AGREEMENT
AND PLAN OF MERGER
BY
AND AMONG
STAR
BULK CARRIERS CORP.
and
STAR
MARITIME ACQUISITION CORP.
Dated
as of March 14, 2007
AGREEMENT
AND PLAN OF MERGER
This
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this “Agreement”)
is
made and entered into as of March 14, 2007 by and among Star Bulk Carriers
Corp., a corporation organized under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall
Islands (“Star
Bulk”)
and
Star Maritime Acquisition Corp., a corporation organized under the laws of
the
State of Delaware (“Star
Maritime”).
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS,
Star Maritime currently is the owner of record of 500 shares of common stock
of
Star Bulk (the “Initial Shares”) representing all of the issued and outstanding
shares of Star Bulk;
WHEREAS,
Star Bulk has entered into a Master Agreement with Star Maritime and
TMT
Co.,
Ltd. a Taiwan corporation (“TMT”) dated January 12, 2007 (the “Master
Agreement”), eight memoranda of agreement with TMT and certain wholly-owned
subsidiaries of TMT for
the
purchase of a total of eight vessels by Star Bulk from TMT and such subsidiaries
(the “MOAs”), as supplemented by a Supplemental Agreement dated January 12, 2007
by and among Star Maritime, Star Bulk and TMT (the “Supplemental Agreement and,
together with the Master Agreement and the MOAs, the “Vessel Acquisition
Agreements”) providing for the acquisition by Star Bulk of eight vessel from TMT
for a total consideration of $345,237,520, consisting of 12,537,645 shares
of
common stock of Star Bulk and cash;
WHEREAS,
the effectiveness of the Vessel Acquisition Agreements being made specifically
contingent upon this Agreement and Plan of Merger being approved by Star
Maritime and Star Maritime’s shareholders and the Merger being effected;
WHEREAS,
the boards of directors of each of Star Maritime and Star Bulk believe it is
in
the best interests of Star Maritime and its shareholders on the one hand and
Star Bulk and Star Maritime, Star Bulk’s 100% parent, on the other hand, that
Star Maritime enter into a business combination through the merger of Star
Maritime with and into Star Bulk, with Star Bulk being the survivor of the
merger (the “Merger”)
and,
in furtherance thereof, have approved the Merger;
WHEREAS,
pursuant to the Merger, among other things, each of the issued and outstanding
common shares of Star Maritime (the “Star
Maritime Shares”) shall
be
converted into the right to receive common shares of Star Bulk, par value $0.01
per share (the “Star
Bulk Shares”)
and
each outstanding warrant of Star Maritime (the “Star
Maritime Warrants”
will
be
assumed by Star Bulk with the same terms and restrictions except that each
will
be exercisable for common stock of Star Bulk (the “Star
Bulk Warrants”);
WHEREAS,
the parties intend that the Merger shall constitute a plan of reorganization
pursuant to Section 368 of the Code (as defined below);
WHEREAS,
Star Maritime and Star Bulk desire to make certain representations, warranties,
covenants and other agreements in connection with the Merger.
NOW,
THEREFORE,
in
consideration of the foregoing premises and the representations, warranties,
covenants and agreements contained herein, and for other good and valuable
consideration, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound hereby, agree
as follows:
Article
I.
DEFINITIONS
Except
as
otherwise specified herein, the following terms, when used in this Agreement,
have the respective meanings set forth below:
“Action”
means
any claim, action, suit, arbitration, inquiry, proceeding or investigation
by or
before any Governmental Authority.
“Affiliate”
means,
with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly Controlling,
Controlled by or under common Control with such other Person.
“Business
Day”
means
any day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday or other day on which banks are
required or authorized by Law to be closed in the City of New York.
“Code”
means
the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
“Control”
means,
as to any Person, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management
and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities,
by contract or otherwise. The terms “Controlled”
and
“Controlling”
shall
have a correlative meaning.
“Dollar”
or
“$”
means
the United States Dollar.
“ERISA”
means
the United States Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and the
rules
and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Exchange
Act”
shall
mean the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
“Exchange
Ratio”
means
1.0.
“GAAP”
means
United States generally accepted accounting principles as in effect, from time
to time, consistently applied.
“Governmental
Authority”
means
any United States (federal, state or local) or foreign government, governmental,
regulatory or administrative authority, agency or commission or any court,
tribunal, or judicial or arbitral body.
“Knowledge
of Star Bulk” or “Knowledge”
with
respect to Star Bulk means the knowledge of any officer or director of Star
Bulk.
“Knowledge
of Star Maritime” or “Knowledge”
with
respect to Star Maritime means the knowledge of any officer or director of
Star
Maritime.
“Law”
means
any United States (federal, state or local) or foreign statute, law, ordinance,
regulation, rule, code, order, judgment, injunction or decree.
“Lien”
means,
with respect to any property or asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge,
security interest or encumbrance of any kind, whether voluntarily incurred
or
arising by operation of Law or otherwise, in respect of such property or
asset.
“Material
Adverse Effect”
means
with respect to Star Bulk or Star Maritime, as applicable, a material adverse
effect on the business, operations, properties, assets, condition (financial
or
otherwise) or results of operations of it and its subsidiaries taken as a whole,
or on its ability to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby except
(i)
any effect arising from this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby,
(ii) any effect applicable generally to the industries in which Star Bulk and
the Subsidiaries operate and (iii) general economic or financial
effects.
“Order”
means
any order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, stipulation, determination or
award entered by or with any Governmental Authority.
“Per
Share Merger Consideration”
means
for each share of common stock of Star Maritime, the right to receive
consideration equal to one (1) fully paid and nonassessable Star Bulk
Share.
“Person”
means
any natural person, general or limited partnership, corporation, limited
liability company, firm, association, trust or other legal entity or
organization, including a government or political subdivision or an agency
or
instrumentality thereof.
“RMI”
means
Republic of the Marshall Islands.
“SEC”
means
the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities
Act”
shall
mean the Securities Act of 1933.
“Subsidiaries”
means
Star Alpha Inc., Star Beta Inc., Star Gamma Inc., Star Delta Inc., Star Epsilon
Inc., Star Zita Inc., Star Theta Inc. and Star Iota Inc., each of which is
a
"Subsidiary" and all of which are Subsidiaries of Star Bulk. Each subsidiary
is
a corporation organized under the laws of the RMI.
“Tax”
or
“Taxes”
means
all United States (federal, state or local) or foreign income, excise, gross
receipts, ad valorem, sales, use, employment, franchise, profits, gains,
property, transfer, use, payroll, intangibles or other taxes, fees, stamp taxes,
duties, charges, levies or assessments of any kind whatsoever (whether payable
directly or by withholding), together with any interest and any penalties,
additions to tax or additional amounts imposed by any Tax authority with respect
thereto.
“Tax
Returns”
means
all returns and reports (including elections, declarations, disclosures,
schedules, estimates and information returns) required to be supplied to a
Tax
authority relating to Taxes.
“Trademarks”
means
all of those trade names, trademarks, service marks, jingles, slogans, logos,
trademark and service mark registrations and trademark and service mark
applications owned, used, held for use, licensed by or leased by Star Bulk
or
the Subsidiaries and the goodwill appurtenant thereto.
Except
as
otherwise specified herein, the following terms have the respective meanings
as
defined in the Sections set forth
below:
Term
|
Section
|
|
|
Agreement
|
Preamble
|
BCA
|
2.1
|
Certificate
and Certificates
|
2.6
|
Closing
and Closing Date
|
2.2
|
Contracts
|
3.5(b)
|
DGCL
|
2.1
|
Effective
Time
|
2.2
|
Enforceability
Exception
|
3.4(a)
|
Environmental
Laws
|
3.8(c)
|
Exchange
Act Listing
|
6.5
|
Exchange
Agent
|
2.9(a)
|
Indemnified
Party
|
9.3(a)
|
Indemnifying
Party
|
9.3(a)
|
Initial
Shares
|
Recitals
|
Loss
|
9.2(a)
|
Master
Agreement
|
Recitals
|
Merger
|
Recitals
|
Merger
Certificate
|
2.2
|
MOAs
|
Recitals
|
Notice
of Claim
|
9.3(a)
|
Proxy
Statement
|
6.2
|
Redemption
Shares
|
2.7
|
Star
Bulk
|
Preamble
|
Star
Bulk Acquisition Transaction
|
5.2(a)
|
Star
Bulk Financial Statement
|
3.13
|
Star
Bulk Registration Statement
|
6.2
|
Star
Bulk Shares
|
Recitals
|
Star
Bulk Warrants
|
Recitals
|
Star
Maritime
|
Preamble
|
Star
Maritime Acquisition Transaction
|
5.2(b)
|
Star
Maritime Shares
|
Recitals
|
Star
Maritime Warrants
|
Recitals
|
Star
Maritime Contracts
|
4.5
|
Star
Maritime Directors
|
6.4
|
Star
Maritime Financial Statements
|
4.13
|
Star
Maritime Permits
|
4.9
|
Star
Maritime Special Meeting
|
3.10
|
Star
Maritime Stockholders' Approval
|
6.4
|
Star
Maritime's SEC Reports
|
4.14
|
Stock
Exchange Listing
|
6.5
|
Supplemental
Agreement
|
Recitals
|
Surviving
Corporation
|
2.1
|
Vessel
Acquisition Agreements
|
Recitals
|
Vessels
|
3.9(b)(2)
|
1.3
|
Rules
of Construction.
|
Unless
the context otherwise requires:
(a) a
term
has the meaning assigned to it;
(b) an
accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in
accordance with GAAP;
(c) “or”
is
not exclusive;
(d) “including”
means including without limitation;
(e) words
in
the singular include the plural and words in the plural include the singular;
and
(f) any
agreement, instrument or statute defined or referred to herein or in any
instrument or certificate delivered in connection herewith means such agreement,
instrument or statute as from time to time amended, modified or supplemented
(as
provided in such agreements) and includes (in the case of agreements or
instruments) references to all attachments thereto and instruments incorporated
therein; references to a Person are also to its permitted successors and
assigns.
Article
II.
THE
MERGER
Upon
the
terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and in accordance with the
applicable provisions of the Marshall Islands Business Corporation Act (the
“BCA”) and the Delaware General Corporation Law
(the
“DGCL”), Star Maritime shall be merged with and into Star Bulk at the Effective
Time. At the Effective Time, the separate corporate existence of Star Maritime
shall cease, and Star Bulk
shall
continue as the surviving corporation. The surviving corporation in the Merger
is sometimes referred to as the “Surviving Corporation.”
2.2
|
Closing;
Effective Time.
|
The
closing of the Merger (the “Closing”) shall take place at 10:00 a.m. Eastern
Time at the offices of Seward & Kissel LLP, One Battery Park Plaza, New
York, New York 10004, on the first Business Day following the date on which
the
last of the conditions set forth in Article VII hereof is fulfilled or waived,
or at such other time and place as Star Maritime and Star Bulk shall agree
(the
date on which the closing occurs being the “Closing Date”). On the Closing Date,
the parties shall cause the Merger to be consummated
by filing a Certificate of Merger or like instrument (the “Merger Certificate”)
with the Registrar of Corporations of the Republic of the Marshall Islands,
in
accordance with the applicable provisions of the BCA (the time of acceptance
by
the Registrar of Corporations of such filing being referred to herein as the
“Effective Time”) and with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, in
accordance with the applicable provisions of the DGCL.
2.3
|
Effect
of the Merger.
|
At
the
Effective Time, the effect of the Merger shall be as provided in the applicable
provisions of the BCA and the DGCL. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, at the Effective Time, all the property, rights, privileges, powers
and franchises of Star Maritime shall vest in the Surviving Corporation, and
all
debts, liabilities and duties of Star Maritime shall become the debts,
liabilities and duties of the Surviving Corporation.
2.4
|
Articles
of Incorporation; By-laws.
|
Prior
to
the filing of the Star Bulk Registration Statement, Star Bulk shall amend its
Articles of Incorporation and By-laws on terms reasonably satisfactory to Star
Maritime. At the Effective Time, these amended Articles of Incorporation and
By-laws shall be the Articles of Incorporation and By-laws of the Surviving
Corporation.
