the Marshall Islands. The share capital of each of the
subsidiaries consists of 500 authorized and issued shares without par value:
Star
Alpha Inc.
Star
Beta
Inc.
Star
Gamma Inc.
Star
Epsilon Inc.
Star
Iota
Inc.
Star
Theta Inc.
Star
Zeta
Inc.
Star
Bulk
Management Inc.
Purchase
Price
Pursuant
to the Acquisition Agreements, Star Bulk will acquire the vessels in its initial
fleet from TMT for an aggregate purchase price of $345,237,520, consisting
of
$224,500,000 in cash and 12,537,645 shares of Star Bulk’s common stock. Under
the Master Agreement, Star Bulk has also agreed to issue to TMT or its nominated
affiliates up to an additional 1,606,962 shares of common stock of Star Bulk,
which we refer to as the Additional Stock, as follows: (i) 803,481 shares of
Star Bulk’s common stock, no more than 10 business days following Star Bulk’s
filing of its Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December
31,
2007, if the gross revenue of Star Bulk and its consolidated subsidiaries which
own the vessels exceeds 80% of Star Bulk’s forecasted annual consolidated
revenue for such subsidiaries for the fiscal year commencing as of the effective
time of the Redomiciliation Merger and ending on December 31, 2007, as will
be
agreed between Star Bulk and TMT prior to the effective time of the
Redomiciliation Merger; and (ii) an additional 803,481 shares of Star Bulk’s
common stock, no more than 10 business days following Star Bulk’s filing of its
Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, if
the
gross revenue of Star Bulk and its consolidated subsidiaries owning the vessels
exceeds 80% of the forecasted annual consolidated revenue for such subsidiaries
as will be agreed between Star Bulk and TMT prior to the effective time of
the
Redomiciliation Merger.
On
February 28, 2007, Star Bulk and TMT amended the Master Agreement to provide
that Star Bulk’s forecasted annual consolidated revenue for the fiscal year
commencing on the effective date of the Redomiciliation Merger and ending
December 31, 2007 will be $40,000,000, assuming that the Redomiciliation Merger
occurs on June 30, 2007, adjusted pro rata if the Redomiciliation Merger occurs
after June 30, 2007, and $90,000,000 for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2008.
The
Fleet
TMT
is
obligated to deliver each vessel not later than the completion of such vessel’s
cargo discharge at the last port of the laden voyage following the
Redomiciliation Merger. Star Maritime expects that all vessels in the initial
fleet will be delivered to Star Bulk by TMT within 60 days following the
Redomiciliation Merger. TMT had undertaken to procure the employment of six
of
the eight vessels under time charters with first class charterers, subject
to
such minimum terms and aggregate targeted daily time charter hire rates as
provided in the table below and upon standard industry terms for employment
of
the vessels. Each time charter will be novated to the relevant Star
Bulk-vessel-owning subsidiary upon delivery of the relevant vessel. TMT has
also
agreed to procure the time charters with third party charterers or, in the
case
of the Panamax vessel and, at its sole option, one of the Supramax vessels,
with
a TMT affiliate as charterer. If the aggregate target daily time charter hire
rate is not achieved, TMT has agreed to pay Star Bulk the difference between
the
aggregate daily hire rate fixed by TMT for the vessels under the time charters
and the agreed aggregate minimum daily time charter hire rate. Subsequent to
the
execution of the Master Agreement, Star Bulk entered into time charters with
TMT
for two of the six vessels in the initial fleet, the C
Duckling (to
be
renamed the Star
Gamma)
and the
Mommy
Duckling
(to be
renamed the Star
Iota).
The
charter rate for the Star
Gamma
will be
$28,500 per day for a term of one year. The charter rate for the Star
Iota
will be
$18,000 per day for a term of one year.
The
table
below provides summary information about Star Bulk’s fleet:
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Employment
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Vessel
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Type
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|
Dwt
|
|
Year
Built
|
|
Type/Term
(1)
|
|
Daily
Time Charter Hire
Rate (1)
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|
A
Duckling
|
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Capesize
|
|
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175,075
|
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1992
|
|
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Time
charter/3 years
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$
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47,500
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B
Duckling
|
|
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Capesize
|
|
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174,691
|
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1993
|
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Spot(2)
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N/A
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C
Duckling
|
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Supramax
|
|
|
53,098
|
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2002
|
|
|
Time
charter/1 year(3)
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$
|
28,500
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F
Duckling
|
|
|
Supramax
|
|
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52,434
|
|
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2000
|
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Time
charter/2years
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$
|
25,800
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G
Duckling
|
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Supramax
|
|
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52,402
|
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2001
|
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Time
charter/2years
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$
|
25,550
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I
Duckling
|
|
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Supramax
|
|
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52,994
|
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2003
|
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Time
charter/1 year
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$
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30,500
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J
Duckling
|
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Supramax
|
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52,425
|
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2003
|
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Spot(2)
|
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N/A
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Mommy
Duckling
|
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Panamax
|
|
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78,585
|
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1983
|
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Time
charter/1 year(3)
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$
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18,000
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Totals
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691,704
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$
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175,850
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(1)
Represents the actual daily time charter rates that TMT has procured subsequent
to the date of the Master Agreement and the Supplemental Agreement.
(2)
May
operate in the spot charter market.
(3)
Subsidiaries of Star Bulk have entered into time charters with TMT for these
vessels.
If
TMT is
unable to deliver a vessel pursuant to the applicable MOA, Star Bulk and TMT
have agreed to confer and cooperate to identify a replacement vessel and enter
into a binding purchase agreement for such replacement vessel. If a binding
purchase agreement for a replacement vessel is not entered into within 45 days
from the required delivery date of the vessel being replaced, Star Bulk will
have the right to terminate the MOA for the vessel being replaced. Star Bulk
has
agreed to pay TMT for the price difference in cash if the purchase price (based
on prevailing market rates) of any replacement vessel will be higher than the
portion of the purchase price allocated to the vessel being replaced. The
payment will be made concurrently with the delivery of the replacement vessel.
If the purchase price (based on prevailing market rates) of any replacement
vessel is lower than the portion of the
purchase price allocated to the vessel being replaced, Star Bulk will benefit
from such price reduction. Star Bulk expects that the replacement vessel would
be a drybulk carrier of the type being replaced (Capesize, Panamax or Supramax)
or if another type of drybulk carrier, would be able to generate equivalent
revenue.
Under
each of the MOAs, TMT warrants that each vessel, at the time of its delivery,
will be free of all encumbrances, mortgages and maritime liens or any other
debts. TMT will indemnify Star Bulk against all claims made against each vessel
incurred prior to delivery and Star Bulk will indemnify TMT against all claims
made against each vessel incurred
after
delivery.
Star
Gamma Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Star Bulk, entered into a time charter
agreement dated, February 23, 2007, with TMT for the C
Duckling (to
be
renamed the Star
Gamma).
The
charter rate for the Star
Gamma
will be
$28,500 per day for a term of one year. Star Iota Inc., a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Star Bulk, entered into a time charter agreement, dated February
26, 2007, with TMT for the Mommy
Duckling
(to be
renamed the Star
Iota).
The
charter rate for the Star
Iota
will be
$18,000 per day for a term of one year. Each charter will commence as of the
date the vessel is delivered to the purchaser. Pursuant to the Supplemental
Agreement, these time charters will be null and void if the Redomiciliation
Merger is not consummated.
TMT
Lock-Up Period
The
Master Agreement generally restricts TMT and its affiliates holding Star Bulk’s
common stock issued to TMT as the Stock Consideration, without the prior written
consent of Star Bulk, from directly or indirectly offering, selling, hedging
or
otherwise disposing of Star Bulk’s common stock and from engaging in certain
other transactions relating to such securities for a period of 180 days
commencing on the effective date of the Redomiciliation Merger.
Registration
Rights
Under
the
Master Agreement, Star Bulk has agreed, with some limited exceptions, to include
the shares of Star Bulk’s common stock comprising the stock consideration
portion of the aggregate purchase price of the vessels in the initial fleet
and
the Additional Stock, which we collectively refer to as the Registrable
Securities, in Star Bulk’s
registration statement on Form F-1/F-4. In addition, Star Bulk has granted
TMT
(on behalf of itself or its affiliates that hold Registrable Securities) the
right, under certain circumstances and subject to certain restrictions,
including lock-up and market stand-off restrictions, to require Star Bulk to
register the Registrable Securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, in the future. Under the Master Agreement, TMT also has the right
to
require Star Bulk to make available shelf registration statements permitting
sales of shares into the market from time to time over an extended period.
In
addition, TMT will have the ability to exercise certain piggyback registration
rights 180 days following the effective date of the Redomiciliation Merger.
All
expenses relating to such registration will be borne by Star Bulk. Following
the
Redomiciliation Merger, TMT and/or its affiliates will own 12,537,645 shares
of
Star Bulk’s common stock entitled to these registration rights and TMT and/or
its affiliates may own up to additional 1,606,962 shares of Star Bulk’s common
stock entitled to these registration rights in the event that Star Bulk achieves
certain revenue targets.
Director
Nominees
Under
the
Master Agreement, TMT has the right to nominate, and Star Bulk and Star Maritime
have agreed to cause the appointment and election of two members of the board
of
directors of Star Bulk, Mr. Nobu Su and Mr. Peter Espig, each of whom shall
serve upon the effective time of the Redomiciliation Merger, until their
successors have been duly elected and qualified. For so long as Mr. Nobu Su
serves on the board of directors of Star Bulk, he will receive the title of
non-executive Co-Chairman of Star Bulk.
Termination
The
Master Agreement will terminate and be of no further force or effect in the
event that the Redomiciliation Merger is not authorized and approved by the
requisite vote of Star Maritime’s stockholders.
Expenses
Under
the
Master Agreement, each of Star Maritime, Star Bulk and TMT are responsible
for
its own expenses in connection with the preparation, negotiation, execution
and
delivery of the MOAs, the Supplemental Agreement and the Master Agreement;
provided that, regardless of whether the Master Agreement or the transactions
contemplated by the Master Agreement are terminated, Star Maritime will pay
for
or reimburse TMT for all reasonable fees and expenses of its legal counsel
in
connection with the preparation, negotiation, execution and delivery of the
Acquisition Agreements up to $25,000. In addition, Star Bulk has agreed to
pay
all reasonable expenses (including legal fees and expenses) of TMT in connection
with soliciting the stockholders of Star Maritime to vote in favor of, and
approve, the Redomiciliation Merger.
Conditions
to the Purchase of the Vessels
Conditions
to Star Bulk’s and TMT’s obligations
The
obligations of Star Bulk to purchase the vessels in the initial fleet and the
obligations of TMT to sell the vessels are subject to certain conditions. We
cannot complete the Redomiciliation Merger unless (i) the holders of at least
a
majority of our issued and outstanding shares entitled to vote at the special
meeting vote in favor of the Redomiciliation Merger; (ii) holders of at least
a
majority of the shares of common stock issued in the Initial Public Offering
and
the Private Placement vote in favor of the Redomiciliation Merger, and (iii)
holders of less than 6,600,000 shares of common stock, such number representing
33.0% of the 20,000,000 shares of common stock issued in the Initial Public
Offering and the Private Placement, vote against the Redomiciliation Merger
and
exercise their redemption rights to have their shares redeemed for
cash.
Conditions
to Star Bulk’s obligations
The
obligation of the Star Bulk to purchase the vessels from TMT is subject to
the
satisfaction or waiver of the following conditions:
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due
authorization, execution and delivery by TMT of the Master
Agreement;
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the
representations and warranties of TMT contained in the Master Agreement
must be true and correct;
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TMT
and each vessel selling subsidiary have performed all obligations
requested of them under the Acquisition Agreements in all material
aspects.
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the
performance of the transactions contemplated in the Master Agreement
upon
the terns and subject to the conditions set forth in the Master Agreement
shall not, in the reasonable judgment of TMT, violate, and shall
not
subject TMT to any penalty or liability under, any law, rule or regulation
binding upon TMT;
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no
legal or governmental action, suit or proceeding shall have been
instituted or threatened before any court, administrative agency
or
tribunal, nor shall any order, judgment or decree have been issued
or
proposed to be issued by any court, administrative agency or tribunal,
to
set aside, restrain, enjoin or prevent the consummation of the Master
Agreement of the transactions contemplated thereby;
and
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TMT
and each vessel selling subsidiary have performed all obligations
required
of them under the Acquisition Agreements in all material
respects.
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Conditions
to TMT’s obligations
The
obligation of the TMT to sell the vessels in the initial fleet to Star Bulk
is
subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the following conditions:
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due
authorization, execution and delivery by Star Bulk of the Master
Agreement;
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the
representations and warranties of Star Bulk contained in the Master
Agreement must be true and correct;
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the
performance of the transactions contemplated in the Master Agreement
upon
the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Master
Agreement
shall not, in the reasonable judgment of Star Bulk, violate,
and shall not
subject Star Bulk, to any material penalty or liability under,
any law,
rule or regulation binding upon any of
them;
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no
legal or governmental action, suit or proceeding shall have been
instituted or threatened before any court, administrative agency
or
tribunal, nor shall any order, judgment or decree have been issued
or
proposed to be issued by any court, restrain, enjoin or prevent
the
consummation of the Master Agreement or the transactions contemplated
thereby.
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Star
Maritime, Star Bulk or Star Bulk’s vessel purchasing nominees have
performed all obligations required of them under the Acquisition
Agreements in all material
respects.
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Engagement
of Financial Advisors
Star
Maritime entered into an agreement with Bongard Shipbrokers S.A., or Bongard,
dated October 4, 2006, for purposes of engaging Bongard in connection with
sourcing, developing contacts and making referrals for potential target
businesses and providing evaluations of such potential target businesses. In
exchange for such services, Star Maritime is obligated to pay a contingent
fee
of $800,000 within thirty days of the closing of a business combination
transaction. In the event that Star Maritime does not consummate a business
combination transaction, no fees are payable to Bongard pursuant to the
agreement.
Star
Maritime entered into an agreement with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., or
CF&Co., dated December 20, 2006, for purposes of engaging CF&Co. as
financial advisor in connection with a possible business combination
transaction. Pursuant to the agreement, CF & Co. was engaged to provide such
services as creating financial models, advising on the structure of a possible
transaction with a target business, negotiating agreements on behalf of and
in
conjunction with management and assisting management with the preparation of
marketing and roadshow materials. In exchange for such services, Star Maritime
is obligated to pay a contingent fee of $1,250,000, plus expenses of up to
$60,000, within thirty days of the closing of a business combination transaction
if such transaction is consummated by December 31, 2007.
Star
Maritime entered into an agreement with Maxim Group LLC, or Maxim, dated
December 22, 2006, for purposes of engaging Maxim as co-lead financial advisor
in connection with a possible business combination transaction. Pursuant to
the
agreement, Maxim was engaged to provide such services as creating financial
models, advising on the structure of a possible transaction with a target
business and assisting in the preparation of terms sheets or letters of intent.
In exchange for such services, Star Maritime is obligated to pay a contingent
fee of $800,000 for any business combination transaction consummated during
the
term of the agreement (or within six months of the termination date). The
agreement terminates on October 31, 2007, unless terminated earlier by either
Star Maritime or Maxim upon thirty days’ written notice, or extended by mutual
agreement.
Item
1A. Risk Factors
Risks
associated with our business
The
following risks are associated with the Company’s current status as a blank
check company. If the Business Combination is not consummated, the Company
will
continue to face these risks.
We
are a development stage company with no operating history and, accordingly,
you
do not have any basis on which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business
objective.
We
were
incorporated in May 13, 2005 and are a development stage company with no
operating results to date. Since we do not have an operating history, you have
no basis upon which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective,
which is to acquire an operating business. We will not generate any revenues
until, at the earliest, after the consummation of a business combination.
If
we are forced to liquidate before a business combination, our warrants will
expire worthless.
If
we are
unable to complete a business combination and are forced to liquidate the trust
account, there will be no distribution with respect to our outstanding warrants
and, accordingly, the warrants will expire worthless.
If
third parties bring claims against us, the funds in the trust account could
be
reduced and the per-share liquidation price received by stockholders could
be
less than $10.00 per share.
Our
placing of funds in trust may not protect those funds from third party claims
against us. Although we will seek to have vendors, prospective target businesses
or other entities we engage execute agreements with us waiving any right, title,
interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the trust account
for
the benefit of our public stockholders, there is no guarantee that they will
execute such agreements or even if they execute such agreements that they would
be prevented from bringing claims against the trust account. If any third party
refused to execute an agreement waiving such claims to the monies held in the
trust account, we would perform an analysis of the alternatives available to
us
if we chose not to engage such third party and evaluate if such engagement
would
be in the best interest of our stockholders if such third party refused to
waive
such claims. Examples of possible instances where we may engage a third party
that refused to execute a waiver include the engagement of a third party
consultant whose particular expertise or skills are believed by management
to be
significantly superior to those of other consultants that would agree to execute
a waiver or in cases where management is unable to find a provider of required
services willing to provide the waiver. In addition, there is no guarantee
that
such entities will agree to waive any claims they may have in the future as
a
result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with
us
and will not seek recourse against the trust account for any reason.
Accordingly, the proceeds held in trust could be subject to claims which could
take priority over the claims of our public stockholders and the per-share
liquidation price could be less than $10.00, plus interest not previously
released to us (net of taxes payable), due to claims of such creditors. If
we
are unable to complete a business combination and are forced to liquidate the
trust account, our officers and directors, severally, in accordance with their
respective beneficial ownership interests in us, will be personally liable
under
certain circumstances to ensure that the proceeds in the trust account are
not
reduced by the claims of various vendors or other entities that are owed money
by us for services rendered or contracted for or products sold to us or the
claims of any target businesses. However, we cannot assure you that they will
be
able to satisfy those obligations.
We
may issue shares of our capital stock or debt securities to complete a business
combination, which would reduce the equity interest of our current stockholders
and likely cause a change in control of our ownership.
We
may
issue a substantial number of additional shares of our common stock or preferred
stock, or a combination of common and preferred stock, to complete a business
combination. The issuance of additional shares of our common stock or any number
of shares of our preferred stock:
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may
significantly reduce the equity interest of our current stockholders;
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will
likely cause a change in control if a substantial number of our shares
of
common stock are issued, which may affect, among other things, our
ability
to use our net operating loss carry forwards, if any, and most likely
also
result in the resignation or removal of our present officers and
directors; and
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may
adversely affect prevailing market prices for our common stock.
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Additionally,
the shipping industry is capital intensive, traditionally using substantial
amounts of indebtedness to finance vessel acquisitions, capital expenditures
and
working capital needs. If we finance the purchase of any of our vessels through
the issuance of debt securities, it could result in:
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default
and foreclosure on our assets if our operating cash flow after a
business
combination were insufficient to pay our debt obligations;
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acceleration
of our obligations to repay the indebtedness even if we have made
all
principal and interest payments when due if the debt security contained
covenants that required the maintenance of certain financial ratios
or
reserves and any such covenant were breached without a waiver or
renegotiation of that covenant;
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our
immediate payment of all principal and accrued interest, if any,
if the
debt security was payable on demand; and
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our
inability to obtain additional financing, if necessary, if the debt
security contained covenants restricting our ability to obtain additional
financing while such security was outstanding.
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Our
officers and directors, control a substantial interest in us and thus may
influence certain actions requiring stockholder vote.
Our
officers and directors and their nominees own 35% of our issued and outstanding
shares of common stock which could permit them to effectively influence the
outcome of all matters requiring approval by our stockholders at such time,
including the election of directors and approval of significant corporate
transactions, following the consummation of our initial business combination.
In
addition, our board of directors is divided into three classes, each of which
will generally serve for a term of three years with only one class of directors
being elected in each year. As a consequence of our “staggered” board of
directors, only a minority of the board of directors will be considered for
election and our officers and directors, because of their ownership position,
will have considerable influence regarding the outcome. Accordingly, our
officers and directors will continue to exert control at least until the
consummation of a business combination.
Limited
ability to evaluate the target business’ management
Although
we expect certain of our management, particularly Mr. Tsirigakis, to remain
associated with us following a business combination, it is likely that the
management of the target business at the time of the business combination will
remain in place, and we may employ other personnel following the business
combination. Although we intend to closely scrutinize the management of a
prospective target business when evaluating the desirability of effecting a
business combination, we cannot assure you that our assessment of the target
business’ management will prove to be correct. In addition, we cannot assure you
that the future management will have the necessary skills, qualifications or
abilities to manage a public company. Furthermore, the future role of our
officers and directors, if any, in the target business cannot presently be
stated with any certainty. Moreover, our current management will only be able
to
remain with the combined company after the consummation of a business
combination if they are able to negotiate and agree to mutually acceptable
employment terms in connection with any such combination, which terms would
be
disclosed to stockholders in any proxy statement relating to such transaction.
While it is possible that one or more of our directors will remain associated
in
some capacity with us following a business combination, it is unlikely that
any
of them will devote their full efforts to our affairs subsequent to a business
combination. Moreover, we cannot assure you that our officers and directors
will
have significant experience or knowledge relating to the operations of the
particular target business.
Following
a business combination, we may seek to recruit additional managers to supplement
the incumbent management of the target business. We cannot assure you that
we
will have the ability to recruit additional managers, or that those additional
managers will have the requisite skills, knowledge or experience necessary
to
enhance the incumbent management.
We
will be dependent upon interest earned on the trust account to fund our search
for a target company and consummation of a business
combination.
Of
the
net proceeds of our Initial Public Offering, only approximately $363,172 was
available to us outside the trust account to fund our working capital
requirements. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, we received
distributions in the aggregate amount of $2,500,000 from the interest earned
on
the trust account to provide us with additional working capital to search for
a
target business and consummate a business combination. As of December 31, 2006,
we received the maximum amount distributable to us under the terms of the
Investment Management Trust Agreement. If we do not have sufficient funds
available as working capital to complete a business combination, we would need
to borrow funds from our insiders or others or be forced to
liquidate.
