Business
Standard Bank Targets Troubled Banks For Acquisition
Standard Bank Group Limited is currently looking at the nation’s ailing financial system with a view to acquiring more banks in order to expand its operation within the West African regional market.
This development followed continued crash in the price of banks’ equity and the reform programme of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) that has put the nation’s banking system in better shape.
Erik Larsen, the bank’s spokesman, said that the current situation in Nigeria has presented good opportunities for them to expand their operation within the West Coast. “Standard Bank Group is watching developments with interest and Nigeria remains a key strategic market for standard bank”, he said, adding that the bank would soon move to achieve this noble objective.
It would be recalled that the nation’s banking crisis began in August when the CBN fired eight chief executive officers and injected N620 billion into the banks to boost their capital base. Banking shares extended falls recently after Intercontinental Bank Plc and Oceanic Bank International Plc reported heavy losses in their last financial year.
Razia Khan, head of Africa research at Standard Chartered Bank noted that rivals in the U.S., the U.K., South Africa and Nigeria will not be “blind” to buying opportunities in Nigeria following the losses and stock price declines.
According to her “the largest banks will probably still be Nigerian but, for South Africa, Nigeria offers a big prize, because South Africa has the appetite to do more in Africa’s second – largest economy.
Foreign banks, such as Citigroup Inc and Barclays Plc will also be watching.
John storey, analyst with Bank of America-Merrill Lynch, said in a note recently that South African banks, in particular First Rand, Absa and Standard Bank, have expressed a strong interest to acquire and further expand operations in Nigeria.
He said that “our base case is actual mergers and acquisitions will be slow to materialise but aggressive posturing could drive a re-rating.”
Louis Zeuner, deputy chief executive officer ABSA Group Limited said recently that the lender is “not involved in any discussions in Nigeria” and that having a representative office in the West African country is “adequate”.
First Rand Ltd, South Africa’s second-largest banking group, did not immediately respond to questions. The lender said in September this year that it is keen on participating in any consolidation.
Concerns about the asset quality of Nigeria’s banks will dominate storey’s investment view in 2010, he said. Impairement charges will not “normalise” next year, he wrote, adding that banks usually take 24 months to fully recover from a crisis.
Guaranty Trust Bank Plc is storey’s top pick in Nigeria, “we see Guaranty Trust Bank as the best-in-class bank within Nigeria that provides exposure to upside surprises to the oil and macro-economic story.
Zenith Bank, United Bank for Africa, Guaranty and First Bank are the four largest banks in Nigeria by market capitalisation and appear well-placed to gain market share in a consolidated sector.
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Blue Economy: Minister Seeks Lifeline In Blue Bond Amid Budget Squeeze

Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy is seeking new funding to implement its ambitious 10-year policy, with officials acknowledging that public funding is insufficient for the scale of transformation envisioned.
Adegboyega Oyetola, said finance is the “lever that will attract long-term and progressive capital critical” and determine whether the ministry’s goals take off.
“Resources we currently receive from the national budget are grossly inadequate compared to the enormous responsibility before the ministry and sector,” he warned.
He described public funding not as charity but as “seed capital” that would unlock private investment adding that without it, Nigeria risks falling behind its neighbours while billions of naira continue to leak abroad through freight payments on foreign vessels.
He said “We have N24.6 trillion in pension assets, with 5 percent set aside for sustainability, including blue and green bonds,” he told stakeholders. “Each time green bonds have been issued, they have been oversubscribed. The money is there. The question is, how do you then get this money?”
The NGX reckons that once incorporated into the national budget, the Debt Management Office could issue the bonds, attracting both domestic pension funds and international investors.
Yet even as officials push for creative financing, Oloruntola stressed that the first step remains legislative.
“Even the most innovative financial tools and private investments require a solid public funding base to thrive.
It would be noted that with government funding inadequate, the ministry and capital market operators see bonds as alternative financing.
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