Banking Sector

Nigeria’s Average Banking Return on Equities (ROEs) to Hit 21 Percent – McKinsey & Company

Published

2 years ago

December 3, 2021

The financial services industry is surviving the economic ravages of COVID-19 better than expected, but banks are quickly splitting into “rock star” performers and poorly performing laggards. Welcome to the great divergence!, stated McKinsey & Company.

McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting firm, examines how banks fared in the whirlwind of 2020; details the factors that will influence their economic fate in the coming years (such as geography, customer base, scale, and business model); and looks at the forces lifting one set of banks above the rest.

In the 11th edition of McKinsey & Company Global Banking Annual Review 202 report released on December 2, 2021, the financial services industry is said to be trading at 1.3 times equity book value globally while in Africa banks ate trading at 1.0 times, Nigerian banks are trading at 0.4 times equity on the books. See key findings below.

Key 2021 report findings include that:

Financial services as a whole (including banks, fintechs, and specialists) is trading at 1.3 times equity book value globally, well below the remaining sectors at 3.0 times book value. Globally and in Africa, banks are trading at 1.0 times, while Nigerian banks are trading at 0.4 times the equity on their books.

Payments specialists, exchanges, and some securities firms captured more than 50 percent of the $1.9 trillion in market cap that the industry added globally.
The gap between the banking industry’s leaders and laggards, as measured by total return to shareholders (TRS), has steadily widened. In Africa, TRS for the top-quintile performers was 159 basis points higher than the bottom quintile in 2021. This gap has tripled in the past ten years, with most of the divergence happening in the past four years.

The analysis shows that there are four primary sources for the divergence. The first three—geography, scale, and segment focus—are difficult for banks to change. The fourth—business model—is well within banks’ power to adapt, and our analysis found that banks with capital-light and specialized businesses focused on fees typically thrive. Weak performers can catch up, but time is short. Two-thirds of the value generated (valuations/market cap) during an entire economic recovery cycle is created during the first two years after a crisis.

“In Africa, average banking return on equities (ROEs) dipped from 15 percent in 2019 to 9 percent in 2020, a steeper fall than global ROEs. The industry is set for a recovery that could put African banking ROEs at between 13 and 15 percent by 2025. In Nigeria, average ROEs dropped from 20 percent to 18 percent between 2019 and 2020, and are expected to recover to between 19 and 21 percent,” said Mayowa Kuyoro, a Partner in McKinsey’s Lagos office.

Overall, fintechs and specialized financial-services providers—in payments, consumer finance, or wealth management—are generating higher valuation multiples than most global universal banks. This is no different in Africa. Over the last 12 months, we have witnessed some of these institutions achieve valuations that have been higher than universal banks. Some fintechs are going from a rough sketch to billion-dollar valuation in a few years.

There is a significant competitive advantage linked to scale. In Africa, the top three largest banks in each country are on average 10 points more cost-efficient than the rest of the market. Banks often can’t change their geography, scale, or segment, but the business model they adopt is in their control. Yet many traditional banks have pursued a commoditized universal bank business model based on retail deposits and corporate lending.

According to the report, African banking is now more profitable, and revenues are expected to grow faster than the rest of the global industry with an average growth rate of between 7 and 9 percent.

“We are seeing an accelerating divergence of returns between top and bottom African banking players,” said Francois Jurd de Girancourt, Head of McKinsey’s Banking Practice in Africa. “Winners are benefiting from the great divergence in three ways: (i) by focusing on customer ownership—leveraging technology to increase contacts points and leveraging customer data to personalize offers; (ii) by growing the fee part of the business on the continent—leveraging consumer and merchant payments, corporate transaction banking services and wealth products; and (iii) by deploying the balance sheet outside of their traditional customer base—lending to the unbanked/low-data consumers and SMEs, and offering new products, e.g., through apps and wallets.”

The next few years are crucial for any African bank with aspirations to land on the right side of the divergence described in this year’s report. Not only is there simply no value to waiting, but also history shows a pattern in which institutions that take bold steps toward growth in the first years after a crisis generally hold on to those gains for the longer term.

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Banking Sector

Adesola Adeduntan’s Early Departure Prompts First Bank Holdings to Scrap Capital Raise Plans

Published

6 hours ago

April 20, 2024

Samed Olukoya

First Bank Holdings Plc has decided to scrap its plans for capital raise following the early departure of its Managing Director, Adesola Adeduntan.

The decision to cancel the extraordinary general meeting (EGM), which was planned to discuss the proposed N300 billion capital raise, comes amidst Adeduntan’s resignation from his role, eight months before the scheduled expiration of his tenure.

The bank formally announced the cancellation of the EGM in a filing seen by Investors King on Friday.

The meeting, which was initially scheduled to be held virtually on April 30, 2024, aimed to seek authorization from the company’s members for the capital raise and address other related matters.

Adeduntan’s resignation, announced on the same day as the cancellation of the EGM, comes as a result of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s tenure requirements affecting bank executives.

