I’m not convinced that it is the ‘ground-breaking new generation business model’ that Scottish brewers BrewDog proclaim in their usual above-the-surrounding-din hyperbole, but it is definitely much more interesting and personal than owning shares in your standard multinational brewing conglomerate, and it probably makes better financial sense than blowing the same amount on a BrewDog tattoo. BrewDog’s ‘Head of Stuff’ James Watt is also on the money when he says that, “no significant change in modern history has happened without the support of the people”.

James has been in touch to let us know that there has been a bit of confusion in Australia (as there has been in the US) about the Equity for Punks offer.

“Whilst we ‘legally’ have to say Australians are excluded but you can still invest online, as long as you are satisfied of the UK Financial Service Authority’s Regulatory standing and accept the prospectus has been approved by them as a regulatory body. Just enter your Australian address at purchase stage and it should go through fine. The website is all set up to accept American applicants and payments from Australia,” James advises.

More information, a video and media release are below. Having heard we are highly corruptible, James has also bribed us to post this with an offer of a bottle of something rare from their line up – Abstrakts was mentioned – and to show we can all be bribed, we’ll pass that on to you if you go to Facebook and like the post there (liking it on this page doesn’t register your name), or retweet the message on Twitter.

There’s more information and the media release below. You can also listen to James discuss the offer in our interview with him here.

If you want to be a little Punk, invest at www.brewdog.com/equityforpunks.

Here are the benefits of investing in BrewDog, according to James:

• Benefit financially from our future growth through dividends and also an increase in the value of your shareholding.
• Lifetime discount in all of our BrewDog Bars
• Lifetime discount on our online shop
• Exclusive first options on all our special and limited edition beers
• Invites to our (soon to be legendary) AGMs
• Being able to participate in our annual by shareholders, for shareholders beer.
• Having your say in how the company is run
• Owning your very own part of BrewDog
• Sell and trade your shares on www.equitypunks.com or at a potential later listing
• A welcome pack with some killer, shareholder only BrewDog merchandise including your awesome shareholder ID card.
• Literally become richer with every BrewDog beer you drink

http://vimeo.com/26066661

Media Release

BrewDog shakes up investment system with ‘punk’ share offer

Maverick brewery takes on the City with its craft beer revolution – offering anyone the chance to invest in the business through its website

Scotland’s largest independent brewery, BrewDog has today launched a share offer that seeks to bypass the banks by opening up investment opportunities to everyone and anyone, helping to gather mass support for its craft beer revolution in the process. From today, BrewDog is making 10,000 shares available to buy in £95 packages from the company’s website, BrewDog.com, where potential investors can also download a comprehensive prospectus outlining BrewDog’s growth potential. The FSA accredited scheme is born from BrewDog’s desire to find another way to raise capital in an environment where banks have stopped lending, and to give fans a direct influence on how the business evolves.

BrewDog co-founder, James Watt commented:

“No significant change in modern history has happened without the support of the people. Equity for Punks arrives at a time when the masses are skeptical of banks, brokers and global mega corporations – when businesses growing rapidly are stalled by the banking crisis – it is an opportunity for everyone to show there is a different way; a better way. This is Punk Rock to the banks’ Celine Dion.”

“BrewDog has already shaken the foundations of the mass market brewers peddling insipid, tasteless lagers – we are growing exponentially as they struggle to maintain market share. BrewDog is a modern day rebellion, a long overdue antidote against faceless corporate bureaucracy and the bland, soulless beer they industrially produce.”

With Equity for Punks BrewDog is pioneering a new generation of business model and investment opportunity that bypasses banks and brokers and puts the success of a brand firmly in the hands of its biggest advocates. No other business in the UK or Europe is offering equity in their business in the same way.

The idiosyncratic brewer has experienced record growth since its launch in 2007, seeing a 250 per cent sales increase for the past two years running and becoming Scotland’s largest independent brewery in the process. The company now hires 65 staff and is on track to turnover £6.5m in 2011. In response to its significant growth, industry icons Keith Greggor and Tony Foglio – the team behind the international phenomenon Skyy Vodka – invested in BrewDog in 2009.

Drinks industry expert and entrepreneur Keith Greggor commented:

“During our many years in beverage alcohol we have only seen a few game changing players come in fresh to the industry, BrewDog is one of them.”

The company’s award-winning beers are stocked nationally in Tesco, Sainsbury’s, ASDA, Waitrose and Morrisons and BrewDog already exports to 27 international markets. Having opened its first craft beer bar in Aberdeen last November, the company has since opened venues in Edinburgh and Glasgow, with a flagship bar in Camden, London due in September. All of the bars have proved a big commercial success and the company plans to open five more before then end of 2012.

The rise of the ‘fanvestor’

Equity for Punks is the only share sale in the UK to allow anybody to purchase part of a company via a simple ecommerce website. The concept was devised to allow craft beer fans to steer the revolution themselves and help to shape a BrewDog operation that has more than doubled its monthly turnover in the past year. Investors will be consulted on new products, new bar locations and perform an active role in building on the business’ formidable growth.

With every share, investors will also be given a lifetime 5 per cent discount in BrewDog Bars and up to a 20 per cent discount on BrewDog’s online shop. Equity for Punks members will also be invited to attend the company’s notorious annual AGM at which investors work together to brew a special edition beer, splitting all profits between them evenly. Shares are available to buy now at www.brewdog.com/equityforpunks

Green Vision for the future

Having raised £750,000 through a similar investment project in 2009, BrewDog now hopes to raise £2.2m through its Equity for Punks II scheme and the capital raised will provide a financial foundation for a planned carbon neutral brewery in Aberdeen, Scotland. The revolutionary new brewery will use renewable energy and generate zero waste to ensure minimal impact on the environment. The building has already been designed by architects and will help the company to meet rising demand that already exceeds their current brewing capacity.

James Watt continued:

“We want people to be as passionate about beer as we are – so it seemed common sense to give them to opportunity to play a more direct role in the craft beer revolution.”

For more information, visit BrewDog.com.

The Equity for Punks video blog can be found at YouTube.com/BrewDogBeer

—– ENDS –—

What is BrewDog?

We were bored of the industrially brewed lagers and stuffy ales that dominate the UK market. We decided the best way to fix this undesirable predicament was to brew our own beers. Consequently in April 2007 BrewDog was born. Both only 24 at the time, we leased a building, got some scary bank loans, spent all our money on stainless steel and started making some hardcore beers.

We are dedicated to making cool, contemporary and progressive beers showcasing some of the world’s classic beer styles. All with an innovative twist and customary BrewDog bite.

James Watt and Martin

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