National Bank to buy SVB’s Canadian commercial loan portfolio

National Bank of Canada says it will acquire the Canadian branch of Silicon Valley Bank’s commercial loan portfolio.

The Montreal-based bank said the portfolio it will nab is made up of about $1 billion in loan commitments, of which $325 million are outstanding.

Much of the portfolio is focused on the technology, life science and global fund banking sectors and will be integrated into National Bank’s technology and innovation banking group.

The bank said the deal is subject to closing conditions and must be approved by the Ontario Superior Court, which is supervising the windup of Silicon Valley Bank in Canada.

National Bank said the deal will likely close in the coming weeks and is not expected to have a material impact on its results.

Silicon Valley Bank, a U.S. financial firm favoured by startups, failed earlier this year when its clients rushed to withdraw billions of dollars as they feared for the organization’s solvency.

The Canadian Press

The Canadian Press is a national news agency headquartered in Toronto and founded in 1917.