Aschehoug

H. Aschehoug & Co. (W. Nygaard), commonly known as Aschehoug,(pronounced [ˈɑskəˈhæʉ]) is one of the largest independent publishing companies in Norway, founded in 1872. Headquartered in Oslo, the publishing house has 480 employees. The Aschehoug group also comprises other publishing houses owned partially or wholly by Aschehoug. Aschehoug literally means "ash hill."

History

Aschehoug was founded as a bookstore in 1872 on Egertorvet in Oslo by cousins, Hieronymus and Halvard Aschehoug. From the start the firm was involved in publishing in a modest way, its output consisting mainly of school books. In 1888, the company was taken over by William Martin Nygaard and Thorstein Lambrechts (1856-1933), who kept the name while expanding its operations.

In 1900 William Nygaard withdrew from the bookselling side of the business and established a publishing company, which was given the name H. Aschehoug & Co. (W. Nygaard). In 1935, following the death of William Nygaard, the publishing house turned into a corporation in connection with the inheritance settlement and Williams Nygaard's son, Mads Wiel Nygaard became the Executive Officer.

Aschehoug (Egmont)

Aschehoug is the Danish division of Egmont Books. It is Denmark’s second largest publisher with a revenue of approximately EUR 55 million (2003) and with a strong schoolbook publisher, Alinea, as part of the publishing house. With its schoolbook publisher Alinea and Forlag Malling Beck, Ashcheoug command a strong position in the market for educational materials for Danish elementary and lower secondary schools.