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The Blurring of Corporate Investor Nationality and Complex Ownership Structures

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  • ALBRESE, ELEONORA
  • CASELLA, BRUNO

Abstract

Recent years have seen a significant increase in complexity of multinational enterprises (MNEs) ownership structures. Complex corporate structures raise concerns on the effectiveness of national and international investment policies, based on the notion of investors’ nationality. This motivates this research effort aimed at analysing the ownership structures of some 700 thousand foreign affiliates (FAs). A new methodology, the bottom-up approach, is introduced. The main objective is to empirically map the "shareholder space" of FAs, along the vertical dimension, from the direct shareholders to the ultimate owners. We find that FAs are often part of transnational investment chains; more than 40% of foreign affiliates have direct and ultimate shareholders in different jurisdictions ("double or multiple passports"). Based on shareholders’ nationality, we then propose and empirically analyse the salient features of four main archetypes of FAs ownership structure: plain foreign, conduit structures, round-tripping and domestic hubs. Each poses specific challenges to the policy-maker.

Suggested Citation

  • Albrese, Eleonora & Casella, Bruno, 2019. "The Blurring of Corporate Investor Nationality and Complex Ownership Structures," MPRA Paper 95202, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 10 Jul 2019.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:95202
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Grosskurth, Philipp, 2019. "MNE and where to find them: An intertemporal perspective on the global ownership network," Ruhr Economic Papers 825, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.
    2. Di Filippo, Gabriele & Pierret, Frédéric, 2020. "Key Features of Captive Financial Institutions and Money Lenders (sector S127) in Luxembourg," MPRA Paper 111872, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised Dec 2020.
    3. Bruno Casella, . "Looking through conduit FDI in search of ultimate investors – a probabilistic approach," UNCTAD Transnational Corporations Journal, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
    4. Casella, Bruno, 2019. "Looking through conduit FDI in search of ultimate investors – a probabilistic approach," MPRA Paper 95188, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    multinational enterprises; ownership structures; firm-level; investors’ nationality;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F21 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Investment; Long-Term Capital Movements
    • F23 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Multinational Firms; International Business

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