6 big deal reports: SVB seeking a buyer after collapse | Pro Recap

By Davit Kirakosyan

Investing.com — Here is your Pro Recap of the biggest deal dispatches from the past week you may have missed on InvestingPro. Start your free 7-day trial to get this news first.

SVB Financial looking to sell itself after being shut down

SVB Financial (NASDAQ:) is seeking a buyer after regulators shut it down – which followed the bank’s unsuccessful attempts to raise capital to address the deficit in its balance sheet, CNBC reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.

A sale may entail “selling the company’s assets piecemeal or as a whole,” per Bloomberg, according to a source familiar with the matter, who also said the bank was seeking to complete a deal by Monday.

The company said on Thursday it would seek an emergency cash injection of $2.25 billion to cover a $1.8B loss on the firesale of its bond portfolio. The announcement caused shares to plummet over 60%, with an additional 62% drop in pre-market trading on Friday.

With assets totaling $212B, SVB would be the largest U.S. bank to fail since the financial crisis over a decade ago if a buyer cannot be found. Though CNBC reports that larger financial institutions are exploring the possibility of acquiring SVB, no further information was given.

DOJ to block JetBlue’s proposed acquisition of Spirit Airlines

The Justice Department filed an antitrust lawsuit to block JetBlue’s (NASDAQ:) proposed $3.8B acquisition of Spirit Airlines (NYSE:). The acquisition faced regulatory challenges from the start. “JetBlue and Spirit compete fiercely today on hundreds of routes serving millions of travelers. By eliminating that competition and further consolidating the United States airlines industry, the proposed transaction will increase fares and reduce choice on routes across the country, raising costs for the flying public and harming cost-conscious fliers most acutely,” said the DOJ.

JetBlue and Spirit Airlines plan to continue with the acquisition, stating that it would create a national low-fare, high-quality competitor to the Big Four airlines. JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes argued that there is too much at stake for the DOJ to prevent them from expanding the JetBlue difference to more customers.

JetBlue shares lost more than 9% this week, while Spirit Airlines are down more than 5%.

Uber may consider divesting its Freight segment

Uber (NYSE:) is considering options to spin off its freight logistics business either in a sale or as a separate publicly traded company at a time when the company is doubling up efforts to grow its ride-hailing and food-delivery businesses, according to a Bloomberg report on Wednesday, citing sources familiar with the matter.

Following the report, Piper Sandler provided positive commentary on the stock, stating it believes divesting Uber Freight would be a good idea. “There are some theoretical advantages to running a digital freight platform alongside Uber’s better-known Delivery and Mobility segments. But in general, we think the Freight business makes more sense as a standalone entity,” the firm said.

Shares closed the week with a 10% loss.

3 more deals

Diversey (NASDAQ:) shares jumped more than 37% on Wednesday after the announcement that it will be acquired by Solenis in an all-cash transaction valued at an enterprise value of approximately $4.6B. Upon completion of the merger, Diversey will become a private company.

Vistra Energy (NYSE:) shares gained more than 8% on Tuesday after it announced it has entered into a definitive agreement with Energy Harbor, under which Energy Harbor will merge with a newly-formed Vistra subsidiary. The merger will combine Energy Harbor’s and Vistra’s nuclear and retail businesses, along with Vistra Zero renewables and storage projects, under a holding company referred to generally as “Vistra Vision.”

Total compensation will consist of $3B cash and a 15% equity interest in Vistra Vision.

Kimball International (NASDAQ:) shares jumped more than 84% on Wednesday after the announcement that it will be acquired by HNI (NYSE:) in a cash and stock transaction valued at approximately $485 million.

HNI shares lost 10% on Wednesday.