This paper analyzes the profile of board of directors of 142 Brazilian listed companies on the São Paulo exchange as of fiscal year ending December 1999. The board members were classified into 4 categories according to its degree of independence from the controlling shareholders - as per Bhagat and Black (2000). In addition, firm characteristics such as ownership structure, cross-listing and firm size were investigated to explain its likely influence on the composition of board of directors. The empirical research indicates that board members represent the interests of controlling shareholders, and that there is no evidence that minority shareholders do exercise their voting rights.
corporate governance; board of directors; independent directors; controlling shareholders
