Breaking: Silicon Valley Bank UK arm acquired by HSBC for one pound

Banking giant HSBC announced that its U.K. arm is acquiring Silicon Valley Bank UK Limited (SVB UK) for one pound ($1.21).

Global banking giant HSBC Holdings is coming to rescue the United Kingdom-based branch of the collapsed Silicon Valley Bank with a new acquisition.

HSBC officially announced on March 13 that its subsidiary HSBC UK Bank is acquiring Silicon Valley Bank UK Limited for one British pound sterling (GBP), or $1.21.

As of March 10, 2023, SVB UK had loans of around 5.5 billion GBP ($6.7 billion) and deposits of around 6.7 billion GBP ($8.1 billion), HSBC said in the announcement.

For the financial year ending Dec. 31, 2022, SVB UK recorded a profit before tax of 88 million GBP ($107 million). SVB UK’s tangible equity is expected to be around 1.4 billion GBP ($1.7 billion).

“Final calculation of the gain arising from the acquisition will be provided in due course,” HSBC wrote, adding that the assets and liabilities of the parent companies of SVB UK are excluded from the transaction. The company added that the acquisition will be funded from existing resources and will be completed immediately.

According to HSBC Group CEO Noel Quinn, the acquisition makes “excellent strategic sense” of HSBC’s business in the United Kingdom, strengthens its commercial banking franchise and enhances our ability to serve innovative and fast-growing firms. He added:

“We welcome SVB UK’s customers to HSBC and look forward to helping them grow in the UK and around the world. SVB UK customers can continue to bank as usual, safe in the knowledge that their deposits are backed by the strength, safety and security of HSBC.”

The news comes shortly after U.S. authorities ordered SVB to shut down operations on March 10, triggering a wave of panic on crypto markets due to some major crypto companies like Circle and Coinbase having significant exposure to the bank.

This is a developing story, and further information will be added as it becomes available.