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Star Bulk Carriers (SBLK) Risk Analysis
Risk Overview Q4, 2023
Source: the company's latest filing for the period ended Dec 31, 2023, filed Mar 13, 2024
Risk Change Over Time
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 1We and Eagle may be targets of shareholder class actions or derivative actions, which could result in substantial costs and may delay or prevent the Eagle Merger from being completed.
Shareholder class action lawsuits or derivative lawsuits are often brought against companies that have entered into merger agreements. Even if the lawsuits are without merit, defending against these claims can result in substantial costs and divert management time and resources. Additionally, if a plaintiff is successful in obtaining an injunction prohibiting consummation of the Eagle Merger, then that injunction may delay or prevent the Eagle Merger from being completed. One of the conditions to consummating the Eagle Merger is that no governmental entity has enacted or promulgated any statute, rule, regulation or law that prohibits or makes illegal the consummation of the Eagle Merger and that there is no order or injunction issued by any governmental entity in effect preventing the consummation of the Eagle Merger. Consequently, if a claimant secures injunctive or other relief prohibiting, delaying or otherwise adversely affecting Star Bulk's or Eagle's ability to complete the Eagle Merger on the terms contemplated by the Eagle Merger Agreement, then such law or injunctive or other relief may prevent consummation of the Eagle Merger in a timely manner or at all.
- Corporate Activity and Growth - Risk 2If the completion of the Eagle Merger occurs, we may not realize all of the anticipated benefits of the Eagle Merger or those benefits may take longer to realize than expected. We may also encounter significant difficulties in integrating the two businesses.
Star Bulk anticipates that the Eagle Merger will generate significant annual cost and revenue synergies within 12-18 months after closing. However, there is a risk that some or all of the expected benefits of the Eagle Merger may fail to materialize, or may not occur within the anticipated time periods. The realization of the anticipated benefits may be affected by a number of factors, many of which will be beyond the control of Star Bulk. The challenge of combining previously independent businesses makes evaluating the business and future financial prospects of Star Bulk following the Eagle Merger difficult. Star Bulk and Eagle have operated and, until the completion of the Eagle Merger, will continue to operate, independently. The past financial performance of each of Star Bulk and Eagle may not be indicative of the future financial performance of Star Bulk following completion of the Eagle Merger. Realization of the anticipated benefits in the Eagle Merger will depend, in part, on the ability of Star Bulk and Eagle to successfully integrate their operations in an efficient and timely manner and without adversely affecting current revenues and investments in future growth. Star Bulk will be required to devote significant management attention and resources to integrating its business practices and support functions, including aligning policies and internal controls of the two companies. The diversion of management's attention and any delays or difficulties encountered in connection with the Eagle Merger and the subsequent coordination of the two companies' operations could have an adverse effect on the business, financial results, financial condition or the share price of Star Bulk following the Eagle Merger. The coordination process may also result in additional and unforeseen expenses.
- Corporate Activity and Growth - Risk 3Our future results will suffer if we do not effectively manage our expanded operations following the Eagle Merger.
Our future success depends, in part, upon our ability to realize the anticipated benefits and cost savings from combining our and Eagle's businesses, including the need to integrate the operations and business of Eagle into our existing business in an efficient and timely manner, to combine systems and management controls and to integrate relationships with customers, vendors, industry contacts and business partners. The anticipated benefits and cost savings of the Eagle Merger may not be realized fully or at all, may take longer to realize than expected or could have other adverse effects that Star Bulk does not currently foresee. Some of the assumptions that Star Bulk has made, such as the achievement of operating synergies, may not be realized.
- Corporate Activity and Growth - Risk 4The completion of the Eagle Merger is subject to a number of conditions and the Eagle Merger Agreement may be terminated in accordance with its terms. As a result, there is no assurance when or if the Eagle Merger will be completed.
