During the crisis the financial system experienced a concentration process driven by new M&A released by both big and medium banks. The article evaluates the role of banking features and regulatory framework in explaining the probability to be a target firm in a domestic or cross border M&A....

The bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers in September 2008 and, shortly afterwards, the near downfall of the insurance conglomerate American International Group (Aig), both of which were heavily involved in the Cds sector, polarised attention towards the Cds activities of the major international banks....