Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/269131 
Year of Publication: 
2022
Series/Report no.: 
ECB Working Paper No. 2724
Publisher: 
European Central Bank (ECB), Frankfurt a. M.
Abstract: 
This paper studies for the first time the links between interbank liability and equity markets (financial exposure), and mergers and acquisitions (M&As) in the European banking sector, both at the micro and macro level. Using a binary logit model, the paper first examines - at the micro level - how financial exposures between banks affect the probability of M&A. It finds that financial interlinkages significantly increase the chances of them taking place. Using a gravity model, the paper then investigates - at the macro level - whether the micro results hold. Not only do financial links are positively and significantly correlated with the number of M&As between countries, but they are also a better predictor than trade - traditionally used in the macro literature on M&A. Since the Capital Market Union would help to geographically diversify banks' portfolio, it would therefore also foster cross-border M&As. Finally, the paper builds a M&A compatibility index for each pair of EU countries. The study highlights strong M&As prospects linked to high financial interlinkages in core Europe, which could be the sign of a future asymmetrical financial integration in the EU.
Subjects: 
Bank consolidation
financial exposure
logit model
gravity model
JEL: 
G21
G34
F21
F34
F36
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
ISBN: 
978-92-899-5311-5
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.