Draper announced it has acquired the majority shareholding in Guthrie Douglas (GD), a family-owned business and a team of engineers focused on creating specialty shading systems. In addition to 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 US 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. Chris Broome 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,” said 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 US market while supporting their continued growth globally. We’re looking forward to what we can accomplish together.”