The company was established by the founding father, Mr. Anthon Bernhard Nilsen, in 1879. He was a true entrepreneur who initially developed activities in forestry, lumber dealing and saw mill operation. In 1884 he had his own unique brand registered for the branding of trees and timber. This brand has newly been re-launched as an element of the company’s logo.
As a businessman, Mr. Nilsen displayed a formidable creativity. Based on his initial activities within forestry and saw mills, he built a comprehensive global trading business for export and import of a large variety of goods and raw materials. In 1906 he entered the pulp and paper industry and in 1914 made the first major investment in commercial properties.
In 1976, the heirs of Mr. Anthon B Nilsen’s sons, Mr. Reidar and Gunnar Holst, put all the shares of the company into a charitable trust.
In 2000, the company Anthon B Nilsen AS merged with ILAS AS, a company with interests in property, industry and education controlled by the brothers Peder Chr. Løvenskiold and Nicolai H. Løvenskiold.
Currently, the Group has organized their activities in three different business areas: Property development and management, development and management of private schools and trading of timber and construction products.
