Draper has announced the acquisition of a majority shareholding in Guthrie Douglas. Established in 1981 in Warwickshire, U.K., Guthrie Douglas is a family business and a team of specialist engineers focused on creating specialty shading systems for extraordinary spaces. The GD product range is known globally as a reliable solution for shading technically challenging windows and is frequently specified on some of the world’s most prominent buildings.
As well as acquiring a majority stake in GD, Draper is investing in a growth plan for the company, with significant investments to be made across the business — from sales and specification to product development and customer service. Draper will also offer GD products to the U.S. market.
Guthrie Douglas will continue to be managed as an independent business, with Andrew Kitching remaining as managing director, and the current management team remaining in place on a permanent basis. Draper’s Chris Broome (president) and Jerry Crone (CFO) will join the board.
“In today’s world it is increasingly difficult to find like-minded businesses with similar values, and we are fortunate to have found a partner who shares our excitement and belief in the growth potential of our company,” says Andrew Kitching, managing director of Guthrie Douglas. “I have no doubt that with the team we have in place here, and now with the backing of Draper, GD will scale up significantly in the coming years.”
“We’re excited to welcome Guthrie Douglas to the Draper family,” said Chris Broome, president, Draper, Inc. “Their team has built a reputation for solving tough shading challenges, and their specialty systems are a perfect fit for the kinds of projects our customers are tackling. This partnership gives us the opportunity to bring their solutions to the U.S. market while supporting their continued growth globally. We’re looking forward to what we can accomplish together.”
For more information, visit https://www.draperathome.com/aboutus/guthriedouglas/.
