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On the risk situation of financial conglomerates: does diversification matter?

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Abstract

In general, conglomeration leads to diversification of risk (the diversification benefit) and a decrease in shareholder value (the conglomerate discount). Diversification benefits in financial conglomerates are typically derived without explicitly accounting for reduced shareholder value. However, a comprehensive analysis requires competitive conditions within the conglomerate, i.e., shareholders and debt holders should receive risk-adequate returns on their investment. In this paper, we contribute to the literature on this topic by comparing the diversification effect in conglomerates with and without accounting for altered shareholder value. We derive results for a holding company, a parent-subsidiary structure, and an integrated model. In addition, we consider different types of capital and risk transfer instruments in the parent-subsidiary model, including intragroup retrocession and guarantees. We conclude that under competitive conditions, diversification does not matter to the extent frequently emphasized in the literature. The analysis contributes to the ongoing discussion on group solvency regulation and enterprise risk management, which is of relevance to insurance groups and other financial conglomerates.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chair for Insurance Economics, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Lange Gasse 20, 90403, Nürnberg, Germany

    Nadine Gatzert

  2. Institute of Insurance Economics, University of St. Gallen, Kirchlistrasse 2, 9010, St. Gallen, Switzerland

    Hato Schmeiser

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  1. Nadine Gatzert
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  2. Hato Schmeiser
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Correspondence to Nadine Gatzert.

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Gatzert, N., Schmeiser, H. On the risk situation of financial conglomerates: does diversification matter?. Financ Mark Portf Manag 25, 3–26 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11408-010-0149-3

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