The move was made to not only stabilize First Republic Bank — which recently saw its credit rating downgraded as its share price dropped and clients pulled money — but also to show confidence in the wider banking ecosystem.
As detailed in a release announcing the news, the 11 banks, which also included Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, believe the move "demonstrates their overall commitment to helping banks serve their customers and communities. Regional, midsize and small banks are critical to the health and functioning of our financial system."
While the move should calm the markets, it's not a long-term solution, per se. The money is committed to First Republic for at least 120 days, which puts us at about mid-July. I can't imagine the big banks looking to pull the rug out from First Republic four months from now, but this money was a deposit, not a donation.
I also wonder what this means for Silicon Valley Bank. (Remember them?) The bank, errr the FDIC, is still looking for a buyer. But now that some of the potential buyers have all pledged significant capital to First Republic, I wonder if that diminishes its chances of getting acquired.
PS — If you're thinking about emailing me that The Avengers are in the Marvel universe and Superman is in the DC universe, please don't. Go outside and touch some grass instead.
In other news:
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Matt Kennedy, Courtesy Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
5. More allegations waged against Carta's CEO. A new filing from former Carta CTO Jerry Talton accuses CEO Henry Ward of being "erratic, self-absorbed," along with a litany of misdeeds. The filing is in response to a lawsuit by Carta that depicted Talton as an incompetent and disgruntled employee. Get all the juicy details here on the ongoing litigation between the two sides.
7. Startup employees and early investors are looking to take the money and run. With the IPO and M&A market for tech startups at a complete standstill, some people with equity are willing to cash in their shares at a discount. More on the activity taking place in the opaque secondaries market.
10. The best frozen meals from Trader Joe's. Speaking of saving a couple bucks, skip the takeout and check out these frozen meals from TJ's. We reviewed 15 different dishes here. Pro tip: The cauliflower gnocchi is legit if you're looking to watch your calories.
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