6-K 1 f101609drys6k.htm October 6th, 2008, ATHENS, GREECE - DryShips Inc

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549


FORM 6-K


REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13A-16 OR 15D-16
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


For the month of October 2009


Commission File Number 001-33922


DRYSHIPS INC.


80 Kifissias Avenue

Amaroussion 15125, Athens Greece

(Address of principal executive offices)


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.


Form 20-F [X]       Form 40-F [  ]


Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): [  ].


Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted solely to provide an attached annual report to security holders.


Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): [  ].


Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted to furnish a report or other document that the registrant foreign private issuer must furnish and make public under the laws of the jurisdiction in which the registrant is incorporated, domiciled or legally organized (the registrant's "home country"), or under the rules of the home country exchange on which the registrant's securities are traded, as long as the report or other document is not a press release, is not required to be and has not been distributed to the registrant's security holders, and, if discussing a material event, has already been the subject of a Form 6-K submission or other Commission filing on EDGAR.






  

INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS FORM 6-K REPORT


Attached as Exhibit 1 is a press release of DryShips Inc. (the “Company”), dated October 16, 2009, announcing the appointment of Chief Financial Officer.





Exhibit 1

[f101609drys6k001.jpg]



DRYSHIPS ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER



ATHENS, GREECE – October 16, 2009- DryShips Inc. (NASDAQ:DRYS) (the "Company" or "DryShips"), a global provider of marine transportation services for drybulk cargoes and off-shore contract drilling oil services, announced today that it named Ziad Nakhleh as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer effective November 1, 2009. This position was previously occupied on an interim basis by Mr. George Economou,  Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.


Mr. Nakhleh, 37, has over 12 years of finance experience. From January, 2005 to September, 2008, he served as Chief Financial Officer of Aegean Marine Petroleum Network Inc., a publicly traded marine fuels logistics company listed on the New York Stock Exchange, where he led the company’s $200 million IPO in December 2006. During his tenure at Aegean, Mr. Nakhleh as well as managing the corporate finance and accounting aspects of the company, was extensively involved in maintaining investor confidence and contributing to the expansion of the company by way of corporate and asset acquisitions. For the past year, he was engaged in a consulting capacity to various companies in the shipping and marine fuels industries. Prior to his time with Aegean, Mr Nakhleh was employed at Ernst & Young and Arthur Andersen in Athens. Mr. Nakhleh is a graduate of the University of Richmond in Virginia and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.


George Economou, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented: “We are pleased to have Ziad join our management team. He is a welcome addition to Dryships and his capital and debt markets experience will be valuable going forward. We now have an experienced and talented senior management team in place to help manage and grow DryShips”.


About DryShips Inc.

DryShips Inc., based in Greece, is an owner and operator of drybulk carriers and offshore oil deep water drilling that operate worldwide. As of the day of this release, DryShips owns a fleet of 41 drybulk carriers comprising 7 Capesize, 30 Panamax, 2 Supramax and 2 newbuilding Drybulk vessels with a combined deadweight tonnage of over 3.7 million tons, 2 ultra deep water  semisubmersible drilling rigs and 4 ultra deep water newbuilding drillships. DryShips Inc.'s common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Market where trades under the symbol "DRYS." Visit our website at www.dryships.com



Forward-Looking Statements

Matters discussed in this release may constitute forward-looking statements. Forwardlooking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance and may include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts. The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, management's examination of historical operating trends, data contained in our records and other data available from third parties. Although DryShips Inc. believes that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond our control, DryShips Inc. cannot assure you that it will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections. Important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include 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 DryShips Inc.'s operating expenses, including bunker prices, drydocking 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. Risks and uncertainties are further described in reports filed by DryShips Inc. with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.


Investor Relations / Media:

Nicolas Bornozis

Capital Link, Inc. (New York)

Tel. 212-661-7566

E-mail: dryships@capitallink.com



  

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

  

DryShips Inc.                        

  

(Registrant)

  

  

Dated:  October 16, 2009

By:  /s/George Economou    

  

  

George Economou

  

  

Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer