Determinants of merger and acquisition in the banking sector: an empirical study

Purpose - This study aims to determine the factors affecting the merger and acquisition (M&A) process in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) banking sector. It distinguishes between internal and external factors that may motivate M&A activities in the banking sector. Design/methodology/approach - This study adopts quantitative research and a survey strategy for data collection. A model was developed using a survey e-mailed to 500 bankers to gather data on the factors affecting the banking sector’s M&A. Findings - This study’s findings provide strong empirical evidence for factors extracted by the factor analysis (Income, Growth, Costs, Survival, Diversifications, Security and Risk and Legal), which are important in determining the consolidation process leading to successful M&A in the banking industry. This study also contributes to the business combinations and consolidation literature by explaining the important factors in measuring the bank’s performance during the M&A process. Research limitations/implications - Future studies could be directed in many directions. First, the authors extend the study to other GCC countries and examine whether the determinants of banks’ M&A are similar across markets. Second, the authors examine additional nonfinancial bank-specific characteristics, such as management incentives and corporate governance or additional market characteristics. Third, the authors examine the motives for acquisitions of foreign banks by UAE banks and vice versa. There may be much to learn about how acquisition motives are likely to differ. Practical implications - The findings can help bank managers know if their banks have developed the same profile or factors similar to typical target banks. The theoretical understanding of the importance of this study in creating an environment of trust that governs the behavior of bankers for both banks will reduce the agency issue. Regarding general management, this study indicates that opportunistic behaviors could interest banks, bankers’ associations, central banks, governments, other financial authorities and policymakers. Therefore, this study paves the way for further investigation of mergers, agency theory and ethics issues. These banks’ owners, managers and regulators were also advised to consider these factors in formulating their policies and processes, given their influence on performance and their ability to manage the relationship between banks and improve the efficiency of the UAE banking sector. Originality/value - This study provides new perspectives concerning motives leading financial institutions to M&A owing to banks’ decisions to improve their financial positions, coupled with the need to obey pressures of macro factors such as economic, legal and political systems, government and technology.