Draper Continues Investment in Innovation with Acquisition of U.K.’s Guthrie Douglas
Draper, Inc., is delighted to announce the acquisition of a majority shareholding in Guthrie Douglas.
Established in 1981 in Warwickshire, UK, Guthrie Douglas is a family business and a team of specialist engineers focused on creating specialty shading systems for extraordinary spaces. 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.
Established in 1902, Draper is a fifth-generation family-owned business and a leading manufacturer of shading
solutions, LED video wall mounting systems, projection screens and projector lifts, and sports hall equipment—all
made at its headquarters and production facility in Spiceland, Indiana, USA. Draper is led by Chris Broome,
President, and employs over 750 people.
As well as acquiring a majority stake in GD, Draper is investing in an exciting 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.”
To learn more, visit https://www.draperathome.com/aboutus/guthriedouglas/.
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