Why Do Banks Merge?

Abstract

The most successful European banks responded to the changing competitive environment by expanding through internally generated growth or M&As. All largest European banks have actively taken part in the consolidation process over the last decade and the number and value of big M&A deals constantly increased. Mergers and Acquisitions (M&As) deals are usually based on the belief that gains can accrue via reduction in expenses and earning volatility and increases in market power and scale and scope of economies (Kiymaz 2004). The M&A causes have been usually classified according to various criteria.