Edgar Filing: SVB FINANCIAL GROUP

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S-3ASR

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 7, 2009

Registration No. 333-

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Under

The Securities Act of 1933

SVB Financial Group

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

91-1962278

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

3003 Tasman Drive

Santa Clara, CA 95054

(408) 654-7400

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of Registrant’s principal executive offices)

Kenneth P. Wilcox

President and Chief Executive Officer

SVB Financial Group

3003 Tasman Drive

Santa Clara, CA 95054

(408) 654-7400

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

Copies to:

Mary Dent, Esq.

General Counsel

SVB Financial Group

3003 Tasman Drive

Santa Clara, CA 95054-1191

(408) 654-7400

Thomas G. Reddy

Bingham McCutchen LLP

Three Embarcadero Center

San Francisco, CA 94111

(415) 393-2188

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box: ¨

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box: x

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. x

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (Check one):

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE




Title of each class of securities to be registered	Amount to be Registered	Proposed maximum offering price per unit			Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price			Amount of Registration Fee

Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred, Series B, $.001 par value per share	235,000	$	1,000	(1)	$	235,000,000	(1)	$	9,235

Warrant to Purchase Common Stock, $.001 par value per share, and underlying shares of Common Stock(2)	708,116	$	49.78	(3)	$	35,250,014	(3)	$	1,386

Total:					$	270,250,014		$	10,621

(1)	Calculated in accordance with Rule 457(a) and includes such additional number of shares of Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred, Series B, of a currently indeterminable amount, as may from time to time become issuable by reason of stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.

(2)

In addition to the Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred, Series B, there are being registered hereunder (a) a warrant for the purchase of 708,116 shares of common stock with an initial per share exercise price of $49.78 per share, (b) the 708,116 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of such warrant and (c) such additional number of shares of common stock, of a currently indeterminable amount, as may from time to time become issuable by reason of stock splits, stock dividends and certain anti-dilution provisions set forth in such warrant, which shares of common stock are registered hereunder pursuant to Rule 416.

(3)	Calculated in accordance with Rule 457(i) with respect to the per share exercise price of the warrant of $49.78.

PROSPECTUS

LOGO

SVB FINANCIAL GROUP

FIXED RATE CUMULATIVE PREFERRED STOCK, SERIES B

WARRANT TO PURCHASE 708,116 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK

708,116 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK

This prospectus relates to the potential resale from time to time by selling securityholders of some or all of the shares of our Fixed Rate Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series B, or the series B preferred stock, a warrant to purchase 708,116 shares of common stock, or the warrant, and any shares of common stock issuable from time to time upon exercise of the warrant. In this prospectus, we refer to the shares of series B preferred stock, the warrant and the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrant, collectively, as the securities. The series B preferred stock and the warrant were originally issued by us pursuant to the Letter Agreement dated December 12, 2008, and the related Securities Purchase Agreement – Standard Terms, between us and the United States Department of the Treasury, which we refer to as the initial selling securityholder, in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act.

The initial selling securityholder and its successors, including transferees, which we collectively refer to as the selling securityholders, may offer the securities from time to time directly or through underwriters, broker-dealers or agents and in one or more public or private transactions and at fixed prices, prevailing market prices, at prices related to prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. If these securities are sold through underwriters, broker-dealers or agents, the selling securityholders will be responsible for underwriting discounts or commissions or agents’ commissions.

We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of securities by the selling securityholders.

The series B preferred stock is not listed on an exchange, and, unless requested by the initial selling securityholder, we do not intend to list the series B preferred stock on any exchange.

Our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “SIVB.” On January 6, 2009, the closing price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market was $26.13 per share. You are urged to obtain current market quotations of the common stock.

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors “ beginning on page 4.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectus is January 7, 2009.

TABLE OF CONTENTS


ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS		1

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS		2

SVB FINANCIAL GROUP		3

RISK FACTORS		4

USE OF PROCEEDS		4

CONSOLIDATED RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED DIVIDENDS		4

DESCRIPTION OF SERIES B PREFERRED STOCK		5

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANT TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK		9

DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK		11

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION		12

SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS		13

LEGAL MATTERS		14

EXPERTS		14

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION		14

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, the selling securityholders may, from time to time, offer and sell, in one or more offerings, the securities described in this prospectus.

We may provide a prospectus supplement containing specific information about the terms of a particular offering by the selling securityholders. The prospectus supplement may add, update or change information in this prospectus. If the information in this prospectus is inconsistent with a prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in that prospectus supplement. You should read both this prospectus and, if applicable, any prospectus supplement. See “Where You Can Find More Information” for more information.

In this prospectus, “SVB Financial,” “we,” “our,” “ours,” and “us” refer to SVB Financial Group, which is a financial holding company headquartered in Santa Clara, California, and its subsidiaries including our principal bank subsidiary, Silicon Valley Bank, on a consolidated basis, unless the context otherwise requires.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference contain statements that are considered “forward looking statements” within the meaning of United States securities laws. In addition, SVB Financial and its management may make other written or oral communications from time to time that contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements, including statements about industry trends, management’s future expectations and other matters that do not relate strictly to historical facts, are based on assumptions by management, and are often identified by such forward-looking terminology as “expect,” “look,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “seek,” “may,” “will,” “trend,” “target,” and “goal” or similar statements or variations of such terms. Forward-looking statements may include, among other things, statements about SVB Financial’s confidence in its strategies and its expectations about general market conditions, financial performance, market and regulatory trends and developments, acquisitions and divestitures, new technologies, services and opportunities and earnings.

Forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, which change over time, are based on management’s expectations and assumptions at the time the statements are made, and are not guarantees of future results. Management’s expectations and assumptions, and the continued validity of the forward-looking statements, are subject to change due to a broad range of factors affecting the national and global economies, the equity, debt, currency and other financial markets, as well as factors specific to SVB Financial and its subsidiaries, including Silicon Valley Bank.

Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed in our forward-looking statements and from our historical financial results due to the factors discussed elsewhere in this prospectus or disclosed in our other SEC filings. Forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our expectations or beliefs as of any date subsequent to the time this prospectus is filed with the SEC. SVB Financial undertakes no obligation to revise the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus to reflect events after the time it is filed with the SEC. The factors discussed herein are not intended to be a complete summary of all risks and uncertainties that may affect our businesses. Though we strive to monitor and mitigate risk, we cannot anticipate all potential economic, operational and financial developments that may adversely impact our operations and our financial results.

Forward-looking statements should not be viewed as predictions, and should not be the primary basis upon which investors evaluate SVB Financial. Any investor in SVB Financial should consider all risks and uncertainties disclosed in our SEC filings described below under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information,” all of which are accessible on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

SVB FINANCIAL GROUP

SVB Financial Group is a diversified financial services company, as well as a bank holding company and financial holding company. Through our various subsidiaries and divisions, we offer a variety of banking and financial products and services. For 25 years, we have been dedicated to helping entrepreneurs succeed, especially in the technology, life science, private equity and premium wine industries. We provide our clients with a diversity of products and services to support them throughout their life cycles, regardless of their size or stage of maturity.

We offer commercial banking products and services through our principal subsidiary, Silicon Valley Bank, which is a California state-chartered bank founded in 1983 and a member of the Federal Reserve System. Through its subsidiaries, the Bank also offers brokerage, investment advisory and asset management services. We also offer non-banking products and services, such as funds management, private equity investment and equity valuation services, through our other subsidiaries and divisions.

We were incorporated in the state of Delaware in March 1999. Our principal executive offices are located at 3003 Tasman Drive, Santa Clara, California 95054, and our telephone number is (408) 654-7400. Our web site address is www.svb.com. The information on our web site is not part of, and is not incorporated by reference in, this prospectus or any related prospectus supplement and should not be relied upon in determining whether to make an investment in our common stock.

RISK FACTORS

An investment in our securities involves significant risks. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties and the risk factors set forth in the documents and reports filed with the SEC that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as well as any risks described in any applicable prospectus supplement, before you make an investment decision regarding the securities. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our business operations.

USE OF PROCEEDS

We will not receive any proceeds from any sale of the securities by the selling securityholders.

CONSOLIDATED RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED DIVIDENDS

Nine Months Ended,
September 30, 2008

Year ended December 31,

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

Including interest on deposits (1)

3.41x

4.12x

4.98x

8.44x

7.80x

2.01x

Excluding interest on deposits (1)

4.53x

4.90x

6.17x

16.86x

16.40x

3.14x

(1)

Earnings consist of consolidated income from continuing operations before income taxes, minority interest in consolidated subsidiaries, and income (loss) from equity investees, as adjusted for fixed charges. Fixed charges, including interest on deposits, consist of all interest expense, amortization and debt issuance costs, and the estimated interest component of rental expense. Fixed charges, excluding interest on deposits, consist of interest expense (other than on deposits), amortization and debt issuance costs, and the estimated interest component of rental expense.

No shares of our series B preferred stock, or any other class of preferred stock, were outstanding during the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004 and 2003, or during the nine months ended September 30, 2008, and we did not pay any preferred stock dividends during these periods.

DESCRIPTION OF SERIES B PREFERRED STOCK

The following is a brief description of the terms of the series B preferred stock that may be resold by the selling securityholders. This summary does not purport to be complete in all respects. This description is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to our Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, including the related Certificate of Designations with respect to the series B preferred stock, copies of which have been filed with the SEC and are also available upon request from us.

General

Under our Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, we have authority to issue up to 20 million shares of preferred stock, par value $.001 per share. Of such number of shares of preferred stock, 1,500,000 shares have been designated as Series A Participating Preferred Stock, and 235,000 shares have been designated as series B preferred stock, all of which shares of series B preferred stock were issued to the initial selling securityholder in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The issued and outstanding shares of series B preferred stock are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

Dividends Payable On Shares of Series B Preferred Stock

Holders of shares of series B preferred stock are entitled to receive if, as and when declared by our board of directors or a duly authorized committee of the board, out of assets legally available for payment, cumulative cash dividends at a rate per annum of 5% per share on a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share of series B preferred stock with respect to each dividend period from December 12, 2008 to, but excluding, February 15, 2014. From and after February 15, 2014, holders of shares of series B preferred stock are entitled to receive cumulative cash dividends at a rate per annum of 9% per share on a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share of series B preferred stock with respect to each dividend period thereafter.

