University of the Witwatersrand Wits Business School Master of Finance and Investment (MMFI) / Using panel data analysis, this paper empirically examined the relationship between corporate governance and dividend payout for a sample of 109 firms listed on the JSE securities exchange over the period 2009-2013. The results show that board composition is positively related to dividend payout while institutional ownership is negatively related to dividend payout. Our findings also show a positive association between firm growth and dividend payout.

This study investigates payouts in Swedish family firms by focusing on both the level and speed of adjustment of dividends. In addition, the use of dual-class shares in family firms is examined to further identify potential drivers of payout differences between family-controlled companies and non-family firms. Agency theory and previous studies suggest that high and stable payouts are used by controlling families to mitigate minority shareholders’ concerns of being expropriated. We find that family firms in Sweden do not differ from non-family firms in their payouts. The results could be seen as an indication of expropriation if minority shareholders should be compensated for higher agency costs, but it could also be that family control does not worsen agency conflicts between majority and minority shareholders. Rather, other ownership structures such as the use of dual-class shares to gain control in excess of ownership seem to be associated with higher levels of payouts. Neither do family firms smooth their dividends more than non-family firms. Instead, they adapt towards their target dividend at a higher pace.

I investigate the effect of shareholder rights and information asymmetry on option-related repurchase activity. Prior research shows that the dilution effect of the exercise of the employee stock options on earnings per share (EPS) decreases the value of stock options. Thus, managers tend to use stock repurchases rather than dividends to return cash to shareholders (the dividend substitution effect). I document that the executive stock option incentives to repurchase stock as a substitute for dividends are stronger when firms have weak shareholder rights and the level of information asymmetry positively influences managerial stock option incentives to repurchase stock. Furthermore, prior research indicates that information asymmetry is positively associated with stock repurchases. I also provide evidence indicating that the relationship between information asymmetry and stock repurchases is stronger when firms have weaker shareholder rights. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2015. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Made available in DSpace on 2015-12-03T18:33:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Roberto_Carlos_Madoglio1.pdf: 822251 bytes, checksum: c07141d6ae8ddc58faa83a1276053aa8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-09-03 / Try to find strategies for investments are core in financial economics. The investment environment has become more complex. Earnings are the most important determinant of common stock prices and return on investments comes from capital apreciation and income.This paper presents a dividend oriented investing strategy with quantitative approach. Althrough strategy treats dividend as main criteria this paper have integrated others factors in the security selection process. So, the focus is not only on high dividend yields, but diversifying across all sectors making the income come from a broad spectrum of industries. Pattern of growth, company size and liquidity are added to analysis trying to find the best combination of characteristics for a stock. The ease of application was a main guide because quantitative models often involves usage of advanced mathematics, statiscs, and computer methods of which only a minority of investment community have a functional working knowledge. Despite the inherent limitations of back testing and simulating trading, this model has a potential large range of purpose. It coul be useful for Institutional investors, funds, as well as retails investors, always for long period investments / A busca por estrat??gias de investimentos ?? um tema fundamental para a economia financeira. O ambiente e as alternativas de investimento t??m se tornado cada vez mais complexos. O retorno de um investimento decorre n??o s?? da valoriza????o no pre??o da a????o, mas tamb??m dos rendimentos recebidos ao longo do tempo por esta a????o. Este trabalho apresenta uma estrat??gia de investimento orientada para os dividendos, com uma abordagem quantitativa. Embora a estrat??gia proposta trate do dividendo como principal crit??rio, outros fatores foram integrados ao processo de sele????o de ativos. Assim, o foco n??o foi o da busca por pap??is com maiores dividendos recebidos, mas tamb??m a diversifica????o por setores de modo que o investimento seja realizado abragendo um amplo espectro de ind??strias. Padr??o de crescimento, tamanho da empresa e a liquidez em bolsa foram tamb??m adicionados ?? an??lise, na tentativa de se encontrar a melhor combina????o de caracter??sticas de uma a????o. A facilidade de utiliza????o da estrat??gia apresentada foi uma diretriz para sua elabora????o, pois modelos quantitativos, muitas vezes envolvem o uso de matem??tica avan??ada, estat??stica e pesados sistemas informatizados, aos quais apenas uma minoria de comunidade de investimento tem o conhecimento de trabalho funcional. Apesar das limita????es inerentes de volta ensaios e simula????o de negocia????o, este modelo tem um potencial de grande variedade de prop??sitos. Ele poder?? ser ??til para os investidores institucionais, fundos de investimento bem como pequenos investidores, desde que objetivem investimento por longo prazo