2.5
|
Directors
and Officers.
|
The
directors of the Surviving Corporation immediately after the Effective Time
shall be the directors set forth in Schedule
2.5, each to hold the office of director of the Surviving Corporation in
accordance with the provisions of the applicable laws of the Republic of the
Marshall Islands and the Articles
of Incorporation and By-laws of the Surviving Corporation (as amended pursuant
to Section 2.4 above) until their successors are duly
qualified and elected. The
officers of the Surviving Corporation immediately after the Effective Time
shall
be such officers as are appointed by the Board of Directors of Star Bulk after
the date hereof, each to hold office in accordance with the provisions of the
By-laws of the Surviving Corporation (as amended pursuant to Section 2.4
above).
2.6
|
Conversion
of Star Maritime Capital
Stock.
|
Subject
to Sections 2.7 and 2.9(e), each share of Star Maritime common
stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall
be
converted into the right to receive, at the election of the holder thereof,
the
Per Share Merger Consideration. At the Effective Time, all Star Maritime Shares
converted as set forth above shall no longer be outstanding and shall
automatically be canceled and shall cease to exist, and each holder of a
certificate or certificates that immediately prior to the Effective Time
represented any such Star Maritime Shares (the “Certificates” and each, a
“Certificate”) shall cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the
right to receive the Per Share Merger Consideration and certain dividends or
other distributions in accordance with Section 2.9(c) upon the surrender of
such
Certificate, in accordance with Section 2.9(b). Each Star Maritime Warrant
issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be
convertible into a Star Bulk Warrants and shall be convertible into Star Bulk
Shares as described in Section 6.6 of this Agreement. Schedule 2.6 lists, as
of
the Effective Time, the number of Star Bulk Shares which shall be issued to
any
Star Maritime security holder pursuant to this Section 2.6 and Section 6.6
hereof, assuming that all outstanding Star Maritime Shares are exchanged for,
or
converted to, Star Bulk Shares as contemplated by this Agreement. Each share
of
Star Bulk owned by Star Maritime at the time of the Merger shall be
cancelled.
Notwithstanding
any other provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, if the Merger is
approved by the shareholders of Star Maritime, Star Maritime Shares that are
outstanding immediately prior to the Closing and which are held by Star Maritime
stockholders who shall have voted against the Merger and who shall have
demanded properly, in writing, redemption of such shares in accordance with
the procedures set forth in the Proxy Statement (collectively, the
“Redemption Shares”) shall not be converted into or represent the right to
receive the Per Share Merger Consideration.
Such
Star Maritime stockholders shall be entitled to receive for each
Redemption Share held by them, payment of $10.00 per share, which amount
represents $9.80 per share plus their pro rata share of any accrued on the
escrow account (net of taxes payable) not previously distributed by Star
Maritime and $.020 per share plus interest thereon (net of taxes payable)
of
contingent underwriting compensation which the underwriters of Star Maritime’s
initial public offering have agreed to forfeit to pay redeeming shareholders,
calculated as of two days prior to the Closing Date. Star Maritime Shares
held
by Star Maritime stockholders who failed to properly demand redemption of
their
Star Maritime Shares shall thereupon be deemed to have converted into and
to
become exchangeable of the right to receive, without any interest thereon,
the
Per Share Merger Consideration, upon surrender, in the manner provided in
Section 2.6 above, of the Certificate or Certificates that formerly evidenced
such shares of Star Maritime Shares. Any payments required to be made to
the
holders of any Redemption Shares shall be funded by Star
Bulk.
2.8
|
Anti-Dilution
Provisions.
|
In
the
event Star Bulk changes (or establishes a record date for changing) the number
of Star Bulk Shares issued and outstanding prior to the Effective Time as a
result of a stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, subdivision,
reclassification, combination, exchange of shares or similar transaction with
respect to the outstanding Star Bulk Shares and the record date therefor shall
be prior to the Effective Time, the Exchange Ratio and the Per Share Merger
Consideration shall be proportionately adjusted to reflect such stock split,
stock dividend, recapitalization, subdivision, reclassification, combination,
exchange of shares or similar transaction.
2.9
|
Surrender
of Certificates.
|
(a) Exchange
Agent.
As of
the Effective Time, Star Bulk shall deposit with such bank or trust company
as
may be designated by Star Bulk and reasonably acceptable to Star Maritime (the
“Exchange
Agent”),
for
the benefit of the holders of shares of Star Maritime Capital Stock, for
exchange in accordance with this Section 2.9, through the Exchange Agent, the
Star Bulk Shares issuable pursuant to Section 2.6 in exchange for outstanding
shares of Star Maritime Shares. At the time of such deposit, Star Bulk shall
irrevocably instruct the Exchange Agent to deliver the Star Bulk Shares to
Star
Maritime’s stockholders after the Effective Time in accordance with the
procedures set forth in this Section 2.9, subject to Sections 2.9(f) and (g).
(b) Exchange
Procedures.
As soon
as reasonably practicable after the Effective Time, the Exchange Agent shall
mail to each holder of record of a Certificate whose shares were converted
into
the right to receive the applicable Per Share Merger Consideration pursuant
to
Section 2.6, a letter of transmittal (in form and substance satisfactory to
Star
Bulk and Star Maritime), with instructions for use in surrendering the
Certificates in exchange for the applicable Per Share Merger Consideration
with
respect thereto. Upon surrender of a Certificate for cancellation to the
Exchange Agent, together with such letter of transmittal, duly completed and
validly executed, and such other documents as may reasonably be required by
the
Exchange Agent, the holder of such Certificate shall be entitled to receive
in
exchange therefor that number of whole Star Bulk Shares in accordance with
Section 2.9(e), together with certain dividends or other distributions in
accordance with Section 2.9(c), and the Certificate so surrendered shall
forthwith be canceled. In the event of a transfer of ownership of Star Maritime
Shares that is not registered in the transfer records of Star Maritime, a
certificate evidencing the proper number of Star Bulk Shares may be issued
in
exchange therefor to a person other than the person in whose name the
Certificate so surrendered is registered if such Certificate shall be properly
endorsed or otherwise be in proper form for transfer and the person requesting
such issuance shall pay any transfer or other taxes required by reason of the
issuance of Star Bulk Shares to a person other than the registered holder of
such Certificate or establish to the satisfaction of Star Bulk that such tax
has
been paid or is not applicable. Until surrendered as contemplated by this
Section 2.9(b), each Certificate shall be deemed at any time after the Effective
Time to represent only the right to receive upon such surrender the Per Share
Merger Consideration that the holder thereof has the right to receive pursuant
to the provisions of Section 2.6, plus certain dividends or other distributions
in accordance with Section 2.9(c).
(c) Distributions
with Respect to Unexchanged Shares.
No
dividends or other distributions declared or made with respect to Star Bulk
Shares with a record date after the Effective Time shall be paid to the holder
of any unsurrendered Certificate with respect to Star Bulk Shares represented
thereby, if any, and all such dividends and other distributions shall be paid
by
Star Bulk to the Exchange Agent, until the surrender of such Certificate in
accordance with this Article II. Subject to the effect of applicable escheat
or
similar laws, following surrender of any such Certificate there shall be paid
to
the holder of whole Star Bulk Shares issued in exchange therefor, without
interest, (i) at the time of such surrender, the amount of dividends or other
distributions with a record date after the Effective Time theretofore paid
with
respect to such whole Star Bulk Shares and (ii) at the appropriate payment
date,
the amount of dividends or other distributions with a record date after the
Effective Time but prior to such surrender and with a payment date subsequent
to
such surrender payable with respect to such whole Star Bulk Shares.
(d) No
Further Ownership Rights in Star Maritime Shares.
All
certificates evidencing Star Bulk Shares issued (including any dividends or
other distributions paid pursuant to Section 2.9(c)) shall be deemed to have
been issued and paid in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to the shares
of Star Maritime Shares formerly represented by such Certificates. At the close
of business on the day on which the Effective Time occurs, the stock transfer
books of Star Maritime shall be closed, and there shall be no further
registration of transfers on the stock transfer books of the Surviving
Corporation of the shares of Star Maritime Shares that were outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time. If, after the Effective Time,
Certificates are presented to the Surviving Corporation or the Exchange Agent
for transfer or any other reason, they shall be canceled and exchanged as
provided in this Article II.
(e) Fractional
Shares.
No
fractional shares of Star Bulk common stock shall be issued in the Merger.
The
aggregate Per Share Merger Consideration to be issued to the holder of a
Certificate previously evidencing Star Maritime Shares shall be rounded up
to
the nearest whole share of Star Bulk common stock.
(f) Termination
of Exchange of Star Bulk Shares.
Any
portion of the Star Bulk Shares (and any dividends or distributions thereon)
that remain undistributed to the holders of the Certificates for six months
after the Effective Time shall be delivered to Star Bulk, upon demand, and
any
holders of the Certificates who have not theretofore complied with this Article
II shall thereafter look only to Star Bulk for, and, subject to Section 2.9(g),
Star Bulk shall remain liable for payment of their claim for the Per Share
Merger Consideration, certain dividends and other distributions in accordance
with Section 2.9(c).
(g) No
Liability.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.9, none of the
Exchange Agent, the Surviving Corporation or any party to this Agreement shall
be liable to a holder of Star Bulk Shares or Star Maritime Shares for any amount
properly paid to a public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned
property, escheat or similar law.
(h) Lost,
Stolen or Destroyed Company Certificate.
In the
event any Certificates shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, the Exchange
Agent shall issue in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate,
upon the making of an affidavit and indemnity of that fact by the holder thereof
in a form that is reasonably acceptable to the Exchange Agent, the number of
Star Bulk Shares as required pursuant to Section 2.6; provided,
however,
that
Star Bulk may, in its reasonably commercial discretion and as a condition
precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen or
destroyed Certificates to deliver a bond in such sum as it may reasonably direct
against any claim that may be made against Star Bulk or the Exchange Agent
with
respect to the Certificates alleged to have been lost, stolen or
destroyed.
As
of the
Effective Time, Star Bulk shall deposit with the Exchange
Agent,
for the
benefit of the holders of Star Maritime Warrants that have been exchanged into
Star Bulk Warrants in accordance with Section 6.6 hereof, 20,000,000 shares
of
Star Bulk Shares issuable upon exercise of such Star Bulk Warrants.
2.11
|
Redemption
Shares After Payment of Fair
Value.
|
Redemption
Shares,
if any, after payments of fair value in respect thereto have been made to
Redemption Star Maritime stockholders pursuant to the DGCL, shall be
cancelled.
2.12
|
Tax
and Accounting
Consequences.
|
It
is
intended by the parties hereto that the Merger shall constitute a reorganization
within the meaning of Section 368 of the Code. Each
party has consulted with, and is relying upon, its tax advisors and accountants
with respect to the tax and accounting consequences of the Merger.
Article
III.
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
OF
STAR BULK
Star
Bulk
hereby represents
and
warrants to Star Maritime as follows (subject in each case to such exceptions
as
are set forth or cross-referenced in the attached Schedules corresponding to
the
Section of the representation or warranty to which such exceptions
relate):
3.1
|
Organization
and Qualification.
|
(a) Star
Bulk
has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good
standing under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, with power
and
authority (corporate and other) to own its properties and conduct its business
as currently conducted. Star Bulk has been duly qualified as a foreign
corporation for the transaction of business and is in good standing under the
laws of each jurisdiction set forth in the Schedule3.1 and to Star Bulk’s
Knowledge, such jurisdictions are the only ones in which it owns or leases
properties, or conducts any business, so as to require such qualification,
other
than those jurisdictions where the failure to be so qualified or in good
standing would not have a Material Adverse Effect on Star Bulk and the
Subsidiaries.
(b) Each
of
the Subsidiaries has been duly organized and is validly existing as a
corporation under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, with power
and authority (corporate and other) to own its properties and conduct its
business as currently conducted. All the outstanding shares of capital stock
of
each of the Subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued, are
fully-paid and non-assessable, and are owned by Star Bulk, free and clear of
all
Liens.
(c) The
copies of the respective Articles of Incorporation and By-laws of Star Bulk
and
each of the Subsidiaries, as amended to date and delivered to Star Maritime,
are
true and complete copies of these documents as now in effect. The minute books
of Star Bulk and the Subsidiaries are accurate in all material respects.
