scholarly journals The effect of ownership structure on dividend policy: evidence from Turkey

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 135-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Basil Al-Najjar ◽  
Erhan Kilincarslan
Keyword(s):  
Family Involvement ◽  
Financial Institutions ◽  
Ownership Structure ◽  
Dividend Policy ◽  
Dividend Yield ◽  
Minority Shareholders ◽  
Foreign Investors ◽  
Dividend Payout ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Listed Firms

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the impact of ownership structure on dividend policy of listed firms in Turkey. Particularly, it attempts to uncover the effects of family involvement (through ownership and board representation), non-family blockholders (foreign investors, domestic financial institutions and the state) and minority shareholders on dividend decisions in the post-2003 period as it witnesses the major economic and structural reforms. Design/methodology/approach The paper uses alternative dividend policy measures (the probability of paying dividends, dividend payout ratio and dividend yield) and uses appropriate regression techniques (logit and tobit models) to test the research hypotheses, by focusing on a recent large panel dataset of 264 Istanbul Stock Exchange-listed firms (non-financial and non-utility) over a 10-year period 2003-2012. Findings The empirical results show that foreign and state ownership are associated with a less likelihood of paying dividends, while other ownership variables (family involvement, domestic financial institutions and minority shareholders) are insignificant in affecting the probability of paying dividends. However, all the ownership variables have a significantly negative impact on dividend payout ratio and dividend yield. Hence, the paper presents consistent evidence that increasing ownership of foreign investors and the state in general reduces the need for paying dividends in the Turkish market. Research limitations/implications Because of the absence of empirical research on how ownership structure may affect dividend policy and the data unavailability for earlier periods in Turkey, the paper cannot make comparison between the pre-and post-2003 periods. Nevertheless, this paper can be a valuable benchmark for further research. Practical implications The paper reveals that cash dividends are not used as a monitoring mechanism by investors in Turkey and the expropriation argument through dividends for Turkish families is relatively weak. Accordingly, the findings of this paper may benefit policymakers, investors and fellow researchers, who seek useful guidance from relevant literature. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first to examine the link between ownership structure and dividend policy in Turkey after the implementation of major reforms in 2003.

The impact of board composition and ownership structure on dividend payout policy: evidence from Saudi Arabia

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Helmi A. Boshnak
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Ownership Structure ◽  
Dividend Policy ◽  
Payout Policy ◽  
Board Composition ◽  
Dividend Payout ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Listed Firms ◽  
Propensity To Pay ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThis study examines the impact of board composition and ownership structure variables on dividend payout policy in Saudi Arabian firms. In particular, it aims to determine the effect of board size, independence and meeting frequency, in addition to chief executive officer (CEO) duality, and state, institutional, managerial, family, and foreign ownership on both the propensity to pay dividends and dividend per share for Saudi-listed firms over the period 2016–2019.Design/methodology/approachThe paper captures dividend policy with two measures, propensity to pay dividends and dividend per share, and employs a range of regression methods (logistic, probit, ordinary least squares (OLS) and random effects regressions) along with a two-stage least squares (2SLS) model for robustness to account for heteroscedasticity, serial correlation and endogeneity issues. The data set is a large panel of 280 Saudi-listed firms over the period 2016 to 2019.FindingsThe results underline the importance of board composition and the ownership structure in explaining variations in dividend policy across Saudi firms. More specifically, there is a positive relationship between the propensity to pay dividends and board-meeting frequency, institutional ownership, firm profitability and firm age, while the degree of board independence, firm size and leverage exhibit a negative relation. Further, dividend per share is positively related to board meeting frequency, institutional ownership, foreign ownership, firm profitability and age, while it is negatively related to CEO duality, managerial ownership, and firm leverage. There is no evidence that family ownership exerts an impact on dividend payout policy in Saudi firms. The findings of this study support agency, signalling, substitute and outcome theories of dividend policy.Research limitations/implicationsThis study offers an important insight into the board characteristic and ownership structure drivers of dividend policy in the context of an emerging market. Moreover, the study has important implications for firms, managers, investors, policymakers, and regulators in Saudi Arabia.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the existing literature by providing evidence on four board and five ownership characteristic drivers of dividend policy in Saudi Arabia as an emerging stock market, thereby improving on less comprehensive previous studies. The study recommends that investors consider board composition and ownership structure characteristics of firms as key drivers of dividend policy when making stock investment decisions to inform them about the propensity of investee firms to pay dividends and maintain a given dividend policy.

