our History
Built on generations of experience, Watrium brings an intergenerational perspective to
trusted, long-term investments. We have permanent capital and operate as a single-family office, owned and operated on behalf of the Norwegian Wilhelmsen family.
The timeline below traces the key milestones in our
development so far.
1939
Watrium relates all the way back to the Anders Wilhelmsen Group, which was founded in 1939 by shipowner Anders Wilhelmsen (1899-1969). A successful development of a global shipping business
1968
The shipping business was followed by an expansion into the cruise segment in 1968, by founding the Royal Caribbean Group, led by Anders Wilhelmsen’s two sons, Gjert (1927-2018) and Arne (1929-2020). The Royal Caribbean Group has since developed into one of the world’s leading cruise operators.
2002
The Anders Wilhelmsen Group later expanded heavily into the real estate business, led by Gjert’s son, Anders Christopher Wilhelmsen (1954- ). Anders Christopher Wilhelmsen subsequently, in 2002, founded his own private investment company: Watrium. Watrium has since 2015 exited the shipping and cruise businesses and has developed into a leading private investment firm that manages a large portfolio of global financial assets, industrial assets and commercial property.
2015 - now
Watrium’s businesses, people and values continues to build on the legacy from the founder Anders Wilhelmsen. A sound business judgement and a deep understanding of the need to balance new opportunities and exciting innovations, with a grain of healthy skepticism and strong commitment to future proof the businesses. And on a personal level, continue to be sincere, generous and caring.
Watrium is still fully owned by Anders Christopher Wilhelmsen and his family, with the third and fourth generation of owners all actively engaged in building long term value, based on the same fundamental values that have guided the expansion and development of businesses for close to 100 years
1939
Watrium relates all the way back to the Anders Wilhelmsen Group, which was founded in 1939 by shipowner Anders Wilhelmsen (1899-1969). He pioneered and succeeded in the development of a global shipping business.
1968
The shipping business was followed by an expansion into the cruise segment in 1968, by founding the Royal Caribbean Group, led by Anders Wilhelmsen’s two sons, Gjert (1927-2018) and Arne (1929-2020). The Royal Caribbean Group has since developed into one of the world’s leading cruise operators.
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2002
The Anders Wilhelmsen Group later expanded heavily into the real estate business, led by Gjert’s son, Anders Christopher Wilhelmsen (1954- ). Anders Christopher Wilhelmsen subsequently, in 2002, founded his own private investment company: Watrium. Watrium has since 2015 exited the shipping and cruise businesses and has developed into a leading private investment firm that manages a large portfolio of global financial assets, industrial assets and commercial property.
2015 - Today
Watrium’s businesses, people and values continues to build on the legacy from the founder Anders Wilhelmsen. A sound business judgement and a deep understanding of the need to balance new opportunities and exciting innovations, with a grain of healthy skepticism and strong commitment to future proof the businesses. And on a personal level, continue to be sincere, generous and caring.
Watrium is still fully owned by Anders Christopher Wilhelmsen and his family, with the third and fourth generation of owners all actively engaged in building long term value, based on the same fundamental values that have guided the expansion and development of businesses for close to 100 years.
1939
Watrium relates all the way back to the Anders Wilhelmsen Group, which was founded in 1939 by shipowner Anders Wilhelmsen (1899-1969). He pioneered and succeeded in the development of a global shipping business.
1968
The shipping business was followed by an expansion into the cruise segment in 1968, by founding the Royal Caribbean Group, led by Anders Wilhelmsen’s two sons, Gjert (1927-2018) and Arne (1929-2020). The Royal Caribbean Group has since developed into one of the world’s leading cruise operators.
1970
s
Since the middle of the 1970s, the group was also active in the oil service industry, with investments in and operations of supply vessels, diving vessels and shuttle tankers – and later also accommodation rigs, FPSO, heavy-lift vessels, drilling rigs, VLCCs, container ships and LNG vessels.
1990
s
The group further diversified by entering the real estate market. This business area was operated through the wholly owned subsidiary Linstow AS. Linstow is today one of Norway’s leading real estate companies with particular expertise in developing complex real estate projects and urban developments, often with long-time horizons.
2002
Gjert’s son, Anders Christopher Wilhelmsen (1954- ) founds his own private investment company, Watrium. The Watrium name stems from Wilhelmsen Atrium, as the first large asset to form Watrium was a large commercial real estate building named Oslo Atrium. This building has since been expanded on and today goes under the name SIXA.
2015 - TODAY
Anders Christopher Wilhelmsen divested from the Anders Wilhelmsen Group in 2015 to focus his assets as a single-family office under Watrium. Today, Watrium’s businesses, people and values continues to build on the legacy from the founder Anders Wilhelmsen. A sound business judgement and a deep understanding of the need to balance new opportunities and exciting innovations, with a grain of healthy skepticism and strong commitment to future proof the businesses. And on a personal level, continue to be sincere, generous and caring.
Watrium is still fully owned by Anders Christopher Wilhelmsen and his family, with the third and fourth generation of owners all actively engaged in building long term value, based on the same fundamental values that have guided the expansion and development of businesses for close to 100 years.
