The New Capitalists: How Citizen Investors Are Reshaping the Corporate Agenda

Subtitled, "How Citizen Investors Are Reshaping The Corporate Agenda".

Davis (president, Davis Global Advisers Inc., an adviser on international corporate governance), Lukomnik (managing partner, Sinclair Capital LLC), and Pitt-Watson (former chief executive, Hermes Focus Asset Management, "Europe's leading shareholder activist fund manager) argue that within corporate capitalism a new civil economy is arising in which vast numbers of ordinary pensioners, mutual fund investors, and small shareholders are quickly becoming the true owners of major corporations. In this new environment, investment funds are acting in the interests of their grassroots savers, compelling corporate boards and executives to behave with more financial accountability and social responsibility. In this book, they offer guidance to corporate officers, investment managers, and investors on how to navigate this emerging civil economy. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Thanks to the rise of mutual funds and retirement plans, the actual owners of the worlds corporate giants are no longer a few wealthy families. Rather, theyre the huge majority of working people who have their pensions and life savings invested in shares of todays largest companies. These grassroots owners have ideas about value that differ from those of tycoons or Wall Street traders. And corporate directors and executives are coming under increasing pressure to respond. The New Capitalists provides examplesfrom GE to Disney to British Petroleumof enterprises whose shareholders have recently wielded their control in ways unimaginable just several years ago. Authors Stephen Davis, Jon Lukomnik and David Pitt-Watson describe how civil ownership will profoundly alter our worldincluding forcing the rise of a new species of corporation. It has already begun demolishing old rules and habits, laying the groundwork for a new constitution of commerce. The authors spell out conventional thinking destined for extinctionand fresh strategies companies must implement to survive in the emerging civil economy. They also outline how investors, advisors, activists, and policy makers can make their voices heard.