Other
than the Subsidiaries, Star Bulk does not hold any equity interest in any other
Person. Star Bulk owns all of the issued and outstanding shares of stock of
the
Subsidiaries, free and clear of any Liens.
(a) As
of
immediately prior to the Closing, the authorized capital stock of Star Bulk
shall consist solely of 100,000,000 common shares, $0.01 par value and
25,000,000 preferred shares, $0.01 par value, of which 500 common shares and
no
preferred shares will be issued and outstanding.
(b) The
Star
Bulk Shares to be issued upon effectiveness of the Merger and upon exercise
of
the Star Bulk Warrants, when issued in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement, shall be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable and free of all Liens.
3.4
|
Authority;
Non-Contravention;
Approvals.
|
(a) Star
Bulk
has full corporate power and authority, to enter into this Agreement and to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. Star Bulk’s execution and
delivery of this Agreement, and its consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby, have been duly authorized by its board of directors and
no
other corporate proceedings on its part are necessary to authorize its execution
and delivery of this Agreement and its consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and
delivered by Star Bulk and its parent, and constitutes its and their valid
and
binding agreement, enforceable against them in accordance with its terms, except
that such enforcement may be subject to (i) bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting or relating to
enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (ii) general equitable principles
((i) and (ii) the “Enforceability
Exception”).
(b) All
material consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, licenses, registrations,
clearances and qualifications of or with any Governmental Authority having
jurisdiction over Star Bulk or the Subsidiaries or any of their properties
required for the execution and delivery by Star Bulk of this Agreement to be
duly and validly authorized have been obtained or made and are in full force
and
effect.
(c) Star
Bulk’s execution and delivery of this Agreement does not, and its consummation
of the transactions contemplated herein will not violate, conflict with or
result in a breach of any provision of, or constitute any default (or an
event
which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute an event of
default) under, or result in the termination of, or accelerate the performance
required by, or result in a right of termination or acceleration under, or
result in the creation of any Lien upon any of its properties or assets under
any of the terms, conditions or provisions of (i) the Certificate of
Incorporation or By-laws of Star Bulk or any of the Subsidiaries, (ii) Approval,
any Law or Order, injunction, writ, permit or license of any Governmental
Authority applicable to it or any of its properties or assets, or (iii) any
note, bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of trust, license, franchise, permit,
concession, contract, lease or other instrument, obligation or agreement
of any
kind to which it is now a party or by which it or any of its properties or
assets may be bound, excluding from the foregoing clauses (ii) and (iii),
such
violations, conflicts, breaches, defaults, terminations, accelerations or
creations of liens, security interests, charges or encumbrances that do not,
in
the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on Star Bulk and the Subsidiaries
taken as a whole.
3.5
|
Contracts;
No Default.
|
(a) Schedule
3.5(a) contains a true and complete list of all contracts, agreements,
commitments and other instruments (whether oral or written) to which Star Bulk
or any of the Subsidiaries is a party that (i) involve a receipt or an
expenditure by Star Bulk or any of the Subsidiaries or require the performance
of services or delivery of goods to, by, through, on behalf of or for the
benefit of Star Bulk or any of the Subsidiaries, which in each case, relates
to
a contract, agreement, commitment or instrument that either (A) requires
payments or receipts in excess of $50,000 per year or (B) is not terminable
by
Star Bulk or any of the Subsidiaries on notice of thirty (30) days or less
without penalty or Star Bulk or any of the Subsidiaries being liable for damages
of $50,000 or more, or (ii) involve an obligation for the performance of
services or delivery of goods by Star Bulk or any of the Subsidiaries that
cannot, or in reasonable probability will not, be performed within one year
from
the date hereof.
(b) All
of
the contracts, agreements, commitments and other instruments described in
Schedule 3.5(a) (individually, a “Contract”
and
collectively, the “Contracts”)
are
valid and binding upon Star Bulk or the Subsidiaries, as applicable, and to
the
Knowledge of Star Bulk, the other parties thereto, and are in full force and
effect and enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to the
Enforceability Exception, and neither Star Bulk nor the Subsidiaries, nor to
the
Knowledge of Star Bulk, any other party to any Contract, has materially breached
any provision of, nor has any event occurred which, with the lapse of time
or
action by a third party, could result in a material default under, the terms
thereof.
There
is
no (i) claim, action, suit or proceeding pending or, to Star Bulk’s
Knowledge, threatened against or directly relating to Star Bulk before any
Governmental Authority, or (ii) outstanding Order, or application, request
or
motion therefor, of any Governmental Authority in a proceeding to which Star
Bulk or any of its assets was or is a party except, in the case of clauses
(i)
and (ii) above, such as would not, individually or in the aggregate, either
materially impair or preclude Star Bulk’s ability to consummate the Merger or
the other transactions contemplated hereby or have a Material Adverse Effect
on
Star Bulk.
(a) Star
Bulk
and the Subsidiaries have duly filed with the appropriate Governmental
Authorities all material franchise, income and all other material Tax Returns
other than Tax Returns the failure to file of which would have no Material
Adverse Effect on Star Bulk or the Subsidiaries. All such Tax Returns were,
when
filed, and are accurate and complete in all material respects and were prepared
in conformity with applicable Laws. Star Bulk and the Subsidiaries have paid
or
will pay in full or have adequately reserved against all Taxes otherwise
assessed against it through the Closing Date. Neither Star Bulk nor any
Subsidiary is a party to any pending action or proceeding by any Governmental
Authority for the assessment of any Tax, and no claim for assessment or
collection of any Tax has been asserted in writing against Star Bulk of any
of
the Subsidiaries that has not been paid. There are no Liens for Taxes upon
the
assets of Star Bulk or any of the Subsidiaries (other than Liens for Taxes
not
yet due and payable). There is no valid basis, to the Knowledge of Star Bulk,
for any assessment, deficiency, notice, 30-day letter or similar intention
to
assess any Tax to be issued to Star Bulk or any of the Subsidiaries by any
Governmental Authority.
(b) No
stamp
or other issuance or transfer taxes or duties and no capital gains, income,
withholding or other Taxes are payable by or on behalf of Star Maritime to
the
Marshall Islands or any political subdivision or Taxing Authority thereof or
therein in connection with the issuance of the Star Bulk Shares to the Star
Maritime stockholders, the issuance of the Star Bulk Warrants or the delivery
by
the Star Maritime stockholders of the Star Maritime Shares or the delivery
of
the Star Maritime Warrants by the holders thereof.
(a) Neither
Star Bulk nor any Subsidiary is in violation of or has been given notice or
been
charged with any violation of, any Law or Order (including, without limitation,
any applicable environmental law, ordinance or regulation) of any Governmental
Authority, except for violations which, in the aggregate, do not have, and
would
not reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect on Star Bulk.
Neither Star Bulk nor any Subsidiary has received any written notice that any
investigation or review with respect to it by any Governmental Authority is
pending or threatened, other than, in each case, those the outcome of which,
as
far as reasonably can be foreseen, would not reasonably be expected to have
a
Material Adverse Effect on Star Bulk.
(b) Each
of
Star Bulk and the Subsidiaries owns, possesses or has obtained, all licenses,
permits, certificates, consents, orders, approvals and other authorizations
from, and has made all declarations and filings with, all Governmental
Authorities, all self-regulatory organizations and all courts and other
tribunals, necessary to own or lease, as the case may be, and to operate its
properties and to carry on its business as conducted as of the date hereof,
other than such licenses, permits, certificates, consents, orders, approvals,
other authorizations, declarations and filings which individually or in the
aggregate are not material to Star Bulk and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole,
and neither Star Bulk nor any such Subsidiary has received any actual notice
of
any proceeding relating to revocation or modification of any such license,
permit, certificate, consent, order, approval or other authorization, and each
of Star Bulk and the Subsidiaries is in compliance with all Laws relating to
the
conduct of its business as conducted as of the date hereof other than any
failure to so comply that would not have a Material Adverse Effect on Star
Bulk.
(c) Star
Bulk
and the Subsidiaries (i) are in compliance with any and all applicable
foreign, federal, provincial, state and local Laws, including any applicable
regulations and standards adopted by the International Maritime Organization,
relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or
hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, petroleum pollutants or contaminants
(“Environmental
Laws”),
(ii) have received all permits, licenses, other approvals, authorizations
and certificates of financial responsibility required of them under applicable
Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses and (iii) are in
compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or
approval, except where such noncompliance with Environmental Laws, failure
to
receive required permits, licenses or other approvals or failure to comply
with
the terms and conditions of such permits, licenses or approvals would not,
have
a Material Adverse Effect on Star Bulk.
(d) None
of
the transactions contemplated herein will violate any Foreign Assets Control
Regulations of the United States contained in Title 31, Code of Federal
Regulations, Parts 500, 505, 515 and 535.
Star
Bulk
and the Subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all of the assets and
properties which they purport to own as reflected on the most recent balance
sheet comprising a portion of the Star Bulk Financial Statement, or thereafter
acquired (except assets and properties sold or otherwise disposed of since
the
date of such balance sheet in the ordinary course of business). Star Bulk and
the Subsidiaries have a valid leasehold interest in all properties of which
it
is the lessee and each such lease is valid, binding and enforceable against
it,
and, to the Knowledge of Star Bulk, the other parties thereto in accordance
with
its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exception. Neither Star Bulk, the
Subsidiaries nor, to Star Bulk’s Knowledge, the other parties thereto are in
default in the performance of any material provision thereunder. Neither the
whole nor any material portion of the assets of Star Bulk or the Subsidiaries
is
subject to any Order to be sold or is being condemned, expropriated or otherwise
taken by any public authority with or without payment of compensation therefor,
nor, to Star Bulk’s Knowledge, has any such condemnation, expropriation or
taking been proposed. None of the material assets of Star Bulk or the
Subsidiaries is subject to any restriction which would have a Material Adverse
Effect on Star Bulk.
None
of
the information to be supplied by Star Bulk for inclusion in the Proxy
Statement, or in any amendments or supplements thereto, to be distributed to
the
stockholders of Star Maritime in connection with the meeting of such
stockholders (the “Star Maritime Special Meeting”) at the time of the mailing of
the Proxy Statement and at the time of the Star Maritime Special Meeting contain
any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not
misleading.
Neither
Star Bulk nor any Subsidiary is a party to any union contract or other
collective bargaining agreement. Star Bulk and the Subsidiaries are in
compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws respecting
employment and employment practices, terms and conditions of employment and
wages and hours, and Star Bulk and the Subsidiaries are not engaged in any
unfair labor practice. There is no labor strike, slowdown or stoppage pending
(or, to the Knowledge of Star Bulk, any labor strike or stoppage threatened)
against or affecting Star Bulk or the Subsidiaries. No petition for
certification has been filed and is pending before any Governmental Authority
with respect to any employees of Star Bulk or the Subsidiaries who are not
currently organized.
To
Star
Bulk’s knowledge, no key employee or group of employees has any plans to
terminate employment with Star Bulk or any of the Subsidiaries.
3.13
|
Financial
Statements.
|
Star
Bulk
has provided Star Maritime with a draft of the audited consolidated balance
sheet dated
February 5, 2007 (the “Star
Bulk Financial Statement”).
The
Star Bulk Financial Statement presents fairly, in all material respects, the
consolidated financial position and results of operations of Star Bulk and
the
Subsidiaries as of the dates, period and year indicated, prepared in accordance
with GAAP, and to the Knowledge of Star Bulk, in accordance with Regulation
S-X,
promulgated by the SEC, and, in particular, Rules 1-02 and 3-05 thereunder.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (i) as of the date of the
consolidated balance sheet comprising a portion of the Star Bulk Financial
Statement, there was no material debt, liability or obligation of any nature
not
reflected or reserved against in the Star Bulk Financial Statement or in the
notes thereto required to be so reflected or reserved in accordance with GAAP,
and (ii) there are no assets of Star Bulk or the Subsidiaries, the value of
which (in the reasonable judgment of Star Bulk) is materially overstated in
the
Star Bulk Financial Statement. Except as incurred in the ordinary course of
business since December 31, 2006, Star Bulk has no known material contingent
liabilities (including liabilities for Taxes) other than as contemplated
hereunder or in connection herewith. Star Bulk is not a party to any contract
or
agreement for the forward purchase or sale of any foreign currency and has
not
invested in any “derivatives.” There will not be any material adverse change to
Star Bulk’s Financial Statement.
