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Let’s TalkWilliam Grant & Sons Acquires Silent Pool Distillers in the United Kingdom
Scotch whisky giant William Grant & Sons acquires premium gin owner Silent Pool Distillers.
William Grant & Sons, a Scotch whisky producer and the company behind the brand Glenfiddich, acquired Silent Pool Distillers, a gin producer, on September 14, 2023. Both companies are based in Scotland, United Kingdom. William Grants & Sons made the acquisition to add premium gin to its product portfolio.
Transaction Summary
Our Take on the Acquisition
William Grant & Sons (acquirer) acquired Silent Pool Distillers (target) to expand its product portfolio to include more premium gin. Family-owned William Grant & Sons (acquirer) acquired Silent Pool Distillers (target) to expand its product portfolio to include premium gin. Family-owned William Grant will act as Silent Pool’s global supply chain and distribution partner to grow the brand’s presence in Europe, North America, and Asia Pacific. Currently, Silent Pool sells its products in 30 countries, while William Grant & Sons has a global distribution network. William Grant & Sons will leverage its network to expand the reach of Silent Pool brands and increase sales for its products. After the acquisition, Silent Pool Distillers’ production and management team will remain intact. Silent Pool will join Hendrick’s as the second gin brand in William Grant’s spirits portfolio.
The Facts of the Acquisition
- Target: Silent Pool Distiller is a distillery formed in 2014 in Scotland, United Kingdom. The company produces premium gin and sells it in more than 30 countries.
- Acquirer: William Grant & Sons produces Scotch whisky and other premium spirits. It has been a family-owned and operated company since it began in 1887, creating brands like Glenfiddich and Hendrick’s, which it sells globally.
The Transaction
| Date: | September 14, 2023 |
| Price: | Undisclosed |
| Purpose: | To expand its product portfolio by adding premium gin. |
| Acquirer’s Statement: | A spokesperson for William Grant & Sons – “Silent Pool Distillers is well known for its handcrafted spirit that easily complements a range of tonics and cocktails. We are delighted to welcome this brand to our portfolio and look forward to helping deliver the magic of Silent Pool Gin to discerning drinkers around the world.” |
Target/Seller: Silent Pool Distillers
Company Information
| Target: | Silent Pool Distillers |
| Website: | silentpooldistillers.com |
| Founded: | 2014 |
| Industry: | Beverage Manufacturing – Alcoholic Beverages |
| Type: | Private |
| Employees: | 30 (Self-published on LinkedIn) |
| Locations: | Head Office and Distillery: Shere Road, Albury, Surrey, United Kingdom |
Product Information
| Products: | Gin: A distilled alcoholic drink flavored with juniper berries and other botanical ingredients Vodka: A clear distilled alcoholic beverage made mainly of ethanol Martini: Cocktail made with gin and vermouth |
| Market Reach: | 30 countries, including: United Kingdom Germany France |
Financial Information
| Revenue: | USD $4.0 million (Unconfirmed source: Rocketreach) |
| Revenue per Employee: | USD $133,333 (i.e., USD $4.0 million / 30 employees = USD $133,333 – estimated based on the self-published number of employees and revenue from Rocketreach) |
Did You Know?
Revenue in the worldwide whisky market amounted to USD $88.1 billion in 2023. In global comparison, most revenue is generated in the United States, with USD $18.6 billion in 2023. Whisky is also popular in Russia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Canada, and India. The word, whisky, is often spelled “whiskey.” The spelling depends on the country of origin. American-produced varieties such as bourbon, rye, and Tennessee, as well as Irish spirits, use the “whiskey” spelling, whereas the spirits from Scotland, Canada, and Japan prefer the “whisky” spelling. No matter how you like to spell it, whisky continues to grow in popularity worldwide. The international market is expected to grow annually at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.18% from 2023 to 2027 and reach a volume of 6.69 billion liters by 2027.
Target/Seller Overview: Silent Pool Distillers
Silent Pool Distillers was formed in 2014 by a group of friends who wanted to create a new kind of distillery to produce handcrafted, artisan premium spirits. The name comes from its location on the banks of the legendary and mystical Silent Pool on the Duke of Northumberland’s Albury Estate. Today, the brand is one of the leading gins in the United Kingdom and is available in more than 30 countries. Over the last nine years since its inception, the distillery has created unique products from locally sourced ingredients and exotic botanicals and experimented with a variety of recipes to create premium spirits.
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Explore Your Options NowBuyer/Acquirer: William Grant & Sons
Company Information
| Buyer: | William Grant & Sons |
| Website: | williamgrant.com |
| Founded: | 1887 |
| Industry: | Beverage Manufacturing – Alcoholic Beverages |
| Type: | Private, Family-Owned |
| Employees: | 2,800 (Source: company website) |
| Locations: | Head Office: The Old Court House, 7 Parkshot, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom United Kingdom Regional Office: Phoenix Crescent, Strathclyde Business Park, Bellshill, United Kingdom Regional Office: Form 1, 17 Bartley Wood Business Park, Bartley Way, Hook Hampshire, United Kingdom France Regional Office: 44 rue Capitaine Glarner, 93400 Saint Ouen, France Germany Regional Office: Gertigstabe 12-14, 22303 Hamburg, Germany Singapore Regional Office: 79 Robinson Road, #17-02/03, Singapore United States Regional Office: 300 Park Avenue South, Suite 600, New York, United States |
Product Information
| Products: | Irish Whiskey: Whiskey made from barley in Ireland Gin: A distilled alcoholic drink that is flavored from juniper berries and other botanical ingredients Scotch Whisky: Malt or grain whisky made in Scotland |
| Brands: | Tullamore Dew Glenfiddich Hendrick’s Gin |
| Market Reach: | Worldwide |
Financial Information
| Revenue: | USD $1.7 billion (Unconfirmed source: Zippia) |
| Revenue per Employee: | USD $607,143 (i.e., USD $1.7 billion / 2,800 employees = USD $607,143 – estimated based on the number of employees from the company’s website and revenue from Zippia) |
Buyer/Acquirer Overview: William Grant & Sons
William Grant & Sons is an independent, family-owned Scottish company that distills Scotch whisky and other spirits. William Grant dreamed of making the best whisky in the valley, so the first drop of Glenfiddich flowed through the stills in 1887, on Christmas Day, in Dufftown, Scotland. Today, his descendants still run the distillery. It is the world’s largest Scotch whisky distiller remaining in family ownership. The company is the third largest producer of Scotch whisky and ships more than 7.6 million cases, at 12 bottles to a case, per year with brands including Glenfiddich and Balvenie. The company also owns and operates other distilleries globally.
Previous Acquisitions by William Grant & Sons
- Drambuie (2014) – A producer of Drambuie, a sweet, golden-colored 40% alcohol by value (ABV) liqueur made from Scotch whisky, heather honey, herbs, and spices. The company is based in Scotland, United Kingdom. The consideration amount was GBP £100 million or USD $123 million.
- Raynal & Cie (2005) – A producer of brandy headquartered in France.
- Gibson’s Finest (2002) – A Canadian whisky producer that operates under the brand Gibson’s Finest. The company is based in Ontario, Canada.
- Highland Distillers (1999) – A distillery producing Scotch whisky in Scotland, United Kingdom.
Sources
- Company Profile
- Other Sources
- Unconfirmed Sources
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