- Italy: According to the data gathered by KPMG CORPORATE FINANCE, available in its annual report on mergers and acquisitions, crossborder operations by Italian companies abroad or in partnership with a foreign group have increased 26% in 2000 compared with the previous year. The operations achieved within the national borders also increased 13% this time, rising from 691 in 1999 to 780 operations in 2000 for a total of ITL 250,000 billion. The majority of the transactions have been carried out in the telecommunications, Internet, IT and electronics sectors (197 operations carried out last year against 82 the previous year), follow-up to the banking sector, engineering, publishing and the media and services. On the other hand, the foreign operations in Italy have not achieved the same levels.