Our
ability to successfully effect a business combination and to be successful
afterward will be totally dependent upon the efforts of our key personnel,
some
of whom may join us following a business combination and whom we would have
only
a limited ability to evaluate. It is also possible that our current officers
and
directors will resign upon the consummation of a business
combination.
Our
ability to successfully effect a business combination will be totally dependent
upon the efforts of our key personnel. The future role of our key personnel
following a business combination, however, cannot presently be fully
ascertained. Although we expect several of our management and other key
personnel, particularly our chairman of the board and chief executive officer,
to remain associated with us following a business combination, we may employ
other personnel following the business combination. Moreover, our current
management will only be able to remain with the combined company after the
consummation of a business combination if they are able to negotiate and agree
to mutually acceptable employment terms as part of any such combination, which
terms would be disclosed to stockholders in any proxy statement relating to
such
transaction. If we acquired a target business in an all-cash transaction, it
would be more likely that current members of management would remain with the
combined company if they chose to do so. If a business combination were
structured as a merger whereby the stockholders of the target company were
to
control the combined company following a business combination, it may be less
likely that our current management would remain with the combined company unless
it was negotiated as part of the transaction via the acquisition agreement,
an
employment agreement or other arrangement. In making the determination as to
whether current management should remain with us following the business
combination, management will analyze the experience and skill set of the target
business’ management and negotiate as part of the business combination that
certain members of current management remain if it is believed that it is in
the
best interests of the combined company post-business combination. If management
negotiates such retention as a condition to any potential business combination,
management may look unfavorably upon or reject a business combination with
a
potential target business whose owners refuse to retain members of our
management post-business combination, thereby resulting in a conflict of
interest. While we intend to closely scrutinize any additional individuals
we
engage after a business combination, we cannot assure you that our assessment
of
these individuals will prove to be correct. These individuals may be unfamiliar
with the requirements of operating a public company as well as United States
securities laws which could cause us to have to expend time and resources
helping them become familiar with such laws. This could be expensive and
time-consuming and could lead to various regulatory issues which may adversely
affect our operations.
If
we seek to effect a business combination with an entity that is directly or
indirectly affiliated with our officers or directors, conflicts of interest
could arise.
Our
officers and directors either currently have or may in the future have
affiliations with companies in the shipping industry. If we were to seek a
business combination with a target company with which one or more of our
officers or directors is affiliated, conflicts of interest could arise in
connection with negotiating the terms of and completing the business
combination. If conflicts arise, they may not necessarily be resolved in our
favor.
Our
officers and directors may allocate their time to other businesses thereby
causing conflicts of interest in their determination as to how much time to
devote to our affairs. This could have a negative impact on our ability to
consummate a business combination.
Our
officers and directors are not required to commit their full time to our
affairs, which may result in a conflict of interest in allocating their time
between our operations and other businesses. We do not intend to have any full
time employees prior to the consummation of a business combination. All of
our
executive officers are engaged in several other business endeavors and are
not
obligated to contribute any specific number of hours per week to our affairs.
If
our executive officers’ other business affairs require them to devote more
substantial amounts of time to such affairs, it could limit their ability to
devote time to our affairs and could have a negative impact on our ability
to
consummate a business combination.
Our
officers and directors may in the future become affiliated with entities engaged
in business activities similar to those intended to be conducted by us and
accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity
a
particular business opportunity should be presented.
Our
officers and directors may in the future become affiliated with entities,
including other “blank check” companies, engaged in business activities similar
to those intended to be conducted by us. Additionally, our officers and
directors may become aware of business opportunities which may be appropriate
for presentation to us as well as the other entities with which they are or
may
be affiliated. Further, certain of our officers and directors are currently
involved in other businesses that are similar to the business activities that
we
intend to conduct following a business combination. Due to these existing
affiliations, they may have fiduciary obligations to present potential business
opportunities to those entities prior to presenting them to us which could
cause
additional conflicts of interest. Accordingly, they may have conflicts of
interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should
be presented.
All
of our officers and directors own shares of our common stock which will not
participate in liquidation distributions and therefore they may have a conflict
of interest in determining whether a particular target business is appropriate
for a business combination.
All
of
our officers and directors own shares of our common stock in our company but
have waived their right to receive distributions with respect to those shares
upon our liquidation upon our failure to complete a business combination. The
shares and warrants owned by our officers and directors and their affiliates
will be worthless if we do not consummate a business combination. The personal
and financial interests of our directors may influence their motivation in
identifying and selecting a target business and completing a business
combination timely. Consequently, our directors’ and officers’ discretion in
identifying and selecting a suitable target business may result in a conflict
of
interest when determining whether the terms, conditions and timing of a
particular business combination are appropriate and in our stockholders’ best
interest.
Our
officers and directors will not receive reimbursement for any out-of-pocket
expenses incurred by them to the extent that such expenses exceed the amount
in
the trust account unless the business combination is consummated and therefore
they may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target
business is appropriate for a business combination and in the public
stockholders’ best interest.
Our
officers and directors, will not receive reimbursement for any out-of-pocket
expenses incurred by them to the extent that such expenses exceed the available
proceeds not deposited in the trust account and the portion of the interest
on
the trust account released to us (which, because interest rates are unknown,
may
be insufficient to fund all of our working capital requirements) unless the
business combination is consummated. The financial interest of our officers
and
directors could influence their motivation in selecting a target business and
thus, there may be a conflict of interest when determining whether a particular
business combination is in the stockholders’ best interest. For instance, our
officers and directors may, as part of any such combination, negotiate the
repayment of some or all of their out-of-pocket expenses in excess of the amount
not placed in the trust account, which if not agreed to by the target business’
owners, could cause our management to view such potential business combination
unfavorably, thereby resulting in a conflict of interest.
It
is probable that our initial business combination will be with a single target
business, which may cause us to be solely dependent on a single business and
a
limited number of services.
Our
initial business combination must be with a business or businesses with a
collective fair market value of at least 80% of our net assets at the time
of
such acquisition. We may not be able to acquire more than one target business
because of various factors, including possible complex accounting issues, which
would include generating pro forma financial statements reflecting the
operations of several target businesses as if they had been combined, and
numerous logistical issues, which could include attempting to coordinate the
timing of negotiations, proxy statement disclosure and closings with multiple
target businesses. In addition, we would also be exposed to the risk that
conditions to closings with respect to the acquisition of one or more of the
target businesses would not be satisfied bringing the fair market value of
the
initial business combination below the required fair market value of 80% of
our
net assets threshold. Accordingly, while it is possible that we may attempt
to
effect our initial business combination with more than one target business,
we
are more likely to choose a single target business if deciding between one
target business meeting such 80% threshold and comparable multiple target
business candidates collectively meeting the 80% threshold. Consequently, it
is
probable that, unless the purchase price consists substantially of our equity,
we will have the ability to complete only the initial business combination
with
the funds in the trust account. Accordingly, the prospects for our success
may
be:
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solely
dependent upon the performance of a single business, or
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dependent
upon the development or market acceptance of a single or limited
number of
processes or services.
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In
this
case, we will not be able to diversify our operations or benefit from the
possible spreading of risks or offsetting of losses, unlike other entities
which
may have the resources to complete several business combinations in different
industries or different areas of a single industry.
Because
of our limited resources and the significant competition for business
combination opportunities, we may not be able to consummate an attractive
business combination.
We
expect
to encounter intense competition from other entities having a business objective
similar to ours, including venture capital funds, leveraged buyout funds and
operating businesses competing for acquisitions. Many of these entities are
well
established and have extensive experience in identifying and effecting business
combinations directly or through affiliates. Many of these competitors possess
greater technical, human and other resources than we do and our financial
resources will be relatively limited when contrasted with those of many of
these
competitors. While we believe that there are numerous potential target
businesses that we could acquire with the funds in our trust account, our
ability to compete in acquiring certain sizable target businesses will be
limited by our available financial resources. This inherent competitive
limitation gives others an advantage in pursuing the acquisition of certain
target businesses. Further, the obligation we have to seek stockholder approval
of a business combination may delay the consummation of a transaction, and
our
obligation to redeem for cash up to 32.99% of the shares of common stock sold
in
the Initial Public Offering and the Private Placement in certain instances
will
limit the manner in which we can structure a business combination (i.e. we
will
not be able to undertake an all cash acquisition) and may reduce the resources
available to us for such purpose, as well as for funding a target company’s
business. Additionally, our outstanding warrants, and the future dilution they
potentially represent, may not be viewed favorably by certain target businesses.
Any of these obligations may place us at a competitive disadvantage in
successfully negotiating a business combination.
We
may be unable to obtain additional financing, if required, to complete a
business combination or to fund the operations and growth of the target
business, which could compel us to restructure the transaction or abandon a
particular business combination.
We
cannot
ascertain the capital requirements for any particular transaction. If the net
proceeds of our Initial Public Offering prove to be insufficient, either because
of the size of the business combination or the depletion of the available net
proceeds not held in trust (including interest earned on the trust account
released to us) in search of a target business, or because we become obligated
to redeem for cash a significant number of shares from dissenting stockholders,
we will be required to seek additional financing. We cannot assure you that
such
financing would be available on acceptable terms, if at all. To the extent
that
additional financing proves to be unavailable when needed to consummate a
particular business combination, we would be compelled to restructure the
transaction or abandon that particular business combination and seek an
alternative target business candidate. In addition, it is possible that we
could
use a portion of the funds not in the trust account (including amounts we
borrowed, if any) to make a deposit, down payment or fund a "no-shop" provision
with respect to a particular proposed business combination, although we do
not
have any current intention to do so. In the event that we were ultimately
required to forfeit such funds (whether as a result of our breach of the
agreement relating to such payment or otherwise), if such payment was large
enough and we had already used up the funds allocated to due diligence and
related expenses in connection with the aborted transaction, we could be left
with insufficient funds to continue searching for, or conduct due diligence
with
respect to, other potential target businesses. If we were unable to secure
additional financing (which could be provided by our officers and directors,
though they are under no obligation to do so), we would most likely fail to
consummate a business combination in the allotted time and would be forced
to
liquidate. In addition, if we consummate a business combination, we may require
additional financing to fund the operations or growth of the target business.
The failure to secure additional financing could have a material adverse effect
on the continued development or growth of the target business. None of our
officers, directors or stockholders is required to provide any financing to
us
in connection with or after a business combination.
Risks
associated with the shipping industry
If
charter rates fluctuate and the shipping industry continues to undergo cyclical
turns, it may have a negative impact on our profitability and operations.
The
shipping business, including the dry cargo market, has been cyclical in varying
degrees, experiencing fluctuations in charter rates, profitability and,
consequently, vessel values.
A
significant contraction in demand for imported commodities, such as iron ore
or
coal, as a result of economic downturns or changes in government policies in
certain regional markets could have a material adverse impact on dry cargo
freight rates, as well as the demand, in general for vessels. For instance,
a
downturn in the economy of countries such as China, which has experienced
substantial global economic growth during the past few years, could negatively
affect the shipping industry. The demand for dry cargo vessels is also greatly
affected by the demand for consumer goods and perishable foods, dry bulk
commodities and bagged and finished products, as well as commodity prices,
environmental concerns and competition. The supply of shipping capacity is
also
a function of the delivery of new vessels and the number of older vessels
scrapped, in lay-up, converted to other uses, reactivated or removed from active
service. Supply may also be affected by maritime transportation and other types
of governmental regulation, including that of international authorities. These
and other factors may cause a decrease in the demand for the services we may
ultimately provide. As a result, the operations of any prospective target
business we may ultimately complete a business combination with may be adversely
affected.
Changes
in the shipping industry may reduce the demand for the types of vessels we
seek
to acquire or the services we may ultimately provide and thereby reduce our
profitability.
The
future demand for vessels in the markets in which we may ultimately operate
will
be dependent, in large part, upon economic growth in the global economy,
seasonal and regional changes in demand and changes to the capacity of the
world
fleet. Adverse economic, political, social or other negative developments could
have a material adverse effect on the business that we may ultimately complete
a
business combination with. Many of the markets in which dry cargo vessels
operate have been characterized by oversupply. This is frequently the result
of
an overestimated growth in demand for these vessels in the applicable shipping
markets. For example, an oversupply of vessels carrying bulk cargo may be due
to, among other factors, an overestimation in the demand for imports of bulk
commodities like grain, sugar, iron ore or coal. While it is our intention
to
complete a business combination with a target business that operates in a market
that will afford the greatest value for the vessels that we ultimately own
and
operate, we cannot assure you that we will be able to successfully acquire
a
business that provides the valuable market that we seek, or that the value
of
the vessels that we ultimately acquire will maintain their value in any of
these
markets. Operating results
may be subject to seasonal fluctuations.
The
shipping industry has historically exhibited seasonal variations in demand
and,
as a result, in charter hire rates. This seasonality may result in
quarter-to-quarter volatility in our operating results. The dry bulk carrier
market is typically stronger in the fall and winter months in anticipation
of
increased consumption of coal and other raw materials in the northern hemisphere
during the winter months. In addition, unpredictable weather patterns in these
months tend to disrupt vessel scheduling and supplies of certain commodities.
As
a result, revenues are typically weaker during the fiscal quarters ended June
30
and September 30, and, conversely, typically stronger in fiscal quarters ended
December 31 and March 31.
If
we experienced a catastrophic loss and our insurance is not adequate to cover
such loss, it could have a material adverse affect on our operations.
The
ownership and operation of vessels in international trade is affected by a
number of risks, including mechanical failure, personal injury, vessel and
cargo
loss or damage, business interruption due to political conditions in foreign
countries, hostilities, labor strikes, adverse weather conditions and
catastrophic marine disaster, including environmental accidents and collisions.
All of these risks could result in liability, loss of revenues, increased costs
and loss of reputation. We intend to maintain insurance, consistent with
industry standards, against these risks on any vessels and other business assets
we may acquire upon completion of a business combination. However, we cannot
assure you that we will be able to adequately insure against all risks, that
any
particular claim will be paid out of our insurance, or that we will be able
to
procure adequate insurance coverage at commercially reasonable rates in the
future. Our insurers will also require us to pay certain deductible amounts,
before they will pay claims, and insurance policies may contain limitations
and
exclusions, which, although we believe will be standard for the shipping
industry, may nevertheless increase our costs and lower our profitability.
Additionally, any increase in environmental and other regulations may also
result in increased costs for, or the lack of availability of, insurance against
the risks of environmental damage, pollution and other claims for damages that
may be asserted against us. Our inability to obtain insurance sufficient to
cover potential claims or the failure of insurers to pay any significant claims,
could have a material adverse effect on our profitability and operations.
We
may incur significant costs in complying with environmental, safety and other
governmental regulations and our failure to comply with these regulations could
result in the imposition of penalties, fines and restrictions on our operations.
The
operation of vessels is subject to extensive and changing environmental
protection, safety and other federal, state and local laws, rules, regulations
and treaties, compliance with which may entail significant expense, including
expenses for ship modifications and changes in operating procedures. We cannot
assure you that we will be able to comply with all laws, rules, regulations
and
treaties following a business combination. If we are unable to adhere to these
requirements, it could result in the imposition of penalties and fines against
us, and could also result in the imposition of restrictions on our business
and
operations. Furthermore, the costs of compliance also could have a material
adverse effect on our profitability and operations.
World
events could affect our results of operations and financial
condition.
Terrorist
attacks such as the attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001 and
the
continuing response of the United States to these attacks, as well the threat
of
future terrorist attacks in the United States or elsewhere, continue to cause
uncertainty in the world financial markets and may affect our business,
operating results and financial condition. The continuing conflict in Iraq
may
lead to additional acts of terrorism and armed conflict around the world, which
may contribute to further economic instability in the global financial markets.
In the past, political conflicts have also resulted in attacks on vessels,
mining of waterways and other efforts to disrupt international shipping,
particularly in the Arabian Gulf region. Acts of terrorism and piracy have
also
affected vessels trading in regions such as the South China Sea. Any of theses
occurrences could have a material adverse impact on our operating results,
revenues and costs. If a business combination involves the ownership of vessels,
such vessels could be arrested by maritime claimants, which could result in
the
interruption of business and have an adverse effect on revenue and
profitability.
Crew
members, tort claimants, claimants for breach of certain maritime contracts,
vessel mortgagees, suppliers of goods and services to a vessel, shippers of
cargo and other persons may be entitled to a maritime lien against a vessel
for
unsatisfied debts, claims or damages, and in many circumstances a maritime
lien
holder may enforce its lien by “arresting” a vessel through court processes.
Additionally, in certain jurisdictions, such as South Africa, under the “sister
ship” theory of liability, a claimant may arrest not only the vessel with
respect to which the claimant’s lien has arisen, but also any “associated”
vessel owned or controlled by the legal or beneficial owner of that vessel.
If
any vessel ultimately owned and operated by us is “arrested”, this could result
in a material loss of revenues, or require us to pay substantial amounts to
have
the “arrest” lifted.
We
anticipate re-domiciling in the Marshall Islands in connection with a business
combination, and the laws of the Marshall Islands will likely govern all of
our
material agreements and we may not be able to enforce our legal rights.
In
connection with a business combination, we anticipate relocating the home
jurisdiction of our business from Delaware to the Marshall Islands to take
advantage of favorable tax laws. If we determine to do this, the laws of the
Marshall Islands will likely govern all of our material agreements. We cannot
assure you that the system of laws and the enforcement of existing laws in
the
Marshall Islands would be as certain in implementation and interpretation as
in
the United States. The inability to enforce or obtain a remedy under any of
our
future agreements could result in a significant loss of business, business
opportunities or capital. Any such reincorporation and the international nature
of the shipping industry will likely subject us to foreign
regulation.
Governments could
requisition vessels of a target company during a period of war or emergency,
resulting in a loss of earnings.
A
government could requisition a company’s vessels for title or hire. Requisition
for title occurs when a government takes control of a vessel and becomes her
owner, while requisition for hire occurs when a government takes control of
a
vessel and effectively becomes her charterer at dictated charter rates.
Generally, requisitions occur during periods of war or emergency, although
governments may elect to requisition vessels in other circumstances. Although
a
target company would be entitled to compensation in the event of a requisition
of any of its vessels, the amount and timing of payment would be
uncertain.
Because
our directors and officers reside outside of the United States and, after the
consummation of a business combination, substantially all of our assets may
be
located outside of the United States, it may be difficult for investors to
enforce their legal rights against such individuals.
All
of
our directors and officers reside outside of the United States and, after the
consummation of a business combination, substantially all of our assets may
be
located outside of the United States. As a result, it may not be possible for
investors in the United States to enforce their legal rights, to effect service
of process upon our directors or officers or to enforce judgments of United
States courts predicated upon civil liabilities and criminal penalties of our
directors and officers under Federal securities laws.
We
may become subject to United States Federal income taxation on our United States
source shipping income.
Due
to
the nature of the shipping industry, we may complete a business combination
with
a target business outside of the United States and, if such acquisition involved
our reincorporation as a foreign entity, would then attempt to qualify under
Section 883 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, for an
exemption from United States federal income tax on substantially all of our
shipping income. This exemption may not be available, or may subsequently be
lost, if 50% or more of our stock is owned, for more than half the number of
days during the taxable year, by persons in the United States. We can give
no
assurance that the ownership of our stock will permit us to qualify for the
Section 883 exemption. If we do not qualify for an exemption pursuant to Section
883, we will be subject to United States federal income tax, likely imposed
on a
gross basis at 4%, on our United States source shipping income, which
constitutes not more than 50% of our gross shipping income. In such case, we
may
seek to elect to be taxed under what is in essence an alternative tonnage tax
created by the American Job Creation Act of 2004, which would likely provide
for
a substantially reduced tax to the extent it applies. In such a case, our net
income and cash flow will be reduced by the amount of such tax.
If
we acquire a business that charters vessels on the spot market, it may increase
our risk of doing business following the business combination.
We
may
complete a business combination with a business that involves the chartering
of
vessels on a spot charter basis, either on voyage charters or short-term time
charters of less than 12 months’ duration. Although dependence on spot charters
is not unusual in the shipping industry, the spot charter market is highly
competitive and spot charter rates are subject to significant fluctuations
based
upon available charters and the supply of and demand for seaborne shipping
capacity. Although our focus on the spot charter market may enable us to benefit
from strengthening industry conditions should they occur, to do so we may be
required to consistently procure spot charter business. We cannot assure you
that spot charters will be available at rates that will be sufficient to enable
us to operate our business profitably.
In
addition, our dependence on the spot charter market may result in lower
utilization of our vessels and consequently decreased profitability. We cannot
assure you that rates in the spot charter market will not decline, that charters
in the spot charter market will continue to be available or that our dependence
on the spot charter market will not result in generally lower overall
utilization or decreased profitability, the occurrence of any of which events
could affect our ability to service our debt during these
periods.
If
a target company has or obtains a vessel that is of second-hand or older nature,
it could increase our costs and decrease our profitability.
We
believe that competition for employment of second-hand vessels may be intense
in
the dry cargo market. Additionally, second-hand vessels may carry no warranties
from sellers with respect to their condition as compared to warranties from
shipyards available for newly-constructed vessels, and may be subject to
problems created by the use of their original owners. If we purchase any
second-hand vessels, we may incur additional expenditures as a result of these
risks, which may reduce our profitability.
While
it
will be our intention if we acquire a target business in this area to sell
or
retire our vessels before they are considered older vessels, under shipping
standards, in the rare case where we continue to own and operate a vessel for
a
longer period, we could be faced with the additional expenditures necessary
to
maintain a vessel in good operating condition as the age of a vessel increases.
Moreover, port-state authorities in certain jurisdictions may demand that
repairs be made to this type of vessel before allowing it to berth at or depart
a particular port, even though that vessel may be in class and in compliance
with all relevant international maritime conventions. Should any of these types
of problems or changes develop, income may be lost if a vessel goes off-hire
and
additional unforeseen and unbudgeted expenses may be incurred. If we choose
to
maintain any vessels past the age that we have planned, we cannot assure you
that market conditions will justify expenditures with respect to any of the
foregoing or enable us to operate these vessels profitably.
