What are the main reasons a (majority) holder of a stock in a company want the price to be as high as possible? If he doesn't sell it's just a paper value. 1) Take-overs: If a take-over is paid for in stock.
The stock can be used as collateral for a loan. The higher the stock value, the greater the loan potential.
Any more? Baron mentioned reason 2) taking out a loan with stock as collateral. I would like to discuss: 3) Charitable gifts of stock have a higher value (to external or own charity)
do you mean, when a wealthy philanthropist donates stock they own to a charity, they get the tax write off at the market price at time of donation? As maybe opposed to them having to sell stock, pay tax, then donate cash?