What are some mechanisn that encourage manager to act in the best interests of stockholder?

Answer 1

Four primary mechanisms are used to motivate managers to act in stockholders' best interests:

• Managerial compensation
• Direct intervention by stockholders
• Threat of firing
• Threat of takeovers

1.Managerial Compensation

Managerial compensation should be constructed not only to retain competent managers, but to align managers' interests with those of stockholders as much as possible.

• This is typically done with an annual salary plus performance bonuses and company shares.
• Company shares are typically distributed to managers either as:
  • Performance shares, where managers will receive a certain number shares based on the company's performance.
  • Executive stock options, which allow the manager to purchase shares at a future date and price. With the use of stock options, managers are aligned closer to the interest of the stockholders as they themselves will be stockholders.

2.Direct Intervention by Stockholders

Today, the majority of a company's stock is owned by large institutional investors, such as mutual funds and pensions. As such, these large institutional stockholders have the ability to exert influence on mangers and, as a result, the firm's operations.

3.Threat of Firing

If stockholders are unhappy with current management, they can encourage the existing board of directors to change the existing management, or stockholders may even re-elect a new board of directors that will accomplish the task.

4.Threat of Takeovers

If a stock price deteriorates because of management's inability to run the company effectively, competitors or stockholders may take a controlling interest in the company and bring in their own managers.