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Corporate payout policy in dual-class firms

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  • Jordan, Bradford D.
  • Liu, Mark H.
  • Wu, Qun

Abstract

We examine corporate payout policy in dual-class firms. The expropriation hypothesis predicts that dual-class firms pay out less to shareholders because entrenched managers want to maximize the value of assets under control and the associated private benefits. The pre-commitment hypothesis predicts that dual-class firms pay out more to shareholders because firms use corporate payouts as a pre-commitment device to mitigate agency costs. Our results support the pre-commitment hypothesis. Dual-class firms have higher cash dividend payments and total payouts, and they use more regular cash dividends rather than special dividends or repurchases, compared to their propensity-matched single-class firms. Dual-class firms with severe free cash flow-related agency problems and few growth opportunities rely even more on corporate payouts as a pre-commitment mechanism. We also rule out the alternative explanation that dual-class firms pay out more because super-voting shareholders lack the ability to generate home-made dividends by selling shares since super-voting shares are often non-tradable or very illiquid.

Suggested Citation

  • Jordan, Bradford D. & Liu, Mark H. & Wu, Qun, 2014. "Corporate payout policy in dual-class firms," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 26(C), pages 1-19.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:corfin:v:26:y:2014:i:c:p:1-19
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jcorpfin.2014.02.004
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    6. Lauterbach, Beni & Pajuste, Anete, 2015. "The long-term valuation effects of voluntary dual class share unifications," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 171-185.
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    8. Sah, Nilesh B. & More, Deepak G., 2022. "Dual class firms and trade credit," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 46(PA).
    9. Kokoreva, Maria S. (Кокорева, Мария) & Stepanova, Anastasia N. (Степанова, Анастасия) & Karnoukhova, Elena V. (Карноухова, Елена), 2016. "What We Do not Know about the Ownership Structure of the Largest U.S. Companies? [Чего Мы Не Знаем О Структуре Собственности Крупнейших Компаний Сша?]," Ekonomicheskaya Politika / Economic Policy, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, vol. 6, pages 36-59, December.
    10. Lin, James Juichia & Shi, Wei-Zhong & Tsai, Li-Fang & Yu, Min-Teh, 2022. "Corporate cash and the Firm's life-cycle: Evidence from dual-class firms," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 27-48.
    11. Li, Xiaodan & Jiao, Yang & Yu, Min-Teh & Zhao, Yang, 2019. "Founders and the decision of Chinese dual-class IPOs in the U.S," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 57(C).
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    15. Winston Pontoh, 2016. "The Motives behind Dividend Policy," International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), vol. 0(2), pages 29-40.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Dual class shares; Voting rights; Cash flow rights; Dividends; Payout policy; Stock repurchase;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance
    • G35 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Payout Policy

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