James Watt Bids to Buy Back BrewDog from Tilray Brands
BrewDog co-founder James Watt has submitted a formal offer through his venture Second Best to repurchase the UK craft brewer from US owner Tilray Brands, which acquired it for £33 million in March 2026. Watt promises to restore equity stakes to 43,000 'equity punks' who lost investments, reinstate the Real Living Wage, and return community ownership. Tilray CEO Irwin Simon has rejected the bid, stating BrewDog is not for sale. The company collapsed under £800 million debt, leading to job losses and venue closures.
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James Watt bids to buy back entire Brewdog UK and Australian operations
James Watt, co-founder of Brewdog, has made a surprise bid to buy back the craft beer company's entire UK and Australian operations from current owner Tilray Brands, excluding its US arm. The bid comes after Brewdog was sold to Tilray in March for £33 million, a fraction of its former £2 billion valuation. Watt is using a vehicle called Second Best to offer shares to 43,000 retail investors and employees. However, Tilray has stated that Brewdog is 'not for sale', and Watt may face an investigation from the UK's data privacy watchdog over how he obtained contact details of former investors.
James Watt Bids to Buy Back Entire Brewdog UK and Australian Operations
James Watt, co-founder of Brewdog, has made a surprise bid to buy back the craft beer company's entire UK and Australian operations from current owner Tilray Brands, excluding its US arm. The bid comes after Brewdog was sold to Tilray for only £33 million in March, despite once being valued at £2 billion. Watt is using a vehicle called Second Best to offer shares to thousands of 'equity punks' and employees if the buyback succeeds. However, Tilray has stated that Brewdog is 'not for sale'. Additionally, Watt may face an investigation from the UK's data privacy watchdog after former investors complained about how he obtained their contact details for the bid.
James Watt bids to buy back entire Brewdog UK and Australian operations
James Watt, co-founder of Brewdog, has made a surprise bid to buy back the craft beer company's entire UK and Australian operations from current owner Tilray Brands. The bid, launched through his vehicle Second Best, excludes Brewdog's US arm. Watt aims to return ownership to the 43,000 retail investors ("equity punks") and employees who held shares before the company was sold to Tilray in March for £33 million, a steep drop from its former £2 billion valuation. The bid follows Brewdog's sale and the collapse of many UK bars into administration. However, Tilray has stated that Brewdog is "not for sale." Additionally, Watt faces potential investigation by the UK's Information Commissioner's Office after former investors complained about how he obtained their contact details for the offer.
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Brewdog Owner Tilray Rejects Co-Founder James Watt's Takeover Bid
Irwin Simon, CEO of Tilray Brands, the US cannabis and craft beer firm that acquired Brewdog in March for £33m, has firmly stated that Brewdog is 'not for sale' following co-founder James Watt's dramatic takeover bid. Watt, who co-founded the Scottish craft beer company in 2007, announced he had submitted a bid through his vehicle Second Best, promising stakes to 43,000 'equity punks' and employees. Simon dismissed the bid, questioning whether a formal offer was made and noting he had no communication with Watt. He defended Tilray's stewardship, citing commitments to honor equity punk discounts and plans to expand Brewdog globally. The sale earlier this year involved closing 38 UK locations and cutting 484 jobs, but Simon insists the company is in better shape now. Watt and co-founder Martin Dickie had left before the sale amid allegations of a toxic workplace culture, which they denied.
James Watt Bids to Buy Back BrewDog from Tilray Brands
James Watt, founder of BrewDog, has submitted a formal offer to buy back the UK business he founded nearly 20 years ago, now owned by US-listed Tilray Brands. Watt announced the bid via LinkedIn, stating the offer was made by his new venture, Second Best. The move follows Tilray's acquisition of BrewDog's UK, Ireland, US, and Australia assets earlier this year. Watt has faced criticism after Tilray's purchase left equity punk investors with no return. In his bid, Watt promises to restore the Real Living Wage, bring back team equity, and give free shares to 43,000 registered equity punks if successful. Watt stepped down as CEO two years ago; co-founder Martin Dickie left last year. Tilray has been approached for comment.
James Watt Attempts to Buy Back BrewDog from Tilray Brands
James Watt, the co-founder of BrewDog, has launched a bid to buy back the craft brewer's UK assets from Tilray Brands, a US cannabis producer that rescued the company from administration in March 2026. The offer, made through Watt's new venture Second Best, is valued at £30 million including planned investments. It includes BrewDog's flagship brewery and taproom in Ellon, Aberdeenshire, but excludes the US business. Watt promises to restore the ownership stakes of 'equity punk' retail investors who lost their investments when BrewDog collapsed. The company, once valued at £2 billion, had accumulated over £800 million in debt before its collapse, resulting in nearly 500 job losses and 38 venue closures. Tilray has received the bid but has not publicly responded. Watt previously attempted to rescue BrewDog before administration and recently announced plans for a new brewery called Second Best.
James Watt Bids to Buy Back BrewDog from Tilray Brands
James Watt, founder of BrewDog, has submitted a formal bid to buy back the UK-based brewery and bar operator from its current owner, US-listed Tilray Brands. Watt announced the offer via LinkedIn, stating it was made through his new venture, Second Best. He claims 43,000 former 'equity punks' (crowdfunding investors) have joined the bid. If successful, Watt promises to restore their equity for free, reinstate the Real Living Wage, and return community ownership. Tilray acquired BrewDog's assets in the UK, Ireland, US, and Australia earlier in 2026. Watt stepped down as CEO two years ago, and co-founder Martin Dickie left last year. The bid follows criticism that equity punk investors received no return from the Tilray sale.
James Watt Offers to Buy Back Brewdog from Tilray Brands
Brewdog founder James Watt has submitted a formal offer to buy back the craft beer company from its current owner, US cannabis and craft beer firm Tilray Brands, just months after it was sold for £33 million. Watt is making the bid through Second Best, a vehicle he created to offer shares to thousands of 'equity punks' who held shares in Brewdog but received nothing from the sale. He has pledged to restore their stakes, reinstate the Real Living Wage for workers, and offer employees shares. The move marks a dramatic twist in Brewdog's history, which once boasted a £2 billion valuation. Watt stated, 'The punks and the crew built this company and Brewdog deserves to belong to them once more.'