The family-owned investment company, Kirk Kapital, buys 45% of the shares in Danske Stenhuggerier A/S – the leading supplier and distributor of gravestones in Denmark. The investment is part of Danske Stenhuggerier's strategy to utilize the company's international potential.
Danske Stenhuggerier is Denmark's largest supplier of gravestones with activities in Denmark, Norway and Germany. The stones are processed locally and delivered according to the customer's wishes and specifications.
Danske Stenhuggerier's main shareholder looks forward to the partnership with Kirk Kapital:
“We look forward to partnering with Kirk Kapital. It was important to us to find a family-owned partner who on the one hand would cherish the values and success of Danske Stenhuggerier, and what has been built up over many years and on the other hand can actively contribute to the future," states Carsten Sjørvad, CEO for JJO Invest ApS (main shareholder since 2010).
In recent years, Danske Stenhuggerier has established subsidiaries in Norway and Germany, and the partnership with Kirk Kapital offers new opportunities:
“The partnership with Danske Stenhuggerier is appealing to us because it partly represents an opportunity to ensure that this traditional business is still Danish owned. At the same time, the family ownership opens for us to accelerate growth further, especially internationally and through acquisitions,” states Kim Gulstad, CEO of Kirk Kapital.
Danske Stenhuggerier focuses on memories and humans.
“Our focus is on creating good memories for the relatives. We have been doing this for more than three decades. The company's many talented employees and I intend to continue to do so in the years to come. I see Kirk Capital's interest as a hallmark of our work and I look forward to the new collaboration, which gives us the strength to be even more present locally and at the same time invest internationally,” states Carsten Nørmark Christensen, founding partner and CEO of Danske Stenhuggerier.
In connection with the transaction, Carsten Sjørvad will take over as Chairman of the Board. Jacob Eiskjær Olesen and Carsten Nørmark Christensen will continue as board members. Kirk Kapital is represented on the board by Andreas Færk and Emilie Bjørnekær Rosenkvist.
Information about Danske Stenhuggerier
Danske Stenhuggerier was established in 1983 in Nørre Snede in central Jutland, where the company still has its head office and part of its production. Among the co-founders at the age of just 18 was the current CEO Carsten Nørmark Christensen.
Today, Danske Stenhuggerier is Denmark's largest supplier of natural stone and produces gravestones in all styles, made in the best craftsmanship quality by skilled Danish stonemasons. With more than 70 stores across the country, the company knows the special local traditions and local regulations that must be taken into account when designing a personal gravestone or other memorial. Danske Stenhuggerier places emphasis on maintaining, developing, and disseminating knowledge of the stonemasonry profession as a true craft with roots in Danish tradition.
