Merger and acquisition FDI, relative wealth and relative access to bank credit: Evidence from a bivariate zero-inflated count model

We use a bivariate zero-inflated negative binomial model to examine Japanese merger and acquisition (M&A) FDI jointly with other types of Japanese FDI (or non-M&A FDI) into the United States. We find that for firms likely to engage in FDI, their rates of FDI are affected by the financial health of their main banks. However, only the rate of M&A FDI is affected by relative wealth. The rate of non-M&A FDI is affected by profitability and firm size. Our findings show the importance of distinguishing M&A FDI from non-M&A FDI and of considering the two types of FDI jointly.