The completion of the Eagle Merger is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of a number of conditions as set forth in the Eagle Merger Agreement. These include, among others, at or prior to the effective time, (a) the approval and authorization of the Eagle Merger Agreement and the Eagle Merger at the Eagle shareholders special meeting scheduled for April 5, 2024 (the "Eagle special meeting") by the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock of Eagle, $0.01 par value per share ("Eagle common stock") entitled to vote thereon; (b) the approval of the proposal that holders of Eagle common stock (the "Eagle shareholders") authorize and approve the issuance of shares of Eagle common stock issuable upon the potential future conversion of Eagle's 5.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2024 (the "convertible notes") in excess of the conversion share cap set forth in the Indenture, dated as of July 29, 2019, between Eagle and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (such proposal, the "convertible note share issuance proposal") at the Eagle special meeting by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by holders of shares of Eagle common stock entitled to vote thereon; (c) no governmental entity of competent jurisdiction having entered, enacted, promulgated, enforced or issued any restraints preventing, making illegal or prohibiting the consummation of the Eagle Merger; (d) the expiration or termination of all applicable waiting periods (and extensions thereof) under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 ("HSR Act") and the receipt of certain other approvals from applicable governmental entities; (e) the approval for listing of the common shares of Star Bulk, par value $0.01 per share ("Star Bulk common stock") constituting the Eagle Merger consideration on Nasdaq, subject to official notice of issuance; (f) the accuracy of the representations and warranties contained in the Eagle Merger Agreement (subject to specified materiality qualifiers); (g) compliance with the pre-closing covenants and agreements in the Eagle Merger Agreement in all material respects; (h) the absence of a material adverse effect with respect to Eagle and Star Bulk; and (i) the delivery to Star Bulk or Eagle, as applicable, of a certificate signed on behalf of Eagle or Star Bulk, as applicable by a duly authorized executive officer of Eagle or Star Bulk, as applicable, certifying as to the satisfaction of the conditions described in (f) and (g) hereof. There can be no assurance as to when these conditions will be satisfied or waived, if at all, or that other events will not intervene to delay or result in the failure to close the merger. In addition, if the Eagle Merger is not completed on or before the end date of September 11, 2024, either Star Bulk or Eagle may choose to terminate the Eagle Merger Agreement; provided, however, that the end date of September 11, 2024 may be extended by either Star Bulk or Eagle to a date not beyond December 11, 2024 if the only remaining condition to closing to be satisfied is the expiration or termination of the waiting period under the HSR Act or the receipt of certain approvals from applicable governmental entities. However, this right to terminate the Eagle Merger Agreement will not be available to Star Bulk or Eagle if such party has materially breached the Eagle Merger Agreement and the breach is the cause of or resulted in the failure of the Eagle Merger to be completed prior to the end date. Star Bulk or Eagle may elect to terminate the Eagle Merger Agreement in certain other circumstances, and Star Bulk and Eagle can mutually decide to terminate the Eagle Merger Agreement at any time prior to the effective time, before or after the required approval by the Eagle shareholders. If the Eagle Merger Agreement is terminated, Star Bulk may incur substantial fees in connection with the termination of the Eagle Merger Agreement and Star Bulk will not recognize the anticipated benefits of the Eagle Merger.
- Corporate Activity and Growth - Risk 5The pendency of the Eagle Merger could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Beginning at the time of the execution of the Eagle Merger Agreement and continuing until the Eagle Merger closes or the Eagle Merger Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms, the pendency of the Eagle Merger could cause disruptions in and create uncertainty surrounding Star Bulk's business, including affecting Star Bulk's relationships with our existing and future customers, suppliers, partners in the business community and employees. This could have an adverse effect on Star Bulk's business, results of operations and financial condition, as well as the market prices of our shares, regardless of whether the Eagle Merger is completed. Any adverse effect could be exacerbated by a prolonged delay in closing the Eagle Merger. Star Bulk could also potentially lose customers or suppliers, existing customers or suppliers may seek to change their existing business relationships or renegotiate their contracts with Star Bulk or defer decisions concerning Star Bulk, and potential customers or suppliers could defer entering into contracts with Star Bulk, each as a result of uncertainty relating to the Eagle Merger. In addition, in an effort to complete the Eagle Merger, Star Bulk has expended, and will continue to expend, significant management resources, which are being diverted from Star Bulk's day-to-day operations, and significant demands are being, and will continue to be, placed on the managerial, operational and financial personnel and systems of Star Bulk in connection with efforts to complete the Eagle Merger. These foregoing risks related to the pendency of the Eagle Merger described above could also have an adverse effect on Eagle's business, results of operations and financial condition. To the extent Eagle is adversely affected by such factors, Star Bulk may not realize all of the expected benefits of acquiring Eagle if and when the Eagle Merger closes.
