6-K 1 f072908sblk6k.htm

FORM 6-K

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D. C. 20549

Report of Foreign Private Issuer

Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the month of July 2008

STAR BULK CARRIERS CORP.

(Translation of registrant's name into English)

Star Bulk Carriers Corp.
Aethrion Center, Suite B-34
40 Ag. Konstantinou
Maroussi 15124
Athens, Greece

(Address of principal executive offices)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual

reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

Form 20-F |X| Form 40-F |_|

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information

contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the

commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Yes |_| No |X|

<PAGE>

INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS FORM 6-K REPORT

EXHIBIT 1

STAR BULK DECLARES DIVIDEND OF $0.35 PER SHARE

FOR THE QUARTER ENDING JUNE 30, 2008

Athens, Greece, July 29, 2008 - Star Bulk Carriers Corp. (NASDAQ:SBLK) announced today that its Board of Directors declared a cash dividend on its common stock of $0.35 per common share for the second quarter ending June 30, 2008. The dividend will be payable on or about August 18, 2008 to shareholders of record as of August 8, 2008.
This is the third consecutive quarterly dividend declared by the Company since becoming operational on November 30, 2007. Star Bulk intends to pay quarterly cash dividends to the holders of its common shares, in February, May, August and November.
Akis Tsirigakis, President and CEO of Star Bulk, commented: "We are pleased to declare a dividend of $0.35 per common share for our second full quarter of operations, currently representing in excess of 13.3% yield, if annualized. The annualized dividend payout represents approximately 57% of our expected 2008 free cash flow and is supported by a healthy balance sheet and approximately 27% debt to fleet value. Our fleet is now contracted 100% for 2008 and 84% for 2009 and 63% for 2010 providing for visible long-term earnings and secure dividends. We deem that the declaration of this quarterly dividend will encourage the conversion of warrants into shares and clear any remaining perceived overhang. "

About Star Bulk

Star Bulk is a global shipping company providing worldwide seaborne transportation solutions in the dry bulk sector. Star Bulk's vessels transport major bulks, which include iron ore, coal and grain and minor bulks such as bauxite, fertilizers and steel products. Star Bulk was incorporated in the Marshall Islands on December 13, 2006 and is headquartered in Athens, Greece. Its common stock and warrants trade on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbols "SBLK" and "SBLKW" respectively. Currently, Star Bulk has an operating fleet of twelve dry bulk carriers, plus definitive agreements to acquire one Capesize dry bulk carrier and sell its Panamax dry bulk carrier. The total fleet consists of four Capesize, one Panamax and eight Supramax dry bulk vessels with an average age of approximately 10 years and a combined cargo carrying capacity of 1,184,835 deadweight tons.

Forward-Looking Statements

The information in this press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: (1) the delivery and operation of assets of Star Bulk; (2) Star Bulk's future operating or financial results; (3) future, pending or recent acquisitions, business strategy, areas of possible expansion, and expected capital spending or operating expenses; (4) drybulk market trends, including charter rates and factors affecting vessel supply and demand; and (5) other statements identified by words such as "anticipate," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "will," "should," "may," or words of similar meaning.

Such forward-looking statements are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, Star Bulk's examination of historical operating trends, data contained in their records and other data available from third parties. Although Star Bulk believes that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond their control, Star Bulk cannot assure you that Star Bulk will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include the failure of a seller to deliver one or more vessels, the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions, including changes in charterhire rates and vessel values, changes in demand that may affect attitudes of time charterers to scheduled and unscheduled drydocking, changes in Star Bulk's operating expenses, including bunker prices, dry-docking and insurance costs, or actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, domestic and international political conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents and political events or acts by terrorists. Additional factors that could cause Star Bulk's results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in Star Bulk's Registration Statement on Form F-1/F-4 and reports on Form 6-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and available at the SEC's Internet site (http://www.sec.gov). The information set forth herein speaks only as of the date hereof, and Star Bulk disclaims any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this communication.

Contacts:
Company:
George Syllantavos

CFO
Star Bulk Carriers Corp.
7 Fragoklisias Str.
Maroussi 15125
Athens, Greece
E-mail: ir@starbulk.com
www.starbulk.com
Investor Relations / Financial Media:
Nicolas Bornozis
President
Capital Link, Inc.
230 Park Avenue, Suite 1536
New York, NY 10169
Tel. (212) 661-7566
E-mail: nbornozis@capitallink.com
www.capitallink.com

STAR BULK CARRIERS CORP.

(Registrant)

Dated July 29, 2008

By:

/s/ PROKOPIOS TSIRIGAKIS

Name: Prokopios Tsirigakis

Title: Chief Executive Officer and President