Dividends are payable quarterly in arrears on each of February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15, each a dividend payment date, starting with February 15, 2009. If any dividend payment date is not a business day, then the next business day will be the applicable dividend payment date, and no additional dividends will accrue as a result of the applicable postponement of the dividend payment date. Dividends payable during any dividend period are computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. Dividends payable with respect to the series B preferred stock are payable to holders of record of shares of series B preferred stock on the date that is 15 calendar days immediately preceding the applicable dividend payment date or such other record date as the board of directors or any duly authorized committee of the board determines, so long as such record date is not more than 60 nor less than 10 days prior to the applicable dividend payment date.

If we determine not to pay any dividend or a full dividend with respect to the series B preferred stock, we are required to provide written notice to the holders of shares of series B preferred stock prior to the applicable dividend payment date.

We are subject to various regulatory policies and requirements relating to the payment of dividends, including requirements to maintain adequate capital above regulatory minimums. The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, or the Federal Reserve Board, is authorized to determine, under certain circumstances relating to the financial condition of a bank holding company, such as us, that the payment of dividends would be an unsafe or unsound practice and to prohibit payment thereof. In addition, we are subject to Delaware state laws relating to the payment of dividends.

Priority of Dividends

With respect to the payment of dividends and the amounts to be paid upon liquidation, the series B preferred stock will rank:

•

senior to our common stock and all other equity securities designated as ranking junior to the series B preferred stock; and

•

at least equally with all other equity securities designated as ranking on a parity with the series B preferred stock, or parity stock, with respect to the payment of dividends and distribution of assets upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of SVB Financial.

So long as any shares of series B preferred stock remain outstanding, unless all accrued and unpaid dividends for all prior dividend periods have been paid or are contemporaneously declared and paid in full, no dividend whatsoever shall be paid or declared on SVB Financial’s common stock or other junior stock, other than a dividend payable solely in common stock. We and our subsidiaries also may not purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of our common stock or other junior stock unless we have paid in full all accrued dividends on the series B preferred stock for all prior dividend periods, other than:

•

purchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of our common stock or other junior stock in connection with the administration of our employee benefit plans in the ordinary course of business pursuant to a publicly announced repurchase plan up to the increase in diluted shares outstanding resulting from the grant, vesting or exercise of equity-based compensation;

•

purchases or other acquisitions by broker-dealer subsidiaries of SVB Financial solely for the purpose of market-making, stabilization or customer facilitation transactions in junior stock or parity stock in the ordinary course of its business;

•

purchases or other acquisitions by broker-dealer subsidiaries of SVB Financial for resale pursuant to an offering by SVB Financial of our stock that is underwritten by the related broker-dealer subsidiary;

•

any dividends or distributions of rights or junior stock in connection with any shareholders’ rights plan or repurchases of rights pursuant to any shareholders’ rights plan;

•

acquisition of record ownership of junior stock or parity stock for the beneficial ownership of any other person who is not SVB Financial or a subsidiary of SVB Financial, including as trustee or custodian; and

•

the exchange or conversion of junior stock for or into other junior stock or of parity stock for or into other parity stock or junior stock but only to the extent that such acquisition is required pursuant to binding contractual agreements entered into before December 12, 2008 or any subsequent agreement for the accelerated exercise, settlement or exchange thereof for common stock.

If we repurchase shares of series B preferred stock from a holder other than the initial selling securityholder, we must offer to repurchase a ratable portion of the series B preferred stock then held by the initial selling securityholder.

On any dividend payment date for which full dividends are not paid, or declared and funds set aside therefor, on the series B preferred stock and any other parity stock, all dividends paid or declared for payment on that dividend payment date (or, with respect to parity stock with a different dividend payment date, on the applicable dividend date therefor falling within the dividend period and related to the dividend payment date for the series B preferred stock), with respect to the series B preferred stock and any other parity stock shall be declared ratably among the holders of any such shares who have the right to receive dividends, in proportion to the respective amounts of the undeclared and unpaid dividends relating to the dividend period.

Subject to the foregoing, such dividends (payable in cash, stock or otherwise) as may be determined by our board of directors (or a duly authorized committee of the board) may be declared and paid on our common stock and any other stock ranking equally with or junior to the series B preferred stock from time to time out of any funds legally available for such payment, and the series B preferred stock shall not be entitled to participate in any such dividend.

Redemption

The series B preferred stock may not be redeemed prior to February 15, 2012 unless we have received aggregate gross proceeds from one or more qualified equity offerings (as described below) equal to $58,750,000, which equals 25% of the aggregate liquidation amount of the series B preferred stock on the date of issuance. In such a case, we may redeem the series B preferred stock, subject to the approval of Federal Reserve Board, in whole or in part, upon notice as described below, up to a maximum amount equal to the aggregate net cash proceeds received by us from such qualified equity offerings. A “qualified equity offering” is a sale and issuance for cash by us, to persons other than SVB Financial or its subsidiaries after December 12, 2008, of shares of perpetual preferred stock, common stock or a combination thereof, that in each case qualify as tier 1 capital of SVB Financial at the time of issuance under the applicable risk-based capital guidelines of the Federal Reserve Board. Qualified equity offerings do not include issuances made in connection with acquisitions, issuances of trust preferred securities and issuances of common stock and/or perpetual preferred stock made pursuant to agreements or arrangements entered into, or pursuant to financing plans that were publicly announced, on or prior to October 13, 2008.

