Law firm 3volution has negotiated Active Partners’s investment in Leeds-based brewery Northern Monk.
London-based Active Partners has acquired a less than 25% shareholding in Northern Monk, which was founded in 2013 by Russell Bisset and Brian Dickson and now exports to 23 countries worldwide.
The brewery attracted a loyal following from its inception and has had to ramp up its production capabilities to cope with demand that has almost doubled each year.
In the last 12 months, due to a successful crowdfunding round, Northern Monk has significantly expanded its operations, moving into a much larger production facility located just five minutes from The Old Flax Store. The brewery added a state-of-the-art canning line and opened its second UK tap room in Manchester.
Commenting on the investment, Bisset said: “Like many of our peers we’ve had numerous approaches from big beer acquirers, investment firms and the rest. It has always been a resounding ‘no’ from us. We have a strong independent spirit and if a potential investor doesn’t share our values, or our vision for the future, we’re not interested. However, when we were approached by Active Partners, we felt the synergy was just right.”
“We’ve been working with Active Partners for some time, in order for us to properly understand their business and for them to understand ours. They are deeply involved in the companies they support and make long term investments into truly authentic and visionary brands. We are all very excited about this next significant phase in our development.
Bisset added: “3volution has been excellent in providing expert advice; there was a lot to get in order to make sure that the investment worked for everyone, and they were a huge help in streamlining the process for all involved.”
Amy Wright, a partner at 3volution, concluded: “We are fortunate to have been involved with Russell and his team at Northern Monk since 2015. We have advised them at key stages of growth including their hugely successful crowd funding initiative last year. This latest investment shows just how powerful their brand is becoming. They really are a force to be reckoned with.”
