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BCC Presentation 19. September 2008. Danish Corporate governance in a European perspective. Steen Thomsen st.int@cbs.dk Center for Corporate Governance Copenhagen Business School http://uk.cbs.dk/ccg. Corporate Governance Systems . Boards. One-tier system. Two-tier system.
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BCC Presentation 19. September 2008 Danish Corporate governance in a European perspective Steen Thomsen st.int@cbs.dk Center for Corporate Governance Copenhagen Business School http://uk.cbs.dk/ccg
Boards One-tier system Two-tier system Supervisory board The Board Outsiders Management board Insiders Company Company Employees
Non-profits that own/operate business firms..ties to founder/family Creation by donation Independence (no owners, no members) Governance by Charter Business activity Industrial foundations
1. A. P. Møller Gruppen - APM OG CMMs Fond 2. J. Lauritzen - J.L. Fondet 3. Carlsberg – Carlsbergfondet 4. Novo Nordisk - Novo Nordisk Fonden 5. Skandinavisk Holding - Augustinus Fonden 6. Danfoss - Bitten & Mads Clausens Fond 7. Lego - Legofonden 8. Grundfos- Poul-Due Jensens Fond 9. Lundbeck - Lundbeckfonden 10. Gutenberghus - Egmont H. Petersens Fond 11. Løvens Kemiske fabrik - Leo Fondet 12. J.C. Hempel - J.C. Hempels Fond 13. Carl Allers Etablissement - Allerfonden 14. V. Kann Rasmussen - V. Kann Rasmussen Fonden 14 foundation-owned firms in Denmark´s top 100
Foundation Donations (optional) Minority Investors (optional) > 50% Company (normal joint stock co.)
An Example Oticon Foundation Other Investors 39% 61% Donations William Demant Holding PLC 100% 100% Oticon Hearing Aids Other Businesses
Foundation-owned companies should fail lack a personal profit motive limited risk diversification But they perform well Profitability, growth, survival..vs. family- and investorowned companies No tax advantages for the company The Foundation Puzzle
Two tiers Employee representation (1/3) Managers on board (but less frequently in listed companies) Mandatory Separation of chair and CEO Small boards Denmark: Board structure
Danish Board diversity (Largest companies 1994, 2000, listed companies 2005)
Danish owners are relatively strong (family/foundation ownership…) The board is relatively independent of management (two-tier system) Boards are relatively small Employee representation => Management is relatively weak (c.f. low levels of compensation) A Conclusion on Denmark
Not the classical agency problem (weak owners, strong managers) Nor the Stakeholder problem (cf. Investor protection, Employee representation etc) => Active ownership is key The pertinent governance issue
Novozymes – foundation ownership Coloplast – family ownership ISS – private equity Topdanmark – investor ownership Danisco – investor ownership Company cases
Future Trends • Risk and governanceAudit committees, regulation.. (29. oct..) • Private equity • Social responsibility (climate….)Signing Global Compact (8. October) • Women on board • Employee ownership revisited