In his retirement letter addressed to the Chairman of First Bank, Adeduntan expressed gratitude for the support received during his stewardship and highlighted the strides made by the bank during his tenure.

He stated, “During this period, the bank and its subsidiaries have undergone significant changes and broken new grounds. We have repositioned the institution as an enviable financial giant in Africa.”

Adeduntan further mentioned his decision to pursue other interests, prompting his early retirement effective April 20, 2024.

The cancellation of the capital raise plans shows the impact of Adeduntan’s departure on the bank’s strategic initiatives.

It reflects a shift in priorities for First Bank Holdings as it navigates leadership changes and seeks to chart a new course for its future direction.

Banking Sector

First Bank MD, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, Resigns to Pursue New Opportunities

Published

7 hours ago

April 20, 2024

Samed Olukoya

Dr. Adesola Adeduntan - FirstBank CEO - Investors King

Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, the Managing Director of First Bank Nigeria Limited, has announced his resignation from the bank after nine years of leadership.

In a letter addressed to the Chairman of First Bank, Mr. Tunde Hassan-Odukale, Dr. Adeduntan expressed his decision to step down voluntarily, effective April 20, 2024, to pursue new opportunities.

Having served as the CEO since January 1, 2016, Dr. Adeduntan’s tenure has been marked by significant transformations within the institution. Under his leadership, First Bank and its subsidiaries have undergone substantial changes, positioning the bank as a formidable financial powerhouse in Africa.

In his resignation letter, Dr. Adeduntan highlighted the achievements made during his tenure, stating, “We have repositioned the institution as an enviable financial giant in Africa.”

He expressed gratitude to the board of directors of First Bank and FBN Holdings Plc for their support throughout his stewardship.

Dr. Adeduntan’s decision to resign comes as he approaches the end of his contract, which was set to expire on December 31, 2024.

He stated, “After which I would no longer be eligible for employment within the bank.” Despite his departure, he wished the institution continued success and progress in its evolution.

Throughout his career in banking and finance spanning over three decades, Dr. Adeduntan has been recognized for his contributions and received numerous awards.

He holds a Doctor of Science, Honoris Causa, and an MBA from Cranfield University, United Kingdom, and is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN).

Dr. Adeduntan’s departure marks the end of an era for First Bank, as the institution prepares to transition into a new phase of its evolution.

His leadership has left a lasting legacy of transformation and growth, and his contributions will be remembered in the annals of the bank’s history.

Banking Sector

UBA America Strengthens Commercial Diplomacy, Hosts Diplomats, Others at World Bank Summit

Published

1 day ago

April 19, 2024

Samed Olukoya

UBA America, the United States subsidiary of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc hosted diplomats, government officials and business leaders to a networking reception in partnership with the esteemed Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU) and the U.S. Department of States in Washington DC on Monday .

The event which was held on the sidelines of the ongoing IMF World Bank Spring Meetings was organised by the BCIU and US Department of State to enhance collaboration and fortify commercial diplomacy among nations, institutions and individuals.

Speaking during the event, UBA’s Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Alawuba, noted that the bank’s co-hosting of the event via its American subsidiary, underscores its commitment towards cultivating robust relationships within the development communities in the United States.

He said, “As a distinguished member of BCIU, a non-profit organisation providing customised commercial diplomacy services, UBA Group and UBA America share BCIU’s vision of actively pursuing strategic opportunities, contributing to global economic cooperation, deepening of economic diplomacy, facilitating ideas, forging partnerships, and adding value for all stakeholders.”.

“Our resolve to co-host this Networking Reception symbolises our dedication to fostering inclusive economic growth and partnership across borders. By leveraging platforms like this, we can collectively address shared challenges and seize opportunities for sustainable development,” he stated further.

BCIU is a non-profit Association comprising of policy experts, strategic advisors, and trade educators, and offers bespoke commercial diplomacy services to the world’s governments and leading organisations, from Fortune 100 companies to global investors and multilateral institutions.

Only last year, the CEO UBA America, Sola Yomi-Ajayi, was appointed to the Board of BCIU, where she collaborates with fellow board members to ensure the organisation operates in alignment with its by-laws and New York 501(c)3 non-profit legislation.

Yomi-Ajayi has been committed to nurturing long-term organisational growth and sustainability, thereby reinforcing the bond between UBA America, BCIU, and the broader international community.

UBA America is the United States subsidiary of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, one of Africa’s leading financial institutions with presence in 20 African countries, as well as in the United Kingdom, France, and the United Arab Emirates. UBA America serves as a vital link between Africa and the global financial markets, offering a range of banking services tailored to meet the needs of individuals, businesses, and institutions.

As the only sub-Saharan African bank with an operational banking license in the U.S., UBA America is uniquely positioned to provide corporate banking services to North American institutions doing business with or in Africa.

UBA America delivers treasury, trade finance, and correspondent banking solutions to sovereign and central banks, financial institutions, SMEs, foundations, and multilateral and development organizations. Leveraging its knowledge, capacity, and unique position as part of an international banking group, the Bank seeks to provide exceptional value to our customers around the world.