The core function of a commercial bank is the provision of credit facilities to its customers and to keep the flow and cycle of economic and financial resources balanced. Banks can only perform these functions if they are well regulated and efficient. The main focus of this study is to analyse the efficiency of African banks, most importantly after the 2008 global financial crisis when the Basel III regulations were popularly adopted by banks globally. The research focus was examined in two ways, the first part focused on investigating the impact of the Basel III capital regulations on the operational and investment efficiency of African banks by using the random effects and pooled ordinary least square panel data regression models. The second part examined if the African banks are indeed efficient by analysing their level of efficiency using the input-oriented DEA approach. The study used audited bank-level data from 45 listed banks operating in six African nations, namely, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Malawi, that have adopted the Basel III Accord for the period from 2010 to 2019. The bank-level data were obtained from the IRESS database. The findings revealed that capital buffer premiums significantly affect the operating and investment efficiency of African banks positively. This relationship implies that the capital buffer premium does not only serve as cushion capital against financial, market and economic shocks but also improves the banks’ efficiency by influencing the banks’ decisions and perspective on cost containment strategies. Another key finding is the positive influence the liquidity coverage ratio has on banks’ operational efficiency. The implication of this relationship may simply mean that African banks with well-performing liquidity ratios are efficient in their operations with the ability to meet their short-term obligations such as meeting customers’ credit needs, unannounced depositors’ withdrawals and creditors’ repayments, amongst others. This result could well be interpreted that adopting stricter liquidity requirements creates a liquidity buffer for African banks, giving them cushion confidence to undertake profitable and high-yielding projects, which invariably lead to increased profitability and operational efficiency. Furthermore, the DEA results showed that the sampled banks are operationally efficient with an aggregate of 84.8%, and for their investment efficiency, an aggregate of 94.9%. These findings suggest that African banks are largely efficient and can survive any possible financial or economic crisis. It can be put forward that it is probable that banks that are yet to adopt the Basel III Accord or strengthen their capital and liquidity base, are less efficient and might fail during a global crisis. The current work suggests some appropriate policy-based recommendations.

Financial institutions, particularly banks, have long grappled with the dilemma of structuring their capital optimally. This process, commonly referred to as capital structure decision-making, is of paramount importance, especially within the financial services sector, where strict regulations are imposed by reserve and central banks in alignment with global Basel guidelines. This study unveils the key factors that determine the capital structure choices of African banks, using panel data encompassing 45 listed banks across six nations that had embraced the Basel III Accord spanning the years 2010 to 2019. The study used the system-generalised moment methods (sys-GMM) estimator to fit the formulated panel data regression model. The study findings showed positive associations between ZSCORE, an indicator of bank financial stability, and net interest margin ratio (NIMR) with bank leverage (TCTE). In addition, the results revealed positive correlations between earnings volatility (EV), profitability (P), and risk (R) with bank leverage (TDCE). This suggests that profitable banks are inclined to favour debt financing, a phenomenon driven by their ability to comfortably service debt obligations with free cash flows. This study’s overarching conclusion underscores the dominant influence of the Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) on African bank capital structures. Whether assessing traditional or Basel III-prescribed measures of bank leverage, LCR consistently emerged as the primary determinant. This finding is of significant relevance to bank executives and regulators, offering them essential insights for informed decision-making by considering striking a balance between equity and debt financing based on financial stability, profitability, and risk profiles.

This paper investigates green investments in energy and mining firms in South Africa to determine the efficiency level in terms of overinvestment and underinvestment. The general Richardson residual measurement model is employed, and an enhanced model is created by including variables that influence green investment, such as political connections and pollutant emissions. Data from 17 companies (5 energy and 12 mining) were used because of the significant effects of their operations on the environment over the period between 2015 and 2022. The study findings show that, in comparison to the estimated optimal investment level, South African energy and mining firms are not consistent regarding their investment level. It interplays between underinvestment and overinvestment. However, both firms demonstrated the tendency to green investment inefficiency due to underinvestment recorded in the latter years of the sample period. The study provides understanding as regards green investment levels of energy and mining firms and hence recommends adequate oversight and formulation of environmental policy by the government to ensure green investment efficiency in line with both national and international policies and regulations to facilitate a sustainable environment.

