Ferry Operator DFDS has today announced that it will give every one of its more than 7,000 employees shares in DFDS as a 150th anniversary gift.

All staff who were employed by the company as of December 1st, and who work at least 24 hours a week, will receive 30 shares valued at around DKK 10,000 (€1,300 as of today).

Employees on fewer hours will receive shares proportional to the hours worked.

“Very few companies are in a position of being able to celebrate their 150th anniversary, and even fewer are able to do so in a year when the company is heading for possibly the best result in its history,” said DFDS chief executive Niels Smedegaard.

“We have therefore wanted to combine the celebration of our foundation and our founders with a celebration of, and thanks to, our many employees who every day help to ensure that DFDS can continue contributing to trade, travel and growth also in the future.”

The shares are tied up for a three-year period, after which they can be freely redeemed by the employees, who now become co-owners in the company.

The total allocation amounts to more than DKK 70 million (€9.4million)

All DFDS employees today celebrated the foundation of the company 150 years ago with events on all the company’s vessels and locations throughout Europe.