Does religion matter to dividend policy? Evidence from Buddhism and Taoism in China

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 510-541 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chunfang Cao ◽  
Fansheng Jia ◽  
Xiaowei Zhang ◽  
Kam C. Chan
Keyword(s):  
Dividend Policy ◽  
Ethical Guidelines ◽  
Dividend Payout ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Informal Institution ◽  
Listed Firms ◽  
Corporate Behavior ◽  
Unethical Practices ◽  
Multiple Regression Method ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the relation between Buddhism/Taoism and dividend payout decisions among Chinese listed firms during 2003-2013. Design/methodology/approach The authors include all Chinese A-share listed stocks in their sample during 2003-2013 and use a multiple regression method to conduct their analyses. Findings Their findings suggest that firms in regions with high influence of Buddhism and Taoism lean toward having high dividend payouts. The results are robust to a battery of alternative specifications in dividend payout, religiosity measures, research methods and dividend regulation regimes. Originality/value They show that the religions of Buddhism/Taoism play a role in determining dividend payout, complementing other informal institution studies of dividend policy. They complement the literature by providing insights into the impact of Buddhism and Taoism on corporate behaviors beyond immoral or unethical practices. They are able to relate specific doctrinal tenets of Buddhism and Taoism to corporate behavior rather than using only the general moral and ethical guidelines of religiosity.

Determinants of dividend policy: evidence from an emerging and developing market

2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 413-429 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Jayantha Dewasiri ◽  
Weerakoon Banda Yatiwelle Koralalage ◽  
Athambawa Abdul Azeez ◽  
P.G.S.A. Jayarathne ◽  
Duminda Kuruppuarachchi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dividend Policy ◽  
State Ownership ◽  
Free Cash Flow ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Dividend Yield ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Dividend Payout ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Investment Opportunities ◽  
Propensity To Pay

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify the determinants of dividend policy in an emerging and developing market.Design/methodology/approachThe study employs a quantitative approach using 191 Sri Lankan firms and 1,337 firm-year observations as the sample. The authors apply a Binary Logistic Regression model to uncover the determinants of the propensity to pay dividends, and a Fixed Effect Panel Regression to investigate the determinants of dividend payout.FindingsThe authors identify past dividend decision, earnings, investment opportunities, profitability, free cash flow (FCF), corporate governance, state ownership, firm size and industry influence as the key determinants of propensity to pay dividends. In addition past dividends, investment opportunities, profitability and dividend premium are identified as the determinants of dividend payout. Moreover, there is a feedback between dividend yield and profitability in one lag and between dividend yield and dividend premium in two lags, as short-term relationships. Hence, past dividend decision or payout, profitability and investment opportunities are a common set of determinants with implications for both propensity to pay dividends and its payout. The findings support theories of dividends such as signaling, outcome, catering, life cycle, FCF and pecking order.Practical implicationsThe findings are important for investors, managers and future research. Investors should focus on the determinants identified by our study when making investment decisions whereas managers should practice the same when formulating appropriate dividend policies for their firms. Future research should rely on propensity to pay dividends and its payout simultaneously to promote a theoretical consensus on the dividend determinant puzzle.Originality/valueThis is the first study that investigates determinants of propensity to pay dividends and dividend payout along with short-term relationships in a single study.

Corporate governance and payout policy: evidence from India

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 1117-1132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monika Rajput ◽  
Shital Jhunjhunwala
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Ownership Structure ◽  
Dividend Policy ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Family Ownership ◽  
Board Independence ◽  
Dividend Payout ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Significant Positive Influence

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to study the impact of ownership structure and corporate governance on dividend policy in emerging markets, like India. The study also analyses the moderation effects of board independence between ownership and dividend payout. Design/methodology/approach The data set of 1,546 Indian firms over the period of 2006-2017 has been used in this study. Tobit and logistic regression methods has been used. The data used in this study are collected from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) Prowess database. The sample firms are listed on Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and National Stock Exchange (NSE). Findings First, the study finds a significant positive influence of corporate governance on the decision to pay dividend and is an important determinant of the payout decision. Second, the study finds a significant negative relationship of family ownership with dividend payout decisions which indicates that family firms pay lower dividend. Finally, the result from the interaction effect of board independence with family ownership has significant positive influence on dividend policy. Originality/value This is one of the first attempt to show that there is an interaction between independent board and ownership structure. It shows that more independent and non-executive directors in the board of family controlled firms are likely to pay more dividends.

scholarly journals Ownership structure and demand for independent directors: evidence from an emerging market

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 335-342
Author(s):  
Quoc Trung Tran
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Ownership Structure ◽  
Agency Costs ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
State Ownership ◽  
Independent Directors ◽  
Minority Shareholders ◽  
Foreign Investors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Insider Ownership

