Share:


Dividend payouts: majority control and rent extraction

    Seniha Besim Affiliation
    ; Cahit Adaoglu Affiliation

Abstract

In Eurasia, Turkey has a “crony” capitalist system with majority control and business groups (BGs) in the hands of a few families. These business groups are often organised around a holding company. We analyse the dividend payouts of family controlled Borsa Istanbul companies, which are affiliated to holding and non-holding BGs. We investigate and quantify the effects of several control-enhancing mechanisms (CEMs) on dividend payouts. We use precise quantitative proxies for CEMs to measure the divergence between control and ownership rights. Supporting the rent extraction hypothesis, holding business group companies have lower dividend payouts as the divergence between control and ownership rights widens and the pyramid wedge increases. However, controlling foreign-family coalitions in holding business group companies curb the rent extraction problem by having a positive effect on the dividend payouts. Overall, for family controlled holding BG companies, the effects of company-specific financial control variables on dividend payouts are stronger than the effects of CEMs. For family controlled non-holding BG companies, there is no empirical support for either the rent extraction or the reputation building hypotheses. The company-specific financial control variables are the main determinants of dividend payouts for family controlled non-holding BG companies.

Keyword : dividend, control, ownership, holding, foreign, rent extraction, reputation building, substitution, expropriation

How to Cite
Besim, S., & Adaoglu, C. (2018). Dividend payouts: majority control and rent extraction. Journal of Business Economics and Management, 19(4), 648-672. https://doi.org/10.3846/jbem.2018.6808
Published in Issue
Dec 13, 2018
Abstract Views
950
PDF Downloads
793
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

References

Adams, R., & Ferreira, D. (2008). One share-one vote: the empirical evidence. Review of Finance, 12(1), 51-91. https://doi.org/10.1093/rof/rfn003

Adaoglu, C. (2000). Instability in the dividend policy of the Istanbul Stock Exchange (ISE) corporations: evidence from an emerging market. Emerging Markets Review, 1(3), 252-270. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1566-0141(00)00011-X

Adaoglu, C. (2008). Dividend policy of the ISE industrial corporations: the evidence revisited (1986-2007). Journal of BRSA Banking and Financial Markets, 2(2), 113-136.

Adjaoud, F., & Ben-Amar, W. (2010). Corporate governance and dividend policy: shareholders’ protection or expropriation? Journal of Business Finance and Accounting, 37(5-6), 648-667. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-5957.2010.02192.x

Aivazian, V., Booth, L., & Cleary, S. (2003). Do emerging market firms follow different dividend policies from U.S. firms? The Journal of Financial Research, 26(3), 371-387. https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-6803.00064

Almeida, H., Park, S., Subrahmanyam, M., & Wolfenzon, D. (2007). Beyond cash flow and voting rights: valuation and performance of firms in complex ownership structures. EFA 2008 Athens Meetings Paper. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1101865

Alzahrani, M., & Lasfer, M. (2012). Investor protection, taxation, and dividends. Journal of Corporate Finance, 18(4), 745-762. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcorpfin.2012.06.003

Amoako-Adu, B., Baulkaran, V., & Smith, B. F. (2014). Analysis of dividend policy of dual and single class U.S corporations. Journal of Economics and Business, 72, 1-29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeconbus.2013.10.002

Anderson, R. C., & Reeb, D. M. (2003). Founding-family ownership and firm performance: evidence from the S&P 500. Journal of Finance, 58(3), 1301-1328. https://doi.org/10.1111/1540-6261.00567

Baba, N. (2009). Increased presence of foreign investors and dividend policy of Japanese firms. Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, 17(5), 163-174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pacfin.2008.04.001

Baker, H. K., Kilincarslan, E., & Arsal, A. H. (2018). Dividend policy in Turkey: survey evidence from Borsa Istanbul firms. Global Finance Journal, 35, 43-55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gfj.2017.04.002

Bena, J., & Hanousek, J. (2008). Rent extraction by large shareholders: evidence using dividend policy in the Czech Republic. Czech Journal of Economics and Finance, 58(3-4), 106-130.