After February 15, 2012, the series B preferred stock may be redeemed at any time, subject to the approval of the Federal Reserve Board, in whole or in part, subject to notice as described below.

In any redemption, the redemption price is an amount equal to the per share liquidation amount plus accrued and unpaid dividends to but excluding the date of redemption.

The series B preferred stock will not be subject to any mandatory redemption, sinking fund or similar provisions. Holders of shares of series B preferred stock have no right to require the redemption or repurchase of the series B preferred stock.

If fewer than all of the outstanding shares of series B preferred stock are to be redeemed, the shares to be redeemed will be selected either pro rata from the holders of record of shares of series B preferred stock in proportion to the number of shares held by those holders or in such other manner as our board of directors or a committee thereof may determine to be fair and equitable.

We will mail notice of any redemption of series B preferred stock by first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the holders of record of the shares of series B preferred stock to be redeemed at their respective last addresses appearing on our books. This mailing will be at least 30 days and not more than 60 days before the date fixed for redemption. Any notice mailed or otherwise given as described in this paragraph will be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the holder receives the notice, and failure duly to give the notice by mail or otherwise, or any defect in the notice or in the mailing or provision of the notice, to any holder of series B preferred stock designated for redemption will not affect the redemption of any other series B preferred stock. Each notice of redemption will set forth the applicable redemption date, the redemption price, the place where shares of series B preferred stock are to be redeemed, and the number of shares of series B preferred stock to be redeemed (and, if less than all shares of series B preferred stock held by the applicable holder, the number of shares to be redeemed from the holder).

Shares of series B preferred stock that are redeemed, repurchased or otherwise acquired by us will revert to authorized but unissued shares of our preferred stock.

Liquidation Rights

In the event that we voluntarily or involuntarily liquidate, dissolve or wind up our affairs, holders of series B preferred stock will be entitled to receive an amount per share, referred to as the total liquidation amount, equal to the fixed liquidation preference of $1,000 per share, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends, whether or not declared, to the date of payment. Holders of the series B preferred stock will be entitled to receive the total liquidation amount out of our assets that are available for distribution to shareholders, after payment or provision for payment of our debts and other liabilities but before any distribution of assets is made to holders of our common stock or any other shares ranking, as to that distribution, junior to the series B preferred stock.

If our assets are not sufficient to pay the total liquidation amount in full to all holders of series B preferred stock and all holders of any shares of outstanding parity stock, the amounts paid to the holders of series B preferred stock and other shares of parity stock will be paid pro rata in accordance with the respective total liquidation amount for those holders. If the total liquidation amount per share of series B preferred stock has been paid in full to all holders of series B preferred stock and other shares of parity stock, the holders of our common stock or any other shares ranking, as to such distribution, junior to the series B preferred stock will be entitled to receive all of our remaining assets according to their respective rights and preferences.

For purposes of the liquidation rights, neither the sale, conveyance, exchange or transfer of all or substantially all of our property and assets, nor the consolidation or merger by us with or into any other corporation or by another corporation with or into us, will constitute a liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of our affairs.

Voting Rights

Except as indicated below or otherwise required by law, the holders of series B preferred stock will not have any voting rights.

Election of Two Directors upon Non-Payment of Dividends. If the dividends on the series B preferred stock have not been paid for an aggregate of six quarterly dividend periods or more (whether or not consecutive), the authorized number of directors then constituting our board of directors will be increased by two. Holders of series B preferred stock, together with the holders of any outstanding parity stock with like voting rights, referred to as voting parity stock, voting as a single class, will be entitled to elect the two additional members of our board of directors, referred to as the preferred stock directors, at the next annual meeting (or at a special meeting called for the purpose of electing the preferred stock directors prior to the next annual meeting) and at each subsequent annual meeting until all accrued and unpaid dividends for all past dividend periods have been paid in full. The election of any preferred stock director is subject to the qualification that the election would not cause us to violate the corporate governance requirement of the Nasdaq Stock Market (or any other exchange on which our securities may be listed) that listed companies must have a majority of independent directors.

Upon the termination of the right of the holders of series B preferred stock and voting parity stock to vote for preferred stock directors, as described above, the preferred stock directors will immediately cease to be qualified as directors, their term of office shall terminate immediately and the number of authorized directors of SVB Financial will be reduced by the number of preferred stock directors that the holders of series B preferred stock and voting parity stock had been entitled to elect. The holders of a majority of shares of series B preferred stock and voting parity stock, voting as a class, may remove any preferred stock director, with or without cause, and the holders of a majority of the shares series B preferred stock and voting parity stock, voting as a class, may fill any vacancy created by the removal of a preferred stock director. If the office of a preferred stock director becomes vacant for any other reason, the remaining preferred stock director may choose a successor to fill such vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term.

