John Paul DeJoria, who co-founded the world's largest privately owned salon haircare company Paul Mitchell in 1980 and also co-found sever other companies includingPatrón Spirits Company, maker of quality tequila, has for €17 million ($20m) acquired through its real estate company JP´s Nevada Trust 91.54% of the voting rights in publicly listed Aktienbrauerei Kaufbeuren (ABK) in Germany. The company also announced to make an offer to acquire ABK’s remaining shares.
ABK is the oldest brewery in Swabia, Germany, and dates back to 1308. But apart from the name and history, the company is no longer involved in the production of beer. Aktienbrauerei Kaufbeuren is today a real estate company, which is holding the assets of the traditional brewery.
Brewing operations were transferred in 2013 to a separate company called ABK Betriebsgesellschaft, with only 45% owned by ABK and the majority of 55% in the hands of UK based company ROK Stars. Rok Stars itself was also co-founded by John Paul DeJoria together with UK serial entrepreneur Jonathan Kendrick to garner investment for new products and brands.
According to the company’s website “the aim of ROK Stars is to create new global super-brands through the tactical application of finance and expertise.” To date, “the company has identified 10 potential mega-brands and products of tomorrow.”
In the drinks category, ROK Drinks, a division of ROK Stars, is marketing not only ABK Beer but also Graffiti Wine, Bogart Spirits, Bandero Tequila, Real Irish Whiskey, ROK Natural Spring and ROK Natural Energy. Other brands of ROK Stars include Marula pure beauty oil and Rock 'N' Rolla vinyl record players.
John Paul DeJoria, who is ranked by Forbes magazine as the 66th richest man in America, signed in 2011 the Giving Pledge, a commitment by the world's wealthiest individuals and families to dedicate the majority of their wealth to giving back. He joined other individuals like Microsoft co-founder and richest man in the world Bill Gates and his wife Melinda, investing legend Warren Buffett, Rockefeller heir and banker David Rockefeller, Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan and many others.
In 2011, DeJoria also founded JP’s Peace, Love and Happiness Foundation to invest in charities that share the core values of his companies: sustainability, social responsibility and animal-friendliness.
