This paper analyzes the taxation on foreign dividends in comparative tax law. In particular, we study the European and North American system. Finally, we want to assess the Spanish system to avoid international double taxation and its reform, which will be put in force in 2015. / El trabajo tiene por objeto exponer cuál es el gravamen de los dividendos de fuente extranjera en el Derecho comparado, partiendo de la experiencia europea y la norteamericana. Dicho análisis tiene por finalidad última valorar el sistema español de eliminación de la doble imposición internacional, así como, sobre todo, su reforma, que entrará en vigor en 2015.

Made available in DSpace on 2008-05-13T13:47:40Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 1850.pdf: 600111 bytes, checksum: 512f00eac39c4e25d72fa4b37ecc7e97 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005-04-12 / Using Brazilian financial data for some shares traded in the Brazilian Stock Market (BOVESPA) we test the expectation hypothesis of present value models discounted by a constant factor. This model relates the price of a stock to its expected dividends. To perform econometric testing we use mainly the jointly restriction through Wald Test in a Vector Autoregression framework, as well as alternative testing procedures. The empirical results partially support the present value model discounted by a constant factor to predict prices for stock through its expected dividends. / Através de dados financeiros de ações negociadas na Bolsa de Valores de São Paulo, testa-se a validade do modelo de valor presente (MVP) com retornos esperados constantes ao longo do tempo (Campbell & Schiller, 1987). Esse modelo relaciona o preço de uma ação ao seu esperado fluxo de dividendos trazido a valor presente a uma taxa de desconto constante ao longo do tempo. Por trás desse modelo está a hipótese de expectativas racionais, bem como a hipótese de previsibilidade de preço futuro do ativo, através da inserção dos dividendos esperados no período seguinte. Nesse trabalho é realizada uma análise multivariada num arcabouço de séries temporais, utilizando a técnica de Auto-Regressões Vetoriais. Os resultados empíricos apresentados, embora inconclusivos, permitem apenas admitir que não é possível rejeitar completamente a hipótese de expectativas racionais para os ativos brasileiros.

Submitted by Cristiane Shirayama (cristiane.shirayama@fgv.br) on 2011-06-02T18:28:22Z No. of bitstreams: 1 66070100195.pdf: 1353793 bytes, checksum: a50ab2b0ae0c20bf56ebe00e51c01065 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Vera Lúcia Mourão(vera.mourao@fgv.br) on 2011-06-02T20:11:06Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 66070100195.pdf: 1353793 bytes, checksum: a50ab2b0ae0c20bf56ebe00e51c01065 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Vera Lúcia Mourão(vera.mourao@fgv.br) on 2011-06-02T20:32:19Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 66070100195.pdf: 1353793 bytes, checksum: a50ab2b0ae0c20bf56ebe00e51c01065 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2011-06-03T17:29:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 66070100195.pdf: 1353793 bytes, checksum: a50ab2b0ae0c20bf56ebe00e51c01065 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-04-20 / The purpose of this study is to analyze the nominal price evolution of listed companies and confirm whether the nominal price puzzle can be seen in the Brazilian capital markets. The nominal prices of sampled shares have not followed the positive evolution of the São Paulo Stock Exchange Index (IBOVESPA) during the analyzed period, given that share prices were controlled by a series of stock splits and share dividends. From the evidences of the nominal price puzzle in Brazil, this study sought to understand managers’ motivations to make such decisions to control nominal prices. The methodology applied in this study consists of creating portfolio of shares based on nominal prices and analyzing the financial returns of those portfolios. This methodology was based on Hwang e Lu (2008), which present that nominal share prices in the United States are relevant and returns are inversely related to nominal share prices. This fact can contribute in the explanation of manager’s motivations to actively control nominal share prices. This relationship between nominal share price and financial returns could not be seen in Brazil. / Este trabalho tem como objetivo analisar a evolução dos preços nominais de ações de empresas brasileiras listadas e verificar se o nominal price puzzle ocorre no mercado acionário brasileiro. Constatou-se que os preços nominais da amostra de ações não vêm acompanhando a evolução positiva do Índice da Bolsa de Valores de São Paulo (IBOVESPA) durante o período analisado, uma vez que os preços das ações sofreram influência de certos mecanismos de controle, como por exemplo, desdobramento e bonificações de ações. A partir dos indícios do nominal price puzzle, buscou-se entender as motivações que levam as empresas brasileiras a controlarem os preços nominais de suas ações. A metodologia aplicada nesse estudo consiste na formação de carteiras de ações a partir do critério de preços nominais e análise dos retornos dessas carteiras. Essa metodologia foi baseada no trabalho de Hwang e Lu (2008), que mostram que o preço das ações no mercado acionário americano em termos nominais é relevante, e os retornos obtidos com ações são inversamente relacionados com os preços nominais das mesmas. Esse fato pode contribuir na explicação da motivação para os administradores optarem por controlar os preços das ações. No Brasil, essa relação inversa entre preço nominal e retorno não pode ser verificada.

