Bonhams acquires Bruun Rasmussen Kunstauktioner

Bonhams has on 22 March 2022 acquired Danish auctioneers Bruun Rasmussen. Plesner has advised Bonhams on the transaction.

Bruun Rasmussen, established in Copenhagen in 1948, is a leading traditional auction house in Scandinavia and conducts live auctions at its original salerooms in Copenhagen as well as auctions online. More than 75,000 lots are sold each year across a wide range of categories, including furniture, paintings, modern design, silver, wine and collector's items such as stamps, arms and coins.

Bonhams, founded in London in 1793, is one of the world's leading auctioneers of fine art and collectables, motor cars and jewellery. Bonhams operates globally from, inter alia, London, New York, Los Angeles, Paris and Hong Kong, and - in addition to the acquisition of Bruun Rasmussen - Bonhams has recently acquired Bukowskis in Stockholm and Skinner in Boston. Since 2018, Bonhams has been owned by UK-based private equity firm, Epiris.

The acquisition of Bruun Rasmussen is set to build on Bonhams' presence in the Nordic market and increase Bonhams' digital capabilities, while Bruun Rasmussen will gain access to a larger network of clients and specialists to strengthen its position on the global auction scene.

Jesper Bruun Rasmussen, the chair of Bruun Rasmussen since 1985, will continue as Chairman Emeritus, while Bruun Rasmussen will continue to be run by Jakob Dupont as CEO. 

Plesner's core team on the transaction was Brian Bundgaard, Frederik Jastrup Brodersen and Kasper Erikslev Lolk-Hansen.

Read Bonhams' press release

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