Arabic version: المستثمرون متشككون في اقتراح مؤسس بروودوغ لعلامة البيرة الجديدة

Brewdog’s co-founder James Watt has announced plans to launch a new beer brand, named Second Best, and has pledged to allocate nearly 19.3% of shares to individuals who lost money in the original Brewdog venture. However, investors remain skeptical of this offer, expressing doubts about its viability and potential to recover their losses. According to BBC News, many are cynical but hopeful that they might not leave empty-handed.

Brewdog, once valued at over $1 billion, faced a significant downturn, accumulating debts exceeding £500 million. The company was sold to Tilray, a US-based firm, earlier this year, resulting in significant job losses and the closure of several bars. Investors who participated in Brewdog’s Equity for Punks crowdfunding scheme, which raised £75 million, found themselves unable to recoup their investments after the sale.

Watt’s new initiative aims to offer former investors a chance to claim shares in Second Best without any financial commitment. He emphasized that the equity would rank alongside his own, stating that the former investors would become ‘second founders.’ Despite this, many investors are wary, with some declaring they would only engage passively in the new venture.

The launch of Second Best is still pending as Watt seeks the necessary licenses and legal approvals. He indicated that this process might take some time, but he is also considering launching an ‘alcohol adjacent concept’ in the interim. Investors remain cautious, with their previous experiences influencing their outlook on Watt’s latest promises.