Other Voting Rights. So long as any shares of series B preferred stock are outstanding, in addition to any other vote or consent of shareholders required by law or by our Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the vote or consent of the holders of at least 66-2/3% of the shares of series B preferred stock at the time outstanding, voting separately as a single class, given in person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or by vote at any meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary for effecting or validating:

•

any amendment or alteration of our Restated Certificate of Incorporation to authorize or create or increase the authorized amount of, or any issuance of, any shares of, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of, any class or series of capital stock ranking senior to the series B preferred stock with respect to payment of dividends and/or distribution of assets on any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of SVB Financial;

•

any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of the Certificate of Designations for the series B preferred stock so as to adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the series B preferred stock; or

•

any consummation of a binding share exchange or reclassification involving the series B preferred stock or of a merger or consolidation of SVB Financial with another entity, unless the shares of series B preferred stock remain outstanding following any such transaction or, if SVB Financial is not the surviving entity, are converted into or exchanged for preference securities and such remaining outstanding shares of series B preferred stock or preference securities have rights, references, privileges and voting powers that are not materially less favorable than the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the series B preferred stock, taken as a whole.

To the extent of the voting rights of the series B preferred stock, each holder of series B preferred stock will have one vote for each $1,000 of liquidation preference to which such holder’s shares of series B preferred stock are entitled.

The foregoing voting provisions will not apply if, at or prior to the time when the vote or consent would otherwise be required, all outstanding shares of series B preferred stock have been redeemed or called for redemption upon proper notice and sufficient funds have been set aside by us for the benefit of the holders of series B preferred stock to effect the redemption.

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANT TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK

The following is a brief description of the terms of the warrant that may be resold by the selling securityholders. This summary does not purport to be complete in all respects. This description is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the warrant, a copy of which has been filed with the SEC and is also available upon request from us.

Shares of Common Stock Subject to the Warrant

The warrant is initially exercisable for 708,116 shares of our common stock. If we complete one or more qualified equity offerings on or prior to December 31, 2009 that result in our receipt of aggregate gross proceeds of not less than $235,000,000, which is equal to 100% of the aggregate liquidation preference of the series B preferred stock, the number of shares of common stock underlying the warrant then held by the selling securityholders will be reduced by 50% to 354,058 shares. The number of shares subject to the warrant are subject to the further adjustments described below under the heading “—Adjustments to the Warrant.”

Exercise of the Warrant

The initial exercise price applicable to the warrant is $49.78 per share of common stock for which the warrant may be exercised. The warrant may be exercised at any time on or before December 12, 2018 by surrender of the warrant and a completed notice of exercise attached as an annex to the warrant and the payment of the exercise price for the shares of common stock for which the warrant is being exercised. The exercise price may be paid either by the withholding by SVB Financial of such number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrant equal to the value of the aggregate exercise price of the warrant determined by reference to the market price of our common stock on the trading day on which the warrant is exercised or, if agreed to by us and the warrantholder, by the payment of cash equal to the aggregate exercise price. The exercise price applicable to the warrant is subject to the further adjustments described below under the heading “—Adjustments to the Warrant.”

Upon exercise of the warrant, certificates for the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise will be issued to the warrantholder. We will not issue fractional shares upon any exercise of the warrant. Instead, the warrantholder will be entitled to a cash payment equal to the market price of our common stock on the last day preceding the exercise of the warrant (less the pro-rated exercise price of the warrant) for any fractional shares that would have otherwise been issuable upon exercise of the warrant. We will at all times reserve the aggregate number of shares of our common stock for which the warrant may be exercised. We have listed the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrant with the Nasdaq Stock Market.

Rights as a Shareholder

The warrantholder shall have no rights or privileges of the holders of our common stock, including any voting rights, until (and then only to the extent) the warrant has been exercised.

Transferability

The initial selling securityholder may not transfer a portion of the warrant with respect to more than 354,058 shares of common stock until the earlier of the date on which SVB Financial has received aggregate gross proceeds from a qualified equity offering of at least $235,000,000 and December 31, 2009. The warrant, and all rights under the warrant, are otherwise transferable.

Adjustments to the Warrant

Adjustments in Connection with Stock Splits, Subdivisions, Reclassifications and Combinations. The number of shares for which the warrant may be exercised and the exercise price applicable to the warrant will be proportionately adjusted in the event we pay dividends or make distributions of our common stock, subdivide, combine or reclassify outstanding shares of our common stock.

Anti-dilution Adjustment. Until the earlier of December 12, 2011 and the date the initial selling securityholder no longer holds the warrant (and other than in certain permitted transactions described below), if we issue any shares of common stock (or securities convertible or exercisable into common stock) for less than 90% of the market price of the common stock on the last trading day prior to pricing such shares, then the number of shares of common stock into which the warrant is exercisable and the exercise price will be adjusted. Permitted transactions include issuances:

•

as consideration for or to fund the acquisition of businesses and/or related assets;

•

in connection with employee benefit plans and compensation related arrangements in the ordinary course and consistent with past practice approved by our board of directors;

•

in connection with public or broadly marketed offerings and sales of common stock or convertible securities for cash conducted by us or our affiliates pursuant to registration under the Securities Act, or Rule 144A thereunder on a basis consistent with capital-raising transactions by comparable financial institutions (but do not include other private transactions); and

•

in connection with the exercise of preemptive rights on terms existing as of December 12, 2008.

