Clearwater UK has advised leading global drinks information business IWSR on its management buy-out, supported by private equity firm FPE Capital LLP (FPE).
IWSR is headquartered in London and has a US office in New York. Over the last 40 years the company has built up the world’s largest database on the alcoholic beverage market, providing its clients with access to category and brand performance in 157 countries across the world using local market input. IWSR produces the most trusted alcoholic beverage analysis and with the industry increasingly moving towards premiumisation of its products, IWSR is the only source that measures this by brand and by price/quality segments.
FPE will work closely with IWSR’s management team which is led by CEO Mark Meek. Mark has over 20 years’ experience in the business information sector, and was formerly CEO of Datamonitor and Progressive Digital Media. As part of the investment a new Chairman, Neil Smith, is joining the business. Neil was formerly Group COO of Wilmington plc and has over 25 years’ experience as a founder, director, adviser and investor in information businesses.
