Global financial services continue to navigate turbulent waters in 2023. Across the world, this has a significant impact on M&A activities. Even though the ongoing uncertainties loom heavily on financial organizations, M&A continues to be a critical tool for transformation in the industry.
This mid-year update on the ever-evolving M&A landscape in the financial services sector brings you a comprehensive insight into global trends. This edition delves into the key dynamics shaping the financial services industry during the first half of 2023.
Navigating Choppy Waters: A Turbulent Start to 2023
The financial services sector has been struggling amidst a challenging start to the year. Central banks around the world, including the Bank of England, the European Central Bank, and the US Federal Reserve, spiked interest rates in an effort to combat soaring inflation. A series of bank failures added to the woes, intensifying the disturbed waters in the market. These events had their implications beyond the banking sector, affecting the financial services industry as a whole.
Naturally, organizations in the financial services domain find themselves at a crossroads, encountering a plethora of challenges in the macroeconomic environment. In the first half of 2023, they seemed to grapple with stringent regulatory pressures.
Besides, there were mounting concerns about environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors. Then the disruptive forces in the fintech domain, including embedded finance continued to be a concern. Generative AI further introduced several new use cases, further complicating the scenario.
Amidst such a situation, the urgency of these companies to transform their ESG, digitization, and portfolio optimization has never been more pressing.
M&A Serves as a Catalyst for Transformation
As global businesses in the financial services sector brace up for a transformation, mergers and acquisitions continue to act as a catalyst. The heavily regulated nature of the financial service sector presents organizations with unique challenges. Even successful efforts for transformation turn out to be demanding.
This justifies why companies in this vertical look forward to leveraging smaller acquisitions to bolster their capabilities. This way, they can find themselves on the growth trajectory once again. Considering the current economic environment, their organic growth faces formidable hurdles.
Naturally, companies are seeking M&A transaction advisory services to streamline their operations and get their business models recalibrated.
Banking and Capital Markets in Focus
Prioritizing M&A in the banking and capital markets sector, recent developments in the industry have some far-reaching implications in the US and other countries. The broader macroeconomic challenges that accompany the failures of three banks in the US further mount pressure on small and medium-sized banks. This brings about the scope for further consolidation in the coming months.
While spikes in interest rates fetch them more income through interest, they remain exposed to the risk of valuation loss. This justifies the pressing need for banks to continually evaluate their liquidity and adjust the interest rate to manage risks.
The overall resilience of the banking sector comes under question with low liquidity levels, mismatches in the balance sheet, loss of confidence among consumers, and capital vulnerabilities.
With regulatory measures intensifying about risk management, further consolidation is on the cards. This is particularly applicable for regional banks looking forward to scaling up and manages operational risks.
A New Era of Due Diligence
Expect More Restructurings
Banks have been prompted by the current market environment to check their lending volumes. This can ease the financial challenges they have been facing. Commercial real estate and other sectors are already under stress. This has been adversely affecting the credit quality on the balance sheets of financial institutions.
As a response, we anticipate that banks will explore portfolio transactions to divest non-performing loans and non-core assets. This can go a long way in strengthening their balance sheets and improving capital ratios.
