Christiani & Nielsen
Encyclopedia
Christiani & Nielsen is a construction contractor
with major operations in Thailand
and Southeast Asia. Originally a Danish
company, it is today a listed company majority owned by the Crown Property Bureau of King Bhumibol of Thailand.
in the Royal Danish Navy
, in Copenhagen
in 1904 to build bridges, marine works, and other reinforced concrete
structures. It soon established a branch in Hamburg
, and after World War I, extended its operations to the United Kingdom, South America, Australia and Africa.
) Ltd. was established on 28 February 1930. Over the years, it has been responsible for many projects, including
The Thai company was listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand
in 1991. In December 1992 it completed a reverse takeover of its publicly listed Danish parent company – the first such transaction in Thai business history. The Thai management succeeded in taking over the mother company without paying the full price by claiming bankruptcy in the process. The result of this is that the company today uses the lucrative brand of Christiani & Nielsen without having paid the families of the founders.
It later expanded into Malaysia, Vietnam
, and China
, along with investment in engineering and property related businesses.
After the Asian Economic Crisis of 1997, the company restructured its businesses and disposed of many subsidiaries and investments outside of the core construction business in Thailand.
General contractor
A general contractor is responsible for the day-to-day oversight of a construction site, management of vendors and trades, and communication of information to involved parties throughout the course of a building project.-Description:...
with major operations in Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
and Southeast Asia. Originally a Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
company, it is today a listed company majority owned by the Crown Property Bureau of King Bhumibol of Thailand.
Founding and early years
Christiani & Nielsen was established by Rudolf Christiani, a Danish civil engineer, and Aage Nielsen, a CaptainCaptain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
in the Royal Danish Navy
Royal Danish Navy
The Royal Danish Navy is the sea-based branch of the Danish Defence force. The RDN is mainly responsible for maritime defence and maintaining the sovereignty of Danish, Greenlandic and Faroese territorial waters...
, in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
in 1904 to build bridges, marine works, and other reinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete is concrete in which reinforcement bars , reinforcement grids, plates or fibers have been incorporated to strengthen the concrete in tension. It was invented by French gardener Joseph Monier in 1849 and patented in 1867. The term Ferro Concrete refers only to concrete that is...
structures. It soon established a branch in Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
, and after World War I, extended its operations to the United Kingdom, South America, Australia and Africa.
Thailand operations
Christiani & Nielsen (SiamThailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
) Ltd. was established on 28 February 1930. Over the years, it has been responsible for many projects, including
- The Democracy Monument
- Klong Toey Port
- The Krungthep, Krungthon and Nonathburi bridges spanning Bangkok's Chao Phraya RiverChao Phraya RiverThe Chao Phraya is a major river in Thailand, with its low alluvial plain forming the centre of the country. It runs through Bangkok, the capital city, and then empties into the Gulf of Thailand.-Etymology:...
- Rajdamnern Boxing Stadium
- The Sukhothai Hotel
- The 13th Asian GamesAsian GamesThe Asian Games, officially known as Asiad, is a multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from all over Asia. The Games were regulated by the Asian Games Federation from the first Games in New Delhi, India, until the 1978 Games. Since the 1982 Games they have been organised by the...
Sports Stadium - All Season Place office complex
The Thai company was listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand
Stock Exchange of Thailand
The Stock Exchange of Thailand is the national stock exchange of Thailand. It is located in Bangkok. As of 31 December 2007, the Stock Exchange of Thailand had 541 listed companies with a combined market capitalization of $280 billion. The indices of the stock exchange are SET Index, SET50 Index...
in 1991. In December 1992 it completed a reverse takeover of its publicly listed Danish parent company – the first such transaction in Thai business history. The Thai management succeeded in taking over the mother company without paying the full price by claiming bankruptcy in the process. The result of this is that the company today uses the lucrative brand of Christiani & Nielsen without having paid the families of the founders.
It later expanded into Malaysia, Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, and China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, along with investment in engineering and property related businesses.
After the Asian Economic Crisis of 1997, the company restructured its businesses and disposed of many subsidiaries and investments outside of the core construction business in Thailand.