Management
services relating to a target company’s vessels may be performed by management
companies that are affiliates of our officers and directors which could result
in potential conflicts of interest.
If
we
complete a business combination which involves the acquisition of vessels,
we
anticipate engaging the services of one or more management companies to provide
technical and management services, relating to the operation of such vessels.
Whether or not members of existing management remain our officers or directors
post business combination, it is possible that these management services will
be
performed by management companies that are controlled by one or more of our
officers or directors (for example, by acting as our fleet’s technical managers
and performing all commercial management functions). The management companies
may receive fees and commissions on gross revenue received by us in respect
of
each vessel managed, a commission on the gross sale or purchase price of vessels
which we purchase or sell, and a commission on all insurance placed. If members
of our existing management remain as members of management following a business
combination, the relationships between our officers and directors and the
applicable management companies may give rise to conflicts of interest between
us on the one hand and the management companies on the other. In addition,
some
of our officers and directors also may hold senior management positions with
one
or more of these management companies. In light of their positions, these
individuals may experience conflicts of interest in selecting between our
interests and those of the applicable management companies. Because certain
financial information will be required to be provided to our stockholders in
connection with a proposed business combination, prospective target businesses
may be limited.
In
order
to seek stockholder approval of a business combination with an operating
business in the shipping industry, the proposed target business will be required
to have certain financial statements which are prepared in accordance with,
or
which can be reconciled to, U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and
audited in accordance with the standards of the United States Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board. Some of the businesses in the shipping industry
may
not keep financial statements in accordance with, or that can be reconciled
with, U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. To the extent that the
required financial statements or information cannot be prepared or obtained,
we
will not be able to complete a business combination with such entities.
Accordingly, these financial information requirements may limit the pool of
potential target businesses or vessels which we may acquire.
Risks
associated with our common stock.
Our
outstanding warrants may have an adverse effect on the market price of common
stock and make it more difficult to effect a business combination.
Currently,
we have outstanding warrants to purchase 20,000,000 shares of common stock.
To
the extent we issue shares of common stock to effect a business combination,
the
potential for the issuance of substantial numbers of additional shares upon
exercise of these warrants could make us a less attractive acquisition vehicle
in the eyes of a target business as such securities, when exercised, will
increase the number of issued and outstanding shares of our common stock and
reduce the value of the shares issued to complete the business combination.
Accordingly, our warrants may make it more difficult to effectuate a business
combination or increase the cost of the target business. Additionally, the
sale,
or even the possibility of sale, of the shares underlying the warrants could
have an adverse effect on the market price for our securities or on our ability
to obtain future public financing. If and to the extent these warrants are
exercised, you may experience dilution to your holdings.
If
our officers and directors exercise their registration rights, it may have
an
adverse effect on the market price our common stock and the existence of these
rights may make it more difficult to effect a business combination.
Our
officers and directors are entitled to demand that we register the resale of
their 9,026,924 shares of common stock owned by them prior to the Initial Public
Offering and the Private Placement at any time after the date on which their
shares are released from escrow, which, except in limited circumstances, will
not be before December 15, 2008. Furthermore, certain of our officers and
directors are entitled to demand and “piggy-back” registration with respect to
the 1,132,500 shares, 1,132,500 warrants and 1,132,500 shares underlying the
warrants comprising the units purchased in the Private Placement at any time
after we announce that we have entered a letter of intent, an agreement in
principle or a definitive agreement in connection with a business combination.
If our officers and directors exercise their registration rights with respect
to
all of their shares of common stock, then there will be an additional 10,159,424
shares of common stock eligible for trading in the public market. The presence
of this additional number of shares of common stock eligible for trading in
the
public market may have an adverse effect on the market price of our common
stock. In addition, the existence of these rights may make it more difficult
to
effectuate a business combination or increase the cost of the target business,
as the stockholders of the target business may be discouraged from entering
into
a business combination with us or request a higher price for their securities
as
a result of these registration rights and the potential future effect their
exercise may have on the trading market for our common stock.
The
American Stock Exchange may delist our securities from quotation on its exchange
which could limit investors' ability to make transactions in our securities
and
subject us to additional trading restrictions.
Our
securities are listed on the American Stock Exchange, a national securities
exchange. We cannot assure you that our securities will continue to be listed
on
the American Stock Exchange in the future prior to a business combination.
Additionally, in connection with our business combination, it is likely that
the
American Stock Exchange may require us to file a new initial listing application
and meet its initial listing requirements as opposed to its more lenient
continued listing requirements. We cannot assure you that we will be able to
meet those initial listing requirements at that time.
If
the
American Stock Exchange delists our securities from trading on its exchange,
we
could face significant material adverse consequences including:
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a
limited availability of market quotations for our securities;
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a
determination that our common stock is a "penny stock" which will
require
brokers trading in our common stock to adhere to more stringent rules
and
possibly resulting in a reduced level of trading activity in the
secondary
trading market for our common stock;
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a
limited amount of news and analyst coverage for our company; and
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a
decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional
financing in the future.
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If
we are deemed to be an investment company, we may be required to institute
burdensome compliance requirements and our activities may be restricted, which
may make it difficult for us to complete a business combination.
If
we are
deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940,
our
activities may be restricted, including:
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restrictions
on the nature of our investments;
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restrictions
on the issuance of securities; and
|
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·
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which
may make it difficult for us to complete a business combination.
|
In
addition, we may have imposed upon us burdensome requirements, including:
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·
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registration
as an investment company;
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adoption
of a specific form of corporate structure; and
|
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reporting,
record keeping, voting, proxy and disclosure requirements and other
rules
and regulations.
|
We
do not
believe that our anticipated principal activities will subject us to the
Investment Company Act of 1940. To this end, the proceeds held in trust may
only
be invested by the trust agent in Treasury Bills issued by the United States
with maturity dates of 180 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain
conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act of
1940.
By restricting the investment of the proceeds to these instruments, we intend
to
meet the requirements for the exemption provided in Rule 3a-1 promulgated under
the Investment Company Act of 1940. If we were deemed to be subject to the
act,
compliance with these additional regulatory burdens would require additional
expense that we have not allotted for.
Our
directors may not be considered “independent” under the policies of the North
American Securities Administrators Association, Inc.
Under
the
policies of the North American Securities Administrators Association, Inc.,
an
international organization devoted to investor protection, because each of
our
directors owns shares of our securities and may receive reimbursement for
out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with activities on our
behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due
diligence on suitable business combinations, state securities administrators
could take the position that such individuals are not “independent.” If this
were the case, they would take the position that we would not have the benefit
of independent directors examining the propriety of expenses incurred on our
behalf and subject to reimbursement. Additionally, there is no limit on the
amount of out-of-pocket expenses that could be incurred and there will be no
review of the reasonableness of the expenses by anyone other than our board
of
directors, which would include persons who may seek reimbursement, or a court
of
competent jurisdiction if such reimbursement is challenged. Although we believe
that all actions taken by our directors on our behalf will be in our best
interests, whether or not they are deemed to be “independent,” we cannot assure
you that this will actually be the case. If actions are taken, or expenses
are
incurred that are actually not in our best interests, it could have a material
adverse effect on our business and operations and the price of our stock held
by
the public stockholders.
Because
some of our directors and officers reside outside of the United States and,
after the consummation of a business combination, substantially all of our
assets may be located outside of the United States, it may be difficult for
investors to enforce their legal rights against such individuals or such
assets.
Some
of
our directors and officers reside outside of the United States and, after the
consummation of a business combination, substantially all of our assets may
be
located outside of the United States. As a result, it may not be possible for
investors in the United States to enforce their legal rights, to effect service
of process upon our directors or officers or to enforce judgments of United
States courts predicated upon civil liabilities and criminal penalties of our
directors and officers under Federal securities laws.
Because
we may acquire a company located outside of the United States, we may be subject
to various risks of the foreign jurisdiction in which we ultimately operate.
If
we
acquire a company that has sales or operations outside the United States, we
could be exposed to risks that negatively impact our future sales or
profitability following a business combination, especially if the acquired
company is in a developing country or a country that is not fully
market-oriented. If we were to acquire a business that operates in such a
country, our operations might not develop in the same way or at the same rate
as
might be expected in the United States or another country with an economy
similar to the market-oriented economies of member countries which are members
of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, or the OECD (an
international organization helping governments through the economic, social
and
governance challenges of a globalized economy).
Risks
associated with the proposed Business Combination
The
following are risks the Company may face in the event the Business Combination
is consummated:
Star
Bulk has no operating history and may not operate profitably in the
future.
Star
Bulk
was formed December 13, 2006. Star Bulk has entered into agreements to acquire
eight drybulk carriers and expects to take delivery of the vessels within sixty
days following the effective date of the Redomiciliation Merger. However, Star
Bulk has no operating history. Its financial statements do not provide a
meaningful basis for you to evaluate its operations and ability to be profitable
in the future. Star Bulk may not be profitable in the future.
Star
Bulk’s senior executive officers and directors may not be able to organize and
manage
a publicly
traded operating company.
Only
one
of Star Bulk’s senior executive officers or directors have previously organized
and managed a publicly traded operating company, and Star Bulk’s senior
executive officers and directors may not be successful in doing so. The demands
of organizing and managing a publicly traded operating company are much greater
as compared to a private or blank check company and some of Star Bulk’s senior
executive officers and directors may not be able to meet those increased
demands.
If
any of the eight drybulk carriers in Star Bulk’s fleet are not delivered on time
or delivered
with significant defect, Star Bulk’s proposed business, results of operations
and financial coalition could suffer.
Star
Bulk
has entered into separate memoranda of agreement with wholly-owned subsidiaries
of TMT to acquire the eight drybulk carriers in its initial fleet. Star Bulk
expects that the eight drybulk carriers will be delivered to it within sixty
days following the effective date of the Redomiciliation Merger. A delay in
the
delivery of any of these vessels to Star Bulk or the failure of TMT to deliver
a
vessel at all could adversely affect Star Bulk’s business, results of operations
and financial condition. The delivery of these vessels could be delayed or
certain events may arise which could result in Star Bulk not taking delivery
of
a vessel, such as a total loss of a vessel, a constructive loss of a vessel,
or
substantial damage to a vessel prior to delivery. in addition, the delivery
of
any of these vessels with substantial defects could have similar
consequences.
If
Star Bulk fails to manage its planned growth properly, it may not be able to
successfully expand its fleet.
Star
Bulk
intends to continue to expand its fleet. Star Bulk’s growth will depend
on:
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locating
and acquiring suitable vessels;
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identifying
and consummating acquisitions or joint
ventures;
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integrating
any acquired vessels successfully with its existing
operations;
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enhancing
its customer base;
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managing
its expansion; and
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obtaining
required financing.
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Growing
any business by acquisition presents numerous risks such as undisclosed
liabilities and obligations, difficulty experienced in obtaining additional
qualified personnel and managing relationships with customers and suppliers
and
integrating newly acquired operations into existing infrastructures. Star Bulk
may not be successful in executing its growth plans and may incur significant
expenses and losses.
Star
Bulk’s loan agreements may contain restrictive covenants that may limit its
liquidity and corporate activities.
The
new
senior secured credit facility that Star Bulk expects to enter into and any
future loan agreements may impose operating and financial restrictions on it.
These restrictions may limit its ability to:
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incur
additional indebtedness;
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create
liens on its assets;
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sell
capital stock of its subsidiaries;
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engage
in mergers or acquisitions;
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make
capital expenditures;
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change
the management of its vessels or terminate or materially
amend the
management agreement relating to each vessel;
and
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Therefore,
Star Bulk may need to seek permission from its lenders in order to engage in
some important corporate actions. The lenders’ interests may be different from
those of Star Bulk, and Star Bulk cannot guarantee that it will be able to
obtain the lenders’ permission when needed. This may prevent Star Bulk from
taking actions that are in its best interest.
Servicing
future debt would limit funds available for other
purposes.
Star
Bulk
expects to incur up to $40,000,000 of indebtedness in connection with the
purchase of the vessels in the initial fleet and may also incur additional
secured debt to finance the acquisition of additional vessels. Star Bulk may
also incur up to an additional $70,000,000 of indebtedness to replace funds
from
our Trust Account that have been utilized to cover the cost of redeeming
stockholders of Star Maritime. Star Bulk may be required dedicate a portion
of
its cash flow from operations to pay the principal and interest on its debt.
These payments limit funds otherwise available for working capital expenditures
and other purposes, including payment of dividends. If Star Bulk is unable
to
service its debt, it could have a material adverse effect on Star Bulk’s
financial condition and results of operations.
Star
Bulk’s ability to obtain additional debt financing may be dependent on the
performance and the creditworthiness of it’s charterers.
The
actual or perceived credit quality of Star Bulk’s future charterers, and any
defaults by them, may materially affect its ability to obtain the additional
debt financing that Star Bulk may require to purchase additional vessels or
may
significantly increase its costs of obtaining such financing. Star Bulk’s
inability to obtain additional financing at all or at a higher than anticipated
cost may materially affect its results of operations and its ability to
implement its business strategy.
In
the highly competitive international drybulk shipping industry, Star Bulk may
not be able to compete for charters with new entrants or established companies
with greater resources.
Star
Bulk
will employ its vessels in a highly competitive market that is capital intensive
and highly fragmented. Competition arises primarily from other vessel owners,
some of whom have substantially greater resources than Star Bulk. Competition
for the transportation of drybulk cargoes can be intense and depends on price,
location, size, age, condition and the acceptability of the vessel and its
managers to the charterers. Due in part to the highly fragmented market,
competitors with greater resources could operate larger fleets through
consolidations or acquisitions that may be able to offer better prices and
fleets.
Star
Bulk may be unable to attract
and retain key management personnel and other employees in the shipping
industry, which may negatively affect the effectiveness of its management and
its results of operations.
Star
Bulk’s success will depend to a significant extent upon the abilities and
efforts of its management team. Star Bulk has only two employees, its Chief
Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Star Bulk’s wholly-owned
subsidiary, Star Bulk Management Inc., plans to hire additional employees
following the Redomiciliation Merger to perform the day to day management of
the
vessels in the initial fleet. Star Bulk Management does not currently have
ally
employees. Star Bulk’s success will depend upon its ability to retain key
members of its management team and the ability of Star Bulk Management to
recruit and hire suitable employees. The loss of any of these individuals could
adversely affect Star Bulk’s business prospects and financial condition.
Difficulty in hiring and retaining personnel could adversely affect Star Bulk’s
results of operations. Star Bulk does not intend to maintain “key man” life
insurance on ally of its officers.
As
Star Bulk commences its business, it will need to implement its operations
and
financial systems and hire new vessel shift if it cannot implement these systems
or recruit suitable employees, its performance may be adversely
affected
Star
Bulk’s operating and financial systems may not be adequate as it commences
operations, and its attempts to implement those systems may be ineffective.
In
addition, as Star Bulk expands its fleet, it will have to rely on its
wholly-owned subsidiary, Star Bulk Management Inc., to recruit suitable
additional seafarers and shoreside administrative and management personnel.
Star
Bulk cannot assure you that Star Bulk Management will be able to continue to
hire suitable employees as Star Bulk expands its fleet. If Star Bulk
Management’s unaffiliated crewing agent encounters business or financial
difficulties, Star Bulk may not be able to adequately staff its vessels. If
Star
Bulk is unable to operate its financial and operations systems effectively
or to
recruit suitable employees, its performance may be materially adversely
affected.
Risks
involved with operating ocean going vessels could affect Star Bulk’s business
and reputation, which would adversely affect its revenues.
The
operation of an ocean-going vessel carries inherent risks. These risks include
the possibility of:
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crew
strikes and/or boycotts;
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environmental
accidents;
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cargo
and property losses or damage; and
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business
interruptions caused by mechanical failure, human error,
war, terrorism,
political action in various countries or adverse weather
conditions.
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Any
of
these circumstances or events could increase Star Bulk’s costs or lower its
revenues.
Star
Bulk’s vessels may suffer damage and it may face unexpected drydocking costs,
which could affect its cash flow and financial condition.
If
Star
Bulk’s vessels suffer damage, they may need to be repaired at a drydocking
facility. The costs of drydock repairs are unpredictable and can be substantial.
Star Bulk may have to pay drydocking costs that its insurance does not cover.
The loss of earnings while these vessels are being repaired and reconditioned,
as well as the actual cost of these repairs, would decrease its
earnings.
Purchasing
and operating secondhand vessels may result in
increased operating costs and vessel off-hire, which could adversely affect
Star
Bulk’s earnings.
Star
Bulk’s inspection of secondhand vessels prior to purchase does not provide it
with the same knowledge about their condition and cost of any required (or
anticipated) repairs that it would have had if these vessels had been built
for
and operated exclusively by Star Bulk. Generally, Star Bulk will not receive
the
benefit of warranties on secondhand vessels.
In
general, the costs to maintain a vessel in good operating condition increase
with the age of the vessel. Older vessels are typically less fuel efficient
and
more costly to maintain than more recently constructed vessels. Cargo insurance
rates increase with the age of a vessel, making older vessels less desirable
to
charterers.
Governmental
regulations, safety or other equipment standards related to the age of vessels
may require expenditures for alterations, or the addition of new equipment,
to
Star Bulk’s vessels and may restrict the type of activities in which the vessels
may engage. Star Bulk cannot assure you that, as Star Bulk’s vessels age, market
conditions will justify those expenditures or enable it to operate its vessels
profitably during the remainder of their useful lives.
Star
Bulk’s worldwide operations will expose it to global risks that may interfere
with the operation of its vessels.
Star
Bulk
is expected to primarily conduct its operations worldwide. Changing economic,
political and governmental conditions in the countries where Star Bulk is
engaged in business or where Star Bulk’s vessels are registered will affect Star
Bulk’s operations. In the past, political conflicts, particularly in the Arabian
Gulf, resulted in attacks on vessels, mining of waterways and other efforts
to
disrupt shipping in the area. Acts of terrorism and piracy have also affected
vessels trading in regions such as the South China Sea. The likelihood of future
acts of terrorism may increase, and Star Bulk’s vessels may face higher risks of
being attacked. In addition, future hostilities or other political instability
in regions where Star Bulk’s vessels trade could have a material adverse effect
on its trade patterns and adversely affect its operations and
performance.
Star
Bulk may not have adequate insurance to compensate it if it loses its
vessels.
Star
Bulk
is expected to procure hull and machinery insurance, protection and indemnity
insurance, which includes environmental damage and pollution insurance coverage
and war risk insurance for its fleet. Star Bulk does not expect to maintain
for
all of its vessels insurance against loss of hire, which covers business
interruptions that result from the loss of use of a vessel. Star Bulk may not
be
adequately insured against all risks. Star Bulk may not be able to obtain
adequate insurance coverage for its fleet in the future. The insurers may not
pay particular claims. Star Bulk’s insurance policies may contain deductibles
for which it will be responsible and limitations and exclusions which may
increase its costs or lower its revenue. Moreover, Star Bulk cannot assure
that
the insurers will not default on any claims they are required to pay. If Star
Bulk’s insurance is not enough to cover claims that may arise, the deficiency
may have a material adverse effect on Star Bulk’s financial condition and
results of operations.
Star
Bulk is incorporated in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, which does not
have a well-developed body of corporate law.
Star
Bulk’s corporate affairs are governed by its Articles of Incorporation and
By-laws and by the Marshall Islands Business Corporations Act or BCA. The
provisions of the BCA resemble provisions of the corporation laws of a number
of
states in the United States. However, there have been few judicial cases in
the
Republic of the Marshall Islands interpreting the BCA. The rights and fiduciary
responsibilities of directors under the law of the Republic of the Marshall
Islands are not as clearly established as the rights and fiduciary
responsibilities of directors under statutes or judicial precedent in existence
in certain United States jurisdictions. Shareholder rights may differ as well.
While the BCA does specifically incorporate the non-statutory law, or judicial
case law, of the State of Delaware and other states with substantially similar
legislative provisions, public shareholders may have more difficulty in
protecting their interests in the face of actions by the management, directors
or controlling shareholders than would shareholders of a corporation
incorporated in a United States jurisdiction.
Because
Star Bulk is incorporated under the haws of the Marshall Islands, it may be
difficult to serve Star Bulk with legal process or enforce judgments against
Star Bulk, its directors or its management
Star
Bulk
is incorporated under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and
all
of its assets are located outside of the United States. Star Bulk’s business
will be operated primarily from its offices in Athens, Greece. In addition,
Star
Bulk’s directors and officers generally are or will be non-residents of the
United States, and all or a substantial portion of the assets of these
non-residents are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be
difficult or impossible for you to bring an action against Star Bulk or against
these individuals in the United States if you believe that your rights have
been
infringed under securities laws or otherwise. Even if you are successful in
bringing an action of this kind, the laws of the Marshall Islands and of other
jurisdictions may prevent or restrict you from enforcing a judgment against
Star
Bulk’s assets or the assets of its directors and officers. For more information
regarding the relevant laws of the Marshall Islands, please read “Enforceability
of Civil Liabilities.”
There
is a risk that Star Bulk could be treated as a U.S. domestic corporation for
U.S. federal income tax purposes after the Redomiciliation
Merger
Section
7874(b) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, or the Code, provides that, unless
certain requirements are satisfied, a corporation organized outside the United
States which acquires substantially all of the assets of a corporation organized
in the United States will be treated as a U.S. domestic corporation for U.S.
federal income tax purposes if shareholders of the U.S. corporation whose assets
are being acquired own at least 80 percent of the non-U.S. acquiring corporation
after the acquisition. If Section 7874(b) of the Code were to apply to Star
Maritime and the Redomiciliation Merger, then, among other consequences, Star
Bulk, as the surviving entity of the Redomiciliation Merger, would be subject
to
U.S. federal income tax as a U.S. domestic corporation on its worldwide income
after the Redomiciliation Merger. The Redomiciliation Merger has been structured
so that upon completion of the Redomiciliation Merger and the concurrent
issuance of stock to TMT is under the Acquisition Agreements, the stockholders
of Star Maritime will own less than 80% of Star Bulk and therefore, Star Bulk
should not be subject to Section 7874(b) of the Code after the Redomiciliation
Merger. However, Star Maritime has not sought a ruling from the U.S. Internal
Revenue Service, or the IRS, on this point. Therefore, there is no assurance
that the IRS would not seek to assert that Star Bulk is subject to U.S. federal
income tax on its worldwide income after the Redomiciliation Merger although
Star Maritime believes that such an assertion should not be
successful.
