It was established by Anthon Bernhard Elias Nilsen in 1879 to export pulp and paper products and lumber.

[2] As of 2008 the company has invested in education, property, recycling and trade, with one subdivision for each field.

Through its subdivision ABN Education (Anthon B Nilsen Utdanning) it owns several private high school and college institutions in Norway, including the Norwegian School of Information Technology, NKI Fjernundervisning, the Nordic Institute of Stage and Studio, Westerdals School of Communication, Treider College and Bjørknes College.

[3] It owns two colleges in a foreign country; Berghs School of Communication and Medlearn in Sweden.

[10] With no particular plans for the production facilities, ABN announced that the factory would lie fallow for the time being.