I början av 2018 började den nya standarden IFRS 9, framtagen av IASB, gälla. Standarden ersätter den tidigare IAS 39 som behandlar finansiella instrument och är framtagen efter den stora finanskrisen under 2000-talet. I samband med implementeringen av IFRS 9 kan ett företags klassificerings, omklassificerings, redovisning och värdering samt nedskrivning av finansiella tillgångar påverkas annorlunda. Till följd av detta kommer det uppstå större skillnader mellan det svenska regelverket K3, som grundats på IFRS, och den nya standarden i IFRS beträffande finansiella tillgångar. Studien är en komparativ analys med typfall där tre fiktiva företag jämförs för att se vilka skillnader som finns mellan K3 och RFR 2/IFRS i hanteringen av finansiella tillgångar. De delar som belyses i studien är klassificering, omklassificering, redovisning och värdering samt nedskrivning. Skillnaderna som uppstår analyseras främst ur ett modifierat intressentperspektivmed inslag av positiv redovisningsteori och möjligheter till utdelning för investerare. Analysen i studien utgår till stor del från de kvalitativa egenskaperna som anges i IASB:s föreställningsram och i Bokföringsnämndens (BFN) vägledning för K3. De kvalitativa egenskaperna analyseras utifrån ett modifierat intressentperspektiv med investerare och företagsledare i fokus. Investerare har ett ekonomiskt intresse i företag och efterfrågarekonomisk information från företag som kan påverka deras prognoser och beslutstagande. Företagsledare använder den ekonomiska informationen för att kunna fatta viktiga beslut iföretaget. Det är även viktigt för företagsledaren att se om ett av regelverken har en större positiv effekt på redovisningen och därför är att föredra. Studiens syfte är att belysa de mest väsentliga skillnaderna angående finansiella tillgångar och deras förfarande och hur dessa skillnader påverkar investerare och företagsledare samtutdelningsmöjligheterna i ett företag. En redogörelse av de båda redovisningsstandarderna görs i början av studien för en lättare läsförståelse och för att ge läsaren en förståelse av de bådaregelverken. Analysen gällande de kvalitativa egenskaperna utifrån intressentteorin hjälper till att belysa de mest signifikanta skillnaderna mellan K3 och RFR 2/IFRS 9.Resultatet från studien visar att skillnaderna mellan regelverken främst är redovisningsteknisk i hur den finansiella informationen presenteras. Samtidigt som den största skillnaden mellanK3 och RFR 2/IFRS 9 gällande nedskrivningar inte har någon effekt på ekonomin i företaget på lång sikt. Slutsatserna från studien är att ett företag som väljer att tillämpa RFR 2/IFRS framför K3 kommer en del av de kvalitativa egenskaperna stärkas sett ur studiens intressentperspektiv. Väljer ett företag istället att tillämpa K3 kommer deras utdelningsmöjligheter upplevas starkare i ett tidigare skede på grund av periodiseringseffekterna. Vidare har studien praktiskt bidragit till att visa hur företag i praktiken kan tillämpa standarderna K3 och RFR 2/IFRS 9. Detta hjälper ett företag att välja vilken standard de ska välja när de står i ett vägval mellan vilken av standarderna de ska tillämpa. / At the beginning of 2018, the new International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS 9) developed by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), began to be valid. The standard replaces the previous International Accounting Standard (IAS) 39, which deals with financial instruments, and is developed after the major financial crisis during the 2000s. In correlation to the implementation of IFRS 9, a company's classification, reclassification, recognition and valuation and impairment of financial assets may be affected differently. As a result, there can be major differences between the Swedish regulatory framework K3, that is based on IFRS, and the new IFRS standard for financial assets. This study is a comparative analysis with hypothetical cases where three fictitious companies are compared to highlight the differences that exist between K3 and Rådet för finansiell rapportering (RFR) 2/IFRS in the management of financial assets. The parts that are brought up in the study are classification, reclassification, accounting and valuation as well as impairment. The differences that arise are mainly analyzed from a modified stakeholder perspective with elements of positive accounting theory and opportunities for dividend. The analysis in this study is largely based on the qualitative characteristics stated in the IASB Performance Framework and in the Accounting Board's guidance for K3. The qualitative characteristics are analyzed based on a stakeholder perspective with investors and business leaders in focus. Investors have a financial interest in companies and request financial information from companies that may affect their forecasts and decision making. Business executives use the financial information to make important decisions in the company. It is also important for the business manager to see if one of the standards has a positive effect on the accounting and is therefore preferable. The purpose of this study is to highlight the most significant differences regarding financial assets, their procedures and how these differences affect investors and business managers but also the dividend opportunities of a company. A presentation of the two regulations is made at the beginning of the study for an easier reading comprehension and to give the reader an understanding of the two accounting standards. The analysis of stakeholder theory helps to highlight the differences in K3 and RFR 2/IFRS 9 for the analysis of the qualitative characteristics of the report. The results in this study shows that the differences between the regulations are primarily accounting techniques in how the financial information is presented. At the same time the main difference between K3 and RFR 2/IFRS 9 regarding impairment does not affect the long-term economy of the company. The conclusions from the study shows that some of the companies qualitative characteristics will be strengthened if they choose to apply RFR 2/IFRS instead ofK3, seen from the perspective of the stakeholders in the study. If a company chooses to applyK3 instead, their dividend opportunities will be a lot bigger in an earlier stage due to the accrual effects. In addition, the study has practically contributed to demonstrate how companies effectively can apply the standards K3 and RFR 2/IFRS 9, that determine which of the standards will suit them best when choosing between them.