Benavides, J., Berggrun, L., & Perafan, H. (2016). Dividend payout policies: evidence from Latin America. Finance Research Letters, 17, 197-210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.frl.2016.03.012

Bennedsen, M., & Nielsen, K. M. (2010). Incentive and entrenchment effects in European ownership. Journal of Banking and Finance, 34(9), 2212-2229. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbankfin.2010.02.007

Bertrand, M., Mehta, P., & Mullainathan, S. (2002). Ferreting out tunneling: an application to Indian business groups. Quarterly Journal of Economics, 117(1), 121-148. https://doi.org/10.1162/003355302753399463

Black, F. (1976). The dividend puzzle. Journal of Portfolio Management, 2(2), 5-8. https://doi.org/10.3905/jpm.1976.408558

Botoc, C., & Pirtea, M. (2014). Dividend payout-policy drivers: evidence from emerging countries. Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, 50(4), 95-112. https://doi.org/10.2753/REE1540-496X5004S407

Bradford, W., Chen, C., & Zhu, S. (2013). Cash dividend policy, corporate pyramids, and ownership structure: Evidence from China. International Review of Economics & Finance, 27(C), 445-464. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iref.2013.01.003

Brennan, M. (1970). Taxes, market valuation and corporate financial policy. National Tax Journal, 23,
417-427.

Brockman, P., & Unlu, E. (2011). Earned/contributed capital, dividend policy, and disclosure quality: an international study. Journal of Banking and Finance, 35(7), 1610-1625. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbankfin.2010.11.014

Bulan, L., & Hull, T. (2013). The impact of technical defaults on dividend policy. Journal of Banking and Finance, 37(3), 814-823. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbankfin.2012.10.014

Byrne, J., & O’Connor, T. (2012). Creditor rights and the outcome model of dividends. The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, 52(2), 227-242. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.qref.2012.04.002

Casado, R. B., Burkert, M., Dávila, A., & Daniel, O. (2016). Shareholder protection: the role of multiple large shareholders. Corporate Governance: An International Review, 24(2), 105-129. https://doi.org/10.1111/corg.12131

Chen, E. T., & Nowland, J. (2010). Optimal board monitoring in family owned companies: evidence from Asia. Corporate Governance: An International Review, 18(1), 3-17. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8683.2009.00778.x

Chen, X., Yong, S., & Xiaodong, X. (2016). Free cash flow, over-investment and corporate governance in China. Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, 37, 81-103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pacfin.2015.06.003

Chen, Z., Cheung, Y. L., Stouraitis, A., & Wong, A. W. S. (2005). Ownership concentration, firm performance, and dividend policy in Hong Kong. Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, 13, 431-449. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pacfin.2004.12.001

Coulton, J. J., & Ruddock, C. (2011). Corporate payout policy in Australia and a test of the life-cycle theory. Accounting and Finance, 51, 381-407. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-629X.2010.00356.x

Dahlquist, M., Robertsson, G., & Rydqvist, K. (2014). Direct evidence of dividend tax clienteles. Journal of Empirical Finance, 28, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jempfin.2014.05.003

DeAngelo, H., & DeAngelo, L. (2006). The irrelevance of the MM dividend irrelevance theorem. Journal of Financial Economics, 79, 293-315. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfineco.2005.03.003

DeAngelo, H., DeAngelo, L., & Stulz R. (2006). Dividend policy and the earned/contributed capital mix: a test of the life-cycle theory. Journal of Financial Economics, 81, 227-254. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfineco.2005.07.005

De Cesari, A. (2012). Expropriation of minority shareholders and payout policy. The British Accounting Review, 44(4), 207-220. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bar.2012.09.002

Demirag, I., & Serter, M. (2003). Ownership patterns and control in Turkish listed companies. Corporate Governance: An International Review, 11(1), 40-51. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8683.00300

Desai, M. A., & Jin, L. (2011). Institutional tax clienteles and payout policy. Journal of Financial Economics, 100(1), 68-84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfineco.2010.10.013

Easterbrook, F. H. (1984). Two agency-cost explanations of dividends. The American Economic Review, 74(4), 650-659.

