SVB Financial Group entered into a merger agreement to acquire Leerink Holdings, along with its healthcare analysts, for $280 million.
Boston-based Leerink Holdings is the parent company of Leerink Partners, a healthcare- and life sciences-focused investment bank. Leerink Partners and its parent company will fold into SVB Financial Group to create SVB Leerink.
SVB Leerink will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of SVB Financial Group. SVB Financial Group is the parent company of Silicon Valley Bank.
"SVB and Leerink share a focus on providing financing and strategic advice at critical stages in a company's growth and development," said Greg Becker, CEO of SVB Financial Group and Silicon Valley Bank. "Together, we will deliver a complete capital markets offering — including debt, convertible debt and equity financing — and advisory services — including mergers [and] acquisitions — for private and public healthcare and life science companies," according to a news release.
The deal is expected to close during the first quarter of 2019. Leerink unit-holders approved the deal. In addition, Leerink's leadership team will remain in place.