Star
Bulk may have to pay tax on United States source income, which would reduce
its
earnings.
Under
the
Code, 50% of the gross shipping income of a vessel owning or chartering
corporation, such as Star Bulk and its subsidiaries, that is attributable to
transportation that begins or ends, but that does not both begin and end, in
the
United States is characterized as U.S. source shipping income and such income
is
subject to a 4% U.S. federal income tax without allowance for deduction, unless
that corporation qualifies for exemption from tax under Section 883 of the
Code
and the Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder.
Star
Bulk
expects that it and each of its subsidiaries will qualify for this statutory
tax
exemption and Star Bulk will take this position for U.S. federal income tax
return reporting purposes. However, there are factual circumstances beyond
our
control that could cause Star Bulk to lose the benefit of this tax exemption
and
thereby become subject to U.S. federal income tax on Star Bulk’s U.S. source
income.
If
Star
Bulk or its subsidiaries are not entitled to this exemption under Section 883
for any taxable year, Star Bulk or its subsidiaries would be subject for those
years to a 4% U.S. federal income tax on its U.S.-source shipping income. The
imposition of this taxation could have a negative effect on Star Bulk’s business
and would result in decreased earnings.
US.
tax authorities could treat Star Bulk as a “passive foreign investment company,”
which could have adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences to US.
holders.
A
foreign
corporation will be treated as a “passive foreign investment company,” or PFIC,
for U.S. federal income tax purposes if either (I) at least 75% of its gross
income for any taxable year consists of certain types of “passive income” or (2)
at least 50% of the average value of the corporation’s assets produce or are
held for the production of those types of “passive income.”
For
purposes of these tests, “passive income” includes dividends, interest, and
gains from the sale or exchange of investment property and rents and royalties
other than rents and royalties which are received from unrelated parties in
connection with the active conduct of a trade or business. For purposes of
these
tests, income derived from the performance of services does not constitute
“passive income.” U.S. shareholders of a PFIC may be subject to a
disadvantageous U.S. federal income tax regime with respect to the income
derived by the PFIC, the distributions they receive from the PFIC and the gain,
if any, they derive from the sale or other disposition of their shares in the
PFIC.
Based
on
Star Bulk’s proposed method of operation, Star Bulk does not believe that it
will be a PFIC with respect to any taxable year. In this regard, Star Bulk
intends to treat the gross income it will derive or will be deemed to derive
from its time chartering activities as services income, rather than rental
income. Accordingly, Star Bulk believes that its income from its time chartering
activities will not constitute “passive income,” and the assets that it will own
and operate in connection with the production of that income will not constitute
passive assets.
There
is,
however, no direct legal authority under the PFIC rules addressing Star Bulk’s
proposed method of operation. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the
U.S. Internal Revenue Service, or the IRS, or a court of law will accept our
position, and there is a risk that the IRS or a court of law could determine
that Star Bulk is a PFIC. Moreover, no assurance can be given that Star Bulk
would not constitute a PFIC for any future taxable year if there were to be
changes in the nature and extent of its operations.
If
the
IRS were to find that Star Bulk is or has been a PFIC for any taxable year,
its
U.S. shareholders will face adverse U.S. tax consequences. Under the PFIC rules,
unless those shareholders make an election available under the Code (which
election could itself have adverse consequences for such shareholders), such
shareholders would be liable to pay U.S. federal income tax at the then highest
income tax rates on ordinary income plus interest upon excess distributions
and
upon any gain from the disposition of Star Bulk’s common shares, as if the
excess distribution or gain had been recognized ratably over the shareholder’s
holding period of Star Bulk’s common shares.
Star
Bulk cannot assure you that it will pay dividends.
Star
Bulk’s intention is to pay quarterly dividends. However, Star Bulk may incur
other expenses or liabilities that would reduce or eliminate the cash available
for distribution as dividends. Star Bulk’s loan agreements, including the credit
facility agreement that Star Bulk expects to enter into, may also prohibit
or
restrict the declaration and payment of dividends under some
circumstances.
In
addition, the declaration and payment of dividends will be subject at all times
to the discretion of Star Bulk’s board of directors. The timing and amount of
dividends will depend on Star Bulk’s earnings, financial condition, cash
requirements and availability, fleet renewal and expansion, restrictions in
its
loan agreements, the provisions of Marshall Islands law affecting the payment
of
dividends and other factors. Marshall Islands law generally prohibits the
payment of dividends other than from surplus or while a company is insolvent
or
would be rendered insolvent upon the payment of such dividends, or if there
is
no surplus, dividends may be declared or paid out of net profits for the fiscal
year in which the dividend is declared and for the preceding fiscal year. Star
Bulk may not pay dividends in the anticipated amounts and frequency set forth
in
this joint proxy statement/prospectus or at all.
Star
Bulk is a holding company, and will depend on the ability of its subsidiaries
to
distribute funds to it in order to satisfy its financial obligations or to
make
dividend payments.
Star
Bulk
is a holding company and its subsidiaries, all of which are, or upon their
formation will be, wholly-owned by it either directly or indirectly, will
conduct all of Star Bulk’s operations and own all of Star Bulk’s operating
assets. Star Bulk will have no significant assets other than the equity
interests in its wholly-owned subsidiaries. As a result, Star Bulk’s ability to
make dividend payments depends on its subsidiaries and their ability to
distribute funds to Star Bulk. If Star Bulk is unable to obtain funds from
its
subsidiaries, Star Bulk’s board of directors may exercise its discretion not to
pay dividends.
Servicing
future debt would limit funds available for other purposes, such as the payment
of dividends.
To
finance future fleet expansion, Star Bulk expects to incur secured debt. Star
Bulk must dedicate a portion of its cash flow from operations to pay the
principal and interest on its debt. These payments limit funds otherwise
available for working capital, capital expenditures and other purposes. Star
Bulk’s need to service its debt may limit funds available for other purposes,
including distributing cash to shareholders, and Star Bulk’s inability to
service debt could lead to acceleration of Star Bulk’s debt and foreclosure on
its fleet.
Star
Bulk may be unable to procure financing arrangements which may affect its
ability to purchase the vessels in the initial fleet
Star
Bulk
has entered into agreements to acquire the eight drybulk carriers in the initial
fleet for an aggregate purchase price of $345,237,520, consisting of
$224,500,000 in cash and 12,537,645 shares of common stock of Star Bulk. Star
Bulk will fund the cash consideration portion of the aggregate purchase price
with funds deposited in the Trust Account that are not utilized to pay our
stockholders who have exercised their right to redeem their shares and
approximately $40,000,000 in borrowings under a new senior secured credit
facility. If Star Bulk is unable to procure financing arrangements prior to
the
effective date of the Redomiciliation Merger, Star Bulk may not be able to
complete the purchase of the all eight drybulk carriers.
Star
Bulk may not he able to borrow amounts under its’ credit.
facility which may affect its ability to purchase the vessels in the initial
fleet.
Star
Bulk’s ability to borrow amounts under its credit facility to acquire the
initial fleet from TMT will be subject to the satisfaction of customary
conditions precedent and compliance with terms and conditions included in the
loan documents, at the discretion of the bank; also, to circumstances that
may
be beyond its control such as world events, economic conditions, the financial
standing of the bank or its willingness to lend to shipping companies such
as
Star Bulk. Prior to each drawdown, Star Bulk will be required, among other
things, to provide the lender with acceptable valuations of the vessels in
its
fleet confirming that they are sufficient to satisfy minimum security
requirements. To the extent that Star Bulk is not able to satisfy these
requirements, including as a result of a decline in the value of its vessels,
Star Bulk may not be able to draw down the full amount under its credit facility
without obtaining a waiver or consent from the lender. Star Bulk will also
not
be permitted to borrow amounts under the facility if it experiences a change
of
control.
The
assumptions underlying Star Bulk’s “forecasted
cash available for dividends, reserves and extraordinary expenses are inherently
uncertain and are subject to significant business, economic, financial,
regulatory and competitive risks and uncertainties that could cause actual
results’ to differ materially from those forecasted.
Star
Bulk’s financial forecast has been prepared by the management of Star Bulk and
Star Bulk has not received an opinion or report on it from any independent
registered public accounting firm and the forecast has not been prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The assumptions
underlying the forecast are inherently uncertain and are subject to significant
business, economic, regulatory and competitive risks and uncertainties that
could cause actual results to differ materially from those forecasted. If Star
Bulk does not achieve the forecasted results, Star Bulk may not be able to
operate profitably, successfully implement our business strategy to expand
its
fleet or pay dividends to its shareholders in which event the market price
of
Star Bulk’s common shares may decline materially.
If
the Redomiciliation Merger is completed, the warrants issued in the Initial
Public Offering, which will he assumed by Star Bulk, become exercisable and
you
may experience dilution.
Under
the
terms of the warrants issued in the Initial Public Offering, the warrants become
exercisable upon the completion of a business combination transaction. If the
Redomiciliation Merger is approved, we expect to complete the Redomiciliation
Merger during the third quarter of 2007. We have 20,000,000 warrants to purchase
common stock issued and outstanding at an exercise price of $8.00 per common
share. Our warrants will become exercisable upon the effective date of the
Redomiciliation Merger and as a result, you may experience
dilution.
Registration
rights held by our stockholders who purchased shares prior to the Initial Public
Offering may have an adverse effect on the market price of Star Bulk’s common
stock.
Our
initial stockholders who purchased common stock prior to the Initial Public
Offering are entitled to demand that Star Bulk register the resale of their
shares at any time after they are released from escrow which, except in limited
circumstances, will not be before December 21, 2008. If such stockholders
exercise their registration rights with respect to all of their shares, there
will be an additional 9,026,924 shares of common stock eligible for trading
in
the public market. In addition, the stockholders who purchased their shares
in
our Private Placement are entitled to demand the registration of the securities
underlying the 1,132,500 units they purchased in the Private Placement at any
time into a letter of intent, an agreement in principle or a definitive
agreement in connection with a business combination. If all of these
stockholders exercise their registration rights with respect to all of their
shares of common stock, there will be an additional 10,159,424 shares of common
stock eligible for trading in the public market. The presence of these
additional shares may have an adverse effect on the market price of Star Bulk’s
common stock.
If
Star Bulk is unable to receive a listing of its securities on the Nasdaq Global
Market, it may be more difficult for stockholders to sell their
securities.
Star
Bulk
is applying for listing of its common stock on the Nasdaq Global Market upon
consummation of the Redomiciliation Merger. If they are not so listed, then
it
may be more difficult for stockholders to sell their securities.
Our
directors and executive officers have interests in the Redomiciliation Merger
that are different from yours.
In
considering the recommendation of our directors to vote to approve the
Redomiciliation Merger, you should be aware that they have agreements or
arrangements that provide them with interests in the Redomiciliation Merger
that
differ from, or are in addition to, those of our stockholders generally. Our
original stockholders, including our directors, are not entitled to receive
any
of the Initial Public Offering proceeds distributed upon liquidation of the
trust account. Therefore, if the Redomiciliation Merger is not approved, the
shares held by our initial stockholders will in all probability be worthless.
The personal and financial interests of the members of our Board of Directors
and executive officers may have influenced their motivation in identifying
and
selecting a target business and completing a business combination timely.
Consequently, their discretion in identifying and selecting a suitable target
business may result in a conflict of interest when determining whether the
terms, conditions and timing of a particular business combination are
appropriate and in our stockholders’ best interest.
We
will dissolve and liquidate if we do not consummate the Redomiciliation Merger,
or another business combination, in which event our stockholders may be held
liable for claims by third parties against us to the extent of distributions
received by them
If
we do
not consummate the Redomiciliation Merger or another business combination by
December 21, 2007, then, pursuant to Article SIXTH of our Third Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation, our officers must take all actions
necessary in accordance with the Delaware General Corporation Law to dissolve
and liquidate the Company within 60 days of that date. Therefore, we will
dissolve and liquidate the trust account to our public stockholders if we do
not
complete the Redomiciliation Merger, or another business combination, by
December 21, 2007.
Under
Sections 280 through 282 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, stockholders
of a corporation may be held liable for claims by third parties against the
corporation to the extent of distributions received by them in a dissolution
of
the corporation. If a corporation complies with certain procedures intended
to
ensure that it makes reasonable provision for all claims against it, including
a
60-day notice period during which any third-party claims can be brought against
the corporation, a 90-day period during which the corporation may reject any
claims brought, and an additional 150-day waiting period before any liquidating
distributions are made to stockholders, any liability of stockholders with
respect to a liquidating distribution is limited to the lesser of such
stockholder’s pro rata share of the claim or the amount distributed to the
stockholder, and any liability of the stockholder would be barred after the
third anniversary of the dissolution. Although we will seek stockholder approval
to liquidate the Trust Account to its public stockholders as part of a plan
of
dissolution and liquidation, it does not intend to comply with those procedures.
In the event that our directors recommend, and the stockholders approve, a
plan
of dissolution and liquidation where it is subsequently determined that the
reserve for claims and liabilities was insufficient, stockholders who received
a
return of funds from the trust account could be liable for claims made by
creditors to the extent of distributions received by them. As such, our
stockholders could potentially be liable for any claims to the extent of
distributions received by them in a dissolution, and any such liability of
our
stockholders will likely extend beyond the third anniversary of such
dissolution. Accordingly, we cannot assure its stockholders that third parties
will not seek to recover from our stockholders amounts owed to them by
us.
The
procedures we must follow under Delaware law if we dissolve and liquidate may
result in substantial delays in the liquidation of the trust account to our
public stockholders as part of our plan of dissolution and
distribution.
If
third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account
could be reduced and the per-share liquidation value receivable by our public
stockholders from the trust account as part of our plan of dissolution and
liquidation will be less than $10.00 per share.
Placing
the proceeds of the Initial Public Offering and the Private Placement in trust
may not protect those funds from third party claims against it. Although we
will
seek to have most, if not all, significant creditors agree to arrangements
that
will involve them waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in
or
to any monies held in the trust account for the benefit of our public
stockholders, there is no guarantee that they will agree to such arrangements,
or even if they do that they would be prevented from bringing claims against
the
trust account including, but not limited to, claims alleging fraudulent
inducement, breach of fiduciary responsibility or other similar claims, as
well
as claims challenging the enforceability of the waiver, in each case in order
to
gain an advantage with a claim against our assets, including the funds held
in
the trust account.
Accordingly,
the proceeds held in trust could be subject to claims that could take priority
over the claims of our public stockholders and the per-share liquidation value
receivable by our public stockholders could be less than the $10.00 per share
held in the trust account, plus interest (net of any taxes due on such
interest), due to claims of such creditors.
In
the
event that our board recommends and our stockholders approve a plan of
dissolution and liquidation where it is subsequently determined that the reserve
for claims and liabilities is insufficient, stockholders who received a return
of funds from the trust account as part of the liquidation could be liable
for
claims made by creditors.
Additionally,
if we are forced to file a bankruptcy case or an involuntary bankruptcy case
is
filed against us which is not dismissed, the funds held in the trust account
may
be subject to applicable bankruptcy law, and may be included in our bankruptcy
estate and subject to the claims of third parties with priority over the claims
of our stockholders. Our stockholders could also be required to return any
distributions received by them in a dissolution as a preference or under other
avoidance or recovery theories under applicable bankruptcy law. To the extent
any bankruptcy claims deplete the trust account, we cannot assure its public
stockholders that we will be able to return the liquidation amounts due
them.
If
the Redomiciliation Merger or another business combination is not approved
by
our stockholders by December 21, 2007, then the funds in the trust account
may
only be distributed upon our dissolution.
If
the
Redomiciliation Merger or another business combination is not approved by our
stockholders by December 21, 2007, then the funds held in the trust account
may
not be distributed except upon our dissolution. Unless and until stockholder
approval to dissolve the Company is obtained from our stockholders, the funds
held in the trust account will not be released. Consequently, holders of a
majority of our outstanding stock must approve the dissolution in order to
receive the funds held in the trust account and the funds will not be available
for any other corporate purpose. The procedures required for us to liquidate
under the Delaware General Corporation Law, or a vote to reject any plan of
dissolution and distribution by our stockholders, may result in substantial
delays in the liquidation of the trust account to our public stockholders as
part of our plan of dissolution and distribution.
If
we do not consummate the Redomciliation Merger or another business combination,
and dissolves, payments from the trust account to our public stockholders may
be
delayed.
We
currently believe that any plan of dissolution and liquidation subsequent
to
December
21, 2007 would proceed in approximately the following manner:
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Our
directors would, consistent with Delaware law and the obligations
described in our Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
to dissolve, prior to the passing of the December 21, 2007 deadline,
convene and adopt a specific plan of dissolution and liquidation,
which we
would then vote to recommend to our stockholders; at such time we
would
also cause to be prepared a preliminary proxy statement setting out
such
plan of dissolution and liquidation as well as the board’s recommendation
of such plan;
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upon
such deadline, we would file a preliminary proxy statement with the
Securities and Exchange Commission;
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if
the Securities and Exchange Commission does not review the preliminary
proxy statement, then, approximately 10 days following the passing
of such
deadline, we would mail the proxy statements to our stockholders,
and
approximately 30 days following the passing of such deadline we would
convene a meeting of stockholders, at which they would either approve
or
reject the plan of dissolution and liquidation;
and
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if
the Securities and Exchange Commission does review the preliminary
proxy
statement, we currently estimate that we would receive their comments
approximately 30 days following the passing of such deadline. We
would
mail the proxy statements to stockholders following the conclusion
of the
comment and review process (the length of which cannot be predicted
with
any certainty, and which may be substantial) and we would convene
a
meeting of our stockholders at which they would either approve or
reject
the plan of dissolution and
liquidation.
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Pursuant
to the terms of our
Third
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, our powers following the
expiration of the permitted time periods for consummating a business combination
would automatically thereafter be limited to acts and activities relating to
dissolving and winding up affairs, including liquidation. The funds held in
the
trust account may not be distributed except upon dissolution and, unless and
until such approval is obtained from stockholders, the funds held in the trust
account would not be released. Consequently, holders of a
majority of our outstanding stock must approve the dissolution in order to
receive the funds held in the trust account and the funds would not be available
for any other corporate purpose.
The
procedures required for us to liquidate under the Delaware law, or a vote to
reject any plan of dissolution and liquidation by our stockholders, may result
in substantial delays in the liquidation of the trust account to our public
stockholders as part of the plan of dissolution and liquidation.
Industry
Risk Factors Relating to Star Bulk
The
drybulk shipping industry is cyclical and volatile, and this may lead to
reductions and volatility of charter rates, vessel values and results of
operations.
The
degree of charter hire rate volatility among different types of drybulk carriers
has varied widely. If Star Bulk enters into a charter when charter hire rates
are low, its revenues and earnings will be adversely affected. In addition,
a
decline in charter hire rates likely will cause the value of the vessels that
Star Bulk will own, to decline. Star Bulk cannot assure you that we will be
able
to successfully charter its vessels in the future at rates sufficient to allow
it to operate its business profitably or meet its obligations The factors
affecting the supply and demand for drybulk carriers are outside of Star Bulk’s
control and are unpredictable. The nature, timing, direction and degree of
changes in drybulk shipping market conditions are also
unpredictable.
Factors
that influence demand for seaborne transportation of cargo include:
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demand
for and production of drybulk
products;
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the
distance cargo is to be moved by
sea;
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global
and regional economic and political
conditions;
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environmental
and other regulatory developments;
and
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changes
in seaborne and other transportation patterns, including changes
in the
distances over which cargo is transported due to geographic changes
in
where commodities are produced and cargoes are
used.
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The
factors that influence the supply of vessel capacity include:
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the
number of new building deliveries;
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the
scrapping rate of older vessels;
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number
of vessels that are out of service;
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changes
in environmental and other regulations that may limit the useful
life of
vessels; and
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port
or canal congestion.
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Star
Bulk
anticipates that the future demand for its vessels will be dependent upon
continued economic growth in the world’s
economies, including China and India, seasonal and regional changes in demand,
changes in the capacity of the world’s drybulk carrier fleet and the sources and
supply of cargo to be transported by sea. If the global vessel capacity
increases in the drybulk shipping market, but the demand for vessel capacity
in
this market does not increase or increases at a slower rate, the charter rates
could materially decline. Adverse economic, political, social or other
developments could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial
condition, results of operations and ability to pay dividends.
Charter
rates in the drybulk shipping market are at historically high levels and future
growth will depend on continued economic growth in he world economy that exceeds
growth in vessel capacity.
Charter
rates for the drybulk carriers recently have been at historically high levels.
Star Bulk anticipates that future demand for its vessels, and in turn future
charter rates, will be dependent upon continued economic growth in the world’s
economy, particularly in China and India, as well as seasonal and regional
changes in demand and changes in the capacity of the world’s fleet. According to
Drewry Shipping Consultants Limited, or Drewry, the world’s drybulk carrier
fleet is expected to increase in 2007 as a result of substantial scheduled
deliveries of newly constructed vessels and low forecasts for scrapping of
existing vessels. Continued economic growth in the world economy that exceeds
growth in vessel capacity will be necessary to sustain current charter rates.
There can be no assurance that economic growth will not decline or that vessel
scrapping will occur at an even lower rate than forecasted. A decline in charter
rates could have a material adverse effect on Star Bulk’s business, financial
condition and results of operations.