Risk Highlights Q4, 2023
Risk Word Cloud
Risk Factors Full Breakdown - Total Risks 54
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 1AddedWe and Eagle may be targets of shareholder class actions or derivative actions, which could result in substantial costs and may delay or prevent the Eagle Merger from being completed.
Shareholder class action lawsuits or derivative lawsuits are often brought against companies that have entered into merger agreements. Even if the lawsuits are without merit, defending against these claims can result in substantial costs and divert management time and resources. Additionally, if a plaintiff is successful in obtaining an injunction prohibiting consummation of the Eagle Merger, then that injunction may delay or prevent the Eagle Merger from being completed. One of the conditions to consummating the Eagle Merger is that no governmental entity has enacted or promulgated any statute, rule, regulation or law that prohibits or makes illegal the consummation of the Eagle Merger and that there is no order or injunction issued by any governmental entity in effect preventing the consummation of the Eagle Merger. Consequently, if a claimant secures injunctive or other relief prohibiting, delaying or otherwise adversely affecting Star Bulk's or Eagle's ability to complete the Eagle Merger on the terms contemplated by the Eagle Merger Agreement, then such law or injunctive or other relief may prevent consummation of the Eagle Merger in a timely manner or at all.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 2ChangedAffiliates of Oaktree are the largest shareholder of our common shares, subject to certain restrictions on voting, acquisitions and dispositions thereof.
As of February 9, 2024, Oaktree and its affiliates beneficially own 6,107,983 common shares, representing approximately 7.3% of our outstanding common shares. However, pursuant to the Oaktree Shareholders Agreement, Oaktree and certain affiliates thereof have agreed to certain voting restrictions. See "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions –– B. Related Party Transactions –– Oaktree Shareholders Agreement" for further details. Additionally, Oaktree is in the business of making investments in companies. If Oaktree pursues acquisitions or makes further investments in the shipping industry, those acquisitions and investment opportunities may not be available to us, and we have agreed to renounce any interest or expectancy in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any corporate opportunities that may be presented to or become known to Oaktree or any of its affiliates. In addition, the member of the Board of Directors ("Board of Directors") nominated by Oaktree will have fiduciary duties to us and in addition may have duties to Oaktree. As a result, such circumstances may entail real or apparent conflicts of interest with respect to matters affecting both us and Oaktree, whose interests, in some circumstances, may be adverse to ours.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 3Increasing scrutiny and changing expectations from investors, lenders, charterers and other market participants with respect to our ESG practices may impose additional costs on us or expose us to additional risks.
Companies across all industries are facing increasing scrutiny relating to their ESG policies from investor advocacy groups, certain institutional investors, lenders, charterers and other market participants (collectively, the "Market Participants"), who, in recent years, have focused on the implications and social cost of their investments. Such increased attention and activism related to ESG and similar matters (such as climate change) may hinder access to capital, as Market Participants may decide to reallocate capital or to decline to commit capital as a result of their assessment of a company's ESG practices, and may also affect the commercial tradability of our vessels should our vessels fail to comply with charterers' ESG requirements. For example, due to such increasing pressures from Market Participants to prioritize sustainable energy practices, reduce our carbon footprint, and promote sustainability, we may be required to implement more stringent ESG procedures or standards so that our existing and future Market Participants remain invested in us, make further investments in us and continue chartering our vessels. However, if we do not adapt to or comply with such evolving expectations and standards, or are perceived to have failed to respond appropriately to the growing concern for ESG issues, regardless of whether there is a legal requirement to do so, we may suffer from reputational damage and our business, financial condition, and/or stock price could be materially and adversely affected. Furthermore, certain Market Participants in the equity and debt capital markets may exclude transportation companies, such as us, from their investing portfolios altogether due to ESG factors, which may affect our ability to grow, as our plans for growth may include accessing the foregoing markets. If those markets are unavailable, or if we are unable to access alternative means of financing on acceptable terms, or at all, we may be unable to implement our business strategy, which would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations and impair our ability to service our indebtedness. Overall, it is likely that we will incur additional costs and require additional resources to monitor, report and comply with wide ranging ESG requirements. The occurrence of any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition. Please see "Item 4. Information on the Company –– B. Business Overview –– Our ESG Performance" for additional information with respect to our ongoing ESG efforts.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 4Members of management and our directors may have relationships and affiliations with other entities that could create conflicts of interest.
