Blackhill Partners, an investment bank specializing in complex situations, has appointed Hardin Bethea as a Director. With more than 18 years of experience in investment banking, investment management and corporate finance, Bethea has extensive experience in the maritime and seaborne trade industry. He has invested in and advised shipping companies for more than fourteen years, across shipping sectors and economic cycles both domestically and internationally.

“We have known and worked with Hardin Bethea for nearly a decade and in 2014 closed a $500 million dry bulk financing with Hardin serving in the lead role,” said Jeff Jones, Managing Director of Blackhill Partners. “We have long considered him to be a partner, and to have Hardin now officially with Blackhill leading our new Maritime Industry Group will benefit the shipping industry, Hardin and Blackhill. We are delighted to have him onboard”

Prior to joining Blackhill, Bethea founded a strategic and financial advisory firm serving primarily maritime companies and their stakeholders where he advised investment banks and other institutions with regard to maritime, energy and commodities industry projects and investments. Previously, Bethea was the senior Small-Cap Analyst and SMid-Cap Portfolio Manager for a boutique investment firm where he was responsible for investment products valued at approximately $1 billion. Bethea’s experience also includes working in the Credit Products group within the Global Corporate and Investment Banking division of Bank of America where he served a broad range of clients in the business services, retail, travel/tourism, transportation, aerospace and manufacturing industries.

“I’ve had the pleasure to work with Jeff and other members of the Blackhill team on a variety of successful transactions over the past decade,” said Bethea. “I am delighted to be joining the outstanding professionals at Blackhill on a full time basis.”

Bethea earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Richmond in Richmond, Va., and a Master of International Business Studies, cum laude, from the Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, S.C. He serves on the Investment Committee of the Edyth Bush Foundation.

About Blackhill Partners

Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Blackhill Partners, LLC is an investment bank specializing in complex situations. Blackhill’s professionals have advised Fortune 500 and middle-market companies on over $100 billion of mergers, acquisitions, financings and restructurings across a broad range of industries, with particular depth in energy and industrial businesses. www.bhpllc.com