One of the billionaire heirs to the Lego family fortune has sold shares in the company that controls the Danish toymaker for about 6.32 billion kroner ($930 million).
Sofie Kirk Kristiansen, 47, the great-granddaughter of Lego A/S’ founder, sold 4 million shares in Kirkbi A/S for about 158,000 kroner a piece, according to a filing with the Danish company register.
The proceeds were paid out as a form of dividend, and the shares were canceled by Kirkbi, meaning that the other family members increased their stakes in the family firm, Kirkbi said in an emailed statement Thursday.
“Earlier this year, Sofie Kirk Kristiansen agreed with the other shareholders to sell a small portion of her shares to Kirkbi in order to dedicate a greater part of her time and resources to a number of nature conservation projects,” the company said.
Kirkbi owns 75% of Lego, as well as equity stakes in a number of companies, bonds and properties. Its assets have swelled to about 166 billion kroner — mainly driven by rising profits at Lego, which has grown to become the world’s largest toy company. Thomas Kirk Kristiansen, who is Sofie Kirk Kristiansen’s brother, took over as Kirkbi chairman after their father, Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen, stepped down this year.