World

SVB’s failed stock offering shows banks the value of secrecy

Silicon Valley Bank’s collapse and the ensuing market chaos could have been mitigated if its last-gasp $1.3 billion stock offering had been more fully negotiated in secret, dealmakers say.

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In fact, to Steve Maletzky, head of equity capital markets at William Blair & Co., the deal failed because SVB publicly introduced risk to depositors and investors by announcing a need for capital.

“The mistake that was made in the SVB offering was that they announced their capital need publicly before they had secured capital,” Maletzky said. “If you’re a bank, trust is paramount.”

SVB’s unsuccessful equity raise on March 10 marked a key point for investors, who began to realize that there could be much broader problems in the banking system.

During the next two sessions after the deal collapsed, the KBW Bank Index plunged 15 percent for its worst two-day stretch since the pandemic hit in March 2020.

As a result, Matezky expects future equity raises by lenders will be arranged in private before getting disclosed to the public, which is more common during times of turmoil.

Private negotiations allow companies to share nonpublic information with potential investors before announcing funding plans. In exchange, the investors promise to keep the information secret and refrain from trading on it.

The process, known as wall-crossing, is designed to score commitments to buy shares in advance, so dealmakers know the offering can get completed before announcing it publicly.

“Of all the deals that have been getting done, most or all of them are done with premarketing ahead of the transaction, said James VanMilder, head of equity capital markets at Nomura Greentech.

Crisis Strategy

First Republic Bank, for example, is planning to sell shares privately, according to a New York Times report on Friday. The embattled bank’s stock is plunging further on Monday after its credit rating was cut for the second time in a week.

During the 2008 financial crisis, most new share issues by financial institutions were private transactions. The use of wall crossings came back into fashion and spread to other industries during last year’s market turmoil.

SVB’s March 8 offering included a commitment from General Atlantic to buy $500 million of common stock. But that signaled to the market that SVB may have failed to secure all of the $2.25 billion it was seeking.

“When they announced the common equity raise, they essentially shined a giant spotlight on their abnormally large unrealized losses,” said Jason O’Donnell, president and chief investment officer of CFI Fund, a hedge fund that focuses on community banks. “When the capital raise was rejected, it threw gasoline on the fire and then everybody in the capital markets system looked at that rejection as an indicator of extreme financial weakness.”

The offering could have fared better if SVB had held its loss-making asset sales until after acquiring the capital, he said.

A spokesperson for Goldman Sachs, which underwrote SVB’s stock offering, declined to comment.

Liquidity is a key aspect of investing in financial stocks due to the highly levered nature of banks, O’Donnell said.

“First and foremost, a bank needs to project financial strength,” he said. “Everything SVB did in that process ultimately cast a lot of doubt on their financial strength, and that’s why they ended up where they did. Any sort of minor financial pain will be met with extreme fear.”

Silicon Valley Bank collapse: All you need to know

SVB deep dive: Why is everyone talking about the bank now?

World

Saudi Fund for Development Celebrates 50 Years of Global Impact with Over $20 Billion in Development Contributions

The Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) celebrated its 50th anniversary in Riyadh today, under
the theme “50 Years of Global Impact.”The event brought together key development partners to
reflect on the SFD’s significant contributions to sustainable development worldwide. Over the
past five decades, the SFD has allocated over $20 billion, financing more than 800 development
projects and programs in vital sectors, including social infrastructure (education, healthcare,
water and sewage, and housing and urban development), communication and transportation
(roads, railways, airports and seaports), energy, agriculture, mining and industry, and others.
Since its inception in 1974, the SFD has been the international development arm of the Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia and has provided critical support to over 100 developing nations around the
world. With a strong focus on supporting countries to achieve the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs), the SFD has played a pivotal role in driving sustainable development in Least
Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
During the event, SFD Chairman H.E. Ahmed Al-Khateeb emphasized the importance of
collaboration in driving global development. He highlighted that SFD’s success is deeply rooted
in its partnerships, with 27 development projects and programs in 23 developing countries in
2023 co-financed with other funders. He also underscored the need to forge new partnerships and
strengthen existing ones to create a world where every individual has the opportunity to reach
their full potential.
Reflecting on this significant milestone, the SFD CEO , Mr. Sultan bin Abdulrahman Al-
Marshad, stated: “As we celebrate five decades of impactful work, we are committed, now more
than ever, to supporting developing countries on their journey to economic self-reliance and
resilience. Our goal is to ensure that all children can go to school, that education is not a
privilege but something every child should have access to, and that families have access to
healthcare and basic vital services. Equally, we focus on critical infrastructure development, like
building roads and enhancing airports and sea ports, so that countries can thrive and engage in
economic activities and trade. This work is not just about financing; it’s about tangibly
improving lives, creating opportunities, empowering communities, and building a more
prosperous future.”
On the sidelines of the 50 th Anniversary Gala, the SFD and the Asian Development Bank (ADB)
signed a new $25 million agreement to co-finance a renewable energy development project in the
Solomon Islands. This marks the first project for SFD in the Solomon Islands. The primary aim