While we do not expect our Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Petros Pappas, will have any material relationships with any companies in the dry bulk shipping industry other than us, he will continue to be involved in other areas of the shipping industry, which could cause conflicts of interest not in the best interest of us or our shareholders. This could result in an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. We use our best efforts to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations in addressing such conflicts of interest. In addition, our executive officers participate in business activities not associated with us, including serving as members of the management teams of Oceanbulk Maritime S.A, a dry cargo shipping company, and PST Tankers LLC, a joint venture between Oaktree and entities controlled by Mr. Pappas' family involved in the product tanker businesses, and are not required to work full-time on our affairs. Initially, we expect that each of our executive officers will devote a substantial portion of his/her business time to the management of our Company. Our executive officers may devote less time to us than if they were not engaged in other business activities and may owe fiduciary duties to the shareholders of other companies with which they may be affiliated, including those companies listed above. One of our directors is affiliated with Oaktree. Our Oaktree-affiliated director has fiduciary duties to us and to Oaktree. In addition, under the Oaktree Shareholders Agreements, none of our officers or directors who is also an officer, director, employee or other affiliate of Oaktree or an officer, director or employee of an affiliate of Oaktree will be liable to us or our shareholders for breach of any fiduciary duty by reason of the fact that any such individual directs a corporate opportunity to Oaktree or its affiliates instead of us, or does not communicate information regarding a corporate opportunity to us that such person or affiliate has directed to Oaktree or its affiliates. As a result, such circumstances may entail real or apparent conflicts of interest with respect to matters affecting both us and Oaktree, whose interests, in some circumstances, may be adverse to ours. In addition, as a result of Oaktree's ownership interest, conflicts of interest could arise with respect to transactions involving business dealings between us and Oaktree or their affiliates, including potential business transactions, potential acquisitions of businesses or properties, the issuance of additional securities, the payment of dividends by us and other matters. This structure may create conflicts of interest in matters involving or affecting us and our customers and it is not certain that any of these conflicts of interest will be resolved in our favor. This could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 5Our reliance upon "foreign private issuer" exemptions may afford less protection to holders of our common shares.
Nasdaq Global Select Market's ("Nasdaq") corporate governance rules require, subject to exceptions, listed companies to have, among other things, a majority of their board members be independent and independent director oversight of executive compensation, nomination of directors and corporate governance matters. As a "foreign private issuer" as defined in Rule 3b-4 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), or FPI, we may follow the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, our home country, with respect to the foregoing requirements. For example, although our Board of Directors currently includes nine members who would likely be deemed independent under the Nasdaq rules, we may in the future have less than a majority of directors who would be deemed independent, as permitted under Marshall Islands law. In addition, as a FPI we are not required to comply with all of the periodic disclosure and current reporting requirements of the Exchange Act applicable to U.S. domestic companies whose securities are registered under the Exchange Act.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 6We are incorporated in the Marshall Islands, which does not have a well-developed body of corporate law.
