HOOPP and Social Capital Partners Lead Taylor Guitars on Employee Ownership
Posted on 03/17/2021
Taylor Guitars was founded in 1974 by Bob Taylor and Kurt Listug and has grown into the leading global builder of premium acoustic guitars. Taylor now employs over 1,200 people and currently produces hundreds of guitars per day in its state-of-the-art factory complexes in both United States (El Cajon, California) and in Mexico (Tecate).
Taylor Guitars has transitioned to 100% employee ownership. Backed by a Canadian pension fund, Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP) via HOOPP Capital Partners, and Canadian non-profit Social Capital Partners (SCP), this is a landmark transaction where a pension fund has directly financed an employee ownership conversion with a flexible, long-term debt facility.