År 2002 startades ett gemensamt harmoniseringsprojekt, Norwalk-agreement, mellan IASB och FASB. Projektet bottnade i ett behov av att lättare kunna jämföra internationella företag samt att bemöta komplexiteten kring intäktsredovisning. Av Norwalk-agreement framställdes IFRS 15 vilken är den nya internationella redovisningsstandarden för intäkter. IFRS 15 kommer träda i kraft 1:e januari 2018 och ersätter alla tidigare standarder vad gäller intäkter från försäljning av varor och tjänster.Syftet med denna studie är att kartlägga eventuella skillnader som kan uppstå i och med att en ny standard för intäkter implementeras. Studien kommer fokusera på intäkter som härrör från försäljning av varor och tjänster och undersöka vilka konsekvenser detta kan få på företagsbeskattning, intressenter och särskilda nyckeltal. Studien kommer även undersöka om den goda redovisningsseden i Sverige påverkas. För att uppnå studiens syfte har fyra typfall konstruerats vilka blivit inspirerade av svenska rättskällor. Dessa typfall har i sin tur analyserats genom att tillämpa standarderna IFRS 15 och IAS 18. Metoden för studien är en kvalitativ innehållsanalys med abduktiv ansats och studien är av förutsägande karaktär.Studiens typfall och resultat visar på att implementeringen av IFRS 15 kommer ge förändringar vid vilken tidpunkt redovisning ska ske av varor och tjänster vilket föranleds av en förändring av kriterierna för recognition. Detta ger upphov till att företagsbeskattning, nyckeltal samt utdelningsmöjligheter förändras vilka i sin tur påverkar intressenternas relation till företag. Vidare visar resultatet att en möjlig förändring av god redovisningssed föreligger.Slutligen visar studien på att IFRS 15 är en mindre principbaserad standard där den så kallade femstegsmodellen erbjuder en mer omfattande vägledning än nuvarande intäktsstandard IAS 18. / In 2002, a joint harmonization project, the Norwalk Agreement, was initiated by the IASB and FASB. The project was based on the need to more easily compare international companies and to address the complexity of revenue recognition. The Norwalk Agreement resulted in IFRS 15, which is the new international accounting standard for revenue. The new standard, IFRS 15, will come into effect on January 1 2018 and supersedes all previous standards regarding revenue from sales of goods and services.The purpose of this study is to identify possible differences that may arise as a new standard of revenue is implemented. The study will focus on revenue derived from sales of goods and services and investigate the impact this may have on corporate taxation, stakeholders and selected key performance indicators. The study will also investigate whether generally accepted accounting principles in Sweden is affected. In order to achieve the purpose of the study, four theoretical example cases have been constructed that have been inspired by Swedish sources of law. These example cases have been analysed by applying IFRS 15 and IAS 18. The methodology of the study is a qualitative content analysis with abductive character and is a predictive study.The empirical findings of the study indicate that the implementation of IFRS 15 will give rise to changes in the reporting of goods and services resulting from a change of recognition. This impacts corporate taxation, key ratios and dividend opportunities, which in turn affects stakeholder relationships with companies. Furthermore, the findings show that a possiblechange in generally accepted accounting principles in Sweden is at hand.Finally, the study shows that IFRS 15 is a less principle-based standard where the so-called five-step model offers more comprehensive guidance than the current revenue standard IAS 18.This paper is written in Swedish.