Our corporate affairs are governed by our Fourth Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (the "Articles of Incorporation") and our Third Amended and Restated Bylaws (the "Bylaws") and by the Marshall Islands Business Corporations Act (the "MIBCA"). The provisions of the MIBCA resemble provisions of the corporation laws of a number of states in the United States. However, there have been few judicial cases in the Marshall Islands interpreting the MIBCA. The rights and fiduciary responsibilities of directors under the laws of the Marshall Islands are not as clearly established as the rights and fiduciary responsibilities of directors under statutes or judicial precedent in existence in the United States. The rights of shareholders of companies incorporated in the Marshall Islands may differ from the rights of shareholders of companies incorporated in the United States. While the MIBCA provides that it is to be interpreted according to the laws of the State of Delaware and other states with substantially similar legislative provisions, there have been few, if any, court cases interpreting the MIBCA in the Marshall Islands and we cannot predict whether Marshall Islands courts would reach the same conclusions as United States courts. Thus, you may have more difficulty in protecting your interests in the face of actions by the management, directors or controlling shareholders than would shareholders of a corporation incorporated in a United States jurisdiction that has developed a relatively more substantial body of case law. Additionally, the Republic of the Marshall Islands does not have a legal provision for bankruptcy or a general statutory mechanism for insolvency proceedings. As such, any bankruptcy action involving our Company would have to be initiated outside of the Marshall Islands, and our shareholders and creditors may experience delays in their ability to recover their claims after any such insolvency or bankruptcy.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 7Future sales of our common shares could cause the market price of our common shares to decline.
Our Articles of Incorporation authorize us to issue 300,000,000 common shares, of which 84,016,892 shares were issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023. In addition, certain shareholders hold registration rights, see "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions –– A. Major Shareholders." Furthermore, pursuant to our two currently effective, At-the-Market offering programs, we may offer and sell a number of our common shares, having an aggregate offering price of up to $150.0 million at any time and from time to time. As of December 31, 2023, cumulative gross proceeds under our At-the-Market offering programs were $33.6 million. Sales of a substantial number of our common shares in the public market, or the perception that these sales could occur, may depress the market price for our common shares. These sales could also impair our ability to raise additional capital through the sale of our equity securities in the future. We intend to issue additional common shares in the future. Our shareholders may incur dilution from any future equity offering and upon the issuance of additional common shares pursuant to our equity incentive plans.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 8We may fail to meet the continued listing requirements of Nasdaq, which could cause our common shares to be delisted.
There can be no assurance that we will remain in compliance with Nasdaq's listing qualification rules, or that our common shares will not be delisted, which could have an adverse effect on the market price of, and the efficiency of the trading market for, our common shares and could cause a default under certain senior secured credit facilities.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 9The price of our common shares may be highly volatile.
The price of our common shares may fluctuate due to factors such as: actual or anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly and annual results and those of other public companies in our industry; mergers and strategic alliances in the dry bulk shipping industry; market conditions in the dry bulk shipping industry; changes in market valuations of companies in our industry; changes in government regulation; the failure of securities analysts to publish research about us, or shortfalls in our operating results from levels forecast by securities analysts; announcements concerning us or our competitors; and the general state of the securities markets. Hence, the market for our common shares may be unpredictable and volatile. Further, there may be no continuing active or liquid public market for our common shares. Consequently, you may not be able to sell the common shares at prices equal to or greater than those paid by you, or you may not be able to sell them at all. In the past, following periods of volatility in the market, securities class-action litigation has often been instituted against companies. Such litigation, if instituted against us, could result in substantial costs and diversion of management's attention and resources, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects. There can be no guarantee that our stock price will remain at current levels.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 10Anti-takeover provisions in our organizational documents could have the effect of discouraging, delaying or preventing a merger or acquisition, or could make it difficult for our shareholders to replace or remove our current Board of Directors, which could adversely affect the market price of our common shares.
Several provisions of our Articles of Incorporation and our Bylaws could make it difficult for our shareholders to change the composition of our Board of Directors in any one year, preventing them from changing the composition of management. In addition, the same provisions may discourage, delay or prevent a merger or acquisition that shareholders may consider favorable. These provisions include: authorizing our Board of Directors to issue "blank check" preferred stock without shareholder approval; providing for a classified Board of Directors with staggered, three-year terms; establishing certain advance notice requirements for nominations for election to our Board of Directors or for proposing matters that can be acted on by shareholders at shareholder meetings; prohibiting cumulative voting in the election of directors; limiting the persons who may call special meetings of shareholders; authorizing the removal of directors only for cause and only upon the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of our outstanding common shares entitled to vote for the directors; and establishing supermajority voting provisions with respect to amendments to certain provisions of our Articles of Incorporation and our Bylaws. These anti-takeover provisions could substantially impede the ability of public shareholders to benefit from a change in control and, as a result, may adversely affect the market price of our common shares and your ability to realize any potential change of control premium.
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