CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
A sound and competent banking sector is essential for a stable macroeconomic environment, therefore, the importance of commercial banks in a country cannot be overemphasized, because they occupy key positions in a country’s financial system and are essential agents that would lead to the growth of any economy (Oloye & Osuma, 2015). Commercial banks also act as the agents of financial intermediation within a country by moving funds between the surplus and the deficit sectors within an economy and they facilitate the implementation of monetary policies. Banks mobilize and facilitate the efficient allocation of national savings, thereby increasing the quantum of investments and hence national output (Afolabi, 2004). Through financial intermediation; banks facilitate capital formation (investment) and promote economic growth (Olagunju & Adebayo, 2012). Prequel to the above statements, commercial banks have experienced a lot of banking hardship, especially between the decade (1993-2003) which was tagged the era of bank distress which became a source of concern not only to the regulatory bodies (Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Commission etc.) but also to the general public and the policy analyst.
Therefore, there was a need for the overhaul of the Nigerian banking sector in order to restore the already dying confidence of the general public and other foreign investors who could not sleep with their two eyes closed as a result of the weak financial system that Nigeria operated. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as a regulatory body came up with the recapitalization and consolidation exercise in the banking industry under the leadership of the then governor of CBN Professor Charles Soludo who called on banks to increase their paid-up capital through public offers or corporate restructuring exercise (mergers and acquisition) with the view of eradicating the expansion bottlenecks, volatility between the deposit and lending rates and some other constraints faced by the banks. This made some of the commercial banks to consider Merger and Acquisition as a survival strategy. This reform was announced by Professor Chukwuma Soludo on July 6th 2004 that the Nigerian commercial banks should beef up their minimum capital base from N2billion to N25 billion on or before 31st December 2005, with the major objective of creating a sound and a more secure banking system which will strengthen our financial system that depositors can trust. This will enhance the operational capital base of the Nigerian banks. A total of 89 commercial banks were in existence in Nigeria before the announcement in 2004.
According to CBN report, 25 banks emerged at the end of the consolidation exercise from the previous 89 banks, while 14 banks liquidated. The 14 banks under liquidation include: Fortune Bank, Gulf Bank, Liberty Bank, Triumph Bank, Metropolitan Bank, Trade Bank, Afex Bank, City Express Bank, Eagle Bank, Societe Generale Bank of Nigeria, Assurance Bank, All State Trust Bank, Hallmark Bank and Lead Bank. The number of banks further declined to 24 in 2007 following the market induced merger of IBTC Chartered Bank PLC with Stanbic Bank Ltd. Merger and acquisition as a means of corporate restructuring exercise have been known to provide some forms of economic and financial benefits such as; economies of scale, risk diversification, ability to compete locally and internationally with other banks (John & Acha, 2012).
1.2 Statement of Problem
A strong and virile economy depends to a very large extent on a robust, stable and reliable financial system, particularly the banking sector. With the successful recapitalization exercise, commercial banks in Nigeria were expected to be virile and optimally efficient. But how far the exercise has made commercial banks in Nigeria to be virile, sound, strong and efficient so as to maximise their contribution to the growth of the economy is not very clear. It is in the light of the above that this study seeks to evaluate the effects of mergers and acquisitions on the growth banks in Nigeria.
1.3 Research Questions
Based on the problems identified above, the following research questions were raised for the study; i. Is there any significant difference between Nigerian banks’ capital adequacy before and after merger or acquisition? ii. Is there any significant difference between Nigerian banks’ return on performing loan before and after merger or acquisition? iii. Is there any significant difference between Nigerian banks’ return on assets before and after merger or acquisition?
