BrewDog co-founder James Watt is facing complaints to the UK’s data privacy watchdog after he reportedly contacts former BrewDog shareholders as part of a bid to buy the company back. Multiple outlets report that the complaints relate to how Watt obtained the contact details of ex-crowdfunders or shareholders and the emails sent to them during efforts connected to the proposed buyback.
The issue is linked to BrewDog’s earlier sale: in March, BrewDog’s brand, intellectual property, UK breweries and 11 bars are reported to have been sold to Tilray for £33 million. That deal left shares held by more than 200,000 crowdfunding investors worthless.
The BBC and other reports say the regulator has been asked to investigate the circumstances of the outreach, including whether personal data used for the emails was obtained and used lawfully. The Guardian also reports that the watchdog has sought to understand how Watt acquired the information used in the communications. The reports characterize the matter as a privacy and compliance concern rather than a dispute about the business offer itself.
