Shareholders of SVB Financial Group, the parent company of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), have come together to sue executives for allegedly concealing information about the bank’s risks of facing client deposit outflows in the case of rising interest rates.
SVB has been a significant financial institution for startups in the technology industry, and the Federal Reserve’s aggressive interest rate hikes have impacted the bank’s customer base. The interest rate hikes have also led to government bond yields rebounding and bond prices falling. The government’s recent shutdown of SVB was due to concerns of a significant capital increase to offset losses from the sale of US Treasury bonds, which SVB had to sell at below face value.
The shareholders have sued SVB’s CEO and CFO and filed the case in federal court in San Jose, California. The lawsuit alleges that the executives concealed the disclosure that SVB was at risk of facing deposit outflows as interest rates rose.
The US Federal Reserve’s interest rate hikes have affected the technology sector, with SVB being a significant financial institution for many startups. The interest rate hikes have resulted in bond prices falling, which is inversely proportional to yields. As a result, SVB has had to sell US Treasury bonds at a loss, further exacerbating the bank’s financial woes.
The lawsuit by SVB shareholders highlights the bank’s failure to disclose information about potential risks to depositors and shareholders. The case will be closely watched as it raises concerns about transparency and accountability in the banking sector.