Diana Shipping and Star Bulk Carriers Terminate Vessel Sale and Purchase Agreement

Diana Shipping Inc and Star Bulk Carriers Corp have mutually agreed to terminate their agreement under which Star Bulk would have acquired 16 Genco Shipping & Trading vessels upon completion of Diana’s proposed acquisition of Genco, though Diana’s offer for Genco itself remains on the table.

What exactly has been terminated, and what remains unaffected?

The termination follows a request from Star Bulk and applies only to the vessel sale and purchase agreement between the two companies, not to Diana’s underlying offer for Genco. Diana’s proposal to acquire all outstanding Genco shares it does not already own, comprising $24.80 per share in cash, adjusted for Genco’s recently declared $0.80 dividend, plus one Diana share valued at $2.54 based on its 30-day volume-weighted average price as of June 16, 2026, continues to stand. The company confirmed the termination has no effect on its fully committed $1.411 billion financing package for the proposed Genco transaction, arranged through six leading international banks with no financing condition attached.

Why has this standoff with Genco’s board persisted?

Diana said nearly eight weeks have passed since it delivered its revised offer, with the Genco board yet to provide a substantive response, prolonging the uncertainty around the proposed transaction.

What did Diana’s CEO say about the termination?

Diana Chief Executive Officer Semiramis Paliou thanked Star Bulk for its partnership and support throughout the process, saying the company respects Star Bulk’s decision to move on. She said the termination removes one of Genco’s stated concerns regarding Diana’s proposal, and that the fully financed offer remains on the table. Paliou reiterated Diana’s call for the Genco board to engage directly and in good faith to reach a transaction that delivers full and fair value to all Genco shareholders.

What did Star Bulk’s CEO say about withdrawing from the agreement?

Star Bulk Chief Executive Officer Petros Pappas said the company was proud to support Diana’s proposed acquisition of Genco, describing it as a compelling opportunity to create value for Genco shareholders. He said Star Bulk’s decision to withdraw from the vessel purchase agreement came in response to the Genco board’s unwillingness to negotiate, which he said deprives shareholders of this opportunity. Pappas added that Star Bulk continues to believe in the financial and strategic merits of Diana’s efforts and wished the company success in pursuing the transaction.

What does this mean for the broader Diana-Genco acquisition attempt?

As Diana Shipping’s largest shareholder position in Genco already places it at the centre of this consolidation push, the termination of the Star Bulk side-agreement simplifies the structure of Diana’s offer without altering its financial backing, keeping pressure on the Genco board to respond to a proposal that has now been on the table for close to two months.