3.14
|
Absence
of Certain Changes or
Events.
|
Except
as
set forth in Schedule 3.14 or in connection with this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby, since December 31, 2006
there
has not been:
(a) any
material adverse change in the financial condition, operations, properties,
assets, liabilities or business of Star Bulk;
(b) any
material damage, destruction or loss of any material properties of Star Bulk
and
the Subsidiaries, whether or not covered by insurance, which would have a
Material Adverse Effect on Star Bulk;
(c) any
material change in the manner in which the business of the Company has been
conducted, which would have a Material Adverse Effect on Star Bulk;
(d) any
material change in the treatment and protection of trade secrets or other
confidential information of Star Bulk and the Subsidiaries, which would have
a
Material Adverse Effect on Star Bulk; and
(e) any
occurrence not included in paragraphs (a) through (d) of this Section 3.14
which
has resulted, or which Star Bulk has reason to believe, could reasonably be
expected to result, in a Material Adverse Effect on Star Bulk.
3.15
|
Dividends
and Distributions.
|
All
dividends and other distributions declared and payable on the shares of capital
stock of the Subsidiaries may under the current Laws of the Republic of the
Marshall Islands be paid in United States dollars and may be freely transferred
out of the Marshall Islands and all such dividends and other distributions
are
not subject to withholding or other taxes under the current laws and regulations
of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and are otherwise free and clear of
any
other Tax, withholding or deduction in, and without the necessity of obtaining
any consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, licenses, registrations,
clearances and qualifications of or with any Governmental Authority in, the
Republic of the Marshall Islands.
3.16
|
Related
Transactions.
|
No
relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among Star Bulk or either
of
the Subsidiaries on the one hand, and the directors, officers, shareholders,
customers or suppliers of Star Bulk or either of the Subsidiaries on the other
hand. Since the date of its incorporation, Star Bulk has not, directly or
indirectly, including through any Subsidiary, extended or maintained credit,
or
arranged for the extension of credit, or renewed or amended any extension of
credit, in the form of a personal loan to or for any of its directors or
executive officers.
Star
Bulk
is not an “investment company’ or an entity “controlled” by an “investment
company”, as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of
1940.
3.18
|
Passive
Foreign Investment
Company.
|
To
Star
Bulk’s best Knowledge, it does not believe it is a Passive Foreign Investment
Company (“PFIC”)
within
the meaning of Section 1296 of the Code, and does not believe it is likely
to
become a PFIC.
Star
Bulk
and each of the Subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial
responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are
customary and in accordance with standard industry practice in the businesses
in
which they are engaged. Neither Star Bulk nor any such Subsidiary has received
any notice from any insurance company that any insurance policy has been
canceled or that such insurance company intends to cancel any such policy.
Neither Star Bulk nor any such Subsidiary has reason to believe that Star Bulk
and each Subsidiary will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage
as
and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar
insurers as may be necessary to continue its business.
3.20
|
Disclosure
Controls.
|
Star
Bulk
has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term
is defined in Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act), which (i) are designed to
ensure that material information relating to Star Bulk, including the
Subsidiaries, is made known to Star Bulk’s principal executive officer and its
principal financial officer by others within those entities, particularly during
the preparation of the Proxy Statement; (ii) have been evaluated for
effectiveness as of the date of this Agreement; and (iii) are effective in
all
material respects to perform the functions for which they were
established.
3.21
|
Absence
of Material
Weaknesses.
|
Based
on
the evaluation of its internal controls over financial reporting, Star Bulk
is
not aware of (i) any significant deficiency or material weakness in the design
or operation of internal controls over financial reporting which are reasonably
likely to adversely affect its
ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; or
(ii)
any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees
who have a significant role in the internal controls over financial reporting.
3.22
|
Books,
Records and Accounts.
|
Star
Bulk’s books, records and accounts fairly and accurately reflect in all material
respects transactions and dispositions of assets by Star Bulk and the
Subsidiaries, and to the Knowledge of Star Bulk, the system of internal
accounting controls of Star Bulk is sufficient to assure that: (a) transactions
are executed in accordance with management’s authorization; (b) transactions are
recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in
conformity with GAAP, and to maintain accountability for assets; (c) access
to
assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s authorization; and (d)
the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets
at
reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any
differences.
3.23
|
Brokers
and Finders.
|
Star
Bulk
has not employed any investment banker, broker, finder or intermediary in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement which would
be
entitled to any investment banking, brokerage, finder’s or similar fee or
commission in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
hereby.
3.24
|
No
Omissions or Untrue
Statements.
|
No
representation or warranty made by Star Bulk to Star Maritime in this Agreement
or in any certificate of or Star Bulk officer required to be delivered to Star
Maritime pursuant to the terms of this Agreement contains or will contain any
untrue statement of a material fact, or omits or will omit to state a material
fact necessary to make the statements contained herein or therein in light
of
the circumstances in which made not misleading as of the date hereof and as
of
the Closing Date.
Article
IV.
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF STAR MARITIME
Star
Maritime hereby represents and warrants to Star Bulk as follows (subject in
each
case to such exceptions as are set forth or cross-referenced in the attached
Schedules
corresponding to the Section of the representation or warranty to which such
exceptions relate):
4.1
|
Organization
and Qualification.
|
Star
Maritime is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. Star Maritime has all
requisite corporate power to carry on its business as it is now being conducted
and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good
standing in all jurisdictions set forth in Schedule 4.1, and to Star Maritime’s
Knowledge, such jurisdictions are the only ones in which the properties owned,
leased or operated by Star Maritime or the nature of the business conducted
by
Star Maritime makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure
to
qualify (individually or in the aggregate) will not have any Material Adverse
Effect on Star Maritime. The copies of the Certificate of Incorporation and
By-laws of Star Maritime, as amended to date and delivered to Star Bulk, are
true and complete copies of these documents as now in effect. The minute books
of Star Maritime are accurate in all material respects.
The
authorized capital stock of Star Maritime as of the date hereof consists of
100,000,000
shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share , of which 29,026,924 shares
are issued and outstanding and 1,000,000 shares of preferred shares, $0.0001
par
value, none of which are outstanding. In addition, there are authorized, issued
and outstanding 20,000,000 Warrants (the “Star
Maritime Warrants”)
providing for the issuance, upon exercise, of a like number of shares of Star
Maritime Common Stock. The Star Maritime Warrants are each exercisable at $8.00
per share and are each callable for redemption by Star Maritime upon the
occurrence of certain events specified therein. All of the outstanding
securities of Star Maritime are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid
and
non-assessable, and were not issued in violation of the preemptive rights of
any
Person. All of the outstanding securities of Star Maritime, including the Star
Maritime Shares , and the Star Maritime Warrants, were issued in compliance
with
all applicable securities laws. No shares of capital stock are held in the
treasury of Star Maritime. Other than as stated in this Section 4.2, there
are no outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, calls or rights of any
kind
issued or granted by, or binding upon Star Maritime, to purchase or otherwise
acquire any shares of capital stock of Star Maritime or other securities of
Star
Maritime. Except as stated in this Section 4.2, there are no outstanding
securities convertible or exchangeable, actually or contingently, into shares
of
Star Maritime Common Stock or other securities of Star Maritime.
Star
Maritime has one
subsidiary, Star Bulk. Star Maritime owns all of the issued and outstanding
shares of stock of Star Bulk, free and clear of any Liens does not hold any
equity interest in any other Person (except indirectly the shares of the
Subsidiaries through its ownership of Star Bulk) .
4.4
|
Authority;
Non-Contravention;
Approvals.
|
(a) Star
Maritime has full corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement
and, subject to the Star Maritime Stockholders’ Approval, to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby. Star Maritime’s execution and delivery of this
Agreement, and its consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, have
been duly authorized by its board of directors and no other corporate
proceedings on its part are necessary to authorize its execution and delivery
of
this Agreement and its consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby,
except for the Star Maritime Stockholders’ Approval which will be solicited in
accordance with Sections 6.2 and 6.4hereof. This Agreement has been duly and
validly executed and delivered by Star Maritime, and constitutes its valid
and
binding agreement, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except
that such enforcement may be subject to the Enforceability
Exception.
(b) Star
Maritime’s execution and delivery of this Agreement does not, and its
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not, violate, conflict
with or result in a breach of any provision of, or constitute a default (or
an
event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default)
under, or result in the termination of, or accelerate the performance required
by, or result in a right of termination or acceleration under, or result in
the
creation of any Lien upon any of its properties or assets under any of the
terms, conditions or provisions of (i) its Certificate of Incorporation or
By-laws, (ii) subject to obtaining the Star Maritime Stockholders’ Approval, any
Law or Order, injunction, writ, permit or license of any Governmental Authority
applicable to it or any of its properties or assets, or (iii) any note, bond,
mortgage, indenture, deed of trust, license, franchise, permit, concession,
contract, lease or other instrument, obligation or agreement of any kind to
which it is now a party or by which it or any of its properties or assets may
be
bound, excluding from the foregoing clauses (ii) and (iii), such violations,
conflicts, breaches, defaults, terminations, accelerations or creations of
liens, security interests, charges or encumbrances that do not, in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on Star Maritime.
(c) Except
for the filing and clearance of preliminary proxy materials with the SEC
pursuant to the Exchange Act, no declaration, filing or registration with,
or
notice to, or authorization, consent or approval of, any governmental or
regulatory body or authority is necessary for Star Maritime’s execution and
delivery of this Agreement or its consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby, other than such declarations, filings, registrations, notices,
authorizations, consents or approvals which, if not made or obtained, as the
case may be, would not, in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on
Star
Maritime.
4.5
|
Contracts
Listed; No Default.
|
All
material contracts, agreements, licenses, leases, easements, permits, rights
of
way, commitments and understandings, written or oral, connected with or relating
in any respect to the present or future operations of Star Maritime are, with
the exception of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby,
described in Star Maritime’s SEC Reports and listed as exhibits thereto (the
“Star
Maritime Contracts”).
The
Star Maritime Contracts are valid and binding upon Star Maritime, and to Star
Maritime’s Knowledge, the other parties thereto, and are in full force and
effect and enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to the
Enforceability Exception and neither Star Maritime, nor to Star Maritime’s
Knowledge, any other party to any Star Maritime Contract, has materially
breached any provision of, nor has any event occurred which, with the lapse
of
time or action by a third party, could result in a material default under,
the
terms thereof. To the Knowledge of Star Maritime, no stockholder of Star
Maritime has received any payment in violation of law from any contracting
party
in connection with or as an inducement for causing Star Maritime to enter into
any Star Maritime Contract.
There
is
no (i) claim, action, suit or proceeding pending or, to Star Maritime’s
Knowledge, threatened against or directly relating to Star Maritime before
any
Governmental Authority, or (ii) outstanding Order, or application, request
or
motion therefor, of any Governmental Authority in a proceeding to which Star
Maritime or any of its assets was or is a party except, in the case of clauses
(i) and (ii) above, such as would not, individually or in the aggregate, either
materially impair or preclude Star Maritime’s ability to consummate the Merger
or the other transactions contemplated hereby or have a Material Adverse Effect
on Star Maritime.
Star
Maritime has duly filed with the appropriate Governmental Authorities all Tax
Returns required to be filed by it other than Tax Returns which the failure
to
file would have no Material Adverse Effect on Star Maritime. All such Tax
Returns were, when filed, and are accurate and complete in all material respects
and were prepared in conformity with applicable laws and regulations. Star
Maritime has paid or will pay in full or has adequately reserved against all
Taxes otherwise assessed against it through the Closing Date. Star Maritime
is
not a party to any pending action or proceeding by any Governmental Authority
for the assessment of any Tax, and no claim for assessment or collection of
any
Tax has been asserted against Star Maritime that has not been paid. There are
no
Tax Liens upon the assets of Star Maritime (other than Liens for Taxes not
yet
due and payable). There is no valid basis, to Star Maritime’s Knowledge, for any
assessment, deficiency, notice, 30-day letter or similar intention to assess
any
Tax to be issued to Star Maritime by any Governmental Authority.