Other Distributions. If we declare any dividends or distributions other than our historical, ordinary cash dividends, the exercise price of the warrant will be adjusted to reflect such distribution.

Certain Repurchases. If we effect a pro rata repurchase of common stock both the number of shares issuable upon exercise of the warrant and the exercise price will be adjusted.

Business Combinations. In the event of a merger, consolidation or similar transaction involving SVB Financial and requiring shareholder approval, the warrantholder’s right to receive shares of our common stock upon exercise of the warrant shall be converted into the right to exercise the warrant for the consideration that would have been payable to the warrantholder with respect to the shares of common stock for which the warrant may be exercised, as if the warrant had been exercised prior to such merger, consolidation or similar transaction.

DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK

General

We have 150,000,000 shares of authorized common stock, $.001 par value per share, of which 32,834,254 shares were outstanding as of November 30, 2008.

Holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends if, as and when declared by our board of directors out of any funds legally available for dividends. Holders of our common stock are also entitled, upon our liquidation, and after claims of creditors and the preferences of series B preferred stock, and any other class or series of preferred stock outstanding at the time of liquidation, to receive pro rata our net assets. We pay dividends on our common stock only if we have paid or provided for all dividends on our outstanding series of preferred stock, for the then current period and, in the case of any cumulative preferred stock, all prior periods.

Our series B preferred stock has, and any other series of preferred stock upon issuance will have, preference over our common stock with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets in the event of our liquidation or dissolution. Our preferred stock also has such other preferences as currently, or as may be, fixed by our board of directors.

Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share that they hold and are vested with all of the voting power except as our board of directors has provided, or may provide in the future, with respect to preferred stock or any other class or series of preferred stock that the board of directors may hereafter authorize. Shares of our common stock are not redeemable, and have no subscription, conversion or preemptive rights.

Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market. Outstanding shares of our common stock are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Wells Fargo Minnesota, N.A.

Restrictions on Ownership

The Bank Holding Company Act requires any “bank holding company,” as defined in the Bank Holding Company Act, to obtain the approval of the Federal Reserve Board prior to the acquisition of 5% or more of our common stock. Any person, other than a bank holding company, is required to obtain prior approval of the Federal Reserve Board to acquire 10% or more of our common stock under the Change in Bank Control Act. Any holder of 25% or more of our common stock, or a holder of 5% or more if such holder otherwise exercises a “controlling influence” over us, is subject to regulation as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act.

Before acquiring control of a California state-chartered bank or its parent company, a person or entity must obtain the prior approval of the California Department of Financial Institutions under the California Banking Law. “Control” means the power to vote 25% or more of the outstanding voting securities or the power to direct the management and policies of a bank or parent company. In addition, direct or indirect ownership, control or power to vote 10% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the bank or parent company is presumed to constitute control of the bank or parent company unless the acquiring person provides the Department with sufficient information to rebut this presumption.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

The selling securityholders and their successors, including their transferees, may sell the securities directly to purchasers or through underwriters, broker-dealers or agents, who may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the selling securityholders or the purchasers of the securities. These discounts, concessions or commissions as to any particular underwriter, broker-dealer or agent may be in excess of those customary in the types of transactions involved.

The securities may be sold in one or more transactions at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of sale, at varying prices determined at the time of sale or at negotiated prices. These sales may be effected in transactions, which may involve crosses or block transactions:

•

on any national securities exchange or quotation service on which the preferred stock or the common stock may be listed or quoted at the time of sale, including, as of the date of this prospectus, the Nasdaq Global Select Market in the case of the common stock;

•

in the over-the-counter market;

•

in transactions otherwise than on these exchanges or services or in the over-the-counter market; or

•

through the writing of options, whether the options are listed on an options exchange or otherwise.

In addition, any securities that qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act may be sold under Rule 144 rather than pursuant to this prospectus.

In connection with the sale of the securities or otherwise, the selling securityholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers, which may in turn engage in short sales of the common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrant in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The selling securityholders may also sell short the common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrant and deliver common stock to close out short positions, or loan or pledge the series B preferred stock or the common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrant to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these securities.

The aggregate proceeds to the selling securityholders from the sale of the securities will be the purchase price of the securities less discounts and commissions, if any.

In effecting sales, broker-dealers or agents engaged by the selling securityholders may arrange for other broker-dealers to participate. Broker-dealers or agents may receive commissions, discounts or concessions from the selling securityholders in amounts to be negotiated immediately prior to the sale.

