Background
  World Nordic is a special purpose company incorporated in Denmark
  to own shares in Bergesen.  It is owned by four private holding
  companies: World Maritime Limited, World Finance International
  Limited, World Shipping And Investment Company Limited, and Amherst
  Shipping Limited.

  These companies are controlled by Sohmen family interests, and own
  the vessels collectively referred to as the World-Wide Shipping
  fleet, which totals about 9 million deadweight tons and specialises
  in very large crude carriers (VLCCs) as well as operating smaller
  tankers and dry bulk vessels.

  From 2001 to the present time, entities controlled by the Sohmen
  family acquired A-shares and B-shares in Bergesen corresponding to
  approximately 17 per cent of the share capital and 13 per cent of
  the votes.  Following discussions with the principal shareholders
  of Bergesen, Petter C.G. Sundt and Morten Sig. Bergesen, an offer
  was made to acquire their shares on the understanding that this
  offer would be extended to all shareholders in the company.
  Pursuant to these discussions, agreement was reached on 6 April
  2003 whereby the principal shareholders have sold 16,575,106
  A-shares at NOK 180 per share, representing 39.3 per cent of the
  votes and total number of A-shares. The price per A-share paid to
  the principal shareholders is inclusive of the proposed dividend
  for 2002 of NOK 7 per share.

  Furthermore, World Nordic has on 6 April 2003 acquired from Tauro
  Company Ltd. 5,144,228 A-shares at NOK 180 per share, and 4,698,893
  B-shares at NOK 155 per share, both prices inclusive of the
  proposed dividend.

  World Nordic thus currently controls 51.50 per cent of the A-shares
  and 26.93 per cent of the B-shares, corresponding to 44.31 per cent
  of the total share capital of Bergesen.

  World Nordic will be making a mandatory cash offer for Bergesen A-
  and B-shares in accordance with the Norwegian Securities Trading
  Act, Chapter 4. The Offer will close and be settled after the
  proposed ex-dividend date, leaving the proposed dividend of NOK 7
  per share with the present owners.

  The Offer represents a logical step towards the ongoing
  consolidation which is currently taking place in the shipping
  industry. Given the complementary fleets of Bergesen and World-Wide
  Shipping, benefits are likely to be achieved for the group through
  economies of scale and joint future efforts. The combined fleet
  will represent the partnership of two strong brands in the shipping
  industry with a long and successful heritage.

  Owing to the strength of Bergesen's management team and its
  particular expertise in the gas shipping arena, it is the intention
  of World Nordic to maintain the operational headquarters in Oslo.
  The company will retain its management team and a separate Board of
  Directors to continue managing the Bergesen fleet.

  The Offer
    * The value of the Offer price and proposed dividend combined
      will be NOK 180 per A-share. The Offer price for each Bergesen
      A-share is NOK 173 payable in cash, in addition to the proposed
      dividend for 2002 of NOK 7 per share.

    * The value of the Offer price and proposed dividend combined
      will be NOK 155 per B-share. The Offer price for each Bergesen
      B-share is NOK 148 payable in cash, in addition to the proposed
      dividend for 2002 of NOK 7 per share.

    * Relative to the closing share price on 4 April 2003, the value
      of the Offer price and proposed dividend combined represents a
      premium of 28.6 per cent on the A-shares and 28.8 per cent on
      the B-shares.

    * Relative to the average closing share price over the last
      month, the value of the Offer price and proposed dividend
      combined represents a premium of 28.1 per cent on the A-shares
      and 28.3 per cent on the B-shares.

    * Relative to the average closing share price over the last 6
      months, the value of the Offer price and proposed dividend
      combined represents a premium of 27.7 per cent on the A-shares
      and 27.7 per cent on the B-shares.

    * The total offer values the equity of Bergesen at
      NOK 10.3 billion. On 31 December 2002, Bergesen's net interest
      bearing debt totalled NOK 4.3 billion. This implies an
      enterprise value of NOK 14.6 billion.

  Offer period and settlement
  World Nordic intends to distribute an Offer document to Bergesen's
  shareholders during the week commencing Monday 21 April 2003. The
  Offer period is expected to be from 25 April 2003 until 23 May 2003
  (both dates inclusive). World Nordic reserves the right to extend
  the Offer period. Cash payment as settlement for shares tendered in
  the Offer will take place as soon as practically possible after the
  closing date of the Offer period. Payment is expected on 3 June
  2003, but not later than 14 days after the closing date of the
  Offer period.

  Acquisition financing
  The financing of the Offer is provided by a bank syndicate
  consisting of HSBC Bank USA, Deutsche Bank AG in Hamburg, BNP
  Paribas and WestLB AG.

  The members of the bank syndicate have arranged the issuance of a
  bank guarantee for the settlement in connection with the Offer, in
  accordance with the Securities Trading Act, Section 4-10.

