Abstract
The main cultural assumption in this research paper is about, the French corporate culture once being Latin-like and the Dutch one having been German-like, both the corporate culture of France and the Netherlands firms are converging towards the Anglo-Saxon model. In order to confirm or not the preceding hypothesis, we choose in this research paper, to follow a two-fold case study approach, resulting in a thorough 2000-2003 dynamic examination of the financing and capital structures of leading competing firms in two key-sectors; that is to say telecommunications companies and oil companies. The three case studies chosen, basically raise three key issues when it comes to corporate culture: restructuring in a deregulating environment as far as the telecommunications companies are concerned; corporate governance and stock performance in a bullish barrel market for the oil companies.