The diploma thesis deals with the new legal regulation of trading companies. The aim is to present the legal regulation of trading companies and so to connect the Business corporation act with the accounting and tax regulations. The first part presents the basic aspects of the regulation of trading companies in the system of the new legal regulation. It deals with the mutual position of the new Civil code and the Business corporation act and occupies itself with the general reglation of legal persons, that applies to trading companies. This part is being followed with the presentation of general requirements of the Business corporation act. The second part analyses the personal companies, where the special attention is dedicated to deposit duty, that can be paid for by doing work. The last part presents the capital companies and the special attention is dedicated ty paying of prepayments on share on profit (dividends) in these companies. The thesis is completed with a lot of practical examples and diagrams.

Many theorists have linked dividends with the ability to carry signals regarding a firm’s expected financial performance. Despite being grounded on a sound theoretical framework, empirical evidence has failed to unanimously corroborate the dividend signalling hypothesis, with some authors resignedly concluding that dividends are the puzzle of finance literature. Recent empirical evidence has shown that limiting the dividend signalling hypothesis to earnings has contributed to that puzzle. To try and decipher the puzzle, this study extends the dividend signalling hypothesis to measures of financial performance seldom linked with dividend signalling such as liquidity and gearing. Using panel data regression models and data for 39 firms listed on the JSE from 1995 to 2016, the study reveal that when one controls for the mean reversion and autocorrelation of profitability, dividends lose the power to signal earnings. The results further show that managers in South Africa use dividends to signal expected changes in liquidity and gearing. / Business Management / M. Phil. (Accounting Sciences)

