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Hempel Foundation
Jørgen Christian Hempel created the foundation in 1948 to hold and steward the family coatings business. The entity remains the controlling shareholder of...
Hempel Foundation
Jørgen Christian Hempel created the foundation in 1948 to hold and steward the family coatings business. The entity remains the controlling shareholder of Hempel A/S through Hempel Invest A/S. The foundation allocates across listed shares, bonds, credit, real estate and private equity. Confirmed holdings include a 70 percent stake in Hempel A/S and a limited-partner position in Den Sociale Kapitalfond Invest. Direct real-asset positions comprise Saksfjed Wilderness on Lolland and Brænderupvænge Forest near Svendborg, both in Denmark. Geographic reach centers on Denmark and selected African education markets. The foundation employs external managers for its liquid portfolio and maintains three separate philanthropic vehicles. It sponsored the Philea Forum 2026 in Copenhagen and spoke at the ADEA 2025 Triennale in Accra on foundational learning finance. Governance separates the commercial ownership of Hempel A/S from grant-making through distinct legal entities and external service providers including PwC as auditor and Gorrissen Federspiel as counsel.
General information
Firm type
Endowment / Foundation
Year founded
1948
Location
Region
Europe
Country
Denmark
City
Copenhagen
Corporate office
Amaliegade 8, 1256 Copenhagen, Denmark
Principals
Jørgen Christian Hempel
Founder
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Hempel Foundation?
The foundation delegates liquid-asset management to external professional managers while retaining direct oversight of its Hempel A/S stake and real-asset holdings.
Does Hempel Foundation participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
It holds both a limited-partner interest in Den Sociale Kapitalfond Invest and direct ownership of operating companies, land and art collections.
Where does the underlying wealth come from?
The capital originates from Jørgen Christian Hempel's founding of Hempel A/S, the global coatings manufacturer of which the foundation retains 70 percent ownership.
What investment stages does Hempel Foundation typically target?
The foundation maintains a primary allocation to liquid financial assets with supplementary commitments to private equity and real estate.
How is Hempel Foundation related to Hempel A/S?
The foundation is the majority owner of Hempel A/S through Hempel Invest A/S and uses dividend flows to fund its philanthropic programs.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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