Ownership Concentration, Monitoring and Optimal Board Structure

The paper analyzes the optimal structure of the board of directors in a firm with a large shareholder sitting on the board. It focuses on the choice between a one-tier and a two-tier structure. In a one-tier structure the sole board performs all tasks, while in a two-tier structure the management board is in charge of project selection and the supervisory board is in charge of monitoring. We consider the case in which the large shareholder sits on (and controls) the supervisory board but not on the management board. We show that such a two-tier structure can limit the interference of the large shareholder and can restore manager's incentive to exert effort to become informed on new investment projects without reducing the large shareholder's incentive to monitor the manager. This results in higher expected profits. If the difference in profits is high enough, the large shareholder prefers a two-tier board even if this implies that the manager selects his own preferred project. The paper has interesting policy implications since it suggests that two-tier boards can be a valuable option in Continental Europe where ownership structure is concentrated.