--- title: "HSBC scrambles to stave off BrewDog losses" description: "HSBC is working to mitigate potential losses on substantial loans to BrewDog, which is facing a possible break-up. The bank has secured its loans against BrewDog's brewery in Scotland, allowing it to " type: "news" locale: "en" url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/276529929.md" published_at: "2026-02-22T08:07:03.000Z" --- # HSBC scrambles to stave off BrewDog losses > HSBC is working to mitigate potential losses on substantial loans to BrewDog, which is facing a possible break-up. The bank has secured its loans against BrewDog's brewery in Scotland, allowing it to seize the property if needed. BrewDog's co-founder, James Watt, is reportedly investing £10m in a rescue bid, while the company seeks buyers amid significant debts. BrewDog's financial struggles include £92m in outstanding loans and a £37m loss in 2024-25, exacerbated by declining sales and rising costs in the hospitality sector. HSBC is scrambling to avoid steep losses on tens of millions of pounds of loans to BrewDog as the craft beer business faces a potential break-up. The banking giant has secured its debts against BrewDog’s sprawling Scottish brewery, giving it the right to seize the property if necessary. HSBC’s race to secure its loans comes after the struggling brewer recently launched a quick-fire sale process overseen by restructuring experts AlixPartners. It has prompted fears of losses for investors and creditors alike. The bank is BrewDog’s main lender. The move came as it emerged that James Watt, Brewdog’s co-founder, is preparing to invest £10m of his own cash into a rescue bid for the group. Mr Watt is assembling a consortium of investors to acquire the entire group, including its bars, brands and brewing facilities, Sky News reported. The identity of the backers is still unclear. Security against the brewery gives HSBC greater protection in the event that a sale fails and the company falls into administration. Recent filings show HSBC’s loans have been secured against BrewDog’s flagship brewery in Ellon, Aberdeenshire. The site, which also includes a distillery and bar, opened in 2012 and produces hundreds of millions of litres of beer annually, including best-selling brands such as Punk IPA and Hazy Jane. Allan Leighton, the chairman of BrewDog, signed off on HSBC’s claim against the brewery earlier this month. The additional security comes as the craft beer pioneer races to find a rescuer for its business. A second round of bidding is expected to begin in the coming days. A break-up of the loss-making company is seen as likely, with the brewing operation separated from BrewDog’s dozens of bars. Any sale will be complicated by an unusual arrangement between the company and its private equity backers TSG Consumer Partners. TSG ploughed £213m into BrewDog in 2017 to secure a 21pc stake but this included a clause guaranteeing the fund an 18pc compounding rate of return on its investment. The arrangement has saddled BrewDog with debts of more than £800m to TSG, meaning any sale must exceed that figure if other investors are to realise a return. The most recent crowdfunding valued the business at £2bn, although any sale is expected to be well below that price. It is understood that the company’s brand and breweries are the most attractive assets for potential buyers. Its pubs and bars are less appealing in the wake of tax increases by Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, which piled pressure on the hospitality sector by driving up costs. Potential suitors include drinks giants Carlsberg, Heineken and AB InBev, the brewing giant behind Stella Artois and Corona. Company filings show that BrewDog currently has £92m in outstanding bank loans including £25m due for repayment in six months. HSBC has backed BrewDog for more than a decade. Mr Watt claimed in 2015 that he had blagged his way to securing an early loan from the bank. Mr Watt said at the time: “We said that our bank had offered us an amazing deal but that if you can match it we’ll switch and they went for it. You have got to do what you have to do.” Mark Tate, formerly an executive at HSBC, said in 2013 that BrewDog “is exactly the sort of business we are well placed to serve”. As well as bank loans, Mr Watt also raised £75m from an army of 200,000 “punk equity investors”. These smaller shareholders are now likely to be wiped out as part of any sale. Mr Watt, who stepped down as chief executive in 2024 but retains a 22pc stake, is also believed to be rallying his own bid to regain control. However, he has yet to reveal his financial backers. The scramble to restore BrewDog’s fortunes follows years of losses. The company lost £37m in 2024-25 on revenues of £357m. Problems have been compounded by slowing sales growth, fuelled by a cost-of-living squeeze and young people drinking less. Even Mr Watt has admitted to drinking less beer as part of a health kick, limiting himself to between six and eight units a week. One pint of BrewDog Punk IPA contains just above three units of alcohol. HSBC and BrewDog declined to comment. ### Related Stocks - [HSBA.UK - HSBC Holdings Plc](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/HSBA.UK.md) - [HSBH.US - HSBC Holdings plc ADRhedged](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/HSBH.US.md) - [HSBC.US - HSBC](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/HSBC.US.md) ## Related News & Research | Title | Description | URL | |-------|-------------|-----| | REG - 滙豐 ETF S&P 印度$ - 淨資產值 | 滙豐 ETF 印度科技 EUR（ACC）截至 2026 年 2 月 13 日的淨資產值（NAV）為€14,983,309.90，每股淨資產值為€16.6481。該基金髮行了 900,000 股，自上次估值以來沒有贖回股份。此信息由倫敦證券交 | [Link](https://longbridge.com/en/news/276047989.md) | | REG - 滙豐控股有限公司 ETF S&P 印度$ - 淨資產值 | 滙豐印度科技 ETF 截至 2026 年 2 月 17 日報告的淨資產值（NAV）為 15,148,284.76 歐元，每股淨資產值為 16.8314 歐元。目前發行的股份總數為 900,000 股，自上次估值以來沒有股份被贖回。該信息由倫 | [Link](https://longbridge.com/en/news/276210056.md) | | Brewdog 的聯合創始人將投入數百萬資金以拯救這家陷入困境的釀酒商 | 詹姆斯·瓦特（James Watt），Brewdog 的聯合創始人，計劃投資 1000 萬英鎊自有資金進行對這家陷入困境的精釀啤酒廠的救助。他正在尋求外部投資者的額外資金支持，因為 Brewdog 已被掛牌出售。該公司面臨虧損和酒吧關閉的困 | [Link](https://longbridge.com/en/news/276512447.md) | | ZAWYA-PRESSR：滙豐銀行與香港貿易發展局將拓展服裝和紡織品貿易走廊 | 滙豐埃及與香港貿易發展局合作，在開羅舉辦了香港服裝和紡織品商務考察活動。此次活動旨在將香港企業與埃及服裝和紡織品行業的機會連接起來。主要利益相關者討論了埃及的戰略位置、熟練勞動力和投資潛力。滙豐副主席強調了埃及作為全球貿易中心的角色，而香港 | [Link](https://longbridge.com/en/news/276003720.md) | | REG - 滙豐 ETF EMPAB $ - 淨資產值 | 滙豐 MSCI 新興市場 PAB UCITS ETF 截至 2026 年 2 月 16 日的淨資產值為 35,960,710.35 美元，每股淨資產值為 19.9782 美元。該基金髮行了 1,800,000 股，自上次估值以來沒有贖回股份 | [Link](https://longbridge.com/en/news/276104734.md) | --- > **Disclaimer**: This article is for reference only and does not constitute any investment advice.