Beyond Shareholder Value

This timely and engaging book examines how maximizing shareholder value has played a dominant role in corporate governance over recent decades, and analyzes the resulting effect on share prices in the stock markets. Alongside the rise in corporate power and deepening economic inequality, the author investigates corporate law reform as a corrective remedy.

An in-depth look at the trouble with shareholder value thinking and at better options for models of corporate purpose. Executives, investors, and the business press routinely chant the mantra that corporations are required to “maximize shareholder value.” In this pathbreaking book, renowned corporate expert Lynn Stout debunks the myth that corporate law mandates shareholder primacy. Stout shows how shareholder value thinking endangers not only investors but the rest of us as well, leading managers to focus myopically on short-term earnings; discouraging investment and innovation; harming employees, customers, and communities; and causing companies to indulge in reckless, sociopathic, and irresponsible behaviors. And she looks at new models of corporate purpose that better serve the needs of investors, corporations, and society. “A must-read for managers, directors, and policymakers interested in getting America back in the business of creating real value for the long term.” —Constance E. Bagley, professor, Yale School of Management; president, Academy of Legal Studies in Business; and author of Managers and the Legal Environment and Winning Legally “A compelling call for radically changing the way business is done... The Shareholder Value Myth powerfully demonstrates both the dangers of the shareholder value rule and the falseness of its alleged legal necessity.” —Joel Bakan, professor, The University of British Columbia, and author of the book and film The Corporation “Lynn Stout has a keen mind, a sharp pen, and an unbending sense of fearlessness. Her book is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the root causes of the current financial calamity.” —Jack Willoughby, senior editor, Barron’s “Lynn Stout offers a new vision of good corporate governance that serves investors, firms, and the American economy.” —Judy Samuelson, executive director, Business and Society Program, The Aspen Institute

Perspectives on Purpose brings together industry leaders to advocate for a more human-centered and socially-conscious future for businesses. Sharing stories from their work at companies like Ben & Jerry’s, Sephora, Airbnb, Diageo, VF Corporation, and Hyatt, these authors demonstrate how weaving purpose into the profit-making core of business helps companies do good and do well. Foreword by Jessica Alba and Christopher Gavigan, Co-founders of The Honest Company Chapters by: Jorge Aguilar (Prophet) Tom Andrews (TJALeadership, SYPartners) Maryam Banikarim (Hyatt, NBC Universal, Gannett, Univision) Ila Byrne and Ryan Hunter (Diageo) Corrie Conrad (Sephora) Alexandra Dimiziani (TwentyFirstCenturyBrand, Airbnb) Ambika Gautam Pai (Wolf & Wilhelmine) Heidi Hackemer (And So We Hunt) Sam Hornsby (TRIPTK) Jonathan Jackson (Harvard University, Blavity) Sam Liebeskind (Gin Lane, Wolff Olins) Rob Michalak (Ben & Jerry's) Thomas Ordahl (Landor) Frank Oswald (Columbia University) Sarah Potts (Thorn) Matthew Quint (Columbia Business School) Haley Rushing (The Purpose Institute) Letitia Webster (VF Corporation) Freya Williams (Futerra) Perspectives on Purpose and its sister book, Perspectives on Impact, bring together leading voices from across sectors to discuss how we must adapt our organizations for the twenty-first century world. Perspectives on Purpose looks at the shifting role of the corporation in society through the lens of purpose; Perspectives on Impact focuses on the recalibration of social impact approaches to tackle complex humanitarian, social, and environmental challenges.

In The End of Shareholder Value , Allan Kennedy shines the spotlight on a new revolution in business-as customers, employees, political and social leaders, and governing boards begin to challenge the cozy relationship between executives and investors that has crippled companies in the name of maximizing shareholder value. Analyzing both historical and current material, he explores the colorful history of corporations since the turn of the century, evolving from engines of innovation to machines driven by short-term financial gains. From GE to the hottest new Web-based start-up, those companies that subscribe to the shareholder value ethic cannot be sustained and will, inevitably, be replaced by those who figure out how to create and share wealth with all their important constituencies. Provocative and wide-ranging, The End of Shareholder Value showcases progressive experiments in the public and private sectors, outlines new roles and responsibilities for all participants, and challenges everyone to rethink the purpose of business in the new millennium.

Economist, consultant, and Wall Street Journal contributor Alfred Rappaport provides managers and investors with the practical tools and tests for a corporate strategy that creates shareholder value. The ultimate test of corporate strategy, the only reliable measure, is whether it creates economic value for shareholders. After a decade of downsizings frequently blamed on shareholder value decision making, this book presents a new and indepth assessment of the rationale for shareholder value. Further, Rappaport presents provocative new insights on shareholder value applications to: (1) business planning, (2) performance evaluation, (3) executive compensation, (4) mergers and acquisitions, (5) interpreting stock market signals, and (6) organizational implementation. Readers will be particularly interested in Rappaport's answers to three management performance evaluation questions: (1) What is the most appropriate measure of performance? (2) What is the most appropriate target level of performance? and (3) How should rewards be linked to performance? Through the lens of high-stakes case studies, like the notable acquisition of Duracell International by Gillette, Rappaport dissects the intricate decisions and risks inherent in the merger and acquisition process. The shareholder value approach presented here has been widely embraced by publicly traded as well as privately held companies worldwide. Brilliant and incisive, this is the one book that should be required reading for managers and investors who want to stay on the cutting edge of success in a highly competitive global economy.

Moving beyond the strategies that managers have employed to create shareholder value, three corporate finance experts reveal their powerful framework for the systematic day-to-day management of shareholder value. They also dispel many of the "value myths" that can skew a company's strategy.

This insightful Research Handbook contributes to the theoretical and practical understanding of corporate purpose and personhood, which has become the central debate of corporate law. It provides cutting-edge thoughts on the role of corporations in society and the nature of their rights and responsibilities.

A detailed look at how Warren Buffett really invests In this engaging new book, author Prem Jain extracts Warren Buffett's wisdom from his writings, Berkshire Hathaway financial statements, and his letters to shareholders and partners in his partnership firms-thousands of pages written over the last fifty years. Jain uncovers the key elements of Buffett's approach that every investor should be aware of. With Buffett Beyond Value, you'll learn that, contrary to popular belief, Warren Buffett is not a pure value investor, but a unique thinker who combines the principles of both value and growth investing strategies. You'll also discover why understanding CEOs is more important than studying financial metrics; and why you need an appropriate psychological temperament to be a successful investor. Reveals Buffett's multifaceted investment principles Discusses how Buffett thinks differently from others about portfolio diversification, market efficiency, and corporate governance Highlights how you can build a diverse and profitable investment portfolio With this book as your guide, you'll learn how to successfully invest like Warren Buffett.

The growth of shareholder value has been a major change in Western economies since the 1980s. This growth has reignited debates concerning relations between investors and managers. This book argues that investors are more than passive providers of finance, on whose behalf managers seek to maximize shareholder returns. Instead, many investors directly influence management practice, through investor engagement. The book examines the role of institutional investors and private equity firms, two types of investors with overlapping but different reasons for engagement. Questions addressed include: What are the incentives, and disincentives, for investment engagement? How is investor engagement organized? What areas of management practice are of particular concern to investors? The discussion shows in detail how private equity firms play a major role in developing new companies, beyond the provision of finance, especially in the IT, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical sectors. The discussion is primarily based on British and US research. The debate has wider international relevance, because there are strong pressures for establishing shareholder value as the international 'norm' for systems of corporate governance. Following a detailed discussion of Germany, the authors conclude that there is no inevitable trend to shareholder value: shareholder value depends upon complementary institutional arrangements in national business systems, which are far from universal. The book concludes with a critical analysis of the justifications for shareholder value and investor engagement, highlighting the weaknesses of both efficiency and equity justifications.