of the project is to develop renewable energy infrastructure, reduce dependency on fossil fuels,
and promote sustainable development in the region.
This agreement builds on SFD’50 years of transformative impact through development projects
that have spanned Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Eastern
Europe.
This includes key projects such as the Metolong Dam in Lesotho, which received $25 million in
funding and now provides potable water to 280,000 people, enhancing water security and public
hygiene and health in the region. This is just one of the 433 projects across Africa, with a total
funding of $11.5 billion, which focuses on critical areas such as infrastructure and water security.
In Asia, the SFD has funded 271 projects with a total funding of $7.8 billion. One notable
example is the SFD’s contribution to the Mohmand Dam Hydropower Project in Pakistan, which
has an overall project cost of $240 million. The projects contributes to the country’s energy
security and flood resilience by generating 800 megawatts of renewable energy and storing 1.6
million cubic meters of water.
In Latin America and the Caribbean, the SFD has financed 21 projects, totaling $951 million
USD. This includes rehabilitating the Water and Sewage System in Havana, Cuba, where the
SFD has allocated $35 million to enhance public infrastructure. Another significant initiative is
the rebuilding of St. Jude Hospital in Saint Lucia, supported by $75 million funding, which will
contribute to providing high-quality health services to citizens in a modern and sophisticated
facility and providing sufficient medical supplies and equipment to support the effective
operation of the hospital.
In Eastern Europe, the SFD has contributed to 14 projects with a total investment of $303
million. A key initiative is the construction of the Tirana-Elbasan-Chokos-Chalf-Ploce Road,
where the SFD provided $73.8 million to rebuild essential roads and bridges, thereby boosting
regional economic activities.
During the celebration, esteemed speakers shared insights on the SFD’s pivotal role in global
development, and in championing critical partnerships and collective action and response.
Keynote speakers included:

 HRH Prince Turki bin Faisal Al Saud, Founder and Trustee of the King Faisal
Foundation
 H.E. Ahmed bin Aqeel Al-Khateeb, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the SFD
 H.E. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group
 H.E. Muhammad Al Jasser, Chairman of the Islamic Development Bank

These global development leaders emphasized the SFD’s commitment to fostering sustainable
growth in countries and communities with the most pressing developmental needs. The gala was attended by more than 500 people, including ministers, heads of regional and international organizations, ambassadors, representatives of the United and other distinguished
guests. As the SFD looks to the future, it reaffirms its mission and pledge to drive international
development efforts, on behalf of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and to contribute to global
stability, social progress, and economic prosperity for future generations.

World

Jordan warns of escalation in southern Lebanon

Jordan warned on Sunday of the increasing escalation in southern Lebanon and a potential regional war in light of the ongoing Israeli aggression in Gaza, Jordan News Agency (Petra) reported.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Sufian Qudah discussed supporting Lebanon, its security, stability and the safety of its people and institutions, noting the need to adhere to Security Council Resolution 1701 to reduce and prevent further escalation and protect the region from the risk of slipping into a regional war.

Qudah added that the Israeli war on Gaza and the failure to reach an exchange agreement that leads to an immediate and permanent ceasefire puts the entire region at risk of the conflict expanding.

He discussed launching an effective international movement that imposes an immediate cessation of the aggression on Gaza.

World

China issues guidelines for coordinated digital, green transformation

China’s Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission and nine central departments have issued new guidelines for the coordinated transformation toward digital development and green growth, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Published on Saturday, the guidelines focus on two main areas: promoting the green, low-carbon development of digital industries and accelerating the green transformation of various sectors through digital technology.

They aim to accelerate the coordinated transformation toward digital development and green growth, promote the integration of emerging technologies with green, low-carbon industries, and enhance traditional industries using digital and green technologies.

Outlining fundamental principles, the guidelines specify the roles of authorities, industry associations, universities, research institutes and businesses in driving this transition.

They provide a three-part framework covering the basic capacity, technological systems and industrial systems for digital-green integration.

Regions are encouraged to focus on high-quality development, develop new quality productive forces, leverage local resources and create specialized industries and functional advantages to accelerate coordinated digital and green development.