PurposeIn this study, we examine how ownership structure affects the use of independent directors in Vietnam – an emerging stock market.Design/methodology/approachWe develop logit and tobit regression models to investigate the effects of ownership structure on the propensity to use independent directors and the number of independent directors on the board, respectively. Insider ownership and the use of independent directors are proposed to have a non-linear relationship.FindingsWith a sample of 1,318 observations collected from 192 listed firms over the period from 2008 to 2017, we find that insider ownership and independent director appointment have a U-shaped relationship. It is positive when insiders hold a small proportion of shares, and turns out to be negative when insiders hold a large percentage of shares. In addition, both state ownership and foreign ownership are negatively related to firm decisions of appointing independent directors.Practical implicationsOur findings imply that minority shareholders should have appropriate actions to reduce agency costs and protect their own interests. In addition, policymakers should improve the effectiveness of corporate governance legislation to increase the presence of independent directors in order to protect minority shareholders. Moreover, government agencies also need to increase the number of independent directors in state-controlled firms as a means to improve their corporate governance. Foreign investors may be a substitute for independent directors; therefore, firms without independent directors are able to improve their corporate governance by attracting foreign investors.Originality/valueWhile the extant literature shows that independent directors can help firms decrease agency costs of equity in financial decisions and performance, there are relatively few studies investigating corporate decisions to use independent directors. This paper contributes to the literature of corporate governance mechanisms through independent directors in emerging markets.

Ownership structure and dividend policy in Indonesia

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 230-252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Doddy Setiawan ◽  
Bandi Bandi ◽  
Lian Kee Phua ◽  
Irwan Trinugroho
Keyword(s):  
Ownership Structure ◽  
Family Firms ◽  
Ownership Concentration ◽  
Board Structure ◽  
Minority Shareholders ◽  
Dividend Payout ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Positive Effect

Purpose This research aims to examine the effect of ownership structure on dividend policy using the Indonesian context. The most common ownership structure is concentrated in the hand of family owners except in the UK and USA (La Porta et al., 1998, 2000). Family owners hold more than half of the companies in Indonesia (Carney & Child, 2013; Claessens et al., 2000). Family firms play an important role in Indonesia. Another important characteristic that emerges is the rise of government- and foreign-controlled firms in Indonesia. Thus, this research also divides ownership concentration into family firms, government-controlled and foreign-controlled firms. Design/methodology/approach Samples of this research consist of dividend announcements during 2006-2012 in Indonesian Stock Exchange. This research excluded financial data because these have characteristics that are different non-financial sectors’ characteristics. The final sample of this research consists of a 710 firm-year observation. Findings The result of this research shows that ownerships have a positive effect on dividend payout. This research divides the sample into family-controlled firms, government-controlled firms (GOEs) and foreign-controlled firms. This research shows that government- and foreign-controlled firms have a positive impact on dividend payout. However, family firms have a negative effect on the dividend payout. Family firms pay lower dividends because they prefer to control it themselves. Family firms earn benefit from those resources, but at the expense of minority shareholders. Thus, family firms engage in expropriation to minority shareholders. Research limitations/implications This study focuses on ownership structure of Indonesian listed firm. This study does not analyze the impact of other corporate governance mechanism such as board structure on dividend decisions. The owner of the companies (family, government and foreign firm) has an opportunity to put their member as part of board members. However, this study does not analyze the impact of board structure on dividend decisions. Originality/value This study provides evidence that ownership concentration positively affects dividend payout. However, there is a different effect of ownership structure (family-controlled firms, GOEs and foreign-controlled firm). Government- and foreign-controlled have a positive effect; however, family-controlled firm have a negative effect on dividend payout. Therefore, this study provides evidence of the importance of ownership structure on dividend decision.

How Moroccan institutional investors view dividend policy

2017 ◽  
Vol 43 (12) ◽  
pp. 1332-1347 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Kent Baker ◽  
Imad Jabbouri
Keyword(s):  
Institutional Investors ◽  
Stock Prices ◽  
Dividend Policy ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Mail Survey ◽  
High Response Rate ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Listed Firms ◽  
Dividend Policies ◽  
Dividend Payments

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine how Moroccan institutional investors view dividend policy. It discusses the importance these investors attach to the dividend policy of their investee firms, how much influence they exercise in shaping investee firms’ dividend policies, their reactions to changes in dividends, and their views on various explanations for paying dividends. Design/methodology/approach A mail survey provides a respondent and firm profile and responses to 28 questions involving various explanations for paying dividends and 30 questions on different dividend issues. Findings Institutional investors attach substantial importance to dividend policy and prefer high dividend payments. Although liquidity needs are a major driver, taxes play little role in shaping dividend preferences. Respondents agree with multiple explanations for paying dividends giving the strongest support to catering, bird-in-the-hand, life cycle, signaling, and agency theories. Research limitations/implications Despite a high response rate, the number of respondents limits partitioning the sample and testing for significant differences between different groups. Practical implications The lack of communication between Casablanca Stock Exchange (CSE) listed firms and institutional investors may depress stock prices and increase volatility. The results suggest agency problems and a weak governance environment at the CSE. Originality/value This study documents the importance that institutional investors place on dividend policy, their reactions to changes in their investees’ dividend policy, and the methods used to influence these firms. It extends previous research by reporting the level of support Moroccan institutional investors give to various explanations for paying dividends.

