COWI A/S
Private limited company | |
Industry | Consulting |
Founded | 1930 |
Founder | Christen Ostenfeld (Dr Tech) |
Headquarters | Kongens Lyngby, Denmark |
Key people | Lars-Peter Søbye, CEO |
Services | Engineering, environmental science and economics |
Revenue | € 747.3 million (2015)[1] |
€ 43.3 million (2015)[1] | |
Total assets | € 402.9m[1] |
Total equity | € 135.7m[1] |
Owner |
COWIfonden (the COWIfoundation) (85%)[2] Present and Former Employees (15%)[2] |
Number of employees | 6,311 (2015)[1] |
Subsidiaries | Flint & Neill |
Website | cowi.com |
COWI A/S is an international consulting group, specialising in engineering, environmental science and economics, based in Lyngby, Denmark.
It has been involved in more than 50,000 projects in 175 countries and has approximately 6,400 employees, including engineers, biologists, geologists, economists, surveyors, anthropologists, sociologists and architects.[3]
History
COWI was founded in 1930 by civil engineer Christen Ostenfeld (Dr Tech).[4] Wriborg W. Jønson became a partner 16 years later. From 1946 to 1973, the company operated as a partnership under the name of Chr. Ostenfeld & W. Jønson. The initials of the two senior partners lent the company its name.
In 1973, the company became foundation-owned enterprise and was renamed COWIconsult, Consulting Engineers and Planners AS. In 1995, the company changed its name to COWI Consulting Engineers and Planners AS, eventually becoming COWI A/S in 2001.
In 2008 the firm bought Flint & Neill, a UK civil and structural engineering consultancy specialising in bridges.
In November 2014, the firm acquired Donaldson Associates Ltd, a UK base tunneling specialist company. At the time of acquisition, Donaldson Associates Ltd had 150 staff, operating from 5 UK offices and one international office in Hong Kong.
Ownership
COWI Holding A/S is an unlisted Danish public limited liability company jointly owned by the COWIfonden (the COWIfoundation) holding 85% of shares with the remaining 15% of company shares held by current and former employees from eight different countries where COWI operates. The company regards employee shareholders as co-owners. The current company structure was adapted in 2010.[5]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Key Figures (5 Years)". COWI. 31 December 2015.
- 1 2 "Ownership". COWI. 31 December 2015.
- ↑ "Facts and figures - the quick version". COWI. Retrieved 2016-09-22.
- ↑ "1930 - 1940: A nightclub – the first step towards an international company". COWI. Retrieved 2009-02-03.
- ↑ "About COWI Ownership". COWI. Retrieved 2016-09-22.