Star
Maritime has no employee benefit plans as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA
nor
any employment agreements.
Star
Maritime is not in violation of and has not been given notice or been charged
with any violation of, any Law, or Order, (including, without limitation, any
applicable environmental law, ordinance or regulation) of any Governmental
Authority, except for violations which, in the aggregate, do not have, and
would
not reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect on Star Maritime.
Star Maritime has not received any written notice that any investigation or
review with respect to it by any Governmental Authority is pending or
threatened, other than, in each case, those the outcome of which, as far as
reasonably can be foreseen, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect on Star Maritime. Star Maritime has all permits, licenses,
franchises, variances, exemptions, orders and other governmental authorizations,
consents and approvals necessary to conduct its business as presently conducted,
except for those, the absence of which, alone or in the aggregate, would not
have a Material Adverse Effect on Star Maritime (collectively, the “Star
Maritime Permits”).
Star
Maritime (a) has duly and timely filed all reports and other information
required to be filed with any Governmental Authority in connection with the
Star
Maritime Permits, and (b) is not in violation of the terms of any of the Star
Maritime Permits, except for such omissions or delays in filings, reports or
violations which, alone or in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse
Effect on Star Maritime.
Star
Maritime has good and marketable title to all of the assets and properties
which
it purports to own as reflected on the most recent balance sheet comprising
a
portion of the Star Maritime Financial Statements or thereafter acquired (except
assets and properties sold or otherwise disposed of since the date of such
balance sheet in the ordinary course of business). Star Maritime has a valid
leasehold interest in all properties of which it is the lessee and each such
lease is valid, binding and enforceable against Star Maritime, and, to the
knowledge of Star Maritime, the other parties thereto in accordance with its
terms, subject to the Enforceability Exception. Neither Star Maritime nor,
to
Star Maritime’s Knowledge, the other parties thereto are in default in the
performance of any material provision thereunder. Neither the whole nor any
material portion of the assets of Star Maritime is subject to any governmental
decree or order to be sold or is being condemned, expropriated or otherwise
taken by any public authority with or without payment of compensation therefor,
nor, to the Knowledge of Star Maritime, has any such condemnation, expropriation
or taking been proposed. None of the material assets of Star Maritime is subject
to any restriction which would have
a
Materially Adverse Effect on Star Maritime.
None
of
the information to be supplied by Star Maritime for inclusion in the Proxy
Statement,
or in
any amendments thereof or supplements thereto, at the time of the mailing of
the
Proxy Statement and at the time of the Star Maritime Special Meeting contain
any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein,
in
light of the circumstances under which they are made, not
misleading.
Star
Maritime, since its formation, has engaged in no business other than to seek
to
serve as a vehicle for the acquisition of an operating business, and, except
for
this Agreement, is not a party to any contract or agreement for the acquisition
of an operating business. Star Maritime has no employees.
4.13
|
Financial
Statements.
|
The
financial statements of Star Maritime (collectively, the “Star
Maritime Financial Statements”)
included in Star Maritime’s SEC Reports present fairly, in all material
respects, the financial position and results of operations of Star Maritime
as
of the respective dates, years and periods indicated, prepared in accordance
with GAAP, applied on a consistent basis, and to the Knowledge of Star Maritime,
in accordance with Regulation S-X of the SEC and, in particular, Rules 1-02
and
3-05 thereunder (subject, in the case of unaudited interim period financial
statements, to normal and recurring year-end adjustments which, individually
or
collectively, are not material to Star Maritime). Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, (i) there is no basis for any assertion against
Star Maritime as of the date of the most recent balance sheet comprising a
portion of the Star Maritime Financial Statements of any material debt,
liability or obligation of any nature not fully reflected or reserved against
in
the Star Maritime Financial Statements or in the notes thereto required to
be so
reflected or reserved in accordance with GAAP; and (ii) there are no assets
of
Star Maritime, the value of which (in the reasonable judgment of Star Maritime)
is materially overstated in the Star Maritime Financial Statements. Except
as
disclosed therein or as incurred in the ordinary course of business since
December 31, 2004, Star Maritime has no known material contingent liabilities
(including liabilities for Taxes). Star Maritime is not a party to any contract
or agreement for the forward purchase or sale of any foreign currency and has
not invested in any “derivatives.”
4.14
|
Star
Maritime’s SEC
Reports.
|
The
Star
Maritime Common Stock has been registered under Section 12 of the Exchange
Act
on Form 8-A. Since its inception, Star Maritime has filed all reports,
registration statements and other documents, together with any amendments
thereto, required to be filed under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act,
including but not limited to reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q, and Star
Maritime will file all such reports, registration statements and other documents
required to be filed by it from the date of this Agreement to the Closing Date
(all such reports, registration statements and documents, including its Form
8-A, filed or to be filed with the SEC, including Star Maritime’s initial
registration statement relating to the Star Maritime Common Stock, and the
Star
Maritime Warrants, with the exception of the Proxy Statement, are collectively
referred to as “Star
Maritime’s SEC Reports”).
As of
their respective dates, Star Maritime’s SEC Reports complied or will comply in
all material respects with all rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC
and
did not or will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they
were
made, not misleading. Neither Star Maritime nor any of its respective directors
or officers is the subject of any investigation, inquiry or proceeding before
the SEC or any state securities commission or administrative
agency.
4.15
|
Absence
of Certain Changes or
Events.
|
Since
December 31, 2006
there
has not been:
(a) any
material adverse change in the financial condition, operations, properties,
assets, liabilities or business of Star Maritime;
(b) any
material damage, destruction or loss of any material properties of Star
Maritime, whether or not covered by insurance, which would have a Materially
Adverse Effect on Star Maritime;
(c) any
change in the manner in which the business of Star Maritime has been
conducted;
(d) any
material change in the treatment and protection of trade secrets or other
confidential information of Star Maritime, which would have a Materially Adverse
Effect on Star Maritime; and
(e) any
occurrence not included in paragraphs (a) through (d) of this Section which
has
resulted, or which Star Maritime has reason to believe, could reasonably be
expected to result, in a Material Adverse Effect on Star Maritime.
4.16
|
Books,
Records and Accounts.
|
Star
Maritime’s books, records and accounts fairly and accurately reflect in all
material respects transactions and dispositions of assets by Star Maritime,
and
to the Knowledge of Star Maritime, the system of internal accounting controls
of
Star Maritime is sufficient to assure that: (a) transactions are executed in
accordance with management’s authorization; (b) transactions are recorded as
necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with
GAAP,
and to maintain accountability for assets; (c) access to assets is permitted
only in accordance with management’s authorization; and (d) the recorded
accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable
intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any
differences.
4.17
|
Disclosure
Controls.
|
Star
Maritime has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as
such term is defined in Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act), which (i) are
designed to ensure that material information relating to Star Maritime is made
known to Star Maritime’s principal executive officer and its principal financial
officer by others within those entities, particularly during the preparation
of
the Proxy Statement; (ii) have been evaluated for effectiveness as of the date
of this Agreement; and (iii) are effective in all material respects to perform
the functions for which they were established.
4.18
|
Absence
of Material
Weaknesses.
|
Based
on
the evaluation of its internal controls over financial reporting, Star Maritime
is not aware of (i) any significant deficiency or material weakness in the
design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting which are
reasonably likely to adversely affect Star
Maritime’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial
information; or (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves
management or other employees who have a significant role in the internal
controls over financial reporting.
4.19
|
Brokers
and Finders.
|
Star
Maritime has not employed any investment banker, broker, finder or intermediary
in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement which would
be entitled to any investment banking, brokerage, finder’s or similar fee or
commission in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
hereby.
4.20
|
No
Omissions or Untrue
Statements.
|
No
representation or warranty made by Star Maritime to Star Bulk in this Agreement,
any
Schedules thereto or in any certificate of a Star Maritime officer required
to
be delivered to Star Bulk pursuant to the terms of this Agreement contains
or
will contain any untrue statement of a material fact, or omits or will omit
to
state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained herein or
therein in light of the circumstances in which made not misleading as of the
date hereof and as of the Closing Date.
Article
V.
CONDUCT
OF BUSINESS PENDING THE MERGER
5.1
|
Conduct
of Business Prior to Effective
Time.
|
Each
of
Star Maritime and Star Bulk, as applicable, hereby covenants and agrees as
follows, from and after the date of this Agreement and until the Effective
Time,
except as specifically consented to in writing by the other party:
(a) It
shall
conduct its business in the ordinary and usual course of business and consistent
with past practice;
(b) It
shall
not (i) split, combine or reclassify its outstanding capital stock or declare,
set aside or pay any dividend or distribution payable in cash, stock, property
or otherwise, (ii) spin-off any assets or businesses, (iii) engage in any
transaction for the purpose of effecting a recapitalization, or (iv) engage
in
any transaction or series of related transactions which has a similar effect
to
any of the foregoing;
(c) It
shall
not issue, sell, pledge or dispose of, or agree to issue, sell, pledge or
dispose of, any additional shares of, or any options, warrants or rights of
any
kind to acquire any shares of its capital stock of any class or any debt or
equity securities convertible into or exchangeable for such capital stock or
amend or modify the terms and conditions of any of the foregoing, provided,
however, that it may issue shares upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants
or stock purchase rights;
(d) It
shall
not (i) redeem, purchase, acquire or offer to purchase or acquire any shares
of
its capital stock, other than as required by the governing terms of such
securities, (ii) take or fail to take any action which action or failure to
take
action would cause it or its stockholders (except to the extent that any
stockholders receive cash in lieu of fractional shares) to recognize gain or
loss for Tax purposes as a result of the consummation of the Merger, (iii)
make
any acquisition of any material assets (except in the ordinary course of
business) or businesses, (iv) sell any material assets (except in the ordinary
course of business) or businesses, or (v) enter into any contract, agreement,
commitment or arrangement to do any of the foregoing;
(e) It
shall
use reasonable efforts to preserve intact its business organization and
goodwill, keep available the services of its present officers and key employees,
and preserve the goodwill and business relationships with suppliers,
distributors, customers, and others having business relationships with it,
and
not engage in any action, directly or indirectly, with the intent to impact
adversely the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
(f) It
shall
confer on a regular basis with one or more representatives of the other to
report on material operational matters and the general status of ongoing
operations; and
(g) It
shall
file with the SEC all forms, statements, reports and documents (including all
exhibits, amendments and supplements thereto) required to be filed by it
pursuant to the Exchange Act.
(a) Star
Bulk
agrees that, prior to the Effective Time or the termination or abandonment
of
this Agreement, that it shall not, and shall not give authorization or
permission to any of Star Bulk’s directors, officers, employees, agents or
representatives to, and each shall use all reasonable efforts to see that such
persons do not, directly or indirectly, solicit, initiate, facilitate or
encourage (including by way of furnishing or disclosing information) any merger,
consolidation, other business combination involving Star Bulk or any of the
Subsidiaries, acquisition of all or any substantial portion of the assets or
capital stock of Star Bulk or any of the Subsidiaries or inquiries or proposals
concerning or which may reasonably be expected to lead to any of the foregoing
(an “Star
Bulk Acquisition Transaction”)
or
negotiate, explore or otherwise knowingly communicate in any way with any third
party (other than Star Maritime or its Affiliates) with respect to any Star
Bulk
Acquisition Transaction or enter into any agreement, arrangement or
understanding requiring Star Bulk to abandon, terminate or fail to consummate
the Merger or any other transaction expressly contemplated by this Agreement,
or
contemplated to be a material part thereof. Star Bulk shall advise Star Maritime
in writing of any bona fide
inquiries or proposals relating to any Star Bulk Acquisition Transaction within
one business day following receipt by Star Bulk of any such inquiry or proposal.
Star Bulk shall also promptly advise any person seeking an Star Bulk Acquisition
Transaction that it is bound by the provisions of this Section
5.2(a).
