Emerging demographic shifts in particular will impact sales and marketing strategies for fine wines as target consumers change spending patterns, and potentially exit the market altogether.

"For that segment of Baby Boomers who have seen their net worth drastically reduced and who have been the prime target of wine marketing for nearly 20 years, a $50 bottle of wine is now permanently out of the question for a normal purchase," McMillan said.

Early reports for Q4 2009 sales suggest improvement over the same period in 2008, an expected down year for the full year 2009, but positive growth in the fine wine business in 2010. However, the report continues, true recovery will take time due to lasting, negative economic changes in housing, consumer wealth, consumer credit, business spending and restaurant sales.

"Not all the changes we're seeing and expecting during an ongoing correction and recovery will be permanent and it's not all doom and gloom, but everyone in this business should expect that the future will be quite different than the past decade in fine wine," McMillan said.

Silicon Valley Bank's Annual State of the Wine Industry Report due for release in the spring captures trends and addresses critical issues facing the U.S. wine industry. Given the state of the economy and the need for wine businesses to think critically about their strategies, these preliminary findings intend to offer data, trends and observations that businesses can use during their 2010 - 2011 planning.

    --  For a copy of Silicon Valley Bank's 2010-2011 preliminary findings
        report, please visit
        http://www.svb.com/pdfs/wine/StateoftheWineIndustry1109.pdf
    --  To receive an invitation to participate in Silicon Valley Bank's annual
        on-line survey and thus receive survey results, please e-mail Penny
        Northrop (PNorthrop@SVB.com)

    --  To be added to Silicon Valley Bank's report distribution list, contact
        the author, Rob McMillan (RMcMillan@SVB.com)

About Silicon Valley Bank's Wine Division

Silicon Valley Bank is the premier commercial bank for emerging, growth and mature companies in the technology, life science, private equity and premium wine industries. Its Wine Division specializes in commercial banking for premium wineries and vineyards and the industries that support them. SVB has the largest team of commercial bankers dedicated to the wine industry of any bank nationwide. Founded in 1994, SVB's Wine Division has offices in Napa and Sonoma counties and serves clients in Napa, Sonoma, the Central Coast of California, Oregon and Washington. By virtue of its dedication to the wine industry, Silicon Valley Bank is able to support its clients consistently through economic and growth cycles, and offer guidance on many aspects of their business, beyond traditional banking services. Silicon Valley Bank is a member of global financial services firm SVB Financial Group (Nasdaq: SIVB), with SVB Analytics, SVB Capital, SVB Global and SVB Private Client Services. More information on the company can be found at www.svb.com.

Silicon Valley Bank is the California bank subsidiary and the commercial banking operation of SVB Financial Group. Banking services are provided by Silicon Valley Bank, a member of the FDIC and the Federal Reserve. SVB Financial Group is also a member of the Federal Reserve.

SOURCE Silicon Valley Bank

http://www.svb.com

"We strongly support Grant Thornton in its call to action to make changes and improvements to market structures that have been severely impacting economic conditions. Providing the right regulatory environment and market structure are of critical importance for a continued, robust innovation economy in the U.S. More importantly, the issues this study addresses are getting at the underlying issues that will support the future growth of the total U.S. economy.

"As a company dedicated to formation and growth of innovative technology and life science companies, we are prepared to devote the necessary resources to support the recommendations made by Grant Thornton. We encourage our colleagues to familiarize themselves with this data and join us as we urge our government officials to pursue solutions that will promote more effective market structures, rather than inhibit the formation of listed companies in the U.S. and therefore impact job and economic growth."

A full copy of the Grant Thornton study is available at www.gt.com/wakeupcall

More information will also be available soon regarding a new 501 (c) 6 organization, which will be called "Coalition for the Reformation of Listings and Markets."

SVB Financial Group and its subsidiaries, including Silicon Valley Bank, are dedicated to helping entrepreneurs succeed. SVB Financial Group is a financial holding company that serves companies in the technology, life science, venture capital/private equity and premium wine industries. Offering diversified financial services through Silicon Valley Bank, SVB Analytics, SVB Capital, SVB Global and SVB Private Client Services, SVB Financial Group provides clients with commercial, investment, international and private banking services. The company also offers funds management, broker-dealer transactions and asset management, as well as the added value of its knowledge and networks worldwide. Headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., SVB Financial Group (Nasdaq: SIVB) operates through 27 offices in the U.S. and international operations in China, India, Israel and the United Kingdom. More information on the company can be found at www.svb.com.

