Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

BrewDog valued at £1bn after investment from San Francisco-based private equity firm

Since its launch 10 years ago, the company has grown from two to over 540 employees and more 32,000 shareholders

Beth Timmins,Josie Cox
Monday 10 April 2017 10:19 EDT
Comments
As of 2015, BrewDog operated 44 bars including several in London
As of 2015, BrewDog operated 44 bars including several in London (BrewDog)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Britain has a new unicorn.

BrewDog, the independent craft brewer that was launched in 2007 in a garage in Scotland by two 24-year olds, is now valued at £1bn.

The company on Monday said that TSG Consumer Partners, a San Francisco based private equity investor, had bought a 23 per cent stake in the group.

Almost half of the £213m transaction will go towards funding BrewDog’s expansion and the company said that the deal is “designed to deliver long term capital to investors in a 10-year time horizon”.

It said that the proposed investment was presented to shareholders at a special meeting at the end of March and that 95 per cent approved of it.

“This deal will enable us to take our business, and our community’s investment in BrewDog, to the next level,” said co-founder, James Watt.

Since its launch 10 years ago, the company has grown from two to over 540 employees and more 32,000 shareholders.

The founders started by brewing tiny batches, filling bottles by hand and selling beer at local markets and out of the back of their van. As of 2015, BrewDog operated 44 bars including several in London.

Last month, BrewDog announced plans to open the world's first crowdfunded beer hotel in Columbus, Ohio.

Called “The DogHouse,” the £6m hotel will serve beer breakfasts, offer beer-based spa treatments, a beer fridge in the shower and hot tubs filled with Punk IPA beer.

Mr Watt said that BrewDog’s mission when it was launched was to “make other people as passionate about great craft beer as we are”.

“We remain more laser focused on that goal than ever before,” he said on Monday.

TSG Consumer Partners has invested in over 70 consumer brands, including vitaminwater, and popchips.

Blythe Jack, a managing director at the group said that she looks forward to working with BrewDog and its founders “as it continues to innovate, expand and harness a unique rebellious energy”.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in