  The Offeror
  World Nordic is controlled by Sohmen family interests through the
  four holding companies described above and collectively referred to
  as the World-Wide Shipping fleet.  World-Wide Shipping was founded
  in 1955 by the late Sir Y.K. Pao, and is a leading private bulk
  shipping company.

  Dr. Helmut Sohmen, Sir Y.K. Pao's son-in-law and Chairman of
  World-Wide Shipping Group Limited since 1986, is well known in the
  shipping community.  He has held prominent positions in many
  leading local and international industry organisations, including
  as President of the Baltic International Maritime Council (BIMCO),
  Chairman of the Hong Kong Shipowners Association, and Chairman of
  the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce.  He was also Managing
  Director of Hong Kong Dragon Airlines Limited. From 1998-2000, he
  was International Chairman of the Pacific Basin Economic Council
  (PBEC).

  Among other directorships, Dr. Sohmen is currently also a
  non-executive director of HSBC Holdings plc in London, and
  non-executive Director and Deputy Chairman of The Hongkong and
  Shanghai Banking Corporation Ltd in Hong Kong.

  Advisers
  Financial advisers to World Nordic are Carnegie ASA, Deutsche Bank
  AG London and HSBC Bank plc. Legal advisor to World Nordic as to
  Norwegian law is Bugge, Arentz-Hansen & Rasmussen.

  Press conference
  Journalists are invited to a press conference at Bergesen's offices
  in Oslo, Drammensveien 106, today at 1100am (Norwegian time).


                          World Nordic ApS

                       The Board of Directors

  For further information, please contact:

  Andreas Sohmen-Pao
  Executive Vice President, World-Wide Shipping Managers Pte Ltd
  +47 93 49 23 02

  Information for U.S. holders of Bergesen shares and ADSs

  This press release is neither an offer to purchase nor a
  solicitation of an offer to sell securities.  The Offer described
  in this press release may only be made pursuant to the terms of the
  Offer document and the accompanying documents.  The Offer will be
  made for the securities of Bergesen, a company incorporated under
  the laws of Norway, and will be made in the U.S. to all
  shareholders of Bergesen pursuant to an offer document, an
  acceptance form that will accompany the Offer document and other
  related documents.  These materials will be mailed to holders of
  record in accordance with applicable law, on publication of the
  formal Offer. The expected date of mailing the Offer document is
  during the week commencing Monday 21 April 2003.  Holders of
  Bergesen shares may also request copies of these documents from
  Carnegie ASA, the receiving agent for the Offer.  Holders of
  Bergesen shares should read carefully the Offer document and other
  related documents when they become available because they will
  contain important information about the Offer. The Offer will be
  subject to the disclosure and procedural requirements of the laws
  of Norway, which differ from those of the United States.  Financial
  statements included or referred to in this document have been
  prepared in accordance with non-U.S. accounting standards that may
  not be comparable to the financial statements of U.S. companies. It
  may be difficult for U.S. holders of Bergesen shares and ADSs to
  enforce such holders' rights and any claim such holders may have
  arising under the U.S. federal securities laws, since the issuer is
  located in a foreign country, and some or all of its officers and
  directors may be residents of a foreign country.  U.S. holders of
  Bergesen shares and ADSs may not be able to sue a foreign company
  or its officers or directors in a foreign court for violations of
  the U.S. securities laws.  It may be difficult to compel a foreign
  company and its affiliates to subject themselves to a U.S. court's
  judgment.

  FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
  This press release contains certain statements that are neither
  reported financial results nor other historical information.  These
  statements are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of
  the safe-harbor provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws.
  Forward-looking statements related to expectations, beliefs,
  projections, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or
  trends and similar expressions concerning matters that are not
  historical facts.  These forward-looking statements reflect current
  views about future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties,
  assumptions and changes in circumstances that may cause actual
  results to differ materially from those expressed in any
  forward-looking statement.  Certain factors that could cause actual
  results to differ materially from expected results include, among
  other things, delays in completing the transactions discussed
  herein, difficulties in achieving benefits for the group through
  economies of scale and joint future efforts, and changes in global
  economic, business, competitive market and regulatory factors, as
  well as other matters not known to offeror or Bergesen. World
  Nordic does not intend and disclaims any duty or obligation to
  update or revise any industry information or forward-looking
  statements set forth in this document to reflect new information,
  future events or otherwise.

  This press release may not be released or distributed in Canada,
  Australia or Japan. The offeror will not make any offer to specific
  persons if such offer requires additional offer documents,
  regulatory registration or other measures not already required
  under Norwegian law.

  This press release has been approved for the purposes of Section 21
  of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 by D. Carnegie AB,
  UK Branch, 24 Chiswell Street, London EC1Y 4UE, UK, who is
  authorised by the Financial Services Authority Limited to carry on
  investment business.



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Copyright � Hugin ASA 2003. All rights reserved.