In offering the securities covered by this prospectus, the selling securityholders and any broker-dealers who execute sales for the selling securityholders may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act in connection with such sales. Any profits realized by the selling securityholders and the compensation of any broker-dealer may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions. Selling securityholders who are “underwriters” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act will be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act and may be subject to certain statutory and regulatory liabilities, including liabilities imposed pursuant to Sections 11, 12 and 17 of the Securities Act and Rule 10b-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the Exchange Act.

In order to comply with the securities laws of certain states, if applicable, the securities must be sold in such jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in certain states the securities may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification requirement is available and is complied with.

The anti-manipulation rules of Regulation M under the Exchange Act may apply to sales of securities pursuant to this prospectus and to the activities of the selling securityholders. In addition, we will make copies of this prospectus available to the selling securityholders for the purpose of satisfying the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act, which may include delivery through the facilities of the Nasdaq Global Select Market pursuant to Rule 153 under the Securities Act.

At the time a particular offer of securities is made, if required, a prospectus supplement will set forth the number and type of securities being offered and the terms of the offering, including the name of any underwriter, dealer or agent, the purchase price paid by any underwriter, any discount, commission and other item constituting compensation, any discount, commission or concession allowed or reallowed or paid to any dealer, and the proposed selling price to the public.

We do not intend to apply for listing of the series B preferred stock on any securities exchange or for inclusion of the series B preferred stock in any automated quotation system unless requested by the initial selling shareholder. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market, if any, for the series B preferred stock.

We have agreed to indemnify the selling securityholders against certain liabilities, including certain liabilities under the Securities Act. We have also agreed, among other things, to bear substantially all expenses (other than underwriting discounts and selling commissions) in connection with the registration and sale of the securities covered by this prospectus.

SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS

On December 12, 2008, we issued the securities covered by this prospectus to the United States Department of Treasury, which is the initial selling securityholder under this prospectus, in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The initial selling securityholder, or its successors, including transferees, may from time to time offer and sell, pursuant to this prospectus or a supplement to this prospectus, any or all of the securities they own. The securities to be offered under this prospectus for the account of the selling securityholders are:

•

235,000 shares of series B preferred stock, representing beneficial ownership of 100% of the shares of series B preferred stock outstanding on the date of this prospectus;

•

a warrant to purchase 708,116 shares of our common stock, representing beneficial ownership of approximately 2.2% of our common stock as of November 30, 2008; and

•

708,116 shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrant, which shares, if issued, would represent ownership of approximately 2.2% of our common stock as of November 30, 2008.

For purposes of this prospectus, we have assumed that, after completion of the offering, none of the securities covered by this prospectus will be held by the selling securityholders.

Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and includes voting or investment power with respect to the securities. To our knowledge, the initial selling securityholder has sole voting and investment power with respect to the securities.

We do not know when or in what amounts the selling securityholders may offer the securities for sale. The selling securityholders might not sell any or all of the securities offered by this prospectus. Because the selling securityholders may offer all or some of the securities pursuant to this offering, and because currently no sale of any of the securities is subject to any agreements, arrangements or understandings, we cannot estimate the number of the securities that will be held by the selling securityholders after completion of the offering.

Other than with respect to the acquisition of the securities, the initial selling securityholder has not had a material relationship with us.

Information about the selling securityholders may change over time and changed information will be set forth in supplements to this prospectus if and when necessary.

LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the series B preferred stock, the warrant and the common stock offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Bingham McCutchen LLP.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of SVB Financial Group as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2007, and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007 have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the reports of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

The audit report covering the December 31, 2007, consolidated financial statements contains an explanatory paragraph that refers to the adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123(R), Share Based Payment effective January 1, 2006.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s website at http:/www.sec.gov. Copies of certain information filed by us with the SEC are also available on our website at http://www.svb.com. Our website is not a part of this prospectus. You may also read and copy any document we file at the SEC’s public reference room, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the public reference room.

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to other documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. In all cases, you should rely on the later information over different information included in this prospectus.

We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and all future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the termination of the offering, except to the extent that any information contained in such filings is deemed “furnished” in accordance with SEC rules:

•

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007;

•

Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2008, June 30, 2008 and September 30, 2008; and

•

Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on January 29, February 8, March 3, April 3, 7 and 30, June 26, and December 8 and 15, 2008.

You may request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address:

SVB Financial Group

3003 Tasman Drive

Santa Clara, CA 95054-1191

(408) 654-7400

Attn: Corporate Secretary

PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14.

Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The following table sets forth the various expenses to be incurred in connection with the sale and distribution of the Securities being registered hereby, all of which will be borne by SVB Financial (except any underwriting discounts and commissions and expenses incurred by the selling securityholders for brokerage, accounting, tax or legal services or any other expenses incurred by the selling securityholders in disposing of the shares). All amounts shown are estimates except the SEC registration fee.


	Amount to be Paid
SEC registration fee	$	10,621
Printing fees		—
Legal fees and expenses		15,000
Accounting fees and expenses		11,200
Transfer agent and registrar fees		1,000
Miscellaneous		—

Total	$	37,821

Item 15.

Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Section 145 (“Section 145”) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended provides that a Delaware corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of such corporation) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise. The indemnity may include expenses (including attorney’s fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, provided such person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the corporation’s best interests and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was illegal.