An
economic slowdown in the Asia Pacific region could have a material adverse
effect on Star Bulk’s business,. financial position and results of
operations
A
significant number of the port calls made by Star Bulk’s vessels may involve the
loading or discharging of raw materials and semi-finished products in ports
in
the Asia Pacific region. As a result, a negative change in economic conditions
in any Asia Pacific country, but particularly in China or India, may have an
adverse effect on Star Bulk’s future business, financial position and results of
operations, as well as its future prospects. In particular, in recent years,
China has been one of the world’s fastest growing economies in terms of gross
domestic product. Star Bulk cannot assure you that such growth will be sustained
or that the Chinese economy will not experience contraction in the future.
Moreover, any slowdown in the economies of the United States, the European
Union
or certain Asian countries may adversely effect economic growth in China and
elsewhere. Star Bulk’s business, financial position and results of operations,
as well as its future prospects, will likely be materially and adversely
affected by an economic downturn in any of these countries.
Star
Bulk may become dependent on spot charters in the volatile shipping
markets.
Star
Bulk
may employ one or more of its vessels on spot charters, including when time
charters on vessels expire. The spot charter market is highly competitive and
rates within this market are subject to volatile fluctuations, while longer-term
period time charters provide income at pre-determined rates over more extended
periods of time. If Star Bulk decides to spot charter its vessels, there can
be
no assurance that Star Bulk will be successful in keeping all its vessels fully
employed in these short-tern markets or that future spot rates will be
sufficient to enable its vessels to be operated profitably. A significant
decrease in charter rates could affect the value of Star Bulk’s fleet and could
adversely affect its profitability and cash flows with the result that its
ability to pay debt service to its lenders and dividends to its shareholders
could be impaired.
Star
Bulk’s operating results will be subject to seasonal.
fluctuations, which could affect its operating results and the amount of
available cash with which Star Bulk can pay dividends.
Star
Bulk
will operate its vessels in markets that have historically exhibited seasonal
variations in demand and, as a result, in charter hire rates. This seasonality
may result in quarter to quarter volatility in its operating results, which
could affect the amount of dividends that Star Bulk pays to its shareholders
from quarter to quarter. The drybulk carrier market is typically stronger in
the
fall and winter months in anticipation of increased consumption of coal and
other raw materials in the northern hemisphere during the winter months. In
addition, unpredictable weather patterns in these months tend to disrupt vessel
scheduling and supplies of certain commodities. As a result, revenues of drybulk
carrier operators in general have historically been weaker during the fiscal
quarters ended June 30 and September 30, and, conversely, been stronger in
fiscal quarters ended December 31 and March 31. This seasonality may materially
affect Star Bulk’s operating results and cash available for
dividends.
Star
Bulk will he subject to regulation and liability under environmental laws that
could require significant expenditures and effect its cash flows and net
income.
Star
Bulk’s business and the operation of its vessels will be materially affected by
government regulation in the form a
of
international conventions, national, state and local laws and regulations in
force in the jurisdictions in which its vessels operate, as well as in the
country or countries of their registration. Because such conventions, laws,
and
regulations are often revised, Star Bulk cannot predict the ultimate cost of
complying with such conventions, laws and regulations or the impact thereof
on
the resale prices or useful lives of its vessels. Additional conventions, laws
and regulations may be adopted which could limit Star Bulk’s ability to do
business or increase the cost of its doing business and which may materially
and
adversely affect its operations. Star Bulk will be required by various
governmental and quasi-governmental agencies to obtain certain permits, licenses
and certificates with respect to its operations.
The
operation of Star Bulk’s vessels is affected by the requirements set forth in
the United Nations’ International Maritime Organization’s International
Management Code for the Safe Operation of Ships and Pollution Prevention, or
ISM
Code. The ISM Code requires shipowners, ship managers and bareboat charterers
to
develop and maintain an extensive “Safety Management System” that includes the
adoption of a safety and environmental protection policy setting forth
instructions and procedures for safe operation and describing procedures for
dealing with emergencies. The failure of a shipowner or bareboat charterer
to
comply with the ISM Code may subject it to increased liability, may invalidate
existing insurance or decrease available insurance coverage for the affected
vessels and may result in a denial of access to, or detention in, certain ports.
Each of Star Bulk’s vessels will be ISM code-certified but we cannot assure that
such certificate will be maintained indefinitely.
Star
Bulk
expects to maintain, for each of its vessels, pollution liability coverage
insurance in the amount of $1 billion per incident. If the damages from a
catastrophic incident exceeded Star Bulk’s insurance coverage, it could have a
material adverse effect on Star Bulk’s
financial condition and results of operations.
The
operation of drybulk carriers has particular operational risks which could
affect our earnings and cash flow.
The
operation of certain ship types, such as drybulk carriers, has certain
particular risks. With a drybulk carrier, the cargo itself and its interaction
with the vessel can be an operational risk. By their nature, drybulk cargoes
are
often heavy, dense, easily shifted, and react badly to water exposure. In
addition, drybulk carriers are often subjected to battering treatment during
unloading operations with grabs, jackhammers (to pry encrusted cargoes out
of
the hold) and small bulldozers. This treatment may cause damage to the vessel.
Vessels damaged due to treatment during unloading procedures may be more
susceptible to breach while at sea. Null breaches in drybulk carriers may lead
to the flooding of the vessels’ holds. If a drybulk carrier suffers flooding in
its forward holds, the bulk cargo may become so dense and waterlogged that
its
pressure
may
buckle the vessel’s bulkheads leading to the loss of a vessel. If Star Bulk is
unable to adequately maintain its vessels, it may be unable to prevent these
events. Any of these circumstances or events could negatively impact Star Bulk’s
business, financial condition, results of operations and ability to pay
dividends. In addition, the loss of any of its vessels could harm Star Bulk’s
reputation as a safe and reliable vessel owner and operator.
If
any of Star Bulk’s vessels fails to maintain its class certification and/or
fails any annual survey, intermediate survey, drydocking or special survey,
it
could have a material adverse impact on Star Bulk’s financial condition and
results of operations.
The
hull
and machinery of every commercial vessel must be classed by a classification
society authorized by its country of registry. The classification society
certifies that a vessel is safe and seaworthy in accordance with the applicable
rules and regulations of the country of registry of the vessel and the Safety
of
Life at Sea Convention or SOLAS. Star Bulk’s vessels are expected to be classed
with one or more classification societies that are members of the International
Association of Classification Societies.
A
vessel
must undergo annual surveys, intermediate surveys, drydockings and special
surveys. In lieu of a special survey, a vessel’s
machinery may be on a continuous survey cycle, under which the machinery would
be surveyed periodically over a five-year period. Star Bulk’s vessels are
expected to be on special survey cycles for hull inspection and continuous
survey cycles for machinery inspection. Every vessel will also be required
to be
drydocked every two to three years for inspection of the underwater parts of
such vessel.
If
any
vessel does not maintain its class and/or fails any annual survey, intermediate
survey, drydocking or special survey; the vessel will be unable to carry cargo
between ports and will be unemployable and uninsurable. Any such inability
to
carry cargo or be employed, or any such violation of covenants, could have
a
material adverse impact on Star Bulk’s financial condition and results of
operations.
Maritime
claimants could arrest Star Bulk’s vessels, which could interrupt its cash
flow.
Crew
members, suppliers of goods and services to a vessel, shippers of cargo and
other parties may be entitled to a maritime lien against that vessel for
unsatisfied debts, claims or damages. In many jurisdictions, a maritime
lienholder may enforce its lien by arresting a vessel through foreclosure
proceedings. The arresting or attachment of one or more of Star Bulk’s vessels
could interrupt its cash flow and require it to pay large sums of funds to
have
the arrest lifted which would have a material adverse effect on Star Bulk’s
financial condition and results of operations. In addition, in some
jurisdictions, such as South Africa, under the “sister
ship” theory of liability, a claimant may arrest both the vessel which is
subject to the claimant’s maritime lien and any “associated” vessel, which is
any vessel owned or controlled by the same owner. Claimants could try to assert
“sister ship” liability against one of Star Bulk’s vessels for claims relating
to another of its vessels.
Governments
could requisition Star Bulk’s vessels during a period of war or emergency,
resulting in loss of earnings.
A
government could requisition for title or seize Star Bulk’s vessels. Requisition
for title occurs when a government takes control of a vessel and becomes the
owner. Also, a government could requisition Star Bulk’s vessels for hire.
Requisition for hire occurs when a government takes control of a vessel and
effectively becomes the charterer at dictated charter rates. Generally,
requisitions occur during a period of war or emergency. Government requisition
of one or more of Star Bulk’s vessels could have a material adverse effect on
Star Bulk’s
financial condition and results of operations.
World
events outside Star Bulk’s control may negatively affect its operations and
financial condition.
Terrorist
attacks such as the attacks on the United States on September II, 2001, the
bombings in Spain on March 11, 2004 and in London on July 7, 2005, and the
continuing response of the United States to these attacks, as well as the threat
of future terrorist attacks, continue to cause uncertainty in the world
financial markets and may affect Star Bulk’s business, results of operations and
financial condition. The continuing conflict in Iraq may lead to additional
acts
of terrorism and armed conflict around the world, which may contribute to
further economic instability in the global financial markets. These
uncertainties could also have a material adverse effect on Star Bulk’s ability
to obtain additional financing on terms acceptable to it or at all. In the
past,
political conflicts have also resulted in attacks on vessels, mining of
waterways and other efforts to disrupt international shipping, particularly
in
the Arabian Gulf region. Acts of terrorism and piracy have also affected vessels
trading in regions such as the South China Sea. Any of these occurrences could
have a material adverse impact on our operating results, revenues and
costs.
Terrorist
attacks may also negatively affect Star Bulk’s operations and financial
condition and directly impact its vessels or its customers. Future terrorist
attacks could result in increased volatility of the financial markets in the
United States and globally and could result in an economic recession in the
United States or the world. Any of these occurrences could have a material
adverse impact on Star Bulk’s financial condition and costs.
Risks
Factors Relating to the Redomiciliation Merger
There
may not be an active market for Star Bulk’s common stock or warrants, which may
cause its common stock or warrants to trade at a discount and make it difficult
to sell your common stock or warrants.
Prior
to
the Redomiciliation Merger, there has been no public market for Star Bulk’s
common stock or warrants. Star Bulk cannot assure you that an active trading
market for Star Bulk’s common stock or warrants will develop or be sustained
after the Redomiciliation Merger or that the price of Star Bulk’s common stock
or warrants in the public market will reflect its actual financial
performance.
The
price of Star Bulk’s shares after the Redomiciliation Merger may be
volatile.
The
price
of Star Bulk’s shares after the Redomiciliation Merger may be volatile, and may
fluctuate due to factors such as:
|
·
|
actual
or anticipated fluctuations in quarterly and annual
results;
|
|
·
|
limited
operating history;
|
|
·
|
mergers
and strategic alliances in the shipping
industry;
|
|
·
|
market
conditions in the industry;
|
|
·
|
changes
in government regulation;
|
|
·
|
fluctuations
in Star Bulk’s quarterly revenues and earnings and those of its publicly
held competitors;
|
|
·
|
shortfalls
in Star Bulk’s operating results from levels
forecasted by securities analysts;
|
|
·
|
announcements
concerning Star Bulk or its competitors;
and
|
|
·
|
the
general state of the securities
markets.
|
The
international drybulk shipping industry has been highly unpredictable and
volatile. The market for common shares in this industry may be equally
volatile.
Star
Bulk may choose to redeem its outstanding warrants at a time that is
disadvantageous to warrant holders.
Star
Bulk
may redeem the warrants issued as a part of the units in the Initial Public
Offering that will be assumed by Star Bulk in the Redomiciliation Merger at
any
time after the warrants become exercisable, in whole and not in part, at a
price
of $.01 per warrant, upon a minimum of 30 days prior written notice of
redemption, if and only if, the last sales price of our common stock equals
or
exceeds $14.25 per share for any 20 trading days within a 30 trading day period
ending three business days before the notice of redemption is sent. Redemption
of the warrants could force the warrant holders to (i) exercise the
warrants and pay the exercise price therefor at a time when it may be
disadvantageous for the holders to do so, (ii) sell the warrants at the
then-current market price when they might otherwise wish to hold them, or (iii)
accept the nominal redemption price which, at the time the warrants are called
for redemption, is likely to be substantially less than the market value of
the
warrants.
We
expect to incur significant costs associated with the Redomiciliation Merger,
whether or not the Redomiciliation Merger is completed and the incurrence of
these costs will reduce the amount of cash available to be used for other
corporate purposes.
We
expect
to incur significant costs associated with the Redomiciliation Merger, whether
or not the Redomiciliation Merger is completed. The incurrence of these costs
will reduce the amount of cash available to be used for other corporate
purposes, including distribution upon a liquidation.
As
a result of the Redomiciliation Merger, Star Bulk stockholders will he solely
dependent on a single business.
As
a
result of the Redomiciliation Merger, Star Bulk stockholders will be solely
dependent upon the performance of Star Bulk and its drybulk shipping business.
Star Bulk will be subject to a number of risks that relate generally to the
shipping industry and other risks that specifically relate to Star Bulk.
We
may waive one or more of the conditions to the Redomiciliation Merger without
resoliciting stockholder approval for the Redomiciliation
Merger.
We
may
agree to waive, in whole or in part, some of the conditions to our obligations
to complete the Redomiciliation Merger, to the extent permitted by applicable
laws. Our board of directors will evaluate the materiality of any waiver to
determine whether amendment of joint proxy statement/prospectus to be filed
with
the SEC and resolicitation of proxies is warranted. In some instances, if our
board of directors determines that a waiver is not sufficiently material to
warrant resolicitation of stockholders, we have the discretion to complete
the
Redomiciliation Merger without seeking further stockholder
approval.
None
Item
2. Properties
From
January 1, 2006 through December 1, 2006, we maintained our executive offices
c/o Schwartz & Weiss, P.C. at 457 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10022.
The cost for this space and other additional services provided by the law firm
of Schwartz & Weiss, P.C. was $7,500 per month. On December 19, 2006, we
entered into a sublease with Blue Diamond Realty, LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company. Effective as of December 1, 2006, Blue Diamond Realty LLC
agreed to sublet offices to the Company located at 103 Foulk Road, Wilmington,
Delaware, and provide the Company with such office space and equipment,
including a conference room, as well as administrative support necessary for
the
Company’s business. The sublease is for thirteen months effective
December 1, 2006 through December 31, 2007, with an automatic renewal each
year
for an additional one year period, unless either party gives the other
party at least 90 days written notice of its intent to terminate the Agreement.
The annual base rent and administrative services fees for this space is $4,000
payable on January 1 each year. We consider our current office space adequate
for our current operations.
Item
4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
During
the fourth quarter of our fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, there were no
matters submitted to a vote of security holders.
The
Company’s units began trading on the American Stock Exchange under the symbols
“SEAU,” on December 16, 2005, and the Company’s common stock and warrants began
trading on AMEX under the “SEA” and “SEAW,” respectively, on February 27, 2006.
Effective on February 27, 2006, the Company’s Common Stock and Warrant began to
trade separately and the Units ceased trading. The following table sets forth
the high and low sales information for the Company’s securities from the
commencement of trading through December 31, 2005, and for the fiscal year
ended
December 31, 2006, based upon information supplied by AMEX.
|
|
Units
|
|
Warrants
|
|
Common
Stock
|
|
2005 |
|
High
|
|
Low
|
|
High
|
|
Low
|
|
High
|
|
Low
|
|
First
Quarter*
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
Second
Quarter*
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
Third
Quarter*
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
Fourth
Quarter*
(October
1 to December 15)
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
Fourth
Quarter
(December16
to December 31)
|
|
$
|
10.00
|
|
$
|
9.82
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
*
No
amounts are included as none of our securities commenced trading on AMEX prior
to December 16, 2005.
|
|
Units*
|
|
Warrants
|
|
Common
Stock
|
|
2006
|
|
High
|
|
Low
|
|
High
|
|
Low
|
|
High
|
|
Low
|
|
First
Quarter (January 1 to February 26)
|
|
$
|
10.25
|
|
$
|
9.84
|
|
$
|
N/A
|
|
$
|
N/A
|
|
$
|
N/A
|
|
$
|
N/A
|
|
First
Quarter (February 27 to March 31)
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
1.25
|
|
|
0.87
|
|
|
9.92
|
|
|
9.62
|
|
Second
Quarter
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
1.20
|
|
|
0.87
|
|
|
10.16
|
|
|
9.47
|
|
Third
Quarter
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
1.06
|
|
|
0.70
|
|
|
9.74
|
|
|
9.45
|
|
Fourth
Quarter
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
0.84
|
|
|
0.55
|
|
|
9.90
|
|
|
9.60
|
|
*
Units
ceased trading on February 27, 2006 and the Common Stock and Warrants began
trading separately.
|
|
Warrants
|
|
Common
Stock
|
|
2007 |
|
High
|
|
Low
|
|
High
|
|
Low
|
|
First
Quarter (January 1 to March 9)*
|
|
$
|
1.72
|
|
$
|
0.72
|
|
$
|
10.02
|
|
$
|
9.86
|
|
*
The
last full trading day prior to the announcement of a proposal for a business
combination involving Star Bulk.
Number
of Holders of Common Stock and Warrants.
On
March
12, 2007, there were 9 holders of record of our Common Stock and 5 holders
of
record of our Warrants which does not include individual participants in
security position listings that hold their securities in street name through
CEDE & Co.
Dividends.
There
were no cash dividends or other cash distributions made by us during the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2006. Future dividend policy will be determined by
our
Board of Directors based on our earnings, financial condition, capital
requirements and other then existing conditions. It is anticipated that cash
dividends will not be paid to the holders of our common stock in the foreseeable
future.
Recent
Sales of Unregistered Securities.
There
were no sales of unregistered securities during the period covered by this
Annual Report on Form 10-K.
On
December 21, 2005, we consummated our Initial Public Offering of 18,867,500
units. Each unit consists of one share of common stock and one warrant. Each
warrant entitles the holder to purchase from us one share of our common stock
at
an exercise price of $8.00. The units were sold at an offering price of $10.00
per unit, generating total gross proceeds of $188,675,000. Maxim Group LLC
acted
as lead underwriter. The securities sold in the Initial Public Offering were
registered under the Securities Act of 1933 on a registration statement on
Form
S-1 (No. 333-125662). The Securities and Exchange Commission declared the
registration statement effective on December 15, 2005. The net proceeds of
the
Initial Public Offering are being held in a trust account and will continue
to
be invested in short-term U.S. Government Securities, specifically Treasury
Bills, having a maturity date of 180 days or less until the earlier of (i)
the
consummation of the first business combination, of (ii) the distribution of
the
trust account if a business combination is not consummated.
Equity
Compensation Plan
None.
Performance
Graph
Currently,
we have no business operations. We were formed as a blank check company for
the
sole purpose of acquiring, through a merger, capital stock exchange, asset
acquisition or other similar business combination, one or more businesses in
the
shipping industry. Our current Standard Industrial Classification Code (SIC
Code) is 6770 for a blank check company, and will remain as such until we
complete a business combination. At such time that a business combination is
consummated our SIC Code will change to reflect the industry in which we do
business. Therefore, at this time we are unable to present stockholder return
information since we do not currently have operations within an industry that
can be compared to a peer group index by SIC Code or to the Amex
Market Index.
Repurchases
of Equity Securities.
None
Item
6. Selected Financial Data
The
selected financial data presented below summarizes certain financial data which
has been derived from and should be read in conjunction with our financial
statements and notes thereto included in the section beginning on page F-1.
See also “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations.”
|
|
May
13, 2005 (date of inception) to
December
31, 2005
|
|
May
13, 2005 (date of inception) to December 31, 2006
|
|
For
the year Ended December 31, 2006
|
|
Income
Statement Data
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Formation
and Operating Costs
|
|
$
|
50,211
|
|
$
|
1,261,311
|
|
$
|
1,211,100
|
|
Interest
income
|
|
|
183,542
|
|
|
4,579,415
|
|
|
4,395,873
|
|
Provision
for income taxes
|
|
|
23,000
|
|
|
229,687
|
|
|
206,687
|
|
Net
income
|
|
|
110,331
|
|
|
3,088,417
|
|
|
2,978,086
|
|
Earnings
per share (basic and diluted)
|
|
$
|
0.01
|
|
$
|
0.14
|
|
$
|
0.10
|
|
Balance
Sheet Data
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As
of
December
31, 2005
|
|
As
of
December
31, 2006
|
|
Investments
in trust account
|
|
$ |
|
|
$
|
|
|
Cash
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Working
capital
|
|
|
|
|
|
188,209,781
|
|
Total
assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
195,186,301
|
|
Total
stockholders’ equity
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
123,533,047
|
|
|
|
For
the Quarter ended 03/31/06
|
|
For
the Quarter ended 06/30/06
|
|
For
the Quarter ended 09/30/06
|
|
For
the Quarter ended 12/31/06
|
|
Quarterly
Income Statement Data (unaudited):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
income
|
|
$ |
994,654 |
|
$
|
1,162,544
|
|
$
|
1,117,933
|
|
$
|
1,120,742
|
|
Income
before provision for income taxes
|
|
|
918,823 |
|
|
855,147
|
|
|
843,404
|
|
|
567,399
|
|
Net
income
|
|
|
797,617 |
|
|
733,027
|
|
|
830,004
|
|
|
617,438
|
|
Earnings
per share (basic and diluted)
|
|
$ |
0.03 |
|
$
|
0.03
|
|
$
|
0.03
|
|
$
|
0.02
|
|
|
|
May
13, 2005 (date of inception) to June 30, 2005
|
|
For
the Quarter ended 9/30/05
|
|
For
the Quarter ended 12/31/05
|
|
Interest
income |
|
$ |
- |
|
$ |
- |
|
$ |
183,542 |
|
Income/(loss)
before provision for income taxes |
|
|
(6,770 |
) |
|
(77 |
) |
|
140,178 |
|
Net
income (loss) |
|
|
(6,847 |
) |
|
(77 |
) |
|
117,255 |
|
Earnings
per share (basic and diluted) |
|
$ |
(0.00 |
) |
$ |
(0.00 |
) |
$ |
0.01 |
|
Item
7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of
Operations
Overview
We
were
formed on May 13, 2005 to acquire, through a merger, capital stock exchange,
asset acquisition or other similar business combination, one or more businesses
in the shipping industry. Our initial business combination must be with a target
business or businesses whose fair market value is at least equal to 80% of
our
net assets at the time of such acquisition. We intend to utilize cash derived
from the proceeds of our Initial Public Offering, our capital stock, debt or
a
combination of cash, capital stock and debt, in effecting a business
combination.
