News summary produced by Claude AI
James Watt, co-founder of Brewdog, is under investigation by the UK Information Commissioner’s Office following complaints related to his efforts to regain control of the craft brewing company. The investigation centers on how Watt obtained contact information for former shareholders as he pursues a buyback bid.
Earlier this year, Brewdog was acquired by US drinks firm Tilray in a transaction valued at approximately £33m. The takeover followed the company’s financial collapse, which left it with debts exceeding £500m and resulted in significant workforce reductions. The administration process led to the closure of 36 bars, and approximately 200,000 crowdfunding investors saw their shares become worthless. Tilray’s acquisition included the brand, intellectual property, UK breweries, and 11 bars.
On Wednesday, Watt made a formal bid to repurchase Brewdog through his newly established beer company, Second Best. He stated that roughly 43,000 equity investors had united to support the acquisition attempt. However, several shareholders reportedly contacted by Watt indicated they were unclear about how he had obtained their personal contact details, raising concerns about potential violations of General Data Protection Regulation requirements.
Tilray released a statement emphasizing that the brand remains unavailable for purchase and indicating plans to reject Watt’s proposal. The company clarified that it did not acquire shareholder data from the Equity for Punks investment program as part of its Brewdog acquisition, noting that such records remain controlled by Brewdog plc under administration. Tilray stated it obtained only a customer relationship management database comprised of individuals who had explicitly consented to receive Brewdog communications. The company stressed it had no involvement in, affiliation with, or responsibility for Watt’s current business activities and confirmed that no data held by Tilray has been shared with external parties or former directors.