Clearwater has advised the Bruun Rasmussen family, owners of the acknowledged auction house, Bruun Rasmussen Kunstauktioner A/S (BRK), on the sale to Bonhams.
Bruun Rasmussen Kunstauktioner is one of the largest auction houses in Europe and Denmark's leading high-end auction house. The company was founded in and have been led by the Bruun Rasmussen family since 1948. Bruun Rasmussen Kunstauktioner mediates and assesses art, antiques, furniture, and design and has defined the Danish high-end auction market through more than 70 years.
With integrity and expertise, BRK has managed to establish a leading position in the high-end auction market and holds the Danish record for the highest hammer price. The company's experts are among the most renowned in the industry, and many are internationally acknowledged in their respective fields.
The auction house was an early adopter of online auctions and since 2004 has leveraged its digital platform to attract international buyers and sellers. The online auctions have generated a substantial part of the auction value and have attracted a large audience of international buyers across all continents.
Founded in 1793, Bonhams is one of the largest auction houses in the world. With a strong international footprint, the company is represented in Hong Kong, New York, Paris, and Sydney. In 2018, the private equity fund Epiris acquired Bonhams, which during the last year acquired Bukowskis, a leading Swedish auction house, the American Skinner Auction House as well as The Market Place, a digital auction platform for vintage cars. In addition to its strong international reach, Bonhams has an embedded digital profile with a significant part of its auction volume generated through online auctions.
Since its founding, BRK has managed to attract several international customers. By becoming part of the global player, Bonhams, the company can instantly accelerate the international growth potential. BRK will continue its Danish presence with local departments and employees in Denmark. Likewise, the management and the family will continue and contribute to the future development of the entire Bonhams Group.
