Duborgh Forsikring
Duborgh Forsikring is a Norwegian insurance and financial-services firm founded in 1847.
Last updated August 25, 2026
Overview
Duborgh Forsikring is a Norwegian insurance and finance company with roots in a nineteenth-century commercial agency founded by Peter Therentie Duborgh. The business began on 1 October 1847 under the name Peter Thr. Duborgh. Although insurance became central to its identity, the firm historically operated more broadly than a contemporary insurance specialist: it acted as an agent for foreign brands, including Chaloupin and Louis Roederer, and participated in export activity. The company remained closely associated with the Duborgh family after its founder died in 1892. Ownership passed to his sons Peter Carl Duborgh and William Duborgh, while another son, Harald Duborgh, was also a co-owner for a period. Peter Carl died in 1894, leaving William as the principal family figure until William's death in 1929. During William's ownership, Trygve Wettre joined the business as a co-owner in 1908. This marked the beginning of a transition in which ownership moved from the founding family to the Wettre and Røed families. Trygve Wettre became the sole owner after William Duborgh's death and continued to lead the company until his own death in 1936. His brother Ragnar Wettre then took over and brought Haakon Wettre and Ole Kr. Røed into the ownership structure. Haakon Wettre died in 1938, while Ole Kr. Røed subsequently brought his son Egil Røed into the business in 1940. When Ole Kr. Røed died in 1970, Egil Røed continued as the firm's sole owner. A major structural change occurred in March 1990, when the enterprise became a limited company. The change formalized its corporate structure after more than a century of family and partnership-based ownership. In its later form, Duborgh Forsikring has been described as specializing in life insurance, general insurance, money loans, and savings. This combination places the firm within Norway's broader financial-services sector rather than limiting it solely to property-and-casualty insurance. The available reference material does not identify a publicly listed parent, a stock-market ticker, a current chief executive, or a separate consumer-facing website. Its headquarters are in Lysaker, Norway. The company's documented history is notable for its longevity, successive family ownership arrangements, and evolution from a diversified commercial agency into a more focused insurance and financial-services business.
History
Duborgh Forsikring traces its origins to 1 October 1847, when Peter Therentie Duborgh established the business under the name Peter Thr. Duborgh. Its early activities extended beyond insurance. The company served as an agent for foreign commercial brands such as Chaloupin and Louis Roederer and also participated in export operations, making it an example of the diversified merchant and agency businesses that operated in nineteenth-century Norway. After Peter Therentie Duborgh died in 1892, control passed to his sons Peter Carl Duborgh and William Duborgh. Their brother Harald Duborgh also held an ownership interest for part of this period. Peter Carl died in 1894, while William continued as a principal owner until 1929. William's decision to bring Trygve Wettre into the ownership group in 1908 began a gradual change in the company's controlling families. Following William Duborgh's death, Trygve Wettre became the sole owner. He retained control until his death in 1936, when his brother Ragnar Wettre succeeded him. Ragnar expanded the ownership group by bringing in Haakon Wettre and Ole Kr. Røed. Haakon Wettre died in 1938. Ole Kr. Røed later involved his son Egil Røed in the company, with Egil becoming a co-owner in 1940. When Ole Kr. Røed died in 1970, Egil Røed continued the business independently. This succession illustrates the firm's long reliance on personal ownership and family continuity rather than a widely held corporate model. The company was converted into a limited company in March 1990, a significant legal and organizational milestone after more than 140 years of operation. In its modern description, Duborgh Forsikring operates across life insurance, general insurance, money loans, and savings. The available source identifies Lysaker as its headquarters but does not provide detailed information about current management, specific insurance products, distribution channels, financial results, ownership after incorporation, or recent corporate activity. Accordingly, the firm's documented historical importance rests primarily on its longevity, its transition from a diversified agency business to an insurance and finance company, and the succession of the Duborgh, Wettre, and Røed ownership families.
- 1990Conversion to a limited company
The company adopted a limited-company structure in March 1990.
- 1970Egil Røed continues as sole owner
Following Ole Kr. Røed's death, Egil Røed continued the company independently.
- 1940Egil Røed joins the company
Egil Røed became a co-owner after being brought into the business by his father, Ole Kr. Røed.
- 1936Wettre succession
After Trygve Wettre's death, his brother Ragnar Wettre took control and introduced additional co-owners.
- 1908Trygve Wettre joins ownership
William Duborgh brought Trygve Wettre into the business as a co-owner.
- 1892Ownership passes to the Duborgh sons
After the founder's death, ownership passed to Peter Carl Duborgh and William Duborgh, with Harald Duborgh also involved for a period.
- 1847Business founded
Peter Therentie Duborgh founded the enterprise on 1 October 1847 as Peter Thr. Duborgh.
Products and positioning
A long-established Norwegian insurance and financial-services firm combining life and general insurance with lending and savings activities.
Life insuranceInsurance
Life insurance is one of the insurance areas identified in descriptions of the company's modern business scope. The available source does not specify policy types, customer segments, underwriting arrangements, or distribution methods.
General insuranceInsurance
Duborgh Forsikring is also associated with general insurance, a broad category that may encompass non-life coverage. The reference material does not provide enough detail to identify individual lines, policy names, or current availability.
Money loansFinancial services
Money lending is included among the firm's stated financial activities. No source details the loan products, terms, borrowers, or present scale of this activity.
SavingsFinancial services
Savings services form part of the company's reported later business scope. The available material does not identify account formats, investment products, rates, or customer eligibility.
Flagship businesses
- Insurance services
- Financial lending and savings services
Leadership
| Name | Title | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| Egil Røed | Co-owner and later sole ownerformer | 1940– |
| Haakon Wettre | Co-ownerformer | 1936–1938 |
| Ole Kr. Røed | Co-ownerformer | 1936–1970 |
| Ragnar Wettre | Ownerformer | 1936– |
| Trygve Wettre | Co-owner and later sole ownerformer | 1908–1936 |
| Harald Duborgh | Co-ownerformer | 1892– |
| Peter Carl Duborgh | Co-ownerformer | 1892–1894 |
| William Duborgh | Co-ownerformer | 1892–1929 |
| Peter Therentie Duborgh | Founderformer | 1847–1892 |
Sources
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