We investigate the character of the market for corporate control (i.e. takeovers) in French and German banking. The key feature of this character is the marked ability of French and German banks to resist unsolicited takeover bids, especially - although not exclusively- those from foreign...

This paper examines the process of refocusing on core competencies by large French and German firms. I compare two theories of comparative corporate governance on the question of refocusing: functional convergence and national institutionalist perspective. The empirical evidence presented in...