How does ownership structure affect the financing and dividend decisions of firm?

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tahar Tayachi ◽  
Ahmed Imran Hunjra ◽  
Kirsten Jones ◽  
Rashid Mehmood ◽  
Mamdouh Abdulaziz Saleh Al-Faryan
Keyword(s):  
Ownership Structure ◽  
Dividend Policy ◽  
Generalized Method Of Moments ◽  
Institutional Ownership ◽  
Agency Cost ◽  
Debt Financing ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Managerial Ownership ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Ownership structure deals with internal corporate governance mechanism, which plays important role in minimizing conflict of interests between shareholders and management Ownership structure is an important mechanism that influences the value of firm, financing and dividend decisions. This paper aims to examine the impact of the ownership structures, i.e. managerial ownership, institutional ownership on financing and dividend policy. Design/methodology/approach The authors use panel data of manufacturing firms from both developed and developing countries, and the generalized method of moments (GMM) is applied to analyze the results. The authors collect the data from DataStream for the period of 2010 to 2019. Findings The authors find that managerial ownership and ownership concentration have significant and positive effects on debt financing, but they have significant and negative effects on dividend policy. Institutional ownership shows a positive impact on financing decisions and dividend policy for sample firms. Originality/value This study fills the gap by proving the policy implications for both firms and investors, as managers prefer debt financing, but at the same time try to ignore dividend payment. Therefore, investors may not invest in firms with a higher proportion of managerial ownership and may choose to invest more in institutional ownership, which lowers the agency cost.

scholarly journals Extract Or Not Extract? The Effect of Familism on Stock Option Plans

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Arena ◽  
Simona Catuogno ◽  
Alessandro Cirillo ◽  
Luca Pennacchio
Keyword(s):  
Family Involvement ◽  
Family Firms ◽  
Stock Option ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Minority Shareholders ◽  
Rent Extraction ◽  
Strike Price ◽  
Listed Firms ◽  
Market Index ◽  
Managerial Positions

<p>There is an ongoing debate in managerial literature regarding the aim of stock option plans (SOPs). In this paper we analyse whether and to what extent the family involvement in ownership and managerial positions affects the use of SOPs as tools to extract rents. By examining a sample of plans issued by Italian listed firms, we classify the SOPs according to their characteristics (i.e. vesting period, lock-up, strike price, market index) and identify three different clusters namely Rent SOPs, Non-Rent SOPs, Hybrid. After controlling for CEO family, board size, equity owned by minority shareholders, and other firm-specific characteristics, we find that family firms are less likely to adopt SOPs for rent extraction purpose. We also find that SOPs specifically granted to family members are less likely to pursue rent extraction goals. Our findings are robust against different specifications of family firms. This paper offers important theoretical contributions to management research and insightful policy implications for all family owned listed firms.</p>

Board performance and its relation to dividend payout: evidence from Malaysia

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ravichandran Subramaniam ◽  
Mahenthiran Sakthi
Keyword(s):  
Board Of Directors ◽  
Capital Market ◽  
Performance Measure ◽  
Corporate Boards ◽  
Minority Shareholders ◽  
Dividend Payout ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Return On Capital ◽  
The Board Of Directors ◽  
Board Performance

PurposeTo examine the board of directors’ performance and if higher performance helps protect minority shareholders in an emerging capital market. Additionally, we determine if the different types of company ownership moderate the level of protection to minority shareholders.Design/methodology/approachThe study develops a measure of board performance with their compensation. And it tests its association with the dividend payout decision of 300 of the largest Malaysian public listed companies (referred to as PLCs) over the period 2008 to 2014.FindingsThe results find that higher board productivity in terms of return on capital employed is associated with higher dividend payout. Additionally, the study finds that the board performance measure interacts with race, ethnicity and gender of the board of directors and CEO duality to affect the dividend payout decision of Malaysian PLCs.Research limitations/implicationsIt is a single-country study of large Malaysian PLCs. And it uses only the governance mechanisms that have been shown in emerging capital markets to have the most significant effect on affecting the relationship between board performance and dividend payout.Practical implicationsThe findings show the importance of inclusivity and diversity in governing State-controlled firms in an emerging capital market.Originality/valueThe findings suggest improving corporate boards’ performance, protecting minority shareholders and contributing to the corporate governance literature. Notably, the study highlights boardroom diversity’s importance to enhance the boards of State-controlled firms’ performance.

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