Abstract
Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) have evolved as a tactical instrument for consolidating Financial Institutions and Banks in India, aiming to strengthen the capital base, extend business operations, and ensure financial stability, as part of the government’s initiative to fortify the banking system, enhance its efficiency, and provide robust financial services. The mega-merger announcement on August 30, 2019, led to the amalgamation of ten public sector banks into four major banks. This research investigates the impact of mergers on the financial health of four bidder banks involved in the mega-merger from 2016–17 to 2022–23, utilizing standard accounting ratios, paired sample t-test, and an overall performance average analysis. The three years prior to and three years after the merger are compared in the study for accounting-based effectiveness. The investigation discovers a combined effect of mergers on overall financial performance ratios. Notably, Punjab National Bank demonstrates momentous improvements in ‘Capital Adequacy Ratio’ and ‘Total Loan to Total Deposit Ratio’. Canara Bank notably impacts ‘Debt-to-Equity Ratio’ and ‘Non-Performing Loans to Total Loans’. Concurrently, the Union Bank of India observes a significant effect on the ‘Debt-to-Equity Ratio’, while the Indian Bank exhibits a substantial change in ‘Capital Adequacy Ratio’ between the pre- and post-M&A time span.
Keywords: Financial Ratios, Leverage, Liquidity, Mega-merger, Profitability, Wealth of Shareholders.