Epic Pantheon names Lars Vang Christensen CEO

MAY 24, 2013 — Singapore-headquartered Epic Pantheon International Gas Shipping Ltd. announced today that shipping industry veteran Lars Vang Christensen has been appointed Chief Executive Officer.

“Lars Christensen is a proven leader in the shipping industry and brings over 30 years of commercial and technical expertise to Epic,” said

Seth Wilson, the Chairman of Epic’s Board of Directors and a Managing Director of New York-based private equity firm Jefferies Capital Partners.

Epic was formed at the end of last year as the result of  a merger of Epic Shipping Holdings Limited and Pantheon Inc. Concurrent with the merger, it received significant new equity capital from Jefferies (which also the lead shareholder in Epic’s former parent Pacific Basin Shipping Limited) and from Shipping & Intermodal Investment Management, the shipping fund of DVB Bank; the principals of Diamantis Pateras Maritime Ltd.; and certain members of the board of directors, including Chris Buttery, retired Chairman and CEO of Pacific Basin Shipping Limited.

Epic operates a fleet of 22 modern, 3,200 cu.m to 7,200 cu.m, fully-pressurized gas carriers.

“Lars’ breadth of experience as a successful senior executive in the maritime industry enhances our ability to provide safe, high quality LPG and petrochemical transportation services to our customers,” said Mr. Wilson. “We believe Lars is the perfect executive to lead Epic through our next phase of fleet growth.”

Mr. Christensen has over 30 years of international shipping industry experience having joined  A.P. Moller – Maersk Group in 1979. During his seagoing career, Mr. Christensen primarily served on board product and chemical tankers, rising to the position of Captain. After coming ashore, Mr. Christensen worked his way up the Maersk management ranks holding numerous technical and commercial positions. In 1997, Mr. Christensen was appointed General Manager of A.P. Moller Singapore Pte. Ltd. In 2000, he was appointed Managing Director, Shipping Division for all of Maersk’s United Kingdom operations overseeing a fleet of 50 vessels. In 2005, Mr. Christensen became CEO of Herning Shipping A.S., which was acquired by Nordic Tankers AB in 2011

Mr. Christensen is the former Chairman of the Danish Shipowners’ Association and Vice President of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS).

“Epic is well positioned to benefit from the changes occurring in the dynamic, international LPG and petrochemical markets,” stated Mr. Christensen. “I am very excited about the opportunity to lead the company as we expand capacity to meet our customers’ growing requirements. I look forward to working with the Board of Directors, management and all our employees to continue providing the safe, dependable and quality service charterers have come to expect from Epic.”