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Effect of Taxation on Equal Access Share Buybacks in Australia

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  • CHRISTINE BROWN
  • KATRINA EFTHIM

Abstract

In Australia, equal access share buybacks can be structured so that a portion of the buyback price is designated as a fully franked dividend. The tax benefits derived from this structure imply that off‐market buybacks are sometimes offered to shareholders at a discount to the current market price. This is in contrast to the United States, which operates under a classical taxation system, and where off‐market buybacks are generally executed at a premium to the market price. The situation in Australia provides a unique opportunity to add to our understanding of taxation explanations for how and why companies buy back their shares. We find that the size of the discount of the offer price to the current share price is significantly related to the proportion of the buyback price designated a franked dividend. Analysis of the after‐tax benefits to shareholders leads us to conclude that the structure of many equal access buybacks in Australia is advantageous to superannuation funds holding the stock.

Suggested Citation

  • Christine Brown & Katrina Efthim, 2005. "Effect of Taxation on Equal Access Share Buybacks in Australia," International Review of Finance, International Review of Finance Ltd., vol. 5(3‐4), pages 199-218, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:irvfin:v:5:y:2005:i:3-4:p:199-218
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-2443.2006.00055.x
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    Cited by:

    1. Christine Brown & Daniel Norman, 2010. "Management choice of buyback method: Australian evidence," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 50(4), pages 767-782, December.
    2. Hussein Abedi Shamsabadi & Byung-Seong Min & Richard Chung, 2016. "Corporate governance and dividend strategy: lessons from Australia," International Journal of Managerial Finance, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 12(5), pages 583-610, October.
    3. Hussein Abedi Shamsabadi & Byung S. Min & Imen Tebourbi & Mohammad Nourani, 2020. "Corporate Governance in Australia: Share Repurchases under an Imputation Tax System," Capital Markets Review, Malaysian Finance Association, vol. 28(1), pages 1-23.
    4. Jacob, Martin, 2010. "Taxation, Dividends, and Share Repurchases: Taking Evidence Global," Working Paper Series, Center for Fiscal Studies 2010:10, Uppsala University, Department of Economics.
    5. Christine Brown & John Handley & James O'Day, 2015. "The Dividend Substitution Hypothesis: Australian Evidence," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 51(1), pages 37-62, March.
    6. Ji, Philip Inyeob, 2016. "Is corporate payout taxation a long run phenomenon? Evidence from international data," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 84-100.
    7. Asjeet S. Lamba & Vivek M. Miranda, 2010. "The Role of Executive Stock Options in On‐Market Share Buybacks," International Review of Finance, International Review of Finance Ltd., vol. 10(3), pages 339-363, September.
    8. Hue Hwa Au Yong & Christine Brown & Chloe Choy Yeing Ho, 2014. "Off-Market Buybacks in Australia: Evidence of Abnormal Trading around Key Dates," International Review of Finance, International Review of Finance Ltd., vol. 14(4), pages 551-585, December.
    9. Ota, Koji & Lau, David, 2021. "Share repurchases on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Trading Network," Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).

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