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This study investigates the effect of national champion strategies on the length of the pre-M&A process in Europe. The policy strategy of creating so-called “national champions,” that is, promoting national rather than international mergers, is often the focus of European policy debate. If European governments support national champion M&A activities, we would expect that national champion M&A deals have an accelerated pre-M&A process at the European Commission (EU) relative to comparable European M&A deals. To empirically test this proposition, we compare national champion M&A under scrutiny by the EU to similar deals in terms of industry and firm characteristics in the period 1997–2010. In contrast to our expectation, national champion M&As face a longer pre-M&A process than other comparable European M&As. However, evidence indicates that national champion M&As are almost always completed successfully while comparable European M&As are often derailed in process.

Analyses the evolution of China’s telephone and cable systems, in terms of the public interest, discussing current bureaucratic conflicts and policy debates over convergence, and construction of an independent broadband cable network. Looks in depth at China’s problems and the different problems for its citizens with regard to poverty levels and access to the Web.

A key component of evolutionary models in economics and organizational research, the notion of organizational selection is rarely the object of inquiry. It generally suggests instead a neutral and unquestioned process, a mechanism explaining organizational success and survival. In this chapter, we explore the variation of selection; we problematize the notion of selection and do an exercise in conceptual genealogy. We differentiate between three patterns of firm selection: Darwinian, strategic, and institutional and define the associated “embedded rationalities” that buttress those different selection patterns. We illustrate how selection differed and evolved through time by exploring two empirical cases – France and the United States. Building upon our empirical exploration, we stress some important contributions for three theories familiar to strategy scholars – resource-based view, population ecology, and institutional theory. We also point to some consequences for empirical research and suggest new directions for future work on the dynamics of organizational action.

John Constantinou discuss his role at Sony Computer Entertainment and how the company embraced sponsorship as a key part of its marketing strategy. He explains the need to rationalise the rights portfolio but emphasises how a balance of grass roots and very high profile event sponsorships can complement each other. Constantinou also discusses the issues that he sees as important in the development of sponsorship, pointing in particular to customer relationship management and research.

The purpose of this article is to broaden our understanding of internet governance policy options by reviewing and assessing proposals for reforming the institutional mechanisms used to allocate and assign IPv6 addresses.

The paper begins by identifying the two main economic and technical constraints on IP addressing: route aggregation and address conservation. It then reviews the reform proposals that have been made and assesses the debates that have occurred around those proposals, bearing in mind the key issues of aggregation and conservation. In particular, it attempts to explore whether competition in IP addressing between authorities with diverse policies would be feasible and beneficial.

The debate over addressing policy is in its early stages and has a long way to go. A review of the debate so far suggests that the introduction of economic incentives in addressing might improve route aggregation rather than worsen it. With respect to conservation and aggregation incentives, policy diversity might help internet service providers find a more optimal trade‐off between the needs of users and the needs of the suppliers of connectivity.

The policy alternatives discussed here could have a major impact on the future of the internet, as address allocation and assignment directly affect the way the internet functions and the distribution of costs and benefits between users and suppliers.

This paper aims to explore the contribution of China's largest business groups to China's outward foreign direct investment (OFDI), looking particularly at the question of whether they contribute to strategic‐asset‐seeking OFDI.

It uses national‐level data and business group OFDI data to explore the sectors from which OFDI originates and destinations to which it is sent. From this conclusions are drawn as to the types of investments being made.

In the national context strategic‐asset‐seeking OFDI from China has been rather limited to date. Instead, OFDI expansion still appears more closely linked to China's expansion as a trading nation with a natural resource deficit. Strategic‐asset‐seeking OFDI when it does take place, moreover, is orchestrated to a large extent through large state controlled business groups, as is much other OFDI.

A limitation of this research is the reliance on official data and the assumed simplification that most strategic‐asset‐seeking OFDI is concentrated in the manufacturing industries.

More attention should be paid to the role of these select business groups as they play a significant part in China's OFDI.

There is a growing presumption that much of China's OFDI is strategic‐asset‐seeking in nature and that new theories are required to explain this trend. Many firm‐level studies, however, rely upon just a few high‐profile but unrepresentative cases. This paper redresses this imbalance. It also shows that China's largest trial business groups have played an important role in her OFDI to date.

The purpose of this illustrative case‐based research is to analyze and evaluate the 2004 controversial merger of two high‐profile French pharmaceutical companies, Sanofi‐Synthelabo and Aventis.

This is a case‐based research paper that relates existing theory to mergers and acquisitions (M&As) and global strategies by highlighting those issues that impact business and industrial markets as well as multinational corporations' (MNCs) operations.

Sanofi‐Aventis continues to go through a multitude of changes in its corporate reorganization while Novartis has been exploring collaborative ventures with pharmaceutical and bio‐tech companies.

There is a scarcity of published work in the case‐based research area. The work provides an understanding of the French government's national champion initiatives and their impact on the European and global pharmaceutical companies.

The findings of this case have tangible implications for those business marketers and MNCs that operate in the European markets and other countries regarding seeking M&As and expansion.

The case adds value in the national champion theory and its associated areas that relate to business and industrial markets.