If
Star
Maritime does not consummate the Redomiciliation Merger or another business
combination by December 21, 2007, then, pursuant to Article SIXTH of its
Certificate of Incorporation, Star Maritime’s officers must take all actions
necessary in accordance with the Delaware General Corporation Law to dissolve
and liquidate Star Maritime within 60 days of that date. There is substantial
doubt that Star Maritime will continue as a going concern if the Redomiciliation
Merger is not approved.
Critical
Accounting Policies
The
preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make
estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and
liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts
of
expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those
estimates.
In
June 2006, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in
Income Taxes - an Interpretation of FASB Statement No.109” (“FIN 48”). FIN 48
clarifies the accounting for uncertainly in income taxes recognized in a
company’s financial statements in accordance with SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for
Income Taxes.” FIN 48 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement
attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax
position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. FIN 48 is effective
for
fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006.
Management
does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting
standards if currently adopted would have a material effect on the accompanying
financial statements. Management
is in the process of evaluating the impact of FIN 48 on its 2007 financial
statements.
Results
of Operations for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2006 and the Period from
May 13, 2005 (inception) to December 31, 2005
For
the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, we incurred $1,211,100 of operating
expenses, compared to $50,211 during the period from May 13, 2005 (date of
inception) through December 31, 2005, which were paid from the net proceeds
that were not deposited into the trust account. Our operating expenses
consisted primarily of expenses related to professional and office fees of
$596,423, insurance costs of $112,242, due diligence fees in connection with
the
search for a business target of $262,877 and other expenses of $239,558. The
increase in operating expenses from the period from May 13, 2005 (date of
inception) through December 31, 2005, was the result of our due diligence
efforts in searching for a business target after the Initial Public Offering
and
the fee payable of $7,500 per month for office space and certain other
additional services from the law firm of Schwartz & Weiss,
P.C..
For
the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, we earned net income after taxes of
$2,978,086 ($5,141,143 before the deduction of $2,163,057 of net interest
attributable to common stock subject to possible redemption) compared to
$110,331 during the period from May 13, 2005 (date of inception) through
December 31, 2005. Since we did not have any operations, all of our income
was
derived from the interest income earned on funds held in the trust account.
Results
of Operations for the Period from May 13, 2005 (inception) to December 31,
2006
For
the
period from May 13, 2005 (date of inception) through December 31, 2006, we
incurred $1,261,311 of operating expenses, which were paid from the net proceeds
that were not deposited into the trust account. Our operating expenses consisted
primarily of expenses related to professional and office fees of $616,023,
insurance costs of $116,476, due diligence fees in connection with the search
for a business target of $262,877 and other expenses of $265,935.
For
the
period from May 13, 2005 (date of inception) through December 31, 2006, we
earned net income after taxes of $3,088,417 ($5,251,474 before the deduction
of
$2,163,057 of net interest attributable to common stock subject to possible
redemption). Since we did not have any operations, all of our income was derived
from the interest income earned on funds held in the trust account.
During
the period from May 13, 2005 (date of inception) through December 31, 2005,
Mr.
Tsirigakis advanced a total of $590,000 at an interest rate of 4% per annum
for
payment of Initial Public Offering expenses on our behalf. These loans were
repaid following our Initial Public Offering from the proceeds of the Initial
Public Offering .
Liquidity
and Capital Resources.
On
December 15, 2005, we sold 1,132,500 units in the Private Placement to certain
of our officers and directors. On December 21, 2005, we consummated our Initial
Public Offering of 18,867,500 units. Each unit in the Private Placement and
the
Initial Public Offering consists of one share of common stock and one redeemable
common stock purchase warrant. Each warrant entitles the holder to purchase
from
us one share of our common stock at an exercise price of $8.00. Our common
stock
and warrants started trading separately as of February 27, 2006.
The
net
proceeds from the sale of our units, after deducting certain offering expenses
of $10,217,665 including underwriting discounts and commissions and placement
fees, were $189,807,335. Of this amount, $188,675,000 was placed in the trust
account, $599,163 was used to repay debt and interest to Mr. Tsirigakis for
a
loan used to cover expenses related to the Initial Public Offering and the
remaining proceeds of $533,172, which after payment of approximately $170,000
of
additional financing fees, provided us with approximately $363,172 which was
deposited and held outside of the trust account to be used to provide for
business, legal and accounting due diligence on prospective acquisitions and
continuing general and administrative expenses. The net proceeds deposited
into
the trust account remain on deposit in the trust account earning interest.
As of
December 31, 2006, there was approximately $192,915,257 held in the trust
account, of which up to $4,000,000 will be paid to the underwriters if a
business combination is consummated, but which will be forfeited in part if
public stockholders elect to have their shares redeemed for cash if a business
combination is not consummated. We will use substantially all of the net
proceeds of the Initial Public Offering to acquire a target business, and will
use the proceeds held outside of the trust account and disbursements of interest
income to identify and evaluate prospective acquisition candidates, select
the
target business, and structure, negotiate and consummate the business
combination. To the extent that our capital stock is used in whole or in part
as
consideration to effect a business combination, the proceeds held in the trust
account as well as any other net proceeds not expended will be used to finance
the operations of the target business.
At
the
time we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, we will
offer each public stockholder the right to have such stockholder’s shares of
common stock redeemed for cash if the stockholder votes against the business
combination and the business combination is approved and completed. The actual
per-share redemption price will be equal to the amount in the trust account
(calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of the proposed
business combination), inclusive of any interest, net of taxes payable, divided
by the number of shares sold in the Initial Public Offering . We may effect
a
business combination so long as public stockholders owning no more than 32.99%
of the shares sold in the Initial Public Offering vote against the business
combination and exercise their redemption rights. In accordance with the terms
of the Initial Public Offering , 6,599,999 shares of common stock are subject
to
possible redemption. Accordingly, at December 31, 2006, $64,679,990 of the
net
proceeds from the Initial Public Offering , has been classified as common stock
subject to possible redemption in the Company’s balance sheet.
We
believe we will have sufficient available funds outside of the trust account
to
operate through December 21, 2007, assuming that a business combination is
not
consummated during that time. We do not believe we will need to raise additional
funds in order to meet the expenditures required for operating our business.
However, we may need to raise additional funds through a private offering of
debt or equity securities, or enter into a financing arrangement if such funds
are required to consummate a business combination that is presented to us.
We
would only consummate such a financing simultaneously with the consummation
of a
business combination.
Off-Balance
Sheet Arrangements
Options
and warrants issued in conjunction with our Initial Public Offering are equity
linked derivatives and accordingly represent off balance sheet
arrangements. The options and warrants meet the scope exception in
paragraph 11(a) of FAS 133 and are accordingly not accounted for as derivatives
for purposes of FAS 133, but instead are accounted for as equity. See
Footnote 2 to the financial statements for more information.
Contractual
Obligations.
We
do not
have any long term debt, capital lease obligations, operating lease obligations,
purchase obligations or other long term liabilities.
Forward
Looking Statements
This
Annual Report on Form 10-K includes forward-looking statements within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section
21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. We have based these
forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about
future events. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown
risks, uncertainties and assumptions about us that may cause our actual results,
levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different
from
any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed
or
implied by such forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify
forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “should,” “could,”
“would,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “continue,” or
the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. Factors that might
cause or contribute to such a discrepancy include, but are not limited to,
those
described above under Item 1A “Risk Factors” and in our other Securities and
Exchange Commission filings. The following discussion should be read in
conjunction with our Financial Statements and related Notes thereto included
elsewhere in this report.
Market
risk is the sensitivity of income to changes in interest rates, foreign
exchanges, commodity prices, equity prices, and other market-driven rates or
prices. We are not presently engaged in and, if a suitable business target
is
not identified by us prior to the prescribed liquidation date of the trust
account, we may not engage in, any substantive commercial business. Accordingly,
we are not and, until such time as we consummate a business combination, we
will
not be, exposed to risks associated with foreign exchange rates, commodity
prices, equity prices or other market-driven rates or prices. The net proceeds
of our Initial Public Offering held in the trust account have been invested
only
in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated
under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Given our limited risk in our exposure
to money market funds, we do not view the interest rate risk to be significant.
Star
Maritime Acquisition Corp.
(a
corporation in the development stage)
Index
to Financial Statements
Financial
Statements
|
|
Page
|
|
Report
of independent registered public accounting firm
|
|
|
F-2
|
|
Balance
sheet
|
|
|
|
|
Income
statement
|
|
|
|
|
Statement
of stockholders’ equity
|
|
|
|
|
Statement
of cash flows
|
|
|
|
|
Notes
to financial statements
|
|
|
|
|
REPORT
OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To
the
Board of Directors
Star
Maritime Acquisition Corp.
We
have
audited the accompanying balance sheet of Star Maritime Acquisition
Corp. (a
corporation in the development stage) as of December 31, 2006 and
2005 and the
related statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the year
ended December 31, 2006 and for the periods from May 13, 2005 (inception)
to
December 31, 2005 and May 13, 2005 (inception) to December 31, 2006.
These
financial statements are the responsibility of the company’s management. Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements
based on
our audits.
We
conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public
Company
Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require
that we plan
and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether
the
financial statements are free of material misstatement. The audits
include
examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures
in
the financial statements. The audits also include assessing the accounting
principles used and significant estimates made by management, as
well as
evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe
that our
audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In
our
opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly,
in all
material respects, the financial position of Star Maritime Acquisition
Corp. as
of December 31, 2006 and 2005 and the results of its operations and
its cash
flows for the year ended December 31, 2006 and for the periods from
May 13, 2005
(inception) to December 31, 2005 and May 13, 2005 (inception) to
December 31,
2006 in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting
principles.
We
have
also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company
Accounting
Oversight Board (United States), the effectiveness of the Company’s internal
control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006, based on
criteria
established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), and our
report dated
March 10, 2007 expressed an unqualified opinion on management's assessment
of
the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial
reporting and
an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal
control
over financial reporting.
The
accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that
Star Maritime
Acquisition Corp. will continue as a going concern. As discussed
in Note 1 to
the financial statements, the Company may face a mandatory liquidation
by
December 21, 2007 if a business combination is not consummated, unless
certain
extension criteria are met, which raises substantial doubt its ability
to
continue as a going concern. The financial statements do not include
any
adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
GOLDSTEIN
GOLUB KESSLER LLP
New
York,
New York
March
10,
2007
Star
Maritime Acquisition Corp.
(a
development stage company)
|
|
December
31,
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
|
2006
|
|
2005
|
|
ASSETS
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
Assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
|
|
$
|
2,118,141
|
|
$
|
593,281
|
|
Investments
in trust account
|
|
|
192,915,257
|
|
|
188,858,542
|
|
Prepaid
expenses and other current assets
|
|
|
149,647
|
|
|
118,766
|
|
Total
Current Assets
|
|
|
195,183,045
|
|
|
189,570,589
|
|
Property
and Equipment, net
|
|
|
3,256
|
|
|
-
|
|
Deferred
tax asset
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
9,000
|
|
TOTAL
ASSETS
|
|
$
|
195,186,301
|
|
$
|
189,579,589
|
|
LIABILITIES
& STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts
payable & accrued expenses
|
|
$
|
603,520
|
|
$
|
344,638
|
|
Deferred
Interest on investments
|
|
|
2,163,057
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred
underwriting fees
|
|
|
4,000,000
|
|
|
4,000,000
|
|
Income
taxes payable
|
|
|
206,687
|
|
|
|
|
Total
Liabilities
|
|
|
6,973,264
|
|
|
4,344,638
|
|
Common
Stock, $.0001 par value, 6,599,999 shares subject to possible
redemption,
at redemption value of $9.80 per share
|
|
|
64,679,990
|
|
|
64,679,990
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commitments
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders'
Equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred
Stock, $.0001 par value; authorized, 1,000,000 shares; none issued
or
outstanding
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
Common
Stock, $.0001 par value, authorized, 100,000,000 shares; 29,026,924
shares
issued and outstanding.
|
|
|
2,903
|
|
|
2,903
|
|
(including
6,599,999 shares subject to possible redemption)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Additional
paid in capital
|
|
|
120,441,727
|
|
|
120,441,727
|
|
Earnings
accumulated in the development stage
|
|
|
3,088,417
|
|
|
110,331
|
|
Total
Stockholders' Equity
|
|
|
123,533,047
|
|
|
120,554,961
|
|
TOTAL
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
|
|
$
|
195,186,301
|
|
$
|
189,579,589
|
|
The
accompanying notes should be read in conjunction with the financial
statements.
Star
Maritime Acquisition Corp.
(a
development stage company)
Statement
of Income
|
|
For
the Year Ended
December
31, 2006
|
|
May
13, 2005 (date of inception) to December 31, 2005
|
|
May
13, 2005 (date of inception) to December 31, 2006
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
expenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Professional
fees
|
|
$
|
596,423
|
|
$
|
19,600
|
|
$
|
616,023
|
|
Insurance
|
|
|
112,242
|
|
|
4,234
|
|
|
116,476
|
|
Due
diligence costs
|
|
|
262,877
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
262,877
|
|
Other
|
|
|
239,558
|
|
|
26,377
|
|
|
265,935
|
|
Total
operating expenses
|
|
|
1,211,100
|
|
|
50,211
|
|
|
1,261,311
|
|
Interest
income
|
|
|
4,395,873
|
|
|
183,542
|
|
|
4,579,415
|
|
Income
before provision for income taxes
|
|
|
3,184,773
|
|
|
133,331
|
|
|
3,318,104
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Provision
for income taxes
|
|
|
206,687
|
|
|
23,000
|
|
|
229,687
|
|
Net
income
|
|
$
|
2,978,086
|
|
$
|
110,331
|
|
$
|
3,088,417
|
|
Earnings
per share (basic and diluted)
|
|
$
|
0.10
|
|
$
|
0.01
|
|
$
|
0.14
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted
average shares outstanding - basic and diluted
|
|
|
29,026,924
|
|
|
9,918,282
|
|
|
21,601,120
|
|
The
accompanying notes should be read in conjunction with the financial
statements.
Star
Maritime Acquisition Corp.
(a
development stage company)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
accumulated
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Additional
|
|
in
the
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
Common
Stock
|
|
paid-in
|
|
development
|
|
stockholders'
|
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
Amount
|
|
capital
|
|
stage
|
|
equity
|
|
May
13, 2005 (inception) to
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December
31, 2006
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock
Issuance on May 17, 2005 at $.003 per share
|
|
|
9,026,924
|
|
$
|
903
|
|
$
|
24,097
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
25,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Private
placement issued December 15, 2005 at $10 per share
|
|
|
1,132,500
|
|
|
113
|
|
|
11,324,887
|
|
|
|
|
|
11,325,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common
shares issued December 21, 2005 at $10 per share
|
|
|
18,867,500
|
|
|
1,887
|
|
|
188,673,113
|
|
|
|
|
|
188,675,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expenses
of offerings
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(14,900,380
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
(14,900,380
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds
subject to possible redemption of 6,599,999 shares
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(64,679,990
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
(64,679,990
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
income for the period May 13, 2005(inception) to December 31,
2005
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
110,331
|
|
|
110,331
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance,
December 31, 2005
|
|
|
29,026,924
|
|
$
|
2,903
|
|
$
|
120,441,727
|
|
$
|
110,331
|
|
$
|
120,554,961
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
Income for the year ended December 31, 2006
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
2,978,086
|
|
|
2,978,086
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance,
December 31, 2006
|
|
|
29,026,924
|
|
$
|
2,903
|
|
$
|
120,441,727
|
|
$
|
3,088,417
|
|
$
|
123,533,047
|
|
The
accompanying notes should be read in conjunction with the financial
statements.
Star
Maritime Acquisition Corp.
(a
development stage company)
|
|
For
the Year Ended December 31, 2006
|
|
May
13, 2005 (date of inception) to December 31, 2005
|
|
May
13, 2005 (date of inception) to December 31, 2006
|
|
Cash
flows from operating activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
Income
|
|
$
|
2,978,086
|
|
$
|
110,331
|
|
$
|
3,088,417
|
|
Adjustments
to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating
activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation
|
|
|
408
|
|
|
|
|
|
408
|
|
Changes
in operating assets and liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Increase
in value of trust account
|
|
|
(4,056,715
|
)
|
|
(183,542
|
)
|
|
(4,240,257
|
)
|
Increase
in prepaid expenses and other current assets
|
|
|
(30,881
|
)
|
|
(118,766
|
)
|
|
(149,647
|
)
|
Decrease
(increase) in deferred tax asset
|
|
|
9,000
|
|
|
(9,000
|
)
|
|
-
|
|
Increase
in accounts payable and accrued expenses
|
|
|
429,467
|
|
|
174,053
|
|
|
603,520
|
|
Increase
in deferred interest
|
|
|
2,163,057
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
2,163,057
|
|
Increase
in taxes payable
|
|
|
206,687
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
206,687
|
|
Net
cash provided by (used in) operating activities
|
|
|
1,699,109
|
|
|
(26,924
|
)
|
|
1,672,185
|
|
Cash
flows from investing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Payment
to trust account
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
(188,675,000
|
)
|
|
(188,675,000
|
)
|
Capital
expenditures
|
|
|
(3,664
|
)
|
|
-
|
|
|
(3,664
|
)
|
Net
cash used in investing activities
|
|
|
(3,664
|
)
|
|
(188,675,000
|
)
|
|
(188,678,664
|
)
|
Cash
flows from financing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross
proceeds from public offering
|
|
|
|
|
|
188,675,000
|
|
|
188,675,000
|
|
Gross
proceeds from private placement
|
|
|
|
|
|
11,325,000
|
|
|
11,325,000
|
|
Proceeds
of note payable to stockholder
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
590,000
|
|
|
590,000
|
|
Repayment
of note payable to stockholder
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
(590,000
|
)
|
|
(590,000
|
)
|
Proceeds
from sale of shares of common stock
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
Payment
of offering costs
|
|
|
(170,585
|
)
|
|
(10,729,795
|
)
|
|
(10,900,380
|
)
|
Net
cash provided by financing activities
|
|
|
(170,585
|
)
|
|
189,295,205
|
|
|
189,124,620
|
|
Net
cash increase for period
|
|
|
1,524,860
|
|
|
593,281
|
|
|
2,118,141
|
|
Cash
at beginning of period
|
|
|
593,281
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
Cash
at end of period
|
|
$
|
2,118,141
|
|
$
|
593,281
|
|
$
|
2,118,141
|
|
Supplemental
cash disclosure
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
paid
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
9,163
|
|
$
|
9,163
|
|
Supplemental
schedule of non-cash financing activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accrual
of deferred underwriting fees
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
4,000,000
|
|
$
|
4,000,000
|
|
Accrual
of offering costs
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
170,585
|
|
|
|
|
The
accompanying notes should be read in conjunction with the financial
statements.
(a
development stage company)
Notes
to the Financial Statements
December
31, 2006
1.
ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS OPERATIONS
Star
Maritime Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) was incorporated in Delaware on May
13, 2005. The Company was formed to serve as a vehicle for the acquisition
through a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, or other similar
business combination (“Business Combination”) with one or more businesses in the
shipping industry. The company has not acquired an entity as of December
31,
2006. The Company has selected December 31 as its fiscal year end. The Company
is considered to be in the development stage and is subject to the risks
associated with activities of development stage companies. Certain amounts
in
the December 31, 2005 financial statements have been reclassified to conform
to
the current year presentation.
On
December 13, 2006, the Company created a wholly-owned subsidiary, Star
Bulk
Carriers Corp. (“Star Bulk”) registered in the Marshall Islands. Star Bulk was
not funded within 2006, therefore, there is no related effect on the financial
statements.
The
registration statement for the Company’s initial public offering (the “Public
Offering”) was declared effective on December 15, 2005. The Company completed a
private placement (the “Private Placement”) on such date and received net
proceeds of $10,532,250. The Company consummated the Public Offering on December
21, 2005 and received net proceeds of $174,567,370. The Company’s management has
broad discretion with respect to the specific application of the net proceeds
of
the Private Placement and the Public Offering (collectively the “Offerings”) (as
described in Note 3), although substantially all of the net proceeds of the
Offerings are intended to be generally applied toward consummating a business
combination with a target company. As used herein, a “target business” shall
include an operating business in the international maritime industry and
a
“business combination” shall mean the acquisition by the Company of a target
business.
Of
the
proceeds of the Offerings, $188,675,000 is being held in a trust account
(“Trust
Account”) and invested until the earlier of (i) the consummation of the first
business combination or (ii) the distribution of the Trust Account as described
below. The amount in the Trust Account includes $3,773,500 of contingent
underwriting compensation and $226,500 of contingent private placement fees
(collectively, the “Discount”) which will be paid to the underwriters if a
business combination is consummated, but which will be forfeited in part
if
public stockholders elect to have their shares redeemed for cash if a business
combination is consummated. The remaining proceeds may be used to pay for
additional financing costs accrued but not yet paid, business, legal and
accounting due diligence on prospective acquisitions and continuing general
and
administrative expenses.
The
Company, after signing a definitive agreement for the acquisition of a target
business, will submit such transaction for stockholder approval. In the event
that public stockholders owning 33% or more of the outstanding stock sold
in the
Public Offering and Private Placement vote against the business combination
and
elect to have the Company redeem their shares for cash, the business combination
will not be consummated. All of the Company’s stockholders prior to the Public
Offering, including all of the officers and directors of the Company (“Initial
Stockholders”), have agreed to vote their 9,026,924 founding shares of common
stock in accordance with the vote of the majority in interest of all other
stockholders of the Company with respect to any business combination and
to vote
the shares they acquired in the Private Placement or in the aftermarket in
favor
of the business combination. After consummation of the Company’s first business
combination, all of these voting safeguards will no longer be
applicable.
