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The US government dual banking regulation levels, transaction costs and HSBC's strategy in acquiring Marine Midland Banks, Inc., 1978-80

Lu, Qing

Authors



Abstract

This paper undertakes a case study of HSBC acquiring Marine Midland Banks, Inc. (MMBI) in the US between 1978 and 1980, a historic incident that had a catalytic impact on the whole debate about foreign banking in the US and re-examination of the restrictions on the US banks' inter-state operations. This paper explores the impact of the US government's financial regulatory structure on HSBC's acquisition and how HSBC dealt with difficulties caused by the US government regulations. We find that the structure of the US government financial regulation caused political hazards which further influenced HSBC's contractual hazards and business transaction costs. We have established that the different attitudes of the federal and state regulatory authorities toward HSBC's acquisition were closely related to their interests, regulatory capability and resources. Our analysis also confirms that HSBC's commitment strategy did help it to earn the federal regulatory authorities' support and MMBI's cooperation, which facilitated the conversion of Marine Midland Bank (MMB), a principal subsidiary of MMBI, to the status of a national chartered bank and allowed HSBC to circumvent the NYBD's regulation.

Citation

Lu, Q. (2010). The US government dual banking regulation levels, transaction costs and HSBC's strategy in acquiring Marine Midland Banks, Inc., 1978-80. Business history, 52(6), 955-977. https://doi.org/10.1080/00076791.2010.511184

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jan 1, 2010
Online Publication Date Oct 20, 2010
Publication Date 2010-10
Journal Business History
Print ISSN 0007-6791
Publisher Routledge
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 52
Issue 6
Pages 955-977
DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/00076791.2010.511184
Keywords Business, Management and Accounting (miscellaneous); Business and International Management; History
Public URL https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/423847




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