History of Investment Banking in Nigeria

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Investment banking might not be as popular as it used to be but it

remains a crucial part of the financial system, especially in Nigeria.

Just like commercial banks serve their own designated function that is

depositing and lending funds, investment banks play a critical role in

the economy of Nigeria. This article is about the history of

investment banking in Nigeria. Here you will find what investment

banking is about and how this sector of banking has developed in

Nigeria.









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Functions of investment banks in Nigeria

Investment banks act as intermediaries between security issuers and investors.

Investment banks arrange for mergers and acquisition of companies when

such consolidations become necessary by listing shares of companies

for sale

Investment banks facilitate bond sales for the federal government

Investment banks help organizations, corporations and government in

raising financial capital, by acting as the client’s agent

Investment banks also act as asset managers

Investment banks engage in market and equity research for higher

returns on investments

Investment banks act as financial advisors for private corporations

and governments on investments and transactions



Investment banks are the major participants in the financial market,

they act as intermediaries between the companies that want to sell

shares, and the investors or buyers of financial securities.

Investment banks earn their income through advisory fees and

commissions on transactions made for the government and other

organizations or companies. Investment banks basically operate in

capital markets, both in Nigeria and internationally. That is why upon

the collapse of the capital market and after the 2008 economic

meltdown, investment banks were the ones most affected. After the

crisis, investment banks became less lucrative as it used to be.

However, it still remains the best form of banking with its huge

capital investments and returns.



History of Investment banking



Before the advent of investment banking in Nigeria, there was another

form of banking called merchant banking which had been around in

Nigeria for a longer period of time. There is not much difference

between merchant banking and investment banking. As you have seen

earlier with the functions of investment banks, merchant banks also

provide funds and advisory services to organizations. Merchant banks

were originally set up to finance traders that is merchants. However,

with the later incoming of investment banks, the scope would later

expand with time.



From 1980 to mid-nineties, merchant banks were popular in Nigeria.

Activities of merchant banks were limited to assisting corporations

and governments in raising capital. They also were involved in

conducting a few mergers and acquisition activities.







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In the early eighties, Michael Subomi Balogun, a lawyer-turned-veteran

banker, started First City Merchant Bank. The bank, alongside others

like NAL Merchant Bank, later become the leading provider of merchant

banking services in Nigeria.



In 2000, when universal banking policy was implemented by the Central

Bank of Nigeria, First City Merchant bank obtained universal banking

license and rebranded to First City Monument Bank. This rebranding

also came with it becoming primarily a commercial bank, although still

retaining merchant/investment banking operations. This is because the

Universal banking license allows a bank to engage in all forms of

banking under a single license.



In 1989, a young man called Peterside Atedo who was born in Rivers

state- had come back from the United Kingdom where he had studied

Economics at the City University, London and the London School of

Economics and Political Science. He had been exposed to how investment

banking is done abroad. When he came, he saw that investment banking

in Nigeria was still primitive and realized it could be a fertile

opportunity for business. He set up a company he named Investment

Banking and Trust Company (IBTC). This was also around the time

licenses were issued to new commercial banks such as:

Zenith Bank founded by Jim Ovia







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Intercontinental Bank founded by Erastus Akingbola



Guaranty Trust Bank founded by Fola Adeola



Commerce Bank founded by Femi Adekanye



These banks were set up by equally young Nigerians who had worked in

other banks and decided to establish their own banks. Atedo decided to

be different and hence, looked the way of investment banking.



He began with a small office in Marina. Atedo gathered a couple of

other young professionals and started what would later become the

leading investment banking institution in Nigeria. The watchword of

the Investment Banking and Trust Company (IBTC) was integrity and

professionalism. By the end of the 20th century. the company had grown

to become the reference point of modern investment banking in Nigeria.

Its activities included merger and acquisition activities for

corporations and governments in raising capital and for other

restructuring exercises.



Banking Reform of 2004 and its effect on investment banking in Nigeria



The banking reform of 2004 by the Central bank of Nigeria focused on

bank consolidation through the mechanism of merger and acquisition.

This resulted in the rebasing of commercial banks from ₦2 billion to

₦25 billion which meant banks needed to have that amount before

going on with operations. The existing commercial banks were 89 at the

time, it then reduced to 25. In 2003, Investment Banking and Trust

Company (IBTC) was listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. The

consolidation policy at the time saw the company merge with Chartered

bank, a commercial bank. The enlarged IBTC-Chartered Bank was later

acquired by Standard Bank of South Africa and was rebranded as

StanbicIBTC.







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Today, the list of Investment Banks in Nigeria includes:Access Bank

Afribank

Associated Investment Trust Microfinance Bank Limited

Bank of Industry

Bank PHB

Bauchi Investment Corporation Limited

Central Bank of Nigeria

Citibank

Diamond Bank

Ecobank

Equitorial Trust Bank

Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria

Fidelity Bank

FinBank

First Bank of Nigeria QUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT

FIRST CITY MONUMENT BANK PLC

Guaranty Trust Bank

Intercontinental Bank

Mainstreet Corporate Banking

Oceanic Bank

Savannah Bank

Skye Bank

Société Générale Bank of Nigeria

Spring Bank

Stanbic IBTC Bank PLC

Standard Chartered Bank

Sterling Bank

Union Bank of Nigeria

United Bank for Africa

Unity Bank

Urban Development Bank of Nigeria

Wema Bank

Zenith Bank

















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