Elton, E. J. & Gruber, M. J. (1970). Marginal stockholder tax rates and the clientele effect, Review of Economics and Statistics, 52(1), 68-74. https://doi.org/10.2307/1927599

Faccio, M., Lang, L. H. P., & Young, L. (2001). Dividends and expropriation. American Economic Review, 91(1), 54-78. https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.91.1.54

Faccio, M., & Lang, L. H. P. (2007). The ultimate ownership of western European corporations. In A. I. Ruud, van Frederikslust, J. S. Ang, P. S. Sudarsanam, Corporate Governance and Corporate Finance: A European Perspective (pp. 163-190). London: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203940136

Friedman, E., Johnson, S., & Mitton, T. (2003). Propping and tunneling. Journal of Comparative Economics, 31(4), 732-750. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jce.2003.08.004

González, M., Guzmán, A., Pombo, C., & Trujillo, M. A. (2014). Family involvement and dividend policy in closely held firms. Family Business Review, 27(4), 365-385. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894486514538448

González, M., Molina C. A., Pablo, E., & Rosso J. W. (2017). The effect of ownership concentration and composition on dividends: evidence from Latin America. Emerging Markets Review, 30, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ememar.2016.08.018

Gordon, M. J. (1963). Optimal investment and financing policy. Journal of Finance, 18, 264-272.Grullon, G., Michaely, R., & Swaminathan, B. (2002). Are dividend changes a sign of firm maturity. Journal of Business, 75(3), 387-424. https://doi.org/10.1086/339889

Gugler, K., & Yurtoglu, B. B. (2003). Corporate governance and dividend payout policy in Germany. European Economic Review, 47(4), 731-758.

Harada, K., & Nguyen, P. (2011). Ownership concentration and dividend policy in Japan. Managerial Finance, 37(4), 362-379. https://doi.org/10.1108/03074351111115313

Isakov, D., & Weisskopf, J. P. (2015). Pay-Out policies in founding family firms. Journal of Corporate Finance, 33(C), 330-344. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcorpfin.2015.01.003

Iturriaga, F. L., & Crisóstomo, V. L. (2010). Do leverage, dividend payout, and ownership concentration influence firms’ value creation? An analysis of Brazilian firms. Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, 46(3), 80-94. https://doi.org/10.2753/REE1540-496X460306

Jacob, M., & Michaely, R. (2017). Taxation and dividend policy: the muting effect of agency issues and shareholder conflicts. Review of Financial Studies, Forthcoming. https://doi.org/10.1093/rfs/hhx041

Jensen, M. C., & Meckling, W. H. (1976). Theory of the firm: managerial behavior, agency costs and ownership structure. Journal of Financial Economics, 3(4), 305-360. https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-405X(76)90026-X

Jensen, M. C. (1986). Agency costs of free cash flow, corporate finance, and takeover. American Economic Review, 76, 323-329.

Jiraporn, P., & Ning, Y. (2006). Dividend policy, shareholder rights, and corporate governance. Journal of Applied Finance, 16(2), 24-36. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.931290

Johnson, S., La Porta, R., Lopez-De-Silanes, F., & Shleifer, A. (2000). Tunnelling. American Economic Review, 90(2), 22-27. https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.90.2.22

Karpavičius, S., & Yu, F. (2017). How institutional monitoring creates value: evidence for the free cash flow hypothesis. International Review of Economics & Finance, 52, 127-146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iref.2017.10.016

Khanna, T., & Yafeh, Y. (2010). Business groups in emerging markets: paragons or parasites? In The Oxford Handbook of Business Groups. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199552863.003.0020

Kuo, L. (2017). Reputation as a governance mechanism? Evidence from payout policy of insider-controlled firms inTaiwan. Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, 44(9-19), 1443-1476. https://doi.org/10.1111/jbfa.12261

La Porta, R., Lopez-de-Silanes, F., & Shleifer, A. (1999). Corporate ownership around the world. Journal of Finance, 54(2), 471-517. https://doi.org/10.1111/0022-1082.00115

La Porta, R., Lopez-De-Silanes, F., Shleifer, A., & Vishny, R. W. (2000). Agency problems and dividend policies around the world. Journal of Finance, 55(1), 1-33. https://doi.org/10.1111/0022-1082.00199

Lins, K. V. (2003). Equity ownership and firm value in emerging markets. The Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, 38(1), 159-184. https://doi.org/10.2307/4126768

Lintner, J. (1956). American economic association distribution of incomes of corporations among dividends, retained earnings, and taxes. The American Economic Review, 46(2), 97-113.

