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The effect of ownership concentration and composition on dividends: Evidence from Latin America

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  • Gonzalez, Maximiliano
  • Molina, Carlos A.
  • Pablo, Eduardo
  • Rosso, John W.

Abstract

We analyze a unique data set of publicly traded firms based in six Latin American countries to study the joint effect of ownership concentration and composition on dividend policy. We find that when ownership concentration is high and the largest investor is identified as an individual, firms tend to pay fewer dividends consistent with individual investors extracting benefits from minority shareholders. However, if the largest shareholder is based in a common law country, the dividend paid is significantly higher. Finally, greater ownership by the second largest shareholder decreases firm dividends suggesting the monitoring role of a large shareholder.

Suggested Citation

  • Gonzalez, Maximiliano & Molina, Carlos A. & Pablo, Eduardo & Rosso, John W., 2017. "The effect of ownership concentration and composition on dividends: Evidence from Latin America," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 1-18.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ememar:v:30:y:2017:i:c:p:1-18
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ememar.2016.08.018
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    2. Song, Xiaobao & Yao, Mingan & Su, Wunhong & Lin, Danming, 2021. "The impact of ultimate controller’s ownership on cash dividend policy based on a comparative analysis between owner-management and professional-management modes," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 57(C).
    3. Gniadkowska-Szymańska Agata, 2017. "Impact of a Company’s Dividend Policy on the Liquidity of Shares Listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange," Financial Internet Quarterly (formerly e-Finanse), Sciendo, vol. 13(3), pages 24-32, September.
    4. Renneboog, Luc & Szilagyi, Peter G., 2020. "How relevant is dividend policy under low shareholder protection?," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    5. Samuel Mongrut Montalvan & Carlos Mario Ramirez Arango & Julian Usma Patiño, 2023. "Corporate Governance and Dividend Policy: Evidence from Colombia," Remef - Revista Mexicana de Economía y Finanzas Nueva Época REMEF (The Mexican Journal of Economics and Finance), Instituto Mexicano de Ejecutivos de Finanzas, IMEF, vol. 18(4), pages 1-19, Octubre -.
    6. Kant, Chander, 2018. "Financial openness & institutions in developing countries," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 240-250.
    7. Tahir, Muhammad & Ibrahim, Haslindar & Zulkafli, Abdul Hadi & Mushtaq, Muhammad, 2020. "Corruption, national culture, law and dividend repatriation policy," Journal of Multinational Financial Management, Elsevier, vol. 57.
    8. Henrique Castro Martins, 2020. "The Brazilian bankruptcy law reform, corporate ownership concentration, and risk‐taking," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 41(4), pages 562-573, June.
    9. Suman, Samridhi & Singh, Shveta, 2022. "The Role of Multiple Large Shareholders in Dividend Payouts: Evidence from India," American Business Review, Pompea College of Business, University of New Haven, vol. 25(1), pages 120-151, May.
    10. Duqi, Andi & Jaafar, Aziz & Warsame, Mohammed H., 2020. "Payout policy and ownership structure: The case of Islamic and conventional banks," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 52(1).
    11. Farooq, Omar & Ahmed, Neveen, 2019. "Dividend policy and political uncertainty: Evidence from the US presidential elections," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 201-209.
    12. Briano-Turrent, Guadalupe D.C. & Li, Mingsheng & Peng, Hongfeng, 2020. "The impact of family-CEOs and their demographic characteristics on dividend payouts: Evidence from Latin America," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    13. Gaitán, Sandra & Herrera-Echeverri, Hernán & Pablo, Eduardo, 2018. "How corporate governance affects productivity in civil-law business environments: Evidence from Latin America," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 173-185.
    14. Regina M. Lizares, 2022. "Ownership concentration and board structure: Alignment and entrenchment effects in an emerging market," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 43(6), pages 2557-2569, September.
    15. Martínez-García, Irma & Basco, Rodrigo & Gómez-Ansón, