List of Tables List of Graphs Introduction Chapter 1 Financial Conglomeration: Economic and Legal Aspects 1.1. Nature and Features of Financial Conglomeration 1.2. Why Financial Conglomeration? 1.2.1. Developments of Conglomeration 1.2.2. Reasons for Conglomeration 1.2.2.1. Motives of Financial Institutions 1.2.2.2. Driving Forces of Conglomeration 1.2.2.3. Economics of Conglomeration 1.3. Risks and Safeguards of Financial Conglomeration Chapter 2 Financial Conglomeration in the European Union 2.1. Banking in the European Union: Importance and Insurance Linkages of Largest Banks 2.2. Insurance in the European Union: Importance and Banking Linkages of Largest Insurance Undertakings 2.3. Major Banking-Insurance Groups in the European Union Chapter 3 Financial Conglomerates of the European Union in the New Member States 3.1. Banking and Insurance Sectors in the New Member States 3.2. Presence and Importance of the European Union Banking-Insurance Groups in the New Member States 3.2.1. Largest Banks in the New Member States and the European Union Linkages 3.2.2. Largest Insurance Undertakings in the New Member States and the European Union Linkages 3.2.3. Presence of the European Union Banking-Insurance Groups in the New Member States 3.3. M&A Activities of the European Union Banking-Insurance Groups in the New Member States 3.3.1. Banking-Insurance Sector M&A Experience 3.3.2. M&A Criteria: Case Studies 3.4. Opportunities and Threats of Financial Conglomeration 3.4.1. From the Perspective of Institutions 3.4.2. From the Perspective of Countries Conclusion References Sources of Research Data Internet Sources Databases Abbreviations Index