Publications
Publications
- October 2006 (Revised January 2008)
- HBS Case Collection
Allianz AG: Becoming a European Company
By: Jay W. Lorsch and Alexis Chernak
Abstract
Focuses on the decision made by leadership at Allianz AG, the German insurance and financial services company, to complete a cross-border merger with the Italian insurance and financial services company, RAS. Allianz, however, could not complete the cross-border merger by remaining a German corporation under the current German statutes. Allianz, however, could conduct the cross-border merger as a European company according to the Statute of the European Community (Societas Europaea, or SE), which was recently passed by the European Union and adopted into German law. Examines the rationale for the decision made by the Allianz supervisory board and the board of management in addition to the process of becoming an SE, including the change in the composition of the supervisory board as a result of the merger and the conversion to an SE.
Keywords
Mergers and Acquisitions; Business Organization; Decision Choices and Conditions; Cross-Cultural and Cross-Border Issues; Governing and Advisory Boards; Laws and Statutes; European Union; Germany; Italy
Citation
Lorsch, Jay W., and Alexis Chernak. "Allianz AG: Becoming a European Company." Harvard Business School Case 407-049, October 2006. (Revised January 2008.)