Dans un environnement économique toujours plus compétitif, tendu et incertain, les entreprises doivent faire preuve d’adaptabilité, de précaution et d’anticipation. Ce manuscrit aborde ainsi plusieurs thématiques liées à ce constat, qui touchent de près la notion de gestion de trésorerie. Le premier essai de cette thèse montre que la distribution d’un dividende en actions permet aux entreprises de temporairement réduire la rémunération de leurs actionnaires, sans être sanctionnées par ces derniers. Ce mécanisme permet aux entreprises de conserver liquidités et flexibilité en période de contraction de l’économie. Le second essai traite du lien entre risque client et politique de gestion des liquidités. Un risque client accru semble alors pousser les entreprises à détenir plus de trésorerie et à moins recourir aux lignes de crédit. Enfin, le troisième essai justifie de l’intérêt d’établir des relations clients-fournisseurs de long terme. Ces partenariats apparaissent alors comme une source d’efficience et de profitabilité accrues du cycle opérationnel des entreprises. / The increasingly competitive and uncertain economic environment requires firms to show caution and to anticipate their needs. Based on this observation, this thesis discusses several topics that are closely related to corporate cash management choices. The first chapter of this thesis show that offering an optional stock dividend enables firms to temporarily reduce cash outflows to shareholders without being penalized by the market. This peculiar type of payout then allows firms to maintain their levels of liquidity and flexibility during economic downturns. The second chapter focuses on the link between customer risk and corporate liquidity management choices. High customer risk then appears to firms holding higher cash reserves compared to credit lines. Finally, the third chapter highlights the benefits of maintaining long-term buyer-supplier relationships. These partnerships then arises as sources of increased operating efficiency and profitability for firms.

It is in the area of the regulation of a company's share capital and distributions to shareholders that the inherent conflict between creditors and shareholders, and the fragile balance among shareholders internally, intersect. The share capital of a company underlies its corporate structure and represents not only its initial own funds from which creditors can be paid, but also the relative equity interests of the shareholders. The balance between shareholders can be disturbed by capital reorganisations through increase, reduction or variation of share capital or through disproportionate contributions by, or distributions to, shareholders. Share repurchases are particularly risky in this regard. Creditor interests are affected when their prior right to payment is endangered by distributions to shareholders. This study analyses the South African Law relating to share capital and distributions against the background of a comparative study of the laws of England, New Zealand, Delaware and California, as well as the provisions of the American Model Business Corporations Act. Two main approaches to creditor protection are evident. The capital maintenance doctrine, which is followed in England and Delaware, protects creditors by emphasising the notional share capital of the company as a limit on distributions. In contrast, the solvency and liquidity approach focuses on the net assets of the company and on its ability to pay its debts. New Zealand, California and the Model Business Corporations Act represent this approach. Regulatory responses to shareholder protection range from insistence on compliance with procedural requirements to minimal statutory intervention in the internal affairs of companies, instead relying on general principles of fairness and good faith. There is little correlation between a particular system's approach to creditor protection on the one hand, and to shareholder protection on the other. England, New Zealand and South Africa prescribe specific formalities, while the American approach is more relaxed. South Africa is a hybrid system. Its transition from capital maintenance to solvency and liquidity has been incomplete and its protection of equity interests is relatively unsophisticated. A number of recommendations are made for an effective and coherent approach that will safeguard the interests of creditors and shareholders alike. / School: Law / LL.D.

The disclosure of headline earnings is one of the JSE Limited (JSE)’s listing requirements. All listed entities are required to comply with this disclosure requirement. Guidance in the form of The Circular on headline earnings is issued by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA), and is updated every time when there are changes to the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The Circular adopts a rules-based approach and specifies what is included and excluded in the calculation of headline earnings. The rules consist of general rules, which apply to all entities other than those industry groups with special provisions such as the life insurance entities. This study questions whether a rules-based headline earnings approach or a principles-based approach is more appropriate for the calculation of headline earnings of listed property entities on the JSE, for economic decision-making purposes. The research method consisted of questionnaires that were sent out to stakeholders. The responses from the CFOs and investment analysts show that principles-based headline earnings guidance is preferred over rules-based headline earnings guidance. / Business Management / M. Phil (Accounting Sciences)