(b) Star
Maritime agrees that, prior to the Effective Time or the termination or
abandonment of this Agreement, Star Maritime shall not give authorization or
permission to any of its directors, officers, employees, agents or
representatives to, and each shall use all reasonable efforts to see that such
persons do not, directly or indirectly, solicit, initiate, facilitate or
encourage (including by way of furnishing or disclosing information) any merger,
consolidation, other business combination involving Star Maritime, acquisition
of all or any substantial portion of the assets or capital stock of Star
Maritime, or inquiries or proposals which may reasonably be expected to lead
to
any of the foregoing (a “Star
Maritime Acquisition Transaction”)
or
negotiate, explore or otherwise knowingly communicate in any way with any third
party with respect to any Star Maritime Acquisition Transaction or enter into
any agreement, arrangement or understanding requiring it to abandon, terminate
or fail to consummate the Merger or any other transaction expressly contemplated
by this Agreement, or contemplated to be a material part thereof. Star Maritime
shall advise Star Bulk in writing of any bona fide
inquiries or proposals relating to a Star Maritime Acquisition Transaction,
within one business day following Star Maritime’s receipt of any such inquiry or
proposal. Star Maritime shall also promptly advise any person seeking a Star
Maritime Acquisition Transaction that it is bound by the provisions of this
Section 5.2(b).
Article
VI.
ADDITIONAL
AGREEMENTS
6.1
|
Access
to Information.
|
Each
of
Star Maritime and Star Bulk shall afford to the other and the other’s
accountants, counsel, financial advisors and other representatives reasonable
access during normal business hours throughout the period prior to the Effective
Time to all properties, books, contracts, commitments and records (including,
but not limited to, Tax Returns) of it and, during such period, shall furnish
promptly (a) a copy of each report, schedule and other document filed or
received by it during such period pursuant to the requirements of federal or
state securities laws or filed by it during such period with the SEC in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or which may
have a Material Adverse Effect on it and (b) such other information concerning
its business, properties and personnel as the other shall reasonably request;
provided, however, that no investigation pursuant to this Section 6.1 shall
affect any representation or warranty made herein or the conditions to the
obligations of the respective parties to consummate the Merger. All non-public
documents and information furnished to Star Maritime or Star Bulk, as the case
may be, in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
shall
be deemed to have been received, and shall be held by the recipient, in
confidence, except that Star Maritime and Star Bulk, as applicable, may disclose
such information as may be required under applicable Law or as may be necessary
in connection with the preparation of the Proxy Statement. Each party shall
promptly advise the others, in writing, of any change or the occurrence of
any
event after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Effective Time having,
or which, insofar as can reasonably be foreseen, in the future would reasonably
be expected to have, any Material Adverse Effect on Star Bulk or Star Maritime,
as applicable.
6.2
|
Star
Bulk Registration
Statement.
|
(a) Star
Bulk
covenants and agrees to file with the SEC as soon as shall be reasonably
practicable following the date of this Agreement (provided Star Maritime shall
have supplied Star Bulk with the Proxy Statement to be included therein), at
its
sole cost and expense, a registration statement on Form F-1/F-4 or comparable
form (the “Star
Bulk Registration Statement”)
which
shall include a joint proxy statement/prospectus (the “Proxy
Statement”)
relating to the solicitation of the Star Maritime Stockholders’ Approval of, and
covering the issuance of the Star Bulk Shares in, the Merger, the Star Bulk
Warrants and the shares of Star Bulk common stock underlying the Star Bulk
Warrants. Star Bulk shall use all reasonable best efforts to have the Star
Bulk
Registration Statement declared effective by the SEC as promptly as practicable
thereafter. Star Bulk shall also take any action (other than qualifying to
do
business in any jurisdiction in which it is not now so qualified or to file
a
general consent to service of process) required to be taken under any applicable
state securities Laws in connection with the issuance of Star Bulk Shares and
the Star Bulk Warrants in the Merger. No filing of, or amendment or supplement
to, or correspondence to the SEC or its staff with respect to, the Star Bulk
Registration Statement or the Proxy Statement will be made by Star Bulk, without
providing Star Maritime a reasonable opportunity to review and comment thereon.
Star Bulk will advise Star Maritime, promptly after it receives notice thereof,
of the time when the Star Bulk Registration Statement has become effective
or
any supplement or amendment has been filed to the Star Bulk Registration
Statement or the Proxy Statement, the issuance of any stop order, the suspension
of the qualification of Star Bulk Shares issuable in connection with the Merger
for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or any request by the SEC for
amendment of the Star Bulk Registration Statement, the Proxy Statement or
comments thereon and responses thereto or requests by the SEC for additional
information. If at any time prior to the Effective Time any information relating
to Star Maritime or Star Bulk, or any of their respective Affiliates, officers
or directors, should be discovered by Star Maritime or Star Bulk which should
be
set forth in an amendment or supplement to any of the Star Bulk Registration
Statement or the Proxy Statement, so that any of such documents would not
include any misstatement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading, the party which discovers such information
shall promptly notify the other parties hereto and an appropriate amendment
or
supplement describing such information shall be promptly filed with the SEC
and,
to the extent required by law, disseminated to the stockholders of Star
Maritime.
(b) Star
Maritime and Star Bulk shall promptly furnish to each other all information,
and
take such other actions, as may reasonably be requested in connection with
any
action by any of them in connection with the preparation and filing of the
Star
Bulk Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement and shall cooperate with
one
another and use their respective best efforts to facilitate the expeditious
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
6.3
|
SEC
Filings by Star
Maritime.
|
Star
Maritime shall file with the SEC, as soon as reasonably practicable following
the filing of the Star Bulk Registration Statement, any document required to
be
filed by it in connection with the Merger and the Star Maritime Stockholders’
Approval contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, any
documents required under the SEC’s Regulation 14A.
6.4
|
Stockholders’
Approval.
|
Star
Maritime shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain Star Maritime
stockholder approval and adoption of this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby (the “Star Maritime Stockholders’ Approval”), as soon
as practicable in accordance with applicable Delaware law and the Star Maritime
Bylaws following the date on which the Star Bulk Registration Statement is
declared effective by the SEC, as follows: (i) the Merger shall have
been approved by a majority of Star Maritime Shares issued and outstanding
and
entitled to vote thereon; (ii) the Merger shall have been approved by
a majority of the Transaction Shares (as defined below), including the Private
Placement Shares (as defined below); and (iii) holders of less than
6,600,000 Star Maritime Shares, such number representing 33.0% of the
Transaction Shares, vote against the Merger and elect to exercise redemption
rights. “Transaction Shares” shall mean (i) the 18,867,500 Star Maritime Shares
issued as part of the units sold in Star Maritime’s initial public offering
which closed on December 21, 2005; and (ii) the 1,132,500 Star Maritime Shares
acquired by certain officers and directors of Star Maritime in the private
placement which closed on December 15, 2005 (the “Private Placement”). Holders
of the Private Placement Shares have agreed to vote such shares in favor
of the
Merger. Star Maritime shall, through its board of directors, recommend to
the
holders of Star Maritime Common Stock approval of this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Prokopios (Akis) Tsirigakis,
George
Syllantavos, Petros Pappas, Koert Erhardt and Tom Søfteland (the “Star
Maritime Directors”), in their capacities as members of the board of
directors of Star Maritime but subject to their fiduciary duty to the
stockholders of Star Maritime, in connection with the solicitation of proxies
pursuant to the Proxy Statement, shall unanimously recommend the approval
and
adoption of the Merger and this Agreement by the stockholders of Star Maritime.
6.5
|
Stock
Exchange Listing/Exchange Act Listing.
|
Star
Maritime and Star Bulk shall each use its reasonable best efforts to file,
at or
before the Effective Time, authorization for listing of the Star Bulk Shares
and
the Star Bulk Exchange Securities on the NASDAQ National Market (the
“Stock
Exchange Listing”).
In
addition, Star Bulk shall, as soon as reasonably practicable, file a
registration statement under the Exchange Act and use its reasonable best
efforts to cause the SEC to declare such registration statement effective with
respect to the listing of the Star Bulk Shares issued in the Merger, the Star
Bulk Warrants and the shares of Star Bulk common stock underlying the Star
Bulk
Exchange Securities (the “Exchange
Act Listing”).
6.6
|
Star
Maritime Warrants.
|
At
the
Effective Time, Star Bulk shall assume each Star Maritime Warrant in accordance
with the terms of the agreement under which it was issued and all rights with
respect to Star Maritime Shares
under each Star Maritime Warrant then outstanding shall be converted into and
become Star Bulk. Accordingly, after the Effective Time, each holder of Star
Bulk Warrants at the time of exercise shall receive a number of Star Bulk Shares
(rounded up to the nearest whole share) equal to the number of shares of Star
Maritime Share subject to such Star Maritime Warrant immediately prior to the
Effective Time multiplied by the Exchange Ratio at an exercise price per Star
Bulk Share (rounded up to the nearest whole cent) equal to the exercise price
in
effect prior to the Effective Time divided by the Exchange Ratio. The Star
Bulk
Warrants shall contain the same terms, conditions and restrictions that were
applicable to the Star Maritime Warrants. Prior to the Effective Time, Star
Bulk
shall take all necessary action to assume as of the Effective Time all
obligations undertaken by Star Bulk under this Section 6.6, including the
reservation, issuance and listing of a number of Star Bulk Shares at least
equal
to the number of Star Bulk Shares subject to the assumed Star Maritime
Warrants.
6.7
|
Agreement
to Cooperate.
|
Subject
to the terms and conditions herein provided, each of the parties hereto shall
cooperate and use their respective best efforts to take, or cause to be taken,
all action and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or
advisable under applicable laws and regulations to consummate and make effective
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including using its reasonable
efforts to obtain all necessary or appropriate waivers, consents and approvals
to effect all necessary registrations, filings and submissions and to lift
any
injunction or other legal bar to the Merger (and, in such case, to proceed
with
the Merger as expeditiously as possible), subject, however, to obtaining the
Star Maritime Stockholders’ Approval; and provided that nothing in this Section
6.7 shall affect any responsibility or obligation specifically allocated to
any
party in this Agreement.
6.8
|
Corrections
to the Proxy Statement and the Star Bulk Registration
Statement.
|
Prior
to
the Closing Date, each of Star Bulk and Star Maritime shall correct promptly
any
information provided by it to be used specifically in the Proxy Statement and
the Star Bulk Registration Statement that shall have become false or misleading
in any material respect and shall take all steps necessary to file with the
SEC
and have cleared by the SEC any amendment or supplement to the Proxy Statement
and the Star Bulk Registration Statement so as to correct the same and to cause
appropriate dissemination thereof to the stockholders of Star Maritime, to
the
extent required by applicable Law.
6.9
|
Disclosure
Supplements.
|
From
time
to time prior to the Closing Date, and in any event immediately prior to the
Closing Date, each of Star Maritime and Star Bulk shall promptly supplement
or
amend its Schedules
hereto
with respect to any matter hereafter arising that, if existing, occurring or
known at the date of this Agreement, would have been required to be set forth
or
described in such Schedule or that is necessary to correct any information
in
such Schedule that is or has become inaccurate. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
if any such supplement or amendment discloses a Material Adverse Effect, the
conditions to the other party’s obligations to consummate the Merger set forth
in Article VII hereof shall be deemed not to have been satisfied.
Article
VII.
CONDITIONS
7.1
|
Conditions
to Each Party’s Obligations to Effect the
Merger.
|
The
respective obligation of each party to effect the Merger shall be subject to
the
fulfillment at or prior to the Closing Date of the following
conditions:
(a) Star
Maritime shall have obtained the Star Maritime Stockholders’
Approval;
(b) The
Star
Bulk Registration Statement shall have become effective under the Securities
Act
and shall not be the subject of any stop order or proceedings seeking a stop
order;
(c) The
Star
Bulk Shares issuable to Star Maritime’s stockholders pursuant to Section 2.9
hereof, the Star Bulk Warrants issuable to Star Maritime shareholders pursuant
to Section 2.10 hereof and the Star Bulk Shares issuable upon exercise of such
Star Bulk Warrants shall have been approved for the Stock Exchange Listing
and
the Exchange Act Listing, subject to any notice of issuance or similar
requirement.