Section 145 further authorizes a corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise, against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the corporation would otherwise have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under Section 145.

The registrant’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws provide in effect that, subject to certain limited exceptions, the registrant shall indemnify its directors and officers to the extent authorized or permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. The registrant has entered into indemnification agreements with each of its current directors and executive officers. These agreements provide the directors and executive officers with additional protection regarding the scope of the indemnification set forth in the registrant’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws. The registrant has obtained a policy of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance that insures its directors and officers against the cost of defense, settlement or payment of a judgment under certain circumstances.

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Item 16.

Exhibits

The following exhibits are filed herewith or incorporated by reference.


Exhibit Number	Exhibit Description	Form	File No.	Exhibit	Filing Date	Filed Herewith
3.1	Restated Certification of Incorporation	8-K	000-15637	3.1	May 31, 2005

3.2	Certificate of Designations for Series A Participating Preferred Stock	8-K	000-15637	3.3	December 8, 2008

3.3	Certificate of Designations for Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B	8-K	000-15637	3.4	December 15, 2008

3.4	Amended and Restated Bylaws	8-K	000-15637	3.2	January 29, 2007

4.1	Letter Agreement, dated December 12, 2008, between the United States Department of the Treasury and the Company, which includes Securities Purchase Agreement	8-K	000-15637	10.28	December 15, 2008

4.2	Warrant, dated December 12, 2008 to purchase shares of Common Stock of the Company	8-K	000-15637	4.21	December 15, 2008

5.1	Opinion of Bingham McCutchen LLP					X

12.1	Statement re computation of ratios					X

23.1	Consent of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm.					X

23.2	Consent of Bingham McCutchen LLP (included in exhibit 5.1)

24	Power of attorney (included on signature page)

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Item 17. Undertakings.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act of 1933”);

(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in the volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

(iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this registration statement or any material change to such information in this registration statement;

provided, however , that paragraphs (1)(i), (1)(ii) and (1)(iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of this registration statement.

(2) That, for the purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at the time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

(i) each prospectus filed by a registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(ii) each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of a registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:

The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(i) any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

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(ii) any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

(iii) the portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

(iv) any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

The registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the indemnification provisions described herein, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Santa Clara, State of California, on January 7, 2009.


SVB FINANCIAL GROUP

By:		/s/ KENNETH P. WILCOX
		Kenneth P. Wilcox
		President and Chief Executive Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Kenneth P. Wilcox and Michael Descheneaux, and each of them acting individually, as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power of substitution, for him in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this registration statement (including post-effective amendments), and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of each to act alone, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully for all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or his or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement on Form S-3 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated:


Signature	Title	Date

/s/ ALEX W. HART	Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director	January 7, 2009
Alex W. Hart

/s/ KENNETH P. WILCOX	President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)	January 7, 2009
Kenneth P. Wilcox		January 7, 2009

/s/ MICHAEL DESCHENEAUX	Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)	January 7, 2009
Michael Descheneaux		January 7, 2009

/s/ ERIC A. BENHAMOU	Director	January 7, 2009
Eric A. Benhamou

/s/ DAVID M. CLAPPER	Director	January 7, 2009
David M. Clapper

/s/ ROGER F. DUNBAR	Director	January 7, 2009
Roger F. Dunbar

/s/ JOEL P. FRIEDMAN	Director	January 7, 2009
Joel P. Friedman

/s/ G. FELDA HARDYMON	Director	January 7, 2009
G. Felda Hardymon

/s/ C. RICHARD KRAMLICH	Director	January 7, 2009
C. Richard Kramlich


Signature	Title	Date

/s/ LATA KRISHNAN	Director	January 7, 2009
Lata Krishnan

/s/ JAMES R. PORTER	Director	January 7, 2009
James R. Porter

/s/ MICHAELA K. RODENO	Director	January 7, 2009
Michaela K. Rodeno

/s/ KYUNG H. YOON	Director	January 7, 2009
Kyung H. Yoon

EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit Number	Exhibit Description	Form	File No.	Exhibit	Filing Date	Filed Herewith
3.1	Restated Certification of Incorporation	8-K	000-15637	3.1	May 31, 2005

3.2	Certificate of Designations for Series A Participating Preferred Stock	8-K	000-15637	3.3	December 8, 2008

3.3	Certificate of Designations for Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B	8-K	000-15637	3.4	December 15, 2008

3.4	Amended and Restated Bylaws	8-K	000-15637	3.2	January 29, 2007

4.1	Letter Agreement, dated December 12, 2008, between the United States Department of the Treasury and the Company, which includes Securities Purchase Agreement	8-K	000-15637	10.28	December 15, 2008

4.2	Warrant, dated December 12, 2008 to purchase shares of Common Stock of the Company	8-K	000-15637	4.21	December 15, 2008

5.1	Opinion of Bingham McCutchen LLP					X

12.1	Statement re computation of ratios					X

23.1	Consent of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm.					X

23.2	Consent of Bingham McCutchen LLP (included in exhibit 5.1)

24	Power of attorney (included on signature page)

Large accelerated filer

Accelerated filer

Non-accelerated filer

¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Smaller reporting company