The foundation of Havfonn dates at least four generations back, to consul and shipowner Sigval Bergesen. He was from the generation of 1905, when Norway became an independent state again, and he was a member of the Storting representing Stavanger. He was a social developer and entrepreneur with an ability to get things done. On land he became known as the father of the Sørlandet railway line, and on the high seas through shipping. The shipping company Sigval Bergesen was established in Stavanger in 1887. He remained active until 1937, when he put his son Ole at the helm, allowing him to use his energies to fight for the construction of the Sørlandet railway line.

“Set goals for yourselves that will be to the benefit of your society, and pursue those goals. Therein lies happiness!”

Consul and shipowner Sigval Bergesen in an address to the youth during his efforts to establish the Sørlandet railway line.
From Ole Bergesen: «Kraft Mod og Haab» p. 189 – original source: Schanke Jonassen 1963

Sigval Bergesen d.y. (the Younger) worked as a partner in the shipping company with his father and his brother Ole in the years 1918–1934, when he established his own shipping company, Bergesen d.y. & Co. In 1942 he bought the majority of the shipyard Rosenberg Verft in Stavanger from the central bank of Norway. This lay the foundation for an expansive development of the shipping company, which grew from owning four tankers in 1950 to sixteen in 1970. These became known as “the green tankers”, and part of the tonnage was contracted from Rosenberg. Bergesen d.y. was one of the largest shipping companies in the world at this point. In 1966 it acquired one of the world’s largest fleets of bulk carriers from Sigval’s son Berge Bergesen. In 1975 he established the Bergesen Foundation of public benefit by a deed of gift, motivated by giving something back to the society that had provided him with a secure framework and great possibilities. Sigval the Younger transferred control of the shipping company to his grandchildren Petter G. Sundt and Morten Sigval Bergesen in 1976.

Sigval Bergesen the Younger furthered the confidence in the efforts of the individual and their importance for society’s development. His motto, also used by the company, was:

“Full speed ahead!”

When the cousins Petter G. Sundt and Morten Sigval Bergesen took over the management of the company in 1976, it was controlled by the family. After Sigval Bergesen the Younger passed away in 1980, ownership was restructured and a holding company, Bergesen d.y. ASA, was listed on the stock exchange in 1986. Other family members sold out of the shipping company, and Petter G. Sundt and Morten Sigval Bergesen remained as principal owners, and in important company positions as chairman of the board and CEO.

During this period, the grandchildren of Sigval Bergesen developed the company and diversified it with considerable positions in tank, dry cargo and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). The LPG activity got an impetus after the fusion with Havtor in 1995. The shipping company became a leading operator in all its segments and had on the average 100 ships in its fleet. The investments in LPG, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and offshore increased towards the end of the 1990s. Bergesen d.y. ASA was Norway’s largest shipping company when it was sold to World Wide Shipping in 2003.

A long history of visionary leadership in the shipping sector gave a sound basis for the entrepreneurship of new generations, and for a new company – admittedly with a changeover from a central role as owner of one of the world’s leading shipping companies to an enterprise based on financial assets. Morten Sigval Bergesen and Ragnhild Bergesen therefore chose to establish the Fonn companies to safeguard the potential of the inheritance. The Fonn companies, spearheaded by Snefonn and later Havfonn, provide a secure platform for the values created by former generations and that are to be managed by those to come. At the same time, it is important that the Fonn companies use their financial and competent strength to have ownership positions in and to be an active driving force to develop solid, innovative businesses.