History and Statutes
History
The Foundation was established in 1954 by Grete Lundbeck, a visionary businesswoman and widow of the founder of H. Lundbeck A/S, Hans Lundbeck. Over the years, she donated the shares she had inherited from her husband to the Foundation and, when she died in 1965, the Foundation was sole heir to her assets.
1915H. Lundbeck & Co. is founded. |
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1954The Lundbeck Foundation was formally established on 4 March 1954, when Grete Lundbeck, as the majority shareholder and chair of the Board of Trustees, signed the statutes. The Lundbeck Foundation's statute was changed in 1991 in connection with the foundation being merged with the Grete and Hans Lundbeck's Scholarship. |
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1967The Lundbeck Foundation becomes the sole owner of Lundbeck. |
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1989The Lundbeck Foundation buys the controlling shareholding in Chr. Hansens Laboratorium A/S. The Foundation grants 26 DKKm. |
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1999H. Lundbeck A/S is listed. The Lundbeck Foundation's shareholding is deducted to 70%. The Foundation grants 22 DKKm. |
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2005Divestment of the ingredients part of Chr. Hansen Holding. The allergy part, ALK, is retained. The Foundation grants 222 DKKm. |
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2009Lundbeckfonden Ventures is established as an international ever-green venture fund investing in life science. |
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2010 / 2011Acquisition of the controlling shareholding of Falck A/S. The Foundation grants 504 DKKm. |
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2011The Brain Prize was awarded for the first time. The prestigious prize is a personal prize of 10 DKKm. It is the world's largest prize within neuroscience. |
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2012Lundbeckfonden Emerge is established as the early-stage investment unit focusing on investments in Danishbased research. |
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2022Lundbeckfonden BioCapital is established. The unit combines the Foundation's existing portfolio of biotech companies. |
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2022The Lundbeck Foundation buys 30% of the shares in Ferrosan Medical Devices. |
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2023The Lundbeck Foundation buys 34% of the shares in Ellab. |
Read and download the Foundation's anniversary book
On the occasion of the Foundation’s 60th anniversary, historian, professor and DPhil Kurt Jacobsen, of the Copenhagen Business School, was given full access to all of the Foundation’s archives and free rein to pen the history of “The Lundbeck Foundation – the first 60 years”.
The book, which was published at the beginning of 2015, lays a strong foundation for the Foundation’s future activities, with respect for and understanding of the past. You can read the book here, and you are also welcome to download, copy and distribute it, free of charge.
Statutes
The statutes are the formal document describing the rules for a foundation’s financial and legal affairs. As such, this document contains details of the Foundation’s purpose, activities, management structure and grants. The statutes are the equivalent of an association’s articles of association.