Banking services are provided by Silicon Valley Bank, a member of the FDIC and the Federal Reserve. SVB Financial Group is also a member of the Federal Reserve.

SOURCE SVB Financial Group

http://www.svb.com

Key to SVB's niche strategy are the relationships it maintains with venture capital investors worldwide. In his new role, Brady will seek to maintain and develop relationships with corporate venture and corporate development groups, which the company believes will play an increasingly important role in the venture ecosystem in the future.

"Silicon Valley Bank exists to help entrepreneurs succeed," said Harry Kellogg, vice chairman of Silicon Valley Bank. "Gerald brings great leadership to our team and relevant experience to the technology entrepreneurs and corporate investors we aim to help. They are the innovators who will help this country pull out of the current downturn by creating new companies and new jobs. We're thrilled to be a part of their initiation and growth."

"We also believe corporate venture groups at larger companies are going to play an expanded role in the financing of early-stage companies," Kellogg continued. "Corporations view their innovation investments as vital elements to their growth and a window into the disruptive technologies of the future. Corporate venture is also viewed by entrepreneurs as 'smart money,' since corporate investors are able to add significant value to a business throughout its life cycle."

Prior to joining SVB, Brady served as the director of investor relations for Siemens AG, where he was responsible for all aspects of investor communications in North America. Before that, Brady was an acquisition director in the Strategic Planning Group at Siemens Corporation, and served as a managing director of Siemens Acceleration USA, which is the early stage venture capital arm of Siemens.

Brady has also worked at 3i in London and Palo Alto, where he was a director, investing in a number of technology businesses, including ActiveCard (ACTI), Bitfone (acquired by HP), Raw Communications (acquired by Thomson Financial) and Winery Exchange. Prior to his work in finance, Brady worked in the Internet and media industry, was part of the UK launch team for ZDNet in 1995, a sales manager for Yahoo! UK when it launched in 1996 and an executive at Ziff-Davis and EMAP Plc.

Brady holds an honors degree from Kingston University, an MBA from Cranfield University and he is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. Brady served as chairman of the NVCA's Corporate Venture Group from 2006-2007.

About SVB Financial Group

For 25 years, SVB Financial Group and its subsidiaries, including Silicon Valley Bank, have been dedicated to helping entrepreneurs succeed. SVB Financial Group is a financial holding company that serves companies in the technology, life science, venture capital/private equity and premium wine industries. Offering diversified financial services through Silicon Valley Bank, SVB Analytics, SVB Capital, SVB Global and SVB Private Client Services, SVB Financial Group provides clients with commercial, investment, international and private banking services. The company also offers funds management, broker-dealer transactions and asset management, as well as the added value of its knowledge and networks worldwide. Headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., SVB Financial Group (Nasdaq: SIVB) operates through 27 offices in the U.S. and international operations in China, India, Israel and the United Kingdom. More information on the company can be found at www.svb.com.

Find SVB on Facebook and Twitter.

Banking services are provided by Silicon Valley Bank, a member of the FDIC and the Federal Reserve System. SVB Private Client Services is a division of Silicon Valley Bank. SVB Financial Group is also a member of the Federal Reserve System.

    CONTACT:  Carrie Merritt
              503-574-3705
              cmerritt@svb.com

SOURCE SVB Financial Group

http://www.svb.com

"It certainly is a tough economy but we have been able to increase profitability while building our reserves," said President and CEO Mark Francis. "The support we have from the community is very gratifying."

"Golden Valley Bank continues its solid steady profitability even in this difficult economic environment," states GVB Board Chairman Robert Harp. Mr. Harp further states, "Golden Valley Bank has very loyal customers and outstanding employees that make the Bank successful."

Golden Valley Bank is a locally owned and operated commercial bank serving the needs of individuals and businesses in northern California. The Bank has a full service office in Chico, California and a Loan Production Office in Redding, California. For more information regarding the bank please call at (530) 894-1000.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements concerning future performance, developments or events, expectations for growth and income forecasts, and any other guidance on future periods, constitute forward-looking statements that are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results are pre-fiscal year-end audit and may differ materially from stated expectations. Specific factors include, but are not limited to, loan production, balance sheet management, expanded net interest margin, the ability to control costs and expenses, interest rate changes and financial policies of the United States government and general economic conditions. The Bank disclaims any obligation to update any such factors.

SOURCE: Golden Valley Bank

Golden Valley Bank 
Mark Francis, 530-894-4920 
mfrancis@goldenvalleybank.com