Yes, dual class shares have advantages, but also a number of disadvantages. In the right hands, it can focus company strategy and enhance growth. On the other hand, absent the normal checks and balances of single class shareholders, it can lead to owner abuse--such as installing incompetent family members and friends into management, electing friendly board members unlikely to challenge the owner, or extracting huge management fees or personal dividends to the detriment of Class B shareholders. The disgusted second-class shareholders are of course free to sell their interest in response to such abuse of power, but by that time the damage to their investment has already taken place and a mass sell-off will only make things worse for both the exiting and the remaining second-class shareholders.
Of course, there is the flip side. When there is family or even one person control of a company, you live and die with the controlling oligarch, some of whom believe themselves to be infallible.
Yes, dual class shares have advantages, but also a number of disadvantages. In the right hands, it can focus company strategy and enhance growth. On the other hand, absent the normal checks and balances of single class shareholders, it can lead to owner abuse--such as installing incompetent family members and friends into management, electing friendly board members unlikely to challenge the owner, or extracting huge management fees or personal dividends to the detriment of Class B shareholders. The disgusted second-class shareholders are of course free to sell their interest in response to such abuse of power, but by that time the damage to their investment has already taken place and a mass sell-off will only make things worse for both the exiting and the remaining second-class shareholders.
Of course, there is the flip side. When there is family or even one person control of a company, you live and die with the controlling oligarch, some of whom believe themselves to be infallible.