Blockholder Short-Term Incentives, Structures, and Governance

Blockholder Short-Term Incentives, Structures, and Governance

Fenghua Song

Series number :

Serial Number: 
513/2017

Date posted :

June 01 2017

Last revised :

June 28 2017
SSRN Share

Keywords

  • blockholder • 
  • exit • 
  • voice • 
  • short-term incentives • 
  • Career Concerns • 
  • investment myopia

We model blockholder governance as a sequential process, from less hostile private intervention, to confrontational public intervention, and finally exit. When the blockholder faces short-term incentives, the threat of public intervention and exit loses credibility, and management pays little heed to private demands.

With two blockholders with heterogeneous incentive horizons, reduction in public intervention by a blockholder with short-term incentives strengthens public intervention by the other with long-term incentives. This ameliorates the free-rider problem and restores the credibility of the threat of public engagement following failed private intervention. Management becomes more responsive to private demands and governance efficacy is improved.

Authors

Professor
Real name:
Fenghua Song
Pennsylvania State University - Smeal College of Business