Orientation: The decision to have an optimum mix of capital structure is an issue of concern for financial service firms as much as other firms.Research purpose: The study investigated the impact of the Basel III regulatory requirements and other bank-specific factors on African banks’ capital structure and ascertained which of these factors ultimately determines the capital structure decision.Motivation for the study: There is limited evidence of study conducted on banks’ capital structure determinants within the Basel III Accord framework in Africa.Research approach/design and method: This study employed panel data drawn from 45 listed banks from 6 African nations. The panel data regression model was fitted with the system generalised moment methods estimator.Main findings: The findings revealed that within a similar economic condition in the sampled African nations, the Basel III minimum capital requirements, bank risk and size play the most important role in shaping the observed capital structure decisions of African banks.Practical/managerial implications: The regulators including central and reserve banks of the sampled African nation, and CEOs should keep their leverage ratio within the Basel III leverage ratio threshold to monitor and curb the build-up of excess leverage and also pay significant attention to the minimum capital requirements, bank risk and size in order to have an optimum capital mix.Contribution/value add: The Basel III Accord has significant importance in the financing decisions of African banks as much as the bank-specific factors.

Orientation: The dividend pay-out policy remains one of the key functional areas of corporate finance, more so in that it is through the receipt of dividends that shareholders can at least share in the profits of their investments. Research purpose: Because of the importance of the dividend decision (especially for emerging economies) as well as its possible link to value creation, the present study sought to providing results with recommendations on pay-out policy to improve dividend decision-making and establish a more defined link between dividends and value creation for management and shareholders alike. Motivation for the study: The endeavours of the current study lie in its contribution to the pay-out debate as it taps into a research area that has been explored minimally in emerging markets, yet it is still among the very topical functional areas of financial decisions. Research design, approach and method: The panel data of 110 Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) listed sample companies for the period 2006–2018 were used. The sample was further grouped into value and growth companies. Dynamic panel estimators were used to analyse data. Main findings: The study confirmed results of similar previous research and identified further trends relating to the South African corporate setting. Specifically, the study found that companies have target pay-out ratios, which they adjust towards. Furthermore, managers are reluctant to change (increase) dividends, which may have to be cut again later, and in their endeavour to create and maximise value, they may have to sacrifice paying dividends. These trends are evident more with growth companies. Practical implications: These results mirror those of developed markets. Furthermore, the results present South African financial managers with an enhanced platform to create and maximise value for shareholders, relatively the same way as their counterparts in developed markets. Contribution/value-add: This study includes value-based variables among the explanatory variables. It is submitted that this process will enhance the endeavours of financial managers in creating values for shareholders through dividend pay-out.

Corporate financial policy requires managers to balance financing, investment, and payout decisions while maintaining sufficient financial flexibility to respond to unexpected shocks and investment opportunities. Despite the importance of financial flexibility, limited empirical evidence exists on its determinants in African capital markets. Using panel data from 106 non-financial firms listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange over the period 2000–2019, this study examines the determinants of financial flexibility. Financial flexibility is identified by comparing actual and predicted leverage and classifying firms with persistent spare debt capacity as financially flexible. The main empirical model is estimated as a random-effects linear probability model with heteroscedasticity-robust standard errors. The results show that financial flexibility is significantly negatively associated with leverage and Tobin’s Q, indicating that firms with higher debt levels and stronger growth opportunities are less likely to preserve borrowing capacity. Retained earnings and financing cost show weak negative associations at the 10% significance level, while dividend payout, profitability, cash holdings, and tangibility are statistically insignificant. The study contributes to the corporate finance literature by providing new evidence from an African emerging market context, incorporating payout policy into the financial flexibility framework, and showing how leverage discipline and growth-related financing demands shape firms’ financial flexibility.