"Japanese banks and others are unwinding their cross-shareholding of keiretsu groups at a savage pace, " says C.

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Compare this with Renault's growing cross-shareholding with Nissan of Japan, run by Renault's former chief operating officer, Carlos Ghosn.

FORBES: Businessman of the Year

The deal would end the cross-shareholding between Anglo and De Beers that has depressed the shares of both firms.

ECONOMIST: Record breaking

There, eight years ago, Berezovsky founded Logovaz, taking the giant automaker as partner and reinforcing the relationship with cross-shareholding and numerous joint ventures.

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Beijing-based Air China has a cross-shareholding agreement with Cathay Pacific.

FORBES: Air China Leads Cathay Into Shanghai

Some board members are keen on a European investment-banking tie-up, perhaps with Banque Nationale de Paris, which recently took control of a rival French bank, Paribas, and which has a longstanding alliance (and small cross-shareholding) with Dresdner.

ECONOMIST: Dresdner Bank