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The Corporate Complexity of Global Systemically Important Banks

Author

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  • Carmassi, Jacopo

    (LUISS Guido Carli University)

  • Herring, Richard

    (University of PA)

Abstract

The financial crisis of 2007-2009 revealed that the corporate complexity of most of the Global Systemically Important Banks (G-SIBs) presented a formidable obstacle to any plausible orderly resolution of these institutions. This paper documents the extent of this complexity making use of an historical time series, developed by the authors, that shows the evolution of the number of majority-owned subsidiaries of G-SIBs over time. After a very significant increase in complexity before the crisis and until 2011, this trend may be reversing, possibly in response to regulatory and market pressures on banks since then. Nonetheless the reduction in complexity has been uneven across institutions and may not persist. The econo-metric analysis of this new set of panel data produces two key results with relevant policy implications: first, the relationship found in previous studies between the number of subsidiaries and bank size loses significance when time effects are introduced; second, large mergers and acquisitions are a key driver of complexity and their effect remains significant even when time effects are considered.

Suggested Citation

  • Carmassi, Jacopo & Herring, Richard, 2016. "The Corporate Complexity of Global Systemically Important Banks," Working Papers 16-09, University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School, Weiss Center.
    • Handle: RePEc:ecl:upafin:16-09
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    1. Carmassi, Jacopo & Herring, Richard J., 2015. "Corporate Structures, Transparency and Resolvability of Global Systemically Important Banks," Working Papers 15-10, University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School, Weiss Center.
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    Cited by:

    1. Martynova, Natalya & Vogel, Ursula, 2022. "Banks’ complexity-risk nexus and the role of regulation," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    2. Ka Kei Chan & Alistair Milne, 2019. "The Global Legal Entity Identifier System: How Can It Deliver?," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-29, March.
    3. Aldasoro, Iñaki & Hardy, Bryan & Jager, Maximilian, 2022. "The Janus face of bank geographic complexity," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    4. Argimón, Isabel & Rodríguez-Moreno, María, 2022. "Risk and control in complex banking groups," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    5. Cardozo, Pamela & Morales-Acevedo, Paola & Murcia, Andrés & Rosado, Alejandra, 2022. "Does the geographical complexity of the Colombian financial conglomerates increase banks’ risk? The role of diversification, regulatory arbitrage, and funding costs," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    6. Flood, Mark D. & Kenett, Dror Y. & Lumsdaine, Robin L. & Simon, Jonathan K., 2020. "The Complexity of Bank Holding Companies: A Topological Approach," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    7. Michaela Posch & Stefan W. Schmitz & Peter Strobl, 2018. "Strengthening the euro area by addressing flawed incentives in the financial system," Monetary Policy & the Economy, Oesterreichische Nationalbank (Austrian Central Bank), issue Q2/18, pages 34-50.
    8. Claudia M. Buch & Linda S. Goldberg, 2021. "Complexity and Riskiness of Banking Organizations: Evidence from the International Banking Research Network," Staff Reports 966, Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
    9. Correa, Ricardo & Goldberg, Linda S., 2022. "Bank complexity, governance, and risk," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    10. Colleen Baker & Christine Cummings & Julapa Jagtiani, 2017. "The impacts of financial regulations: solvency and liquidity in the post-crisis period," Journal of Financial Regulation and Compliance, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 25(3), pages 253-270, July.
    11. Kudret Topyan & Chia-Jane Wang & Natalia Boliari & Carlos Elias, 2024. "Credit Risk Management and US Bank-Holding Companies: An Empirical Investigation," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-11, January.
    12. Agnieszka Smoleńska, 2022. "Multilevel cooperation in the EU resolution of cross-border bank groups: lessons from the non-euro area Member States joining the Single Resolution Mechanism (SRM)," Journal of Banking Regulation, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 23(1), pages 42-53, March.
    13. Franklin Allen & Itay Goldstein & Julapa Jagtiani & William W. Lang, 2016. "Enhancing Prudential Standards in Financial Regulations," Journal of Financial Services Research, Springer;Western Finance Association, vol. 49(2), pages 133-149, June.
    14. Curi, Claudia & Murgia, Maurizio, 2018. "Divestitures and the financial conglomerate excess value," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 187-207.
    15. Ho, Kelvin & Wong, Eric & Tan, Edward, 2022. "Complexity of global banks and the implications for bank risk: Evidence from foreign banks in Hong Kong," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    16. Pham, Thi Hoang Anh & Doan, Ngoc Thang, 2023. "Global bank complexity and financial fragility around the world," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 47(1).
    17. Luciano, Elisa & Wihlborg, Clas, 2023. "Why are BHCs organized as parent-subsidiaries? How do they grow in value?," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    18. Nyola, Annick Pamen & Sauviat, Alain & Tarazi, Amine & Danisman, Gamze Ozturk, 2021. "How organizational and geographic complexity influence performance: Evidence from European banks," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    19. Sunday OTUYA, 2024. "Effect of Audit Market Concentration on Pricing and Audit Quality. Evidence from an Emerging Economy," CECCAR Business Review, Body of Expert and Licensed Accountants of Romania (CECCAR), vol. 5(5), pages 71-80, May.
    20. Silva, Walmir & Kimura, Herbert & Sobreiro, Vinicius Amorim, 2017. "An analysis of the literature on systemic financial risk: A survey," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 28(C), pages 91-114.
    21. José Alejandro Fernández Fernández, 2020. "Considerations of the SPE and MPE resolution," Journal of Banking Regulation, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 21(3), pages 278-287, September.

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