(d) The
Vessel Acquisition Agreements shall be in full force and effect;
(e) No
preliminary or permanent injunction or other order or decree by any Governmental
Authority which prevents or materially burdens the consummation of the Merger
shall have been issued and remain in effect (each party agreeing to use its
reasonable efforts to have any such injunction, order or decree
lifted);
(f) No
action
shall have been taken, and no statute, rule or regulation shall have been
enacted, by any Governmental Authority, which would prevent or materially burden
the consummation of the Merger;
(g) All
consents, orders and approvals legally required for the consummation of the
Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby shall have been obtained and
be
in effect at the Effective Time without any material limitations or conditions.
7.2
|
Conditions
to Obligations of Star Bulk to Effect the
Merger.
|
Unless
waived by Star Bulk, the obligation of Star Bulk to effect the Merger shall
also
be subject to the fulfillment at or prior to the Closing Date of the following
additional conditions:
(a) Star
Maritime shall have performed in all material respects its agreements contained
in this Agreement required to be performed on or prior to the Closing Date
and
the representations and warranties of Star Maritime contained in this Agreement
shall be true and correct in all material respects (except for those
representations and warranties which are themselves limited by a reference
to
materiality, which shall be true and correct in all respects other than as
modified) on and as of (i) the date made and (ii) the Closing Date (in each
case
except in the case of representations and warranties expressly made solely
with
reference to a particular date which shall be true and correct in all material
respects as of such date); and Star Bulk shall have received a certificate
of
the president of Star Maritime to that effect;
(b) Since
the
date of this Agreement there shall not have been any Material Adverse Effect
with respect to Star Maritime, the likelihood of which was not previously
disclosed to Star Bulk by Star Maritime as contemplated by this Agreement and
Star Maritime shall have engaged in no business activity since the date of
its
incorporation other than conducting a public offering of its securities and,
thereafter, seeking to effect a merger or similar business combination with
an
operating business;
(c) Star
Bulk
shall have received a certificate from the corporate Secretary of Star Maritime,
together with a certified copy of the resolutions duly authorized by Star
Maritime’s board of directors authorizing the Merger and, if applicable, the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
(d) Star
Bulk
shall have received a certificates of good standing for Star Maritime from
the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware dated as of a date that is within
five (5) days of the Closing Date;
(e) Star
Maritime shall have furnished to Star Bulk such additional certificates and
other customary closing documents as Star Bulk may have reasonably requested
as
to any of the conditions set forth in this Section 7.2;
(f) At
Closing, the Star Maritime capitalization shall be unchanged from that set
forth
in Section 4.2;
(g) Star
Maritime shall have conducted the operation of its business in material
compliance with all applicable Laws and all approvals required of Star Maritime
under applicable law to enable Star Maritime to perform its obligations under
this Agreement shall have been obtained; and
(h) All
corporate proceedings of Star Maritime in connection with the Merger and the
other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and all agreements,
instruments, certificates, and other documents delivered to Star Bulk by or
on
behalf of Star Maritime pursuant to this Agreement shall be reasonably
satisfactory to Star Bulk and its counsel.
7.3
|
Conditions
to Obligations of Star Maritime to Effect the
Merger.
|
Unless
waived by Star Maritime, the obligations of Star Maritime to effect the Merger
shall also be subject to the fulfillment at or prior to the Closing Date of
the
additional following conditions:
(a) Star
Bulk
shall have performed in all material respects their agreements contained in
this
Agreement required to be performed on or prior to the Closing Date and the
representations and warranties of Star Bulk contained in this Agreement shall
be
true and correct in all material respects (except for those representations
and
warranties which are themselves limited by a reference to materiality, which
shall be true and correct in all respects, other than as modified) on and as
of
(i) the date made and (ii) the Closing Date (in each case except in the case
of
representations and warranties expressly made solely with reference to a
particular date which shall be true and correct in all material respects as
of
such date); and Star Maritime shall have received a certificate of the president
of Star Bulk to that effect;
(b) Star
Maritime shall have received an opinion from Seward & Kissel LLP, U.S.
counsel to Star Maritime, dated the Closing Date, in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to Star Maritime, which shall include, among other
things, an opinion that (i) the Merger will be treated as a "reorganization"
within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, (ii) each of Star Bulk and
Star Maritime will be treated as a "party to a reorganization" within the
meaning of Section 368(b) of the Code, and (iii) neither Star Maritime nor
the
stockholders of Star Maritime (except to the extent of any cash received by
such
stockholders) will recognize any taxable gain or loss for U.S. federal income
tax purposes upon consummation of the Merger.
(c) Star
Maritime shall have received a certificate from the president of Star Bulk
that
the Vessel Acquisition Agreements are in full force and effect;
(d) Immediate
prior to Closing, Star Bulk’s capitalization shall be unchanged from that as set
forth in Section 3.3;
(e) Star
Maritime shall have received a certificate of the corporate Secretary of Star
Bulk together with a certified copy of the resolutions duly authorized by the
board of directors and the sole Star Bulk shareholder authorizing the Merger
and
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
(f) Star
Maritime shall have received a certificate of good standing for Star Bulk from
the Registrar of Corporations of the Republic of the Marshall Islands dated
as
of a date that is within five (5) days of the Closing Date;
(g) Star
Bulk
shall have furnished to Star Maritime such additional certificates and other
customary closing documents as Star Maritime may have reasonably requested
as to
any of the conditions set forth in this Section 7.3;
(h) Since
the
date of this Agreement there shall not have been any Material Adverse Effect
with respect to Star Bulk, the likelihood of which was not previously disclosed
to Star Maritime by Star Bulk;
(i) Star
Bulk
shall have amended its Articles of Incorporation and By-laws on terms reasonably
satisfactory to Star Maritime, including, but not limited to, removing any
ability of such company to issue bearer shares, and such documents shall be
in
full force and effect;
(j) Star
Bulk
shall be the sole registered and beneficial shareholder of the
Subsidiaries;
(k) Star
Maritime shall be the sole registered and beneficial shareholder of Star Bulk;
and
(l) All
corporate proceedings of Star Bulk in connection with the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and all agreements, instruments,
certificates and other documents delivered to Star Maritime by or on behalf
of
Star Bulk pursuant to this Agreement shall be in substantially the form called
for hereunder or otherwise reasonably satisfactory to Star Maritime and its
counsel.
Article
VIII.
TERMINATION,
AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
This
Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing Date, whether
before or after approval by the stockholders of Star Maritime:
(a) by
mutual
consent in writing of Star Maritime and Star Bulk;
(b) unilaterally
upon written notice by Star Maritime to Star Bulk in the event a material breach
of any material representation or warranty of Star Bulk contained in this
Agreement (unless such breach shall have been cured within ten (10) days after
the giving of such notice by Star Maritime), or the willful failure of Star
Bulk
to comply with or satisfy any material covenant or condition of Star Bulk
contained in this Agreement; or
(c) unilaterally
upon written notice by Star Bulk to Star Maritime in the event of a material
breach of any material representation or warranty of Star Maritime contained
in
this Agreement (unless such breach shall have been cured by Star Maritime within
ten (10) days after the giving of such notice by Star Bulk), or Star Maritime’s
willful failure to comply with or satisfy any material covenant or condition
of
Star Maritime contained in this Agreement, or if Star Maritime fails to obtain
the Star Maritime Stockholders’ Approval.
8.2
|
Effect
of Termination.
|
In
the
event of termination of this Agreement by either Star Maritime or Star Bulk,
as
provided in Section 8.1, this Agreement shall forthwith become void and there
shall be no further obligation on the part of either Star Bulk or Star Maritime
(except as set forth in the penultimate sentence of Section 6.1 (with respect
to
confidential and nonpublic information) and Section 8.5, which shall survive
such termination). Nothing in this Section 8.2 shall relieve any party from
liability for any breach of this Agreement.
This
Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf
of each of the parties hereto and in compliance with applicable
law.
At
any
time prior to the Effective Time, the parties hereto may (i) extend the time
for
the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other parties
hereto, (ii) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties
contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant thereto and (iii) waive
compliance with any of the agreements or conditions contained herein. Any
agreement on the part of a party hereto to any such extension or waiver shall
be
valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such
party.
Whether
or not the Merger is consummated, all costs and expenses incurred in connection
with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid
by
the party incurring such costs and expenses, except as otherwise specifically
provided for herein.
Article
IX.
GENERAL
PROVISIONS
All
notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be
deemed given if delivered personally (effective upon delivery), sent by a
reputable overnight courier service for next business day delivery (effective
the next business day) or sent via facsimile (effective upon receipt of the
telecopy in complete, readable form) to the parties at the following addresses
(or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like
notice):
(a) If
to
Star Maritime to:
Star
Maritime Acquisition Corp.
103
Foulk
Road
Wilmington,
DE 19803
with
a
copy to:
Seward
& Kissel LLP
One
Battery Park Plaza
New
York,
New York 10004
Attention:
Robert E. Lustrin, Esq.
FAX:
(212) 480-8421
(b) If
to
Star Bulk , to:
Star
Bulk
Carriers Corp.
40
Ag.
Konstantinou Avenue
Aethrion
Center, Suite B34
Maroussi
15124
Athens,
Greece
with
a
copy to:
Seward
& Kissel LLP
One
Battery Park Plaza
New
York,
New York 10004
Attention:
Robert E. Lustrin, Esq.
FAX:
(212) 480-8421
The
headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall
not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this
Agreement.
This
Agreement (including the documents and instruments referred to herein) (i)
constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all other prior agreements
and
understandings, both written and oral, among the parties, or any of them, with
respect to the subject matter hereof; (ii) shall not be assigned by contract,
operation of law or otherwise, and any attempt to do so shall be
void;
and
(iii) shall be governed in all respects, including validity, interpretation
and
effect, by the laws of the State of New York (without giving effect to the
provisions thereof relating to conflicts of law).
9.4
|
Submission
to Jurisdiction.
|
Each
of
the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself
and its property, to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of
the
State of New York sitting in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York
and of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
sitting in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York, and any appellate
court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating
to any matter set forth in this Agreement, and each of the parties hereto hereby
irrevocably agree that all claims in respect of such action or proceeding may
be
heard and determined in such New York State or Federal court. Star Maritime
and Star Bulk hereby irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent that they may
legally do so, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such
action or proceeding. Star Maritime and Star Bulk irrevocably consent to the
service of any and all process in any action or proceeding by the delivery
of
copies of such process to it at its notice address in Section 9.1. Star Maritime
and Star Bulk agree that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding
shall
be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment
or in any other manner provided by law.
9.5
|
Waiver
of Jury Trial.
|
THE
PARTIES HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVE, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE
LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY (BUT NO OTHER JUDICIAL REMEDIES) IN
ANY
LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE
TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
This
Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall
be
deemed to be an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same
agreement. In pleading or proving this Agreement, it shall not be necessary
to
produce or account for more than one fully executed original.
9.7
|
Benefits
of Agreement.
|
Nothing
in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall give to any Person, other than
the parties hereto and their successors hereunder, and the stockholders of
Star
Maritime, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under
this Agreement.
This
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of each party
hereto, and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer
upon any other person any rights or remedies of any nature whatsoever under
or
by reason of this Agreement, except as otherwise provided in Section
9.7
of
this Agreement.
The
captions of sections and subsections of this Agreement are for reference only,
and shall not affect the interpretation or construction of this
Agreement.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF,
Star
Maritime, and Star Bulk have caused this Agreement to be signed by their
respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the date first written
above.
|
|
|
|
STAR
MARITIME ACQUISITION CORP. |
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ Prokopios Tsirigakis |
|
Name:
Prokopios Tsirigakis Title:
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
STAR
BULK
CARRIERS CORP. |
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ Prokopios Tsirigakis |
|
Name:
Prokopios Tsirigakis Title:
President
|
|
|
SCHEDULE
2.5
Directors
of Surviving Corporation
Prokopios
(Akis) Tsirigakis
George
Syllantavos
Petros
Pappas
Nobu
Su
Peter
Espig
Koert
Erhardt
Tom
Søfteland
SCHEDULE
2.6
Star
Bulks Shares Post Merger
|
Securities
Outstanding Immediately Before Merger
|
Securities
Outstanding Immediately After Merger1
|
Star
Maritime common
shares
|
29,026,924
|
0
|
Star
Maritime preferred shares
|
0
|
0
|
Star
Maritime
warrants
|
20,000,000
|
0
|
Star
Bulk common shares
|
5002
|
29,026,924
|
Star
Bulk preferred shares
|
0
|
0
|
Star
Bulk warrants
|
0
|
20,000,000
|
1
Assumes
all outstanding securities in Star Maritime and Star Bulk are exchanged
for, or
converted to, Star Bulk Shares.