Este trabalho objetiva explorar, teórica e empiricamente, a relevância dos dividendos com o valor patrimonial na valorização do preço das ações listadas na BM&FBOVESPA. Para tal, levantou-se a seguinte questão-problema: Que modelo têm um maior poder de explicação dos números contábeis, com base nas empresas listadas na BM&FBOVESPA: valor patrimonial e dividendo ou valor patrimonial e resultados reportados? Como referencial teórico foi utilizado os modelos desenvolvidos primeiramente por Ohlson (1995; 2003; 2005) e como forma alternativa os modelos desenvolvidos por Brief e Zarowin (1999) e de Pourheydari et al (2008) e como base de dados as empresas não financeiras com ações negociadas na BM&FBOVESPA do período de 1997 a 2007. A metodologia aplicada foi de análise de regressões simples e multivariadas, através da proposta de Brief e Zarowin (1999) e de Pourheydari et al (2008), análise da tendência do R2 e dos valores incrementais das variáveis usadas no cálculo. Concluiu-se que dividendos têm importante papel nos modelos de valorização de ações, com relevância informacional (R2) maior, mas, em alguns anos da amostra essa relevância foi menor. Tal fato, no Brasil, pode ser aparentemente devido à (i) contabilidade ser voltada para o atendimento ao fisco e o mercado de crédito; e (ii) à concentração acionária do mercado brasileiro; e ainda a predominância de um mercado acionário voltado ao curto prazo em contraponto se comparado a mercados mais maduros e com uma cultura de investimento voltado a longo prazo, como os Estados Unidos. / This work aims at to explore, theoretical and empirically, the relevance of the dividends and the patrimonial value in the valuation of stocks price listed in the Brazilian Stock Market called BM&FBOVESPA. For help this task raise up the following subjectproblem: What model has a higher link with the accounting numbers, with base in the listed companies in BM&FBOVESPA: Book Value and Dividends or Book Value and Reported Earnings? As theoretical referential was used the models developed firstly by Ohlson (1995; 2003; 2005) and as alternative form the models developed by Brief and Zarowin (1999) and Pourheydari et al (2008) and as data base the non-financial companies with actions negotiated in BM&FBOVESPA of the period of 1997 the 2007. The applied methodology was of analysis of regression - simple regressions and multivariate, through the proposal of Brief and Zarowin (1999) and of Pourheydari et al (2008), analysis of the tendency of R2 and the values of the variables used in the calculation. As conclusion it right to state that dividends have important rule in the models of valuation of assets, with higher informational relevance (R2), but, in some years of the sample that relevance was smaller. Such fact, in Brazil, it can be seemingly due to the following (i) accounting drives to the tax authorities and the credit market; and (ii) higher concentration in the stock market in the Brazil; and still the predominance of a stock market returned to the short-time in counterpoint of long-term investment if compared to more development markets such as the American.

We investigate the impact of cash reserves upon the optimal behaviour of a modelled firm that has uncertain future revenues. To achieve this, we build up a corporate financing model of a firm from a Real Options foundation, with the option to close as a core business decision maintained throughout. We model the firm by employing an optimal stochastic control mathematical approach, which is based upon a partial differential equations perspective. In so doing, we are able to assess the incremental impacts upon the optimal operation of the cash constrained firm, by sequentially including: an optimal dividend distribution; optimal equity financing; and optimal debt financing (conducted in a novel equilibrium setting between firm and creditor). We present efficient numerical schemes to solve these models, which are generally built from the Projected Successive Over Relaxation (PSOR) method, and the Semi-Lagrangian approach. Using these numerical tools, and our gained economic insights, we then allow the firm the option to also expand the operation, so they may also take advantage of favourable economic conditions.