Lintner, J. (1962). Dividends, earnings, leverage, stock prices and supply of capital to corporations. The Review of Economics and Statistics, 64, 243-269. https://doi.org/10.2307/1926397

Litzenberger, R. H., & Ramaswamy, K. (1979). The effects of personal taxes and dividends on capital asset prices: Theory and empirical evidence. Journal of Financial Economics, 7, 163-195. https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-405X(79)90012-6

Liu, M., & Magnan, M. (2011). Self-dealing regulations, ownership wedge, and corporate valuation: international evidence. Corporate Governance, 19(2), 99-115. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8683.2010.00839.x

Mancinelli, L., & Ozkan, A. (2006). Ownership structure and dividend policy: evidence from Italian firms. The European Journal of Finance, 12(3), 265-282. https://doi.org/10.1080/13518470500249365

Masulis, R. W., Wang, C., & Xie, F. (2009). Agency problems at dual-class companies. Journal of Finance, 64(4), 1697-1727. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6261.2009.01477.x

Mian, R., & Nagata, K. (2015). Foreign institutional ownership and the valuation effect of investment and payout decisions. Journal of Finance and Economics, 3(5), 97-104. https://doi.org/10.12691/jfe-3-5-3

Miller, M., & Modigliani, F. (1961). Dividend policy, growth, and the valuation of shares. The Journal of Business, 34(4), 411-433. https://doi.org/10.1086/294442

Mitton, T. (2004). Corporate governance and dividend policy in emerging markets. Emerging Markets Review, 5(4), 409-426. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ememar.2004.05.003

Moortgat, L., Annaert, J., & Deloof, M. (2017). Investor protection, taxation and dividend policy: long-run evidence, 1838–2012. Journal of Banking & Finance, 85, 113-131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbankfin.2017.08.013

Pindado, J., Requejo, I., & Torre, C. (2012). Do family firms use dividend policy as a governance mechanism? Evidence from the Euro zone. Corporate Governance: An International Review, 20(5), 413-431. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8683.2012.00921.x

Pirgaip, B., & Karacaer, S. (2015). Short-term price effects of stock repurchases in Turkish capital markets. International Journal of Economics and Finance, 7(12), 29-43. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2650418

Sacristán- Navarro, M., Gómez-Anson, S. & Cabeza, L. (2011). Large shareholder’s combinations in family firms: prevalence and performance effects. Journal of Family Business Strategy, 2(2), 101-112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfbs.2011.03.001

Setia-Atmaja, L., George A. T., & Skully, M. (2009). The role of dividends, debt and board structure in the governance of family controlled firms. Journal of Business Finance and Accounting, 36(7-8), 863-898. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-5957.2009.02151.x

Setia-Atmaja, L. (2016). The impact of family control on dividend policy: Evidence from Indonesia. The International Research Journal of Business Studies, 9(3), 147-156. https://doi.org/10.21632/irjbs.9.3.147-156

Shleifer, A., & Vishny, R. W. (1997). A survey of corporate governance. The Journal of Finance, 52(2), 737-783. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6261.1997.tb04820.x

Thanatawee, Y. (2011). Life-cycle theory and free cash flow hypothesis: evidence from dividend policy in Thailand. International Journal of Financial Research, 2(2). https://doi.org/10.5430/ijfr.v2n2p52

Tran, Q. T., Alphonse, P., & Nguyen, X. M. (2017). Dividend policy: shareholder rights and creditor rights under the impact of the global financial crisis. Economic Modelling, 64, 502-512. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econmod.2017.03.010

Tvaronavičiene, M., & Kalašinskaite, K. (2005). Analysis of privatization: different approaches. Journal of Business Economics and Management, 6(1), 53-59.

Villalonga, B., & Amit, R. (2006). How do family ownership, control, and management affect firm value? Journal of Financial Economics, 80(2), 385-417. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfineco.2004.12.005

Villalonga, B., & Amit, R. (2009). How are U.S. family firms controlled? Review of Financial Studies, 22(8), 3047-3091. https://doi.org/10.1093/rfs/hhn080

World Economic Forum. (2017). The Global Competitiveness Report 2017–2018. World Economic Forum Reports 2017.

Yurtoglu, B. B. (2000). Ownership, control and performance of Turkish listed firms. Empirica, 27(2), 193-222. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026557203261

Yurtoglu, B. B. (2003). Corporate governance and implications for minority shareholders in Turkey. Corporate Ownership and Control, 1(1), 72-86. https://doi.org/10.22495/cocv1i1p9