SCHEDULE
3.1
Jurisdictions
In Which Star Bulk Is Qualified
Marshall
Islands.
SCHEDULE
3.5(a)
Material
Agreements Of Star Bulk
Supplemental
Agreement dated January 12, 2007 by and among Star Maritime, Star Bulk and
TMT.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
SCHEDULE
3.14
Material
Adverse Changes
None.
SCHEDULE
4.1
Jurisdictions
In Which Star Maritime Is Qualified
Delaware.
Exhibit
99.2
PRESS
RELEASE
Star
Maritime Acquisition Corp.
103
Foulk Road
Wilmington,
Delaware 19803
www.starmaritimecorp.com
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March
15, 2007
|
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
MARITIME ACQUISITION CORP. AND STAR BULK CARRIERS CORP. ANNOUNCE THE FILING
OF
PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIAL AND PROSPECTUS WITH THE SEC
New
York, New York, March 15, 2007—Star
Maritime Acquisition Corp. (AMEX:SEA), Delaware corporation (“Star Maritime”),
and its wholly-owned subsidiary Star Bulk Carriers Corp., a Marshall Islands
corporation (“Star Bulk”), announced today the filing with the Securities and
Exchange Commission of a preliminary proxy statement of Star Maritime seeking
approval of the merger of Star Maritime with and into Star Bulk with Star Bulk
as the surviving corporation (the “Redomiciliation Merger”), and a registration
statement of Star Bulk containing a prospectus for the registration of shares
of
Star Bulk that will be issued in exchange for shares of Star Maritime in the
Redomiciliation Merger. The consummation of the merger is subject to, among
other things, obtaining the requisite approval of the stockholders of Star
Maritime at a special meeting.
Star
Maritime is a blank check company formed to acquire, through a merger, capital
stock exchange, asset acquisition or similar business combination, one or more
businesses in the shipping industry. In December 2005, Star Maritime through
its
initial public offering raised approximately $188.7 million, which was deposited
in a trust account, and $11.3 million in a private placement to certain officers
and directors and dedicated its time since the initial public offering to
seeking and evaluating business combination opportunities.
Definitive
Agreements to Acquire the Initial Fleet of Eight Vessels:
Star
Bulk
has entered into definitive agreements to acquire a fleet of eight drybulk
carriers consisting of two Capesize, one Panamax and five Supramax drybulk
carriers with an average age of approximately 10 years and a combined
cargo-carrying capacity of 691,213 deadweight tons from certain wholly-owned
subsidiaries of TMT Co., Ltd. (“TMT”), a global shipping company with management
headquarters in Taiwan. The aggregate purchase price is $345,237,520, consisting
of $224,500,000 in cash and 12,537,645 shares of Star Bulk’s common stock.
Star
Bulk's acquisition of the eight drybulk carriers from TMT is contingent upon
the
approval of the Redomiciliation Merger, following which Star Maritime will
be
merged out of existence and Star Bulk will be governed by the laws of the
Republic of the Marshall Islands.
The
Initial Fleet Agreed to be Acquired:
Set
forth
below is summary information for Star Bulk’s initial fleet. TMT
has
procured charters with third parties for four of the eight vessels in accordance
with the acquisition agreements. Subsidiaries of Star Bulk have entered into
time charter agreements with TMT for an additional two of the eight vessels.
TMT
Vessel
|
To
be renamed
|
Type
|
DWT
|
Year
Built
|
Time
Charter Term
|
Daily
Time Charter Hire Rate
|
A
Duckling
|
Star
Alpha
|
Capesize
|
175,075
|
1992
|
3
years
|
$
47,500
|
B
Duckling
|
Star
Beta
|
Capesize
|
174,691
|
1993
|
Spot
|
N/A
|
C
Duckling
|
Star
Gamma
|
Supramax
|
53,098
|
2002
|
1
year
|
$
28,500
|
F
Duckling
|
Star
Delta
|
Supramax
|
52,434
|
2000
|
2
years
|
$
25,800
|
G
Duckling
|
Star
Epsilon
|
Supramax
|
52,402
|
2001
|
2
years
|
$
25,550
|
I
Duckling
|
Star
Zita
|
Supramax
|
52,994
|
2003
|
1
year
|
$
30,500
|
J
Duckling
|
Star
Theta
|
Supramax
|
52,425
|
2003
|
Spot
|
N/A
|
Mommy
Duckling
|
Star
Iota
|
Panamax
|
78,585
|
1983
|
1
year
|
$
18,000
|
Star
Bulk
has received indication letters from international shipping lenders that will,
subject to the approval of the Redomiciliation Merger, provide Star Bulk with
a
credit facility of up to $120,000,000 with a minimum eight-year term and
secured by the vessels that Star Bulk has agreed to acquire from TMT.
Star Bulk intends to draw down approximately $40,000,000 under the credit
facility to fund a portion of the cash consideration portion of the aggregate
purchase price of the vessels in the initial fleet. Any excess un-drawn funds
under the credit facility will be used to replenish funds from the Trust Account
used for redeeming shareholders, if any, with the remainder of the funds used
for additional vessel acquisitions and to provide working capital.
Star
Bulk’s Anticipated Dividend Policy:
Star
Bulk
currently intends to pay quarterly dividends to the holders of its common
shares, in February, May, August and November, in amounts that will allow it
to
retain a portion of its cash flows to fund vessel or fleet acquisitions, and
for
debt repayment and dry-docking costs, as determined by its board of directors.
Star Bulk expects that the quarterly dividend for its first full quarter of
operations will be $0.325 per share.
Completion
of the Redomiciliation Merger:
Star
Maritime expects to consummate the Redomiciliation Merger during the third
quarter of 2007.
The
Board
of Directors of Star Maritime has unanimously approved the Redomiciliation
Merger. Star Maritime cannot complete the Redomiciliation Merger unless (1)
the
holders of at least a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Star
Maritime entitled to vote at the special meeting vote in favor of the
Redomiciliation Merger; (2) holders of at least a majority of the shares issued
in the initial public offering and private placement vote in favor of the
Redomiciliation Merger; and (3) holders of less than 6,600,000 shares of common
stock, such number representing 33.0% of the 20,000,000 shares of Star Maritime
common stock issued in the initial public offering and private placement, vote
against the Redomiciliation Merger and exercise their redemption rights to
have
their shares redeemed for cash.
Star
Maritime’s senior executive officers and two of its directors have agreed to
vote an aggregate of 1,132,500 shares owned by them and any shares they may
acquire in the future in favor of the Redomiciliation Merger. All of our
officers and directors have agreed to vote an aggregate of 9,026,924 shares
owned by then in accordance with the vote of the holders of a majority of the
shares issued in the initial public offering and the private placement.
Following
the Redomiciliation Merger, each outstanding share of Star Maritime common
stock, par value $0.0001 per share, will be converted into the right to receive
one share of Star Bulk common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and each
outstanding warrant of Star Maritime will be assumed by Star Bulk with the
same
terms and restrictions except that each warrant will be exercisable for common
stock of Star Bulk. Each warrant entitles the registered holder to purchase
one
share of our common stock at a price of $8.00 per share, subject to adjustment,
at any time commencing on the completion of a business combination. Following
the effectiveness of the Redomiciliation Merger, the warrants will become
exercisable. The warrants will expire on December 16, 2009 at 5:00 p.m., New
York City time.
Following
the Redomiciliation Merger, Star Bulk will have outstanding 41,564,569 shares
of
common stock, assuming that no stockholders vote against the Redomiciliation
Merger and exercise redemption rights to have their shares redeemed for cash.
In
addition, Star Bulk will have 20,000,000 shares of common stock reserved for
issuance upon the exercise of the warrants. Star Bulk will apply to have its
common stock and warrants listed on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbols
“SBLK” and “SBLKW” respectively.
As
provided in Star Maritime’s Certificate of Incorporation, holders of Star
Maritime common stock have the right to redeem their shares for cash if such
stockholder votes against the Redomiciliation Merger, elects to exercise
redemption rights and the Redomiciliation Merger is approved and completed.
Following
the Redomiciliation Merger, TMT and its affiliates are expected to own between
30.2% and 35.9% of Star Bulk’s outstanding common stock, depending on the number
of shares redeemed for cash. Under certain circumstances, in the future, Star
Bulk may issue up to an additional 1,606,962 shares of common stock to TMT
(the
“Additional Stock”). Assuming applicable conditions to issuance are satisfied
after giving effect to the issuance of the Additional Stock, TMT and its
affiliates are expected to own between 32.8% and 38.7% of the Star Bulk’s
outstanding common stock, depending on the number of shares redeemed for
cash.
Non-Completion
of the Redomiciliation Merger:
If
Star
Maritime does not complete the Redomiciliation Merger or another business
combination transaction by December 21, 2007, Star Maritime will be liquidated
and will distribute to all holders of shares issued in the initial public
offering in proportion to their respective equity interests, an aggregate sum
equal to the amount in the trust account, including any interest (net of any
taxes payable) not previously released from the trust account, plus any
remaining net assets. Star Maritime’s officers and directors have agreed to
waive their respective rights to participate in any liquidation distribution
should Star Maritime fail to consummate a business combination transaction
with
respect to an aggregate of 10,159,424 shares of common stock owned by them.
In
the event of our liquidation, Star Maritime would not distribute funds from
the
trust account with respect to the Star Maritime warrants, which would expire.
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
Maritime and Star Bulk’s examination of historical operating trends, data
contained in their records and other data available from third parties. Although
Star Maritime and Star Bulk believe 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 Maritime and Star Bulk cannot assure you that
Star Maritime or 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 Star Maritime to obtain the requisite stockholder approval,
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 Start Maritime’s and
Star Bulk’s results to differ materially from those described in the
forward-looking statements can be found in Star Maritime’s reports (such as
Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports
on Form 8-K) and Star Bulk’s Registration Statement Form F-1/F-4 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 Maritime and Star Bulk disclaim any intention
or
obligation to update any forward looking statements as a result of developments
occurring after the date of this communication.
Important
Notices
STAR
MARITIME AND ITS DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS MAY BE DEEMED TO BE
PARTICIPANTS IN THE SOLICITATION OF PROXIES FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING OF STAR
MARITIME’S STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD TO APPROVE THE TRANSACTION DESCRIBED IN THIS
PRESS RELEASE. STOCKHOLDERS OF STAR MARITIME AND OTHER INTERESTED PERSONS ARE
ADVISED TO READ STAR MARITIME’S PRELIMINARY PROXY STATEMENT AND DEFINITIVE PROXY
STATEMENT WHEN AVAILABLE BECAUSE THESE PROXY STATEMENTS CONTAIN IMPORTANT
INFORMATION.
SUCH
PERSONS ARE ALSO ADVISED TO READ STAR MARITIME’S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR
THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006, FILED ON MARCH 14, 2006, FOR A
DESCRIPTION OF THE SECURITY HOLDINGS OF STAR MARITIME’S OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
AND THEIR RESPECTIVE INTERESTS SHOULD THE BUSINESS COMBINATION BE CONSUMMATED.
THE
DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT WILL BE MAILED TO STOCKHOLDERS AS OF A RECORD DATE
TO
BE ESTABLISHED FOR VOTING ON THE BUSINESS COMBINATION. STOCKHOLDERS WILL ALSO
BE
ABLE TO OBTAIN A COPY OF THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT, WITHOUT CHARGE, BY
DIRECTING A REQUEST TO:
STAR
MARITIME ACQUISITION CORP.
103
FOULK
ROAD
WILMINGTON,
DELAWARE 19803
ATTENTION:
CORPORATE SECRETARY
THE
PRELIMINARY PROXY STATEMENT AND DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT, ONCE AVAILABLE,
AND
THE ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K CAN ALSO BE OBTAINED, WITHOUT CHARGE, AT THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION’S INTERNET SITE AT HTTP://WWW.SEC.GOV.
This
press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of
an
offer to buy securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any
jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful under
the securities laws of such jurisdiction.