LEO Foundation

The LEO Foundation is one of Denmark's largest enterprise foundations and an engaged owner of the pharmaceutical company LEO Pharma. Its main objective is to ensure LEO Pharma's long-term development and success as a global leader in dermatology. In addition to its ownership role, the Foundation is one of the largest private funders of independent skin research at universities and hospitals worldwide, providing philanthropic grants. Over the years it has awarded around DKK 1.8 billion to independent research and manages financial assets of around DKK 18.8 billion. The Foundation was established in 1984 by Knud E. Abildgaard, who at the time was the owner of LEO Pharma. Until 2021, the Foundation was the sole owner of LEO Pharma; in 2021 it welcomed Nordic Capital as a minority shareholder and partner, while the Foundation remains the company's long-term controlling owner.

The LEO Foundation was established in 1984 by Knud E. Abildgaard, who at the time was the owner of LEO Pharma. Until 2021, the Foundation was the sole owner of LEO Pharma. In 2021, the Foundation welcomed Nordic Capital as a minority shareholder and partner to the Foundation, who remains the company's long-term controlling owner. The Foundation's charter is in essence the will of its founder, Knud Abildgaard, who until his death in 1986 was the owner of LEO Pharma. The charter sets the overall purpose and objective of the Foundation and defines how it should be governed; in accordance with the charter, the Foundation's primary purpose and objective is to ensure the continuance of LEO Pharma, and the charter defines the Foundation's philanthropic field as support to research within medicine, chemistry and pharmacy.

A Danish enterprise foundation driving progress for people living with skin diseases through ownership, philanthropy and investments.

1. 1LEO Foundation - Let's pave the way for curing skin diseasesleo-foundation.org
2. 2About us - LEO Foundationleo-foundation.org
3. 3How we work - LEO Foundationleo-foundation.org