Leung Shek Ling Olivia. / "August 2004." / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 62-64). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese.

My thesis is concentrated on double taxation issues in European Union countries. Target is to describe various systems of dividends taxation in different EU countries and compare them with system that Czech Republic uses, to evaluate how effectively are double taxation eliminated based on the double taxation treaties. Efficiency of double taxation avoidance is measured by calculation of value "overtaxation". In the theoretical part of the thesis are the term double taxation defined and the reasons of their source and methods of their elimination are mentioned. Practical part is dedicated to comparison how the different countries are handling with dividends taxation in their domestic legislation and furthermore the ways of dividends taxation in their double taxation treaties are explained. In the conclusion of the thesis are the topics for the practice given, and the actual tax system of Czech Republic development is described.

Esta pesquisa busca analisar a influência da tributação e da governança corporativa sobre as políticas de dividendos das companhias de capital aberto brasileiras no período de 1986 a 2011, através de estimações Probit e Tobit com dados em painel. Particularmente no Brasil houve diversas mudanças na legislação tributária dentro do período analisado, sendo assim uma boa oportunidade para esse estudo. Os resultados empíricos sugerem que: a) quando houve aumento no Lucro Por Ação, o percentual do lucro distribuído em forma de proventos foi maior nos períodos em que não houve incidência de tributação e menor quando houve incidência de tributação; b) companhias estatais distribuíram menos dividendos do que companhias privadas; c) companhias que distribuíram dividendos também distribuíram Juros Sobre Capital Próprio; d) companhias que possuem governança corporativa tendem a distribuir mais dividendos. / This paper investigates the influence of taxes and corporate governance on dividend policy of Brazilian public companies in the years 1986 to 2011, using panel data Probit and Tobit estimation. There are several tax law changes particularly in Brazil within the period analyzed, creating a good opportunity to study dividend policy. Empirical results suggests that (a) when Earnings Per Share increased, the percentage of profits distributed in the form of dividends was higher in periods in which there was no incidence of taxation and lower when there was incidence of taxation; (b) state owned companies paid less dividends than private companies; (c) companies that paid dividends also paid Interest On Equity Capital; (d) companies under corporate governance best practices tend to pay more dividends.

This study is an empirical examination of a new theory that links dividends to institutional ownership in a framework of both information signaling and agency costs. Under this theory put forth by Allen, Bernardo and Welch in 2000, dividends are paid out to attract tax-favored institutional investors, thereby signaling good firm quality and/or more efficient monitoring. This is based on the premise that institutions are considered sophisticated investors with superior ability and stronger incentive to be informed about the firm quality compared to retail investors. On the agency level, institutional investors display monitoring capabilities, and can detect and correct managerial pitfalls, thus their presence serves as an assurance that the firm will remain well run. The study provides a comprehensive analysis of the implications of the theory by testing various aspects of the relationship between dividends and institutional holdings. Unlike the prevalent literature on this topic, I give specific attention to the different types of institutional investors and their incentives to invest in dividend paying stocks. Moreover, I analyze the signaling and the agency effects on the market reaction to dividend initiations within the framework proposed by the theory. Finally, I test the smoothing effect institutions have on dividends by examining the firm's propensity to increase dividends given the level of institutional ownership. I find institutional holders to respond positively to dividend initiation announcements as they adjust their portfolios by buying or increasing their holdings of the dividend paying stock following the announcement. I also find that this response is displayed more strongly among tax-favored institutions. My test results also reveal that positive abnormal returns to dividend initiation announcements are a decreasing function of institutional holdings in the dividend initiating firm, and that this mitigating effect of institutional ownership on the market reaction to dividend initiations is stronger for firms with higher information asymmetry and more potential for agency problems. This evidence lends some degree of support to the tested theory. Additional support to lies in the test results of its smoothing hypothesis which reveal that as institutional ownership increases, the propensity of firms to increase dividends decreases.