Weekly Newsletter – February 22, 2026 -

February 22, 2026 — This week brings significant developments across the small business landscape that merit attention from executives and investors. From a major craft beer brand seeking new ownership to retirement plan adoption accelerating among the smallest employers and fintech innovations reshaping SME lending, these trends highlight both challenges and opportunities in the current business environment.

BrewDog Put Up for Sale — What Executives and Investors Need to Know

BrewDog has appointed restructuring advisers AlixPartners to run a structured sale process that could include selling the business in parts (breweries, pubs, brands) as it seeks new investment amid ongoing losses. Source Source

The group reported a pre-tax loss in 2024 of roughly £36–37m and has posted several years of losses, prompting this review of strategic options. Source With approximately 72 bars globally, four breweries (UK, US, Australia, Germany), BrewDog’s estate presents an attractive opportunity for both brewers and leisure operators. Source

Around 220,000 retail investors participated in the “Equity for Punks” crowdfunding rounds (raising approximately £75m over time); depending on any sale structure, many small investors could face limited recovery on modest average outlays. Source Private equity firm TSG Consumer Partners currently owns approximately 21% following a 2017 investment (reported £213m), while co-founder James Watt has been linked to potential interest in a buyback. Source

The company recently ceased distilling operations at its Ellon site and conducted cost-saving and restructuring actions through 2025; BrewDog characterizes the appointment of advisers as “a deliberate and disciplined step” to strengthen the brand’s long-term future. Source

Key developments to monitor include AlixPartners’ timeline and whether bids are sought for the group as a whole or by asset class, potential offers from strategic leisure operators or private equity, and communications from BrewDog about implications for employees, retail shareholders and ongoing operations. Source Source

Ultrasmall Employers Lead a Surge in 401(k) Adoption — What Business Leaders Should Do Now

Small employers are increasingly offering 401(k) plans, with ADP reporting that organizations with 1–9 employees are currently the fastest-growing 401(k) segment. This trend is driven by simpler administration, legislative changes, and more accessible pricing from providers. Source

Legislative and compliance timelines are changing plan design and administration requirements, particularly through SECURE 2.0 provisions that sponsors must incorporate. While more small employers are offering plans, take-up of new SECURE 2.0 emergency-savings options remains low — indicating that employers are evaluating but not yet widely deploying these features. Source

For small business leaders considering retirement plans, practical next steps include:

1. Confirming deadlines and required amendments with providers (SECURE 2.0-related changes are time-sensitive). Source
2. Estimating employer tax credits, administrative expenses, and potential recruitment/retention value before committing.
3. Investigating simplified options such as starter 401(k)s, pooled employer plans (PEPs), or bundled solutions that reduce governance burden and scale cost effectively. Source
4. For existing plan sponsors, documenting which SECURE 2.0 features to adopt and when; for those without plans, requesting comparative proposals focused on fees, service, and compliance support.

Fintech Lending Boosts SMEs: Capital Injections, Data-Driven Credit and Regional Growth

Fintech lenders are expanding SME credit supply through large capital facilities and partnerships that leverage transaction data to underwrite faster, more flexible loans. Recent examples include Momenta Finance securing a £125m forward-flow facility from a global investment bank to increase SME lending capacity, and Wayflyer obtaining a $250m credit facility to grow small-business financing in the U.S. (Charlotte) market. Source Source

Beyond traditional lending, platforms are embedding finance into merchant flows and invoice markets. Deem Finance has partnered with AI lending platform Biz2X to offer point-of-sale-based, data-driven SME loans in the UAE, leveraging real-time sales data for underwriting. Source

Regional fintech platforms are also scaling invoice and private-credit marketplaces that accelerate cash conversion for SMEs while opening new investor pools. Examples include CashMe Tanzania’s invoice financing marketplace and Hong Kong’s Wonder expanding in APAC. Source

For SMEs, these developments mean faster access to working capital (often 24–48 hours on digital platforms), repayment schedules aligned to cash flow, and alternative routes to liquidity beyond traditional banks. SMEs should evaluate fintech offers that use POS or invoice financing to match repayments to revenue cycles while verifying platform regulation and escrow/custody arrangements. Banks and corporates may consider partnerships with AI lending platforms or providing capital as forward-flow counterparties to extend reach without re-engineering origination stacks. Source

Sources

As we observe these developments across multiple sectors, a clear pattern emerges: businesses of all sizes are adapting to economic pressures and opportunities through strategic restructuring (BrewDog), embracing beneficial regulatory changes (retirement plans), and leveraging new financial technology (fintech lending). For small and medium enterprises, these trends underscore the importance of maintaining strategic flexibility while capitalizing on innovations that can improve operational efficiency, strengthen employee benefits, and enhance access to working capital. Forward-thinking business leaders will monitor these developments closely as they navigate their own growth and sustainability challenges in the months ahead.