With
respect to the first business combination which is approved and consummated,
any
holder of shares sold in the Public Offering, other than the Initial
Stockholders and their nominees (the “Public Stockholders”) who voted against
the business combination may demand that the Company redeem his or her shares.
The per share redemption price will equal $10.00 per share, which amount
represents $9.80 per share plus their pro rata share of any accrued interest
earned on the trust account (net of taxes payable) not previously distributed
to
us and $0.20 per share plus interest thereon (net of taxes payable) of
contingent underwriting compensation which the underwriters have agreed to
forfeit to pay redeeming stockholders. Accordingly, Public Stockholders holding
32.99% of the aggregate number of shares sold in the Proposed Offerings may
seek
redemption of their shares in the event of a business combination.
The
accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that Star Maritime
Acquisition Corp. will continue as a going concern. The Company’s Certificate of
Incorporation provides for mandatory liquidation of the Company by December
21,
2007, without stockholder approval, in the event that the Company does not
consummate a business combination within 18 months from the date of consummation
of the Public Offering, or 24 months from the consummation of the Public
Offering if certain extension criteria have been satisfied. The Initial
Stockholders have agreed to waive their rights to participate in any liquidation
distribution occurring upon its failure to consummate a business combination
with respect to those shares of common stock acquired by them prior to the
Public Offering and with respect to the shares included in the 1,132,500
units
purchased in the private placement. In addition, the underwriters have agreed
to
waive their rights to the $3,773,500 of contingent compensation and $226,500
of
placement fees deposited in the trust account for their benefit. Accordingly,
in
the event of liquidation, the public stockholders will receive $10.00 per
unit
plus interest (net of taxes payable and that portion of the earned interest
previously released to the Company). The Company will pay the costs of
liquidation and dissolution from remaining assets outside of the trust account.
The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result
from
the outcome of this uncertainty.
2.
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Use
of estimates
The
preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to
make
estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and
liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts
of
expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those
estimates.
Concentration
of Credit Risk
Financial
instruments that potentially subject the Company to credit risk consist of
cash
equivalents and short-term investments. The Company’s policy is to place
investments with financial institutions evaluated as being creditworthy,
or in
short-term money market funds which are exposed to minimal interest rate
and
credit risk.
Cash
and cash equivalents
The
Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities
of
three months or less to be cash equivalents.
The
company maintains cash in bank deposit accounts which, at times, exceed
federally insured limits. The company has not experienced any losses on these
accounts.
Deferred
Interest
A
portion
(32.99%) of the interest earned on the Trust Account has been deferred on
the
balance sheet as it represents interest attributable to the common stock
subject
to possible redemption (See Note 1).
Income
taxes
Deferred
income taxes are provided for the differences between the bases of assets
and
liabilities for financial reporting and income tax purposes. A valuation
allowance is established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to
the
amount expected to be realized.
Property
and Equipment
Property
and equipment, which is principally computer equipment, is recorded at cost
and
is depreciated using the straight-line method over its useful life.
Stock
Based Compensation
In
December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued statement
of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004) (“SFAS 123 (R)”), “Share
Based Project.” SFAS 123 (R) required all share-based payments to employees,
including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized in the financial
statements based on their fair values. The Company adopted SFAS 123(R) effective
January 1, 2006. The adoption of this standard has no effect on the financial
statements as of December 31, 2006.
Earnings
per common share
Basic
earnings per share are computed by dividing the net income by the weighted
average common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per
share
reflects the additional dilution for all potentially dilutive securities
such as
stock warrants and options. The effect of the 20,000,000 outstanding warrants,
issued in connection with the initial public offering and the private placement
described in Note 3 has not been considered in the diluted earnings per share
since the warrants are contingently exercisable.
Recently
issued accounting pronouncements
In
June
2006, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in
Income Taxes-an Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109” (“FIN 48”). FIN 48
clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in a
company’s financial statements in accordance with SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for
Income Taxes.” FIN 48 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement
attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of the
tax
position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. FIN 48 is effective
for
fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006.
Management
does not believe that any other recently issued, but not yet effective,
accounting standards if currently adopted would have a material effect on
the
accompanying financial statements.
3.
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Public
Offering
On
December 21, 2005, the Company sold 18,867,500 units to the public at a price
of
$10.00 per unit. Each unit consists of one share of the Company’s common stock,
$.0001 par value, and one redeemable common stock purchase warrant (“warrant”).
Each warrant entitles the holder to purchase from the Company one share of
common stock at an exercise price of $8.00 commencing the later of the
completion of a business combination with a target business or December 15,
2005
and expiring December 15, 2009. The warrants are redeemable at a price of
$.01
per warrant upon 30 days notice after the warrants become exercisable, only
in
the event that the last sale price of the common stock is at least $14.25
per
share for any 20 trading days within 30 trading day period ending on the
third
day prior to date on which notice of redemption is given.
Private
Placement
On
December 15, 2005, the Company sold to certain of its officers and directors
an
aggregate of 1,132,500 units identical to the units sold in the Public Offering
at a price of $10.00 per unit.
Common
Stock Reserved For Issuance
At
December 31, 2006 20,000,000 shares of common stock were reserved for issuance
upon exercise of redeemable warrants.
Preferred
Stock
The
Company is authorized to issue 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock with such
designations, voting, and other rights and preferences, as maybe determined
from
time to time by the Board of Directors.
4.
- INCOME TAXES
The
provision for income taxes consists of the following:
|
|
For
the period ended
|
|
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
|
2006
|
|
2005
|
|
Current-Federal
|
|
$
|
206,687
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
Current-State
and Local
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
32,000
|
|
Deferred-Federal
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
Deferred-State
and Local
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
(9,000
|
)
|
Total
|
|
$
|
206,687
|
|
$
|
23,000
|
|
The
total
provision for income taxes differs from the amount which would be computed
by
applying the U.S. Federal income tax rate to income before provision for
income
taxes as follows:
|
|
For
the period ended
|
|
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
|
2006
|
|
2005
|
|
Statutory
federal income tax rate
|
|
|
34
|
%
|
|
34
|
%
|
State
and local income taxes
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
17
|
%
|
Valuation
allowance
|
|
|
14
|
%
|
|
—
|
|
Interest
income not taxable for federal tax purposes
|
|
|
(41
|
%)
|
|
|
%)
|
Effective
tax rate
|
|
|
7
|
%
|
|
17
|
%
|
The
tax
effect of temporary differences that give rise to the net deferred tax asset
is
as follows:
|
|
For
the period ended
December
31,
|
|
|
|
2006
|
|
2005
|
|
Expenses
deferred for income taxes
|
|
$
|
447,712
|
|
$
|
9,000
|
|
Valuation
allowance
|
|
|
(447,712
|
)
|
|
-
|
|
Total
deferred tax asset
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
$
|
9,000
|
|
5.
COMMITMENTS
On
December 19, 2006, the Company entered into a Sublease and Administrative
Services Agreement with Blue Diamond Realty, LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company ("Blue Diamond"). Effective as of December 1, 2006, Blue Diamond
agreed
to sublet offices to the Company located at 103 Foulk Road, Wilmington, Delaware
and provide the Company with such office space and equipment, including a
conference room, as well as administrative support necessary for the Company's
business. The Agreement is for a one-year term effective December 1, 2006
through December 31, 2007, with an automatic renewal each year for an additional
one year period, unless either party gives the other party at least 90 days
written notice of its intent to terminate the Agreement. The Company shall
pay
Blue Diamond annual base rent and administrative services fees in the aggregate
of $4,000 payable on January 1 each year.
On
October 4, 2006, Star Maritime entered into an agreement with Bongard
Shipbrokers S.A., or Bongard, for purposes of engaging Bongard in connection
with sourcing, developing contacts and making referrals for potential target
businesses and providing evaluations of such potential target businesses.
In
exchange for such services, Star Maritime is obligated to pay a contingent
fee
of $800,000 within thirty days of the closing of a business combination
transaction. In the event that Star Maritime does not consummate a business
combination transaction, no fees are payable to Bongard pursuant to the
agreement.
On
December 20, 2006, Star Maritime entered into an agreement with Cantor
Fitzgerald & Co., or CF&Co., for purposes of engaging CF&Co. as
financial advisor in connection with a possible business combination
transaction. Pursuant to the agreement, CF & Co. was engaged to provide such
services as creating financial models, advising on the structure of a possible
transaction with a target business, negotiating agreements on behalf of
and in
conjunction with management and assisting management with the preparation
of
marketing and roadshow materials. In exchange for such services, Star Maritime
is obligated to pay a contingent fee of $1,250,000, plus expenses of up
to
$60,000, within thirty days of the closing of a business combination transaction
if such transaction is consummated by December 31, 2007.
On
December 22, 2006, Star Maritime entered into an agreement with Maxim Group
LLC,
or Maxim, for purposes of engaging Maxim as co-lead financial advisor in
connection with a possible business combination transaction. Pursuant to
the
agreement, Maxim was engaged to provide such services as creating financial
models, advising on the structure of a possible transaction with a target
business and assisting in the preparation of terms sheets or letters of
intent.
In exchange for such services, Star Maritime is obligated to pay a contingent
fee of $800,000 for any business combination transaction consummated during
the
term of the agreement (or within six months of the termination date). The
agreement terminates on October 31, 2007, unless terminated earlier by
either
Star Maritime or Maxim upon thirty days’ written notice, or extended by mutual
agreement.
The
Initial Stockholders have agreed to surrender up to an aggregate of 200,000
of
their shares of common stock to the Company for cancellation upon consummation
of a business combination in the event public stockholders exercise their
right
to have the Company redeem their shares for cash. The number of shares that
the
Initial Stockholders will surrender will be determined by calculating the
dollar
amount of the Trust Account (exclusive of interest) paid to redeeming
stockholders above the amount attributable to such stockholders ($9.23 per
share) and the Discount ($.20 per share) and dividing it by $10.00 (the value
attributed to the shares for purposes of this calculation). Accordingly,
for
each 1,000 shares redeemed up to 3,508,772 shares, the Initial Stockholders
will
surrender 57 shares for cancellation.
The
Company has engaged the representative of the underwriters, on a non-exclusive
basis, as its agent for the solicitation of the exercise of the warrants.
To the
extent not inconsistent with the guidelines of the NASD and the rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Company has agreed
to
pay the representative for bona fide services rendered a commission equal
to 5%
of the exercise price for each warrant exercised more than one year after
the
date of the prospectus if the exercise was solicited by the underwriters.
In
addition to soliciting, either orally or in writing, the exercise of the
warrants, the representative’s services may also include disseminating
information, either orally or in writing, to warrant holders about the Company
or the market for the Company’s securities, and assisting in the processing of
the exercise of the warrants. No compensation will be paid to the representative
upon the exercise of the warrants if:
|
·
|
the
market price of the underlying shares of common stock is lower
than the
exercise price;
|
|
·
|
the
holder of the warrants has not confirmed in writing that the
representative solicited the
exercise;
|
|
·
|
the
warrants are held in a discretionary
account;
|
|
·
|
the
warrants are exercised in an unsolicited transaction;
or
|
|
·
|
the
arrangements to pay the commission are not disclosed in the prospectus
provided to warrant holders at the time of
exercise.
|
6.
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS (UNAUDITED)
On
January 12, 2007, the Company, through its newly-formed, wholly-owned subsidiary
Star Bulk Carriers Corp., a Marshall Islands company ("Star Bulk"), agreed
to
purchase eight drybulk carriers (the "Vessels") from certain wholly-owned
subsidiary affiliates of TMT Co., Ltd., a Taiwan corporation (TMT Co., Ltd.
and
such subsidiary affiliates, collectively, "TMT").The aggregate purchase price
for the Vessels is $345.2 million (the "Purchase Price"), consisting of $120.7
million payable in 12,537,645 shares of common stock, par value $0.01, of
Star
Bulk (the "Stock Consideration") and $224.5 million in cash (the "Cash
Consideration").
On
February 7, 2007, Star Bulk formed the following wholly-owned subsidiaries
registered in the Marshall Islands. The share capital of each of the
subsidiaries consists of 500 authorized and issued shares without par value:
Star
Alpha Inc.
Star
Beta
Inc.
Star
Gamma Inc.
Star
Epsilon Inc.
Star
Iota
Inc.
Star
Theta Inc.
Star
Zeta
Inc.
Star
Bulk
Management Inc.
Star
Gamma Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Star Bulk, entered into a time charter
agreement dated, February 23, 2007, with TMT for the C
Duckling (to
be
renamed the Star
Gamma).
The
charter rate for the Star
Gamma
will be
$28,500 per day for a term of one year. Star Iota Inc., a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Star Bulk, entered into a time charter agreement, dated February
26, 2007, with TMT for the Mommy
Duckling
(to be
renamed the Star
Iota).
The
charter rate for the Star
Iota
will be
$18,000 per day for a term of one year. Each charter will commence as of
the
date the vessel is delivered to the purchaser. Pursuant to the Supplemental
Agreement, these time charters will be null and void if the Redomiciliation
Merger is not consummated.
None
(a) Evaluation
of Disclosure Controls and Procedures. An
evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as
of
December 31, 2006 was made under the supervision and with the participation
of
our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial
officer. Based on that evaluation, they concluded that our disclosure controls
and procedures are effective as of the end of the period covered by this report
to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we
file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed,
summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and
Exchange Commission rules and forms.
(b)
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.
Pursuant
to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and the implementing rules
of
the Securities and Exchange Commission, our management assessed the
effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of
December 31, 2006. Our
management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal
control over financial reporting for the company. Internal control over
financial reporting is a process to provide reasonable assurance regarding
the
reliability of our financial reporting for external purposes in accordance
with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Internal control over financial reporting includes maintaining records that
in
reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect our transactions; providing
reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary for preparation
of our financial statements; providing reasonable assurance that receipts and
expenditures of company assets are made in accordance with management
authorization; and providing reasonable assurance that unauthorized acquisition,
use or disposition of company assets that could have a material effect on our
financial statements would be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Because
of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting is not
intended to provide absolute assurance that a misstatement of our financial
statements would be prevented or detected.
Management
conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over
financial reporting based on the framework in Internal
Control - Integrated Framework
issued
by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
Based
on this evaluation, management concluded that the company’s internal control
over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2006.
The
Company’s management assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control
over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006 has been audited by
Goldstein Golub Kessler LLP, our independent registered public accounting
firm. Their report appears below.
Report
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The
Board
of Directors
Star
Maritime Acquisition Corp.
We
have
audited management’s assessment, included in the accompanying Management’s
Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting, that Star Maritime
Acquisition Corp. (a development stage company) maintained effective internal
control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006, based on criteria
established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Star Maritime
Acquisition Corp. management is responsible for maintaining effective internal
control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness
of
internal control over financial reporting. Our responsibility is to express
an
opinion on management’s assessment and an opinion on the effectiveness of the
company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our
audit.
We
conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that
we plan
and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective
internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material
respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control
over
financial reporting, evaluating management’s assessment, testing and evaluating
the design and operating effectiveness of internal control, and performing
such
other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe
that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
A
company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to
provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting
and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over
financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain
to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and
fairly
reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2)
provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary
to
permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company
are
being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors
of
the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or
timely
detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s
assets that could have a material effect on the financial
statements.
Because
of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may
not
prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of
effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may
become
inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance
with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In
our
opinion, management’s assessment that Star Maritime Acquisition Corp. maintained
effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006,
is
fairly stated, in all material respects, based on criteria established in
Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring
Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Also, in our opinion, Star
Maritime Acquisition Corp. maintained, in all material respects, effective
internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006, based
on
criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the
Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission
(COSO).
We
have
also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated financial statements of
Star
Maritime Acquisition Corp. and our report dated March 10, 2007 expressed
an
unqualified opinion on those financial statements.
GOLDSTEIN
GOLUB KESSLER LLP
New
York,
New York
March
10,
2007
(c)
Changes
in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. During
the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K, there has been no
significant change in our internal control over financial reporting that has
materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal
control over financial reporting.
None
Our
current directors and executive officers are as follows:
Name
|
|
Age
|
|
Position
|
Prokopios
(Akis) Tsirigakis
|
|
52
|
|
Chairman
of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President
|
George
Syllantavos
|
|
43
|
|
Chief
Financial Officer, Secretary and Director
|
Christo
Anagnostou
|
|
59
|
|
Vice
President of Operations
|
Niko
Nikiforos
|
|
43
|
|
Vice
President of Business Development
|
Petros
Pappas
|
|
54
|
|
Director
|
Koert
Erhardt
|
|
51
|
|
Director
|
Tom
Søfteland
|
|
47
|
|
Director
|
Prokopios
(Akis) Tsirigakis
has been
our Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President since
inception. Mr. Tsirigakis is experienced in ship management, ship ownership
and
overseeing new shipbuilding projects. Since November 2003, he has been the
Joint
Managing Director of Oceanbulk Maritime S.A., a dry cargo shipping company
that
has operated and managed as much as 1.6 million tons of deadweight vessels
and
which is part of the Oceanbulk Group of affiliated companies involved in the
service sectors of the shipping industry. Since November 1998, Mr. Tsirigakis
has been the Managing Director of Combine Marine Inc., a company which he
founded that provides ship management services to third parties and which is
part of the Oceanbulk Group. From 1991 to 1998, Mr. Tsirigakis was the
Vice-President and Technical Director of Konkar Shipping Agencies S.A. of
Athens, after having served as Konkar’s Technical Director from 1984 to 1991,
which at the time managed 16 dry bulk carriers, multi-purpose vessels and
tanker/combination carriers. From 1982 to 1984, Mr. Tsirigakis was the Technical
Manager of Konkar’s affiliate, Arkon Shipping Agencies Inc. of New York, a part
of the Archirodon Construction Group. He is a member of the Technical Committee
(CASTEC) of Intercargo, the International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners,
and of the Technical Committees of Classification Societies. Mr. Tsirigakis
received his Masters and B.Sc. in Naval Architecture from The University of
Michigan, Ann Arbor and has three years of seagoing experience. Since its
initial public offering in February 2005, Mr. Tsirigakis has served on the
board
of directors of Dryships Inc., a company listed on the NASDAQ National Market
(NNM: DRYS) which provides international seaborne transportation services
carrying various dry-bulk cargoes.
George
Syllantavos has
been
our Chief Financial Officer and a member of our board of directors since
inception and our Secretary since December 2005. Since May 1999, he has been
President and General Manager of Vortex Ltd., an aviation consulting firm
specializing in strategic and fleet planning. From January 1998 to April 1999,
he served as a financial advisor to Hellenic Telecommunications Organization
S.A., where, on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer, he coordinated and led
the company’s listing on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:OTE) and where he had
responsibilities for the strategic planning and implementation of multiple
acquisitions of fixed-line telecommunications companies, including RomTelecom.
Mr. Syllantavos served as a financial and strategic advisor to both the Greek
Ministry of Industry & Energy (from June 1995 to May 1996) and the Greek
Ministry of Health (from May 1996 to January 1998), where, in 1997 and 1998,
he
helped structure the equivalent of a US$700 million bond issuance for the
payment of outstanding debts to supplier of the Greek National Health System.
From 1998 to 2004, he served as a member of the Investment Committee of Rand
Brothers & Co., a small U.S. merchant banking firm, where he reviewed and
analyzed more than 35 acquisition targets of small or medium sized
privately-held manufacturing firms in the U.S. and internationally, of which
he
negotiated, structured and directed the acquisition of three such firms with
transactions ranging in size from $7 million to $11 million. Mr. Syllantavos
has
a B.Sc. in Industrial Engineering from Roosevelt University and an MBA in
Operations Management, International Finance and Transportation Management
from
Northwestern University (Kellogg).
Christo
Anagnostou has
been
our Vice President of Operations since inception. Since May 2005, he has been
the General Manager of Combine Marine Inc., and since November 1999, he has
been
the General and Marine Operations Manager of Oceanbulk Maritime S.A., each
of
which are part of the Oceanbulk Group. In his capacities at Combine Marine
Inc.
and Oceanbulk Maritime S.A., he has been responsible for vessel acquisition
and
disposition transactions and the daily operational management of up to 32
vessels. From 1992 to October 1999, he served as the Operations Manager for
Cardiff Marine Inc., a shipping management company which at the time had a
fleet
of over 35 oceangoing dry-bulk, tanker, reefer and container vessels., From
1981
to 1991, Mr. Anagnostou was the Operations Manager for Hydroussa Shipping Co,
Ltd., and from 1974 to 1977, he was a Ship Operator for N.J. Goulandris (London)
Ltd., both of which are ship management companies based in London, England.
He
is a Supporting Member of the London Maritime Arbitrators Association. Mr.
Anagnostou received his B.Sc. in Economics from Athens Graduate University
of
Economics and Business Science and did his post graduate studies in Shipping
Management at the London School of Foreign Trade, Morley College - London.
Niko
Nikiforos
has been
our Vice President of Business Development since inception. Since September
1997, he has been the Managing Director of Oceanbulk Shipping and Trading S.A.,
which provides ocean transportation solutions for international commodity
companies and which, since December 2002, operates a regular liner service
between the United States and South America. Since 1997, he has also been the
Managing Director of Interchart Shipping Inc., which specializes in chartering
dry cargo ships and serves as the exclusive chartering broker for the Oceanbulk
Group. Since 1997, he has been the Commercial Director of Oceanbulk Maritime
S.A. From 1995 to 1997, he served as a Shipbroker for Link Maritime Enterprises
S.A., a ship brokering company. Mr. Nikiforos received his Diploma in Shipping
from the London School of Foreign Trade.
