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Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1970. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Wealth maximisation for shareholders is a combination of dividend payouts and an increase in share price. Management, as custodians of shareholder interest, should therefore consciously work towards influencing the share price favourably. The purpose of this study is to examine and analyse, through an empirical study, dividend policy and the effect, if any, it has on the value of shares by conducting a survey among financial managers to measure their views regarding dividends and share value and to either validate or disprove the academic explanation of the practice of paying dividends.

M.Comm.

published_or_final_version / abstract / Business / Master / Master of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / abstract / Economics and Finance / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Not available / text

Accounting information is an integral part of the information set used by investors. However, accrual based accounting earnings are susceptible to earnings management. Investors are concerned about earnings management since earnings management can distort reported earnings and they may make decisions that they otherwise would not have made. The purpose of this thesis is to examine the impact of earnings management on the informativeness of reported earnings about firm value and analysts' forecasts. Chapter 2 develops an earnings management model and examines the impact of earnings management on income smoothing and the earnings response coefficient. Chapter 3 critically reviews the existing discretionary accrual models and discusses the measurements of earnings management and income smoothing, which are used in the subsequent empirical chapters. Chapter 4 empirically examines the impact of earnings management on the earnings response coefficient after controlling either for the smoothness of pre-managed earnings or for the smoothness of reported earnings. Firms are further decomposed into income smoothing and variance-increasing earnings management firms and the same analyses are repeated. Chapter 5 examines the impact of smoothness of reported earnings and earnings management on the equilibrium demand for analysts' services and the properties of analysts' forecasts. This thesis contributes to our understanding of the impact of earnings management on firm value and analysts' forecasts by providing empirical evidence consistent with the hypothesis that the financial market and analysts are aware of the nature of a firm's discretionary accrual policy, and use their beliefs about the firm's discretionary accrual policy in assessing firm value and deciding whether to follow the firm.

Management’s response to shareholders’ return on investment as a priority occurs in an increasingly dynamic environment. Accompanying these activities is the need to realign responsibilities and to allocate scarce resources effectively. This is done in order to ensure that companies achieve global competitiveness and increase shareholders’ return on investment. Against this backdrop, local industry needs to find new methods or strategies in order to achieve world-class competitiveness, and to be able to access foreign investment. One way to achieve these goals is through Value Based Management (VBM). The objective of this study is to evaluate the strategic intent of Multinational Entities in applying VBM to increase shareholders’ return on investment. Based on the study, certain factors are critical to ensure the success of VBM. A postal survey to managers in the motor manufacturing and component manufacturing companies was conducted to check the managers’ familiarity with VBM, and their scope, and usage of VBM; and, based on the finding, to evaluate the impact of VBM on companies’ results. The empirical finding was compared with a literature review, and the following findings were made: There is a strong understanding and application of the VBM principle on the part of local entities with Foreign Direct Investment (FDI); Departmental performance is critical to an entity’s overall performance; Based on the study, 23 per cent of the respondents use Economic Value Added (EVA) as an internal reporting measure, and an average of 19 per cent use other metrics; A total of 89 per cent of respondents indicated that they strongly agree with the use of incentives for motivation. The above-mentioned points were covered by means of 4-M framework ― that is: Measurement, Management, Motivation, and Mindset.

Accounting information is an integral part of the information set used by investors. However, accrual based accounting earnings are susceptible to earnings management. Investors are concerned about earnings management since earnings management can distort reported earnings and they may make decisions that they otherwise would not have made. The purpose of this thesis is to examine the impact of earnings management on the informativeness of reported earnings about firm value and analysts' forecasts. Chapter 2 develops an earnings management model and examines the impact of earnings management on income smoothing and the earnings response coefficient. Chapter 3 critically reviews the existing discretionary accrual models and discusses the measurements of earnings management and income smoothing, which are used in the subsequent empirical chapters. Chapter 4 empirically examines the impact of earnings management on the earnings response coefficient after controlling either for the smoothness of pre-managed earnings or for the smoothness of reported earnings. Firms are further decomposed into income smoothing and variance-increasing earnings management firms and the same analyses are repeated. Chapter 5 examines the impact of smoothness of reported earnings and earnings management on the equilibrium demand for analysts' services and the properties of analysts' forecasts. This thesis contributes to our understanding of the impact of earnings management on firm value and analysts' forecasts by providing empirical evidence consistent with the hypothesis that the financial market and analysts are aware of the nature of a firm's discretionary accrual policy, and use their beliefs about the firm's discretionary accrual policy in assessing firm value and deciding whether to follow the firm. / Business, Sauder School of / Graduate