Speak Holding (Lars Wollebekk) Denmark dissolved

Updated Nov 4, 2020

August 2019 Lars Henrik Wollebekk declared the Norwegian companies Language Education Norge A/S and Speak Norge A/S bankrupt. October 2017  Language Education Denmark A/S and Speak Holding ApS. In 2017 ELG: European Language Group, Sarl was also liquidated. Such bankruptcies create a unique problem when it comes to exchange students. In both 2019 and 2017 students had already been sent abroad to live with their host families. Since employees had not been informed ahead of time, they had to figure out what would happen with regards to the students abroad and the ones who were waiting to go. Abroad partner companies had to take the brunt. In Norway the company that handled the liquidations stated that nothing illegal had happened and that there was no reason for a company quarantine. I was asked by Wollebekk’s attorney to remove any private information regarding Wollebekk from my sites (and FB)*.

Another of Wollebekk’s exchange organizations, Speak Education Nordic AB (Language Education) in Sweden, was liquidated October 2020.

Only Speak Cultural Exchange UK Ltd. in England seems to remain as a purely student exchange organization with Wollebekk as owner. Indirectly tied to student exchange we find Norwegian Combank IT Systems AS. It is listed as designing net-based IT systems for (among other things) exchange organizations. In Denmark his Zaruben Capital ApS is listed as an advisory and PR company. However, exchange organizations are not specifically listed.

Lars Henrik Wollebekk’s companies

• Speak Holding ApS – Dissolved
  • Language Education ApS, Denmark (Aspect High School) – Dissolved
  • Language Education Norge AS (Aspect High School)
  • Speak Norge AS
  • ELG: European Language Group, Sarl – Dissolved
    • Speak Cultural Exchange UK Ltd.
• Speak Education Nordic AB
• Combank IT Systems
• European Language Group, USA
• Advisory Board ApS (Zaruben Capital ApS)

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*All of the information listed in this post is publicly available and of public interest as it pertains to the exchange industry and those wishing to participate in an exchange experience. 

Aspect High School / Speak Education (Cultural Exchange) / Lars Wollebekk

Speak Holding ApS (2007)

• Combank IT Systems (2000)
• Language Education ApS, Denmark (Aspect High School) (1993)
• European Language Group, USA (2003)
• ELG: European Language Group, Sarl (2004)
  • Language Education Norge AS (Aspect High School) (1988)
  • Speak Norge AS (2000)
  • Speak Education Nordic AB (2006) (Language Education Sverige)
  • Speak Cultural Exchange UK Ltd. (2007)
• Advisory Board ApS, Sweden (2011)

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History:

• Lars Henrik Wollebekk = LHW = main character
• Carl Eivind Wollebekk = CEW = LHW’s father
• Vibeke Timm Gunthe Wollebekk = VTGW = LHW’s wife (?)

1988: ASSE Norwegian Educational Travel AS (948 156 989) is established in Norway by Svenska Statens Språkresor AB. It continues as Sweden’s international education project until 1997. At that time ASSE Norwegian Educational Travel AS is sold to Aspect Education Ltd. in the UK.

Joca Eiendom AS (868 061 642) is established in Norway in 1993 as a property management firm. Later on it becomes part owner in some of the companies below. Its main owners are CEW and JW. At this point in time LHW works for EF Education, up until 1999.

LHW takes over as managing director of the Danish subsidiary of Aspect Education Ltd., Aspect Education Denmark AS in 2000 and changes its name to Language Education Denmark A/S. At the same time LHW establishes Speak Europe AS (882 354 512) in Norway. Its original purpose was to arrange language courses, language travels and student exchange programs and other activities. Owners are LHW and Joca Eiendom AS. LHW also establishes Speak Norge AS (982 671 884)  in 2000. Speak Norge AS is the public face of Speak. Its current manager is LHW and European Language Group Sarl its current owner.

In 2001 the Norwegian branch of ASSE changes its name to Aspect Education Norway. LHW takes over management of the firm in 2002 and the name subsequently changes to  Language Education Norge AS. While this remains its official name, Language Education Norge/Danmark/Sverige are currently known as Aspect High School. and its owners are ELG Sarl.

Speak Europe AS changes its name to European Language Group AS in September 2003. CEW becomes manager and Chairman. VTGW is member of the board. Lars no longer has a visible role.

LHW kicks off European Language Group (US) LLC (200311510070) in California in 2003. The Swiss branch of ELG is founded in 2004 as  ELG European Language Group Sàrl (CH-660.1.042.004-9). ELG Sarl becomes management firm for the various concerns managed and owned by LHW. LHW is, in 2004, main shareholder in ELG Sarl. LHW later becomes only shareholder until he transfers all shares to Speak Holding Aps (below).

Speak Education Nordic AB (556698-2301) is established as a Swedish subsidiary to ELG Sarl in 2006.

Joca Ejendom Danmark Aps (30584244) is founded in Denmark in 2007. CEW remains manager of both the Norwegian and Danish branches and his email continues to be listed as cew@speak.no.

At this time LHW expands his company to England. In 2007 Speak Cultural Exchange UK Ltd. is established. Currently (2016), their offices are located in Margate, Kent. They are a subsidiary of ELG Sarl.

The financial crisis that hits the world in 2008 also affects LWH’s holdings. Slowly, sites that were available on the net disappear. ELG (US) and Speak Language Travel are listed as suspended in official papers.

In 2009 ELG AS changes its name to Combank IT Systems. Combank continues the function as management firm for the Norwegian branches of Wollebekk’s various companies. Main stockholders at this time (2016) are LHW and Joca Eiendom.

In 2011 LHW founds the Advisory Board Aps (33592124) in Denmark.  Its link, www.aspectworld.se, has also gone down, but the company is listed as active.

2013 Speak Holding Aps (34891192) is established by LHW in Denmark.  2013: LHW tranfers his shares in ELG Sarl to Speak Holding Aps, yet remains in management in ELG. Speak Education offices are established in Denmark.

Why Wollebekk ties into Kaplan, Inc. in these phone pages I’m not sure.

(This article was updated March 14, 2016, and copied from CSFES Norway)

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Father and son are also member of and chairman of Sameiet Holmenkollen 103 board.

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Media / Student experiences:

2007/2008: Spionert på, mye kjeft, gikk gjennom tingene

Ikke seng, bytte flere ganger, manipulerende vertsforeldre, selvmord, kastet ut, ingen hjelp

2011 Oct 16: – Jeg var to minutter fra å reise hjem

2011/2012: Ikke lov å kontakte mor, truet, tar ikke ansvar, manipulerende

2014 Feb 07: Far: Min søns udvekslings- rejse var et mareridt: Paid extra to avoid Utah and Mormons. Was sent to Utah and Mormons.

• 2014 Feb 07: Go Speak / Speak Education Danmark / Aspect High School / Language Education Danmark / Speak High School / Language Group

2013/2014: Religionspress, mishandling, dobbeltrolle

Helpline US Department of State

1-866-283-9090 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) The Department of State activated the helpline to ensure the health and safety of its exchange participants. Students have a right to be treated fairly and to report abuse without retaliation or threat of program cancellation. (Dep of State)

Blind trust in exchange organisations

You would not send your child to a house at the end of your street if you knew nothing about the person living there. Yet on the strength of a glossy brochure, the payment in some cases of vast sums of money, and an assumption that someone else has asked the right questions, we send our children thousands of miles across the world to stay with strangers.

The companies, organisations and individuals that abuse this blind trust cannot be allowed to continue to profit from it and we must all take responsibility for the care and safety of our young people. (Chris Gould)