Guthrie Douglas Acquired by Draper Inc

Futuristic, organic-shaped building with flowing curves and silver surfaces, surrounded by abstract landscaped paths and patches of greenery in a dry, open area.

Entrepreneurs Hub Advises Guthrie Douglas on sale to Draper Inc

A controlling interest in Guthrie Douglas, a market leader creating specialty shading systems for extraordinary spaces, has been acquired by the US manufacturer Draper Inc. The GD product range is known globally as the market-leading, reliable solution for shading technically challenging windows and is frequently specified on some of the world’s most prominent buildings. The company is the UK’s preeminent manufacturer of smart control automated shading, playing a pivotal role in carbon footprint reduction, designing solutions which maximise natural light, reduce the need for heating and air conditioning and cut energy usage by up to 60%.

Renowned for its ability to create bespoke automated shading solutions to suit commercial and residential buildings of any size and shape, the company has played an important role in some of the world’s greatest architectural landmarks including Google’s flagship KGX1 building in London, One Sydney Harbour and the BEEAH HQ in UAE. The divestiture of 60% of the company to Draper Inc will drive forward the firm’s long-term growth strategy, supporting its expansion into the US market.

Tony Meakin, Director of Entrepreneurs Hub Ltd, said: “For Guthrie Douglas, this acquisition was always about more than simply attracting investment. It was seeking a partnership with a talented, like-minded company whose market insights and contacts could help it achieve its ambitions for international expansion and continued strategic growth.

“Draper Inc’s expertise in custom solar control and window shades made them a natural fit for us. But ultimately it was its strength in the US market which made it such an attractive prospect for advancing the goals of Guthrie Douglas to explore new territories and partnerships across the US and Asia.”

Entrepreneurs Hub Ltd has been advising Guthrie Douglas for two years. It specialises in utilising an extensive research methodology to match companies with compatible buyers, including an active acquiring network, worldwide data resources, custom searches, and connections to multiple acquirer portals. As a result, the firm has an impressive conversion rate for attracting offers and securing deals.

Andrew Kitching, Managing Director of Guthrie Douglas, said: “Over the last 40 years we have grown the company from a small family-run business into the global market leader it is today and this is the next step in our evolution. The shading industry is in a unique position to transform the environmental performance of buildings and with significant investments being made in infrastructure and commercial projects in places like the UK, US and Middle East, this represents a great market opportunity which we intend to take advantage of.

“Draper Inc is a partner whose ambition, expertise and integrity match our own. I have no doubt that together we will achieve unparalleled growth for the company in the years to come.”

Chris Broome, President of Draper Inc, said: “We’re excited to welcome Guthrie Douglas to the Draper family. 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 US market while supporting their continued growth globally. We’re looking forward to what we can accomplish together.”