Empirical Evidence on the Motives for Bank Mergers

Determinants of bank mergers are analyzed to get an indication of the motives for mergers. The analysis is based on 1,724 bank mergers and acquisitions from 1978 to 1983 using multinomial logit analysis for testing purposes. Market share of the target and per capita income stand out as attractive to acquiring firms, but growth and profits do not. Overall, the findings in this study do not point to any single motive for bank acquisitions. This is consistent with findings for the industrial sector and most other findings for banking.

Brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål), genome: putative underpinnings of polyphagy, insecticide resistance potential and biology of a top worldwide pest

Background Halyomorpha halys (Stål), the brown marmorated stink bug, is a highly invasive insect species due in part to its exceptionally high levels of polyphagy. This species is also a nuisance due to overwintering in human-made structures. It has caused significant agricultural losses in recent years along the Atlantic seaboard of North America and in continental Europe. Genomic resources will assist with determining the molecular basis for this species’ feeding and habitat traits, defining potential targets for pest management strategies. Results Analysis of the 1.15-Gb draft genome assembly has identified a wide variety of genetic elements underpinning the biological characteristics of this formidable pest species, encompassing the roles of sensory functions, digestion, immunity, detoxification and development, all of which likely support H. halys’ capacity for invasiveness. Many of the genes identified herein have potential for biomolecular pesticide applications. Conclusions Availability of the H. halys genome sequence will be useful for the development of environmentally friendly biomolecular pesticides to be applied in concert with more traditional, synthetic chemical-based controls