The Patterns of Cross-Border Bank Mergers and Shareholdings in OECD Countries

33 Pages Posted: 27 Feb 2002

See all articles by Dario Focarelli

Dario Focarelli

ANIA - Italian Association of Insurance Companies; Catholic University of Milan

Alberto F. Pozzolo

Roma Tre University

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Abstract

In recent years there has been a surge in mergers and aquisitions in all sectors of economic activity. Cross-border operations have followed this trend, creating global companies operating in all major world markets. In this paper we study the pattern of cross-border M&As in the banking industry relative to the non-financial sector of the economy and investigate which factors make it more likely that a bank will expand its ctivities abroad. We find that cross-border M&As are rarer in banking than in other sectors, possibly owing to the importance of information asymmetries in banking relationships and to egulatory restrictions. Using data on almost 2,500 banks from 29 OECD countries, we also show that the most significant features of banks with foreign equity interests relate to efficiency: banks with cross-border shareholdings are on average larger, more profitable, and based in countries with a more highly developed banking market.

Keywords: Foreign direct investment, International banking, Cross-border M&As

JEL Classification: F21, F23, G21, G34

Suggested Citation

Focarelli, Dario and Pozzolo, Alberto F., The Patterns of Cross-Border Bank Mergers and Shareholdings in OECD Countries. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=301643 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.301643

Dario Focarelli (Contact Author)

ANIA - Italian Association of Insurance Companies ( email )

Via di San Nicola da Tolentino, 72
Rome, 00187
Italy
+39.06.32688619 (Phone)
+39.06.91622570 (Fax)

Catholic University of Milan ( email )

Largo Gemelli 1
Milan, MI Milano 20123
Italy

HOME PAGE: http://https://docenti.unicatt.it/ppd2/it/#/it/docenti/71049/dario-focarelli/profilo

Alberto F. Pozzolo

Roma Tre University ( email )

Via Ostiense 163
Roma, RM 00154
Italy

HOME PAGE: http://www.uniroma3.it/

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
1,013
Abstract Views
3,706
Rank
41,342
PlumX Metrics