Petros
Pappas
has been
a member of the board of directors since inception. Throughout his career as
a
principal and manager in the shipping industry, Mr. Pappas has been involved
in
over 120 vessel acquisitions and disposals. In 1989, he founded Oceanbulk
Maritime S.A., a dry cargo shipping company that has operated managed vessels
aggregating as much as 1.6 million deadweight tons of cargo capacity. He
also founded the Oceanbulk Group of affiliated companies, which are involved
in
the service sectors of the shipping industry. The Oceanbulk Group is comprised
of Oceanbulk Maritime S.A., Interchart Shipping Inc., Oceanbulk Shipping and
Trading S.A., Interchart Shipping Inc., Oceanbulk Shipping and Trading S.A.,
Oceanbulk S & P, Combine Marine Inc., More Maritime Agencies Inc., and
Sentinel Marine Services Inc. Additionally, Mr. Pappas ranked among the top
25
Greek ship owners (by number of ocean going vessels) as evaluated by the U.S.
Department of Commerce’s 2004 report on the Greek shipping industry. Mr. Pappas
has been a Director of the UK Defense Club, a leading insurance provider of
legal defense services in the shipping industry worldwide, since January 2002,
and is a member of the Union of Greek Shipowners (UGS). Mr. Pappas received
his
B.A. in Economics and his MBA from The University of Michigan, Ann
Arbor.
Koert
Erhardt
has been
a member of the board of directors since inception. From September 2004 to
December 2004, he served as the Chief Executive Officer and a member of the
board of directors of CC Maritime S.A.M., an affiliate of the Coeclerici Group,
an international conglomerate whose businesses include shipping and transoceanic
transportation of dry bulk materials. From 1998 to September 2004, he served
as
General Manager of Coeclerici Armatori S.p.A. and Coeclerici Logistics S.p.A.,
affiliates of the Coeclerici Group, where he created a shipping pool that
commercially managed over 130 vessels with a carrying volume of 72 million
tons
and developed the use of Freight Forward Agreement trading as a hedging
mechanism to the pool’s exposure and positions. From 1994 to 1998, he served as
the General Manager of Bulkitalia, a prominent shipping concern which at the
time owned and operated over 40 vessels. From 1990 to 1994, Mr. Erhardt served
in various positions with Bulk Italia. From 1988 to 1990, he was the Managing
Director and Chief Operating Officer of Nedlloyd Dry Bulk, the dry bulk arm
of
the Nedlloyd Group, an international conglomerate whose interests include
container ship liner services, tankers, oil drilling rigs, pipe laying vessels
and ship brokering.. Mr. Erhardt received his Diploma in Maritime Economics
and
Logistics from Hogere Havenen Vervoersschool (now Erasmus University),
Rotterdam, and received his MBA International Executive Program at INSEAD,
Fontainebleau, France. Mr. Erhardt has also studied at the London School of
Foreign Trade.
Tom
Søfteland
has been
a member of the board of directors since inception. Since October 1996, he
has
been the Chief Executive Officer of Capital Partners A.S. of Bergen, Norway,
a
financial services firm that he founded and which specializes in shipping and
asset finance. From 1990 to October 1996, he held various positions at Industry
& Skips Banken, ASA, a bank specializing in shipping, most recently as its
Deputy Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Søfteland received his B.Sc. in Economics
from the Norwegian School of Business and Administration (NHH).
Corporate
Governance
Board
of Directors
Our
board
of directors is divided into three classes with only one class of directors
being elected in each year and each class serving a three-year term. Petros
Pappas was re-elected to serve as a Class I director for a period of three
years
at our first annual meeting of stockholders, which was held on February 26,
2007. The term of office of the second class of directors, consisting of Koert
Erhardt and Tom Søfteland, will expire at the second annual meeting. The term of
office of the third class of directors, consisting of Akis Tsirigakis and George
Syllantavos, will expire at the third annual meeting.
Board
committees
The
Board
of Directors has a Nominating Committee and an Audit Committee. The Board of
Directors has not established a Compensation Committee. In accordance with
The
American Stock Exchange procedures, a majority of the independent directors
of
the Board will determine the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer.
Nominating
Committee
The
purpose of the Nominating Committee is to assist the Board of Directors in
identifying qualified individuals to become board members, in determining the
composition of the Board of Directors and in monitoring the process to assess
Board effectiveness. There have been no changes to the procedures by which
the
stockholders of the Company may recommend nominees to the Board of Directors.
Audit
Committee
The
Company has a separately designated standing audit committee in accordance
with
Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The
Board of Directors has determined that we have at least one audit committee
financial expert, as defined in the Exchange Act, serving on our audit
committee. Mr. Tom Søfteland is the “audit
committee financial expert”
and
is
an independent member of the Board of Directors, as defined under Section 121(B)
(as currently applicable to the Company) of the listing standards of the
American Stock Exchange and as determined by the Board of
Directors.
Code
of Ethics
We
adopted a code of ethics that applies to our Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Financial Officer, and other persons who perform similar functions. A written
copy of the Code will be provided upon request at no charge by writing to our
Chief Financial Officer, 103 Foulk Road, Wilmington, Delaware 19803. Our Code
of
Ethics is intended to be a codification of the business and ethical principles
which guide us, and to deter wrongdoing, to promote honest and ethical conduct,
to avoid conflicts of interest, and to foster full, fair, accurate, timely
and
understandable disclosures, compliance with applicable governmental laws, rules
and regulations, the prompt internal reporting of violations and accountability
for adherence to this
Code.
Section
16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act requires our directors, executive officers
and persons who own more than 10% of our common stock to file reports of
ownership and changes in ownership of our common stock with the Securities
and
Exchange Commission. Directors, executive officers and persons who own more
than
10% of our common stock are required by Securities and Exchange Commission
regulations to furnish to us copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. To
our
knowledge, based solely upon review of the copies of such reports received
or
written representations from the reporting persons, we believe that during
the
year ended December 31, 2006, our directors, executive officers and persons
who
own more than 10% of our common stock complied with all Section 16(a) filing
requirements.
Item
11. Executive Compensation
No
executive officer has received any cash compensation for services rendered
and
no compensation of any kind, including finder’s and consulting fees, will be
paid to any of our officers and directors, or any of their respective
affiliates, for services rendered prior to or in connection with a business
combination. However, these individuals will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket
expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as
identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable
business combinations. Such individuals may be paid consulting, management
or
other fees from target businesses as a result of the business combination,
with
any and all amounts being fully disclosed to stockholders, to the extent then
known, in the proxy solicitation materials furnished to the stockholders. There
is no limit on the amount of these out-of-pocket expenses and there will be
no
review of the reasonableness of the expenses by anyone other than our board
of
directors, which includes persons who may seek reimbursement, or a court of
competent jurisdiction if such reimbursement is challenged. Because none of
our
directors may be deemed “independent,” we will generally not have the benefit of
independent directors examining the propriety of expenses incurred on our behalf
and subject to reimbursement.
Item
12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related
Stockholder Matters
The
following table sets forth, as of February 23, 2007, certain information
regarding beneficial ownership of our common stock by each person who is known
by us to beneficially own more than 5% of our common stock. The table also
identifies the stock ownership of each of our directors, each of our officers,
and all directors and officers as a group. Except as otherwise indicated, the
stockholders listed in the table have sole voting and investment powers with
respect to the shares indicated.
Shares
of
common stock which an individual or group has a right to acquire within 60
days
pursuant to the exercise or conversion of options, warrants or other similar
convertible or derivative securities are deemed to be outstanding for the
purpose of computing the percentage ownership of such individual or group,
but
are not deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage
ownership of any other person shown in the table.
|
|
Amount
and
Nature
of
Beneficial
Ownership(2)(3)
|
|
Approximate
Percentage
of
Outstanding
Common
Stock
|
|
Prokopios
(Akis) Tsirigakis
|
|
|
4,007,392
|
|
|
12.6
|
%
|
George
Syllantavos
|
|
|
1,486,539
|
|
|
4.66
|
%
|
Christo
Anagnostou
|
|
|
116,108
|
|
|
*
|
|
Niko
Nikiforos
|
|
|
116,108
|
|
|
*
|
|
Petros
Pappas
|
|
|
3,947,873
|
|
|
11.53
|
%
|
Koert
Erhardt
|
|
|
340,269
|
|
|
*
|
|
Tom
Søfteland
|
|
|
145,135
|
|
|
*
|
|
Sapling,
LLC (4)
|
|
|
2,112,630
|
|
|
7.3
|
%
|
Fir
Tree Recovery Master Fund L.P. (4)
|
|
|
736,970
|
|
|
2.5
|
%
|
Fir
Tree, Inc. (4)
|
|
|
2,849,600
|
|
|
9.8
|
%
|
The
Baupost Group, L.L.C (5)
|
|
|
2,845,200
|
|
|
9.8
|
%
|
Acqua
Wellington North American Equities, Ltd. (6)
|
|
|
1,550,400
|
|
|
5.34
|
%
|
Satellite
Fund II, LP (7)
|
|
|
521,840
|
|
|
*
|
|
Satellite
Fund IV, LP (7)
|
|
|
98,240
|
|
|
*
|
|
Satellite
Overseas Fund, Ltd. (7)
|
|
|
1,234,087
|
|
|
4.25
|
%
|
The
Apogee Fund, Ltd. (7)
|
|
|
233,410
|
|
|
*
|
|
Satellite
Overseas Fund V, Ltd. (7)
|
|
|
112,890
|
|
|
*
|
|
Satellite
Overseas Fund VI, Ltd. (7)
|
|
|
49,110
|
|
|
*
|
|
Satellite
Overseas Fund VII, Ltd. (7)
|
|
|
38,960
|
|
|
*
|
|
Satellite
Overseas Fund VIII, Ltd. (7)
|
|
|
64,040
|
|
|
*
|
|
Satellite
Overseas Fund IX, Ltd. (7)
|
|
|
108,210
|
|
|
*
|
|
Satellite
Strategic Finance Partners, Ltd. (7)
|
|
|
501,000
|
|
|
1.73
|
%
|
Satellite
Asset Management, L.P. (7)
|
|
|
2,961,787
|
|
|
10.20
|
%
|
Satellite
Fund Management LLC (7)
|
|
|
2,961,787
|
|
|
10.20
|
%
|
Satellite
Advisors, LLC (7)
|
|
|
620,080
|
|
|
2.14
|
%
|
All
directors and executive officers as a group (7
individuals)
|
|
|
10,159,424
|
|
|
35.00
|
%
|
*
less
than one (1%) percent.
(1)
Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each of the individuals
is
c/o 103 Foulk Road, Wilmington, DE 19803.
(2)
Our
officers and directors have agreed to surrender to us for cancellation up to
an
aggregate of 200,000 shares in the event, and to the extent, stockholders
exercise their right to redeem their shares for cash upon a business
combination. The share amounts do not reflect any surrender of
shares.
(3)
Does
not include shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants that
are
not exercisable in the next 60 days.
(4)
Derived from a joint filing of a Schedule 13G/A on February 14, 2007, filed
by
Sapling, LLC, Fir Tree Recovery Master Fund L.P. and Fir Tree, Inc. Fir Tree,
Inc. is the investment manager of both Sapling and Fir Tree
Recovery.
(5)
Derived from a Schedule 13G filed on February 13, 2007, filed by Baupost Group,
L.L.C. ("Baupost"), SAK Corporation and Seth A. Klarman. The Baupost is a
registered investment adviser. SAK Corporation is the Manager of Baupost. Seth
A. Klarman, as the sole Director of SAK Corporation and a controlling person
of
Baupost, may be deemed to have beneficial ownership under Section 13(d) of
the
securities beneficially owned by Baupost. Securities beneficially owned by
Baupost include securities purchased on behalf of various investment limited
partnerships.
(6)
Derived from a Schedule 13G Filed on February 1, 2007.
(7)
Derived from a joint filing of a Schedule 13G/A on October 2, 2006, by Satellite
I, Satellite II, Satellite IV (collectively, the "Delaware Funds") over which
Satellite Advisors has discretionary trading authority, as general partner,
and
(ii) Satellite Overseas, Apogee, Satellite Overseas V, Satellite Overseas VI,
Satellite Overseas VII, Satellite Overseas VIII, Satellite Overseas IX and
SSFP
(collectively, the "Offshore Funds" and together with the Delaware Funds, the
"Satellite Funds") over which Satellite Asset Management has discretionary
investment trading authority. The general partner of Satellite Asset Management
is Satellite Fund Management. Satellite Fund Management and Satellite Advisors
each share the same four members that make investment decisions on behalf of
the
Satellite Funds.
Equity
Compensation Plan
None.
Item
13. Certain Relationships, Related Transactions and Director
Independence
There
were no transactions, or currently proposed transactions in an amount exceeding
$120,000, since the beginning of the Company’s last fiscal year in which the
Company was or is to be a participant and in which any related person had or
will have a direct or indirect material interest.
We
will
reimburse our officers and directors for any reasonable out-of-pocket business
expenses incurred by them in connection with certain activities on our behalf
such as identifying and investigating possible target businesses and business
combinations. There is no limit on the amount of accountable out-of-pocket
expenses reimbursable by us, which will be reviewed only by our board or a
court
of competent jurisdiction if such reimbursement is challenged.
All
ongoing and future transactions between us and any of our officers and directors
or their respective affiliates, including loans by our officers and directors,
will be on terms believed by us to be no less favorable than are available
from
unaffiliated third parties and such transactions or loans, including any
forgiveness of loans, will require prior approval in each instance by a majority
of our uninterested “independent” directors (to the extent we have any) or the
members of our board who do not have an interest in the transaction, in either
case, who had access, at our expense, to our attorneys or independent legal
counsel.
Our
board
of directors has determined that Mr. Erhardt, Mr. Søfteland and Mr. Pappas are
considered “independent”
under
Section 121(B) (as currently applicable to the Company) of the listing standards
of The American Stock Exchange.
The
firm
of Goldstein Golub Kessler LLP (‘‘GGK’’) acts as our principal accountant.
Through September 30, 2005, GGK had a continuing relationship with American
Express Tax and Business Services Inc. (TBS), from which it leased auditing
staff who were full time, permanent employees of TBS and through which its
partners provide non-audit services. Subsequent to September 30, 2005, this
relationship ceased and the firm established a similar relationship with RSM
McGladrey, Inc. (RSM). GGK has no full time employees and therefore, none of
the
audit services performed were provided by permanent full-time employees of
GGK.
GGK manages and supervises the audit and audit staff, and is exclusively
responsible for the opinion rendered in connection with its examination. The
following is a summary of fees paid or to be paid to GGK, TBS and RSM for
services rendered.
Audit
Fees
The
aggregate fees billed by Goldstein Golub Kessler LLP for professional services
rendered for the audit of our annual financial statements for the fiscal
years
ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 and for services performed in connection
with
the Company's Form S-1 Registration Statement filed in 2005 and in connection
with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December
31, 2005, and the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for its fiscal
quarter ended March 31, 2006, June 30, 2006 and September 30, 2006, each
of
which were filed in 2006, were approximately $53,000 and $59,238, respectively.
Audit
Related Fees
Other
than the fees described under the caption "Audit Fees" above, Goldstein Golub
Kessler LLP did not bill any fees for services rendered to us during fiscal
years ended December 2006 and 2005 for assurance and related services in
connection with the audit or review of our financial statements.
Tax
Fees
The
aggregate fees billed for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005
for
the professional services rendered by RSM for tax compliance, tax advice and
tax
planning were approximately $7,000 and $0, respectively.
All
Other Fees
There
were no fees billed by Goldstein Golub Kessler LLP for other professional
services rendered during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 and
2005.
The
Audit
Committee reviewed and approved all audit and non-audit services provided by
Goldstein Golub Kessler LLP and concluded that these services were compatible
with maintaining its independence. The Audit Committee approved the provision
of
all non-audit services by each firm.
Pre-Approval
Policies and Procedures
The
Audit
Committee pre-approves all services, including both audit and non-audit
services, provided by our independent accountants. For audit services, each
year
the independent auditor provides the Audit Committee with an engagement letter
outlining the scope of proposed audit services to be performed during the year,
which must be formally accepted by the Committee before the audit commences.
The
independent auditor also submits an audit services fee proposal, which also
must
be approved by the Committee before he audit commences.
PART
IV
Item
15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(a)(1)
Financial
Statements
An
index
to Consolidated Financial Statements appears on page F-1.
(b)
Exhibits
Exhibit
No.
|
|
Description
|
3.1
|
|
Form
of Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
(1)
|
|
|
|
3.2
|
|
By-laws
(1)
|
|
|
|
4.1
|
|
Specimen
Unit Certificate (1)
|
|
|
|
4.2
|
|
Specimen
Common Stock Certificate (1)
|
|
|
|
4.3
|
|
Specimen
Warrant Certificate (1)
|
|
|
|
4.4
|
|
Form
of Warrant Agreement between American Stock Transfer & Trust Company
and the Registrant (1)
|
|
|
|
10.1
|
|
Form
of Letter Agreement among the Registrant, Maxim Group LLC and Akis
Tsirigakis (1)
|
|
|
|
10.2
|
|
Form
of Letter Agreement among the Registrant, Maxim Group LLC and. George
Syllantavos (1)
|
|
|
|
10.3
|
|
Form
of Letter Agreement among the Registrant, Maxim Group LLC and Christo
Anagnostou (1)
|
|
|
|
10.4
|
|
Form
of Letter Agreement among the Registrant, Maxim Group LLC and Niko
Nikiforos (1)
|
|
|
|
10.5
|
|
Form
of Letter Agreement among the Registrant, Maxim Group LLC and Koert
Erhardt (1)
|
|
|
|
10.6
|
|
Form
of Letter Agreement among the Registrant, Maxim Group LLC and Tom
Søfteland (1)
|
|
|
|
10.7
|
|
Form
of Letter Agreement among the Registrant, Maxim Group LLC and Petros
Pappas (1)
|
|
|
|
10.8
|
|
Form
of Investment Management Trust Agreement between American Stock Transfer
& Trust Company and the Registrant (1)
|
|
|
|
10.9
|
|
Form
of Stock Escrow Agreement between the Registrant, American Stock
Transfer
& Trust Company and the Initial Stockholders (1)
|
|
|
|
10.10
|
|
Form
of Services Agreement with Schwartz & Weiss, P.C.
(1)
|
|
|
|
10.11
|
|
Promissory
Note dated May 17, 2005 issued to Akis Tsirigakis (1)
|
|
|
|
10.12
|
|
Promissory
Note dated May 26, 2005 issued to Akis Tsirigakis (1)
|
|
|
|
10.13
|
|
Form
of Registration Rights Agreement among the Registrant and the Initial
Stockholders (1)
|
|
|
|
10.14
|
|
Form
of Placement Unit Agreement among the Registrant, Maxim Group LLC
and the
Initial Stockholders (1)
|
|
|
|
10.15
|
|
Sublease
and Administrative Services Agreement between the Registrant and
Blue
Diamonds Realty, LLC (2)
|
|
|
|
10.16
|
|
Memorandum
of Agreement relating to the A Duckling dated January 12, 2007 between
Star Bulk Carriers Corp., as buyer, and A Duckling Corporation, as
seller.
(3)
|
|
|
|
10.17
|
|
Memorandum
of Agreement relating to the B Duckling dated January 12, 2007 between
Star Bulk Carriers Corp., as buyer, and B Duckling Corporation, as
seller.
(3)
|
10.18
|
|
Memorandum
of Agreement relating to the C Duckling dated January 12, 2007 between
Star Bulk Carriers Corp., as buyer, and C Duckling Corporation, as
seller.
(3)
|
|
|
|
10.19
|
|
Memorandum
of Agreement relating to the F Duckling dated January 12, 2007 between
Star Bulk Carriers Corp., as buyer, and F Duckling Corporation, as
seller.
(3)
|
|
|
|
10.20
|
|
Memorandum
of Agreement relating to the G Duckling dated January 12, 2007 between
Star Bulk Carriers Corp., as buyer, and G Duckling Corporation, as
seller.
(3)
|
|
|
|
10.21
|
|
Memorandum
of Agreement relating to the I Duckling dated January 12, 2007 between
Star Bulk Carriers Corp., as buyer, and I Duckling Corporation, as
seller.
(3)
|
|
|
|
10.22
|
|
Memorandum
of Agreement relating to the J Duckling dated January 12, 2007 between
Star Bulk Carriers Corp., as buyer, and J Duckling Corporation, as
seller.
(3)
|
|
|
|
10.23
|
|
Memorandum
of Agreement relating to the Mommy Duckling dated January 12, 2007
between
Star Bulk Carriers Corp., as buyer, and Mommy Management Corp., as
seller.
(3)
|
|
|
|
10.24
|
|
Supplemental
Agreement, dated January 12, 2007, by and among Star Maritime Acquisition
Corp., Star Bulk Carriers Corp. and TMT Co., Ltd. (3)
|
|
|
|
10.25
|
|
Master
Agreement, dated January 12, 2007, by and among Star Maritime Acquisition
Corp., Star Bulk Carriers Corp. and TMT Co., Ltd. (3)
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14
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Code
of Business Conduct and Ethics (1)
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21
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Subsidiaries
of the Registrant
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31.1
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Certification
of the Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer
pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as
amended
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31.2
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Certification
of the Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of
the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
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32
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Certification
of the Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer
pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of
The
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
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(1)
Incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1
(File No. 333-125662).
(2)
Incorporated by reference to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December
26, 2006.
(3)
Incorporated by reference to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January
17,
2007.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of Section 13 or 15 (d) 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.
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STAR
MARITIME ACQUISITION CORP.
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March
14, 2007
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By: |
/s/
Prokopios (Akis) Tsirigakis |
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Prokopios
(Akis) Tsirigakis, Chairman, Chief Executive
Officer
and President
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Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has
been
signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
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By: |
/s/
Prokopios (Akis) Tsirigakis |
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Prokopios
(Akis) Tsirigakis, Chairman,
Chief Executive
Officer
and President
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By: |
/s/
George Syllantavos |
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George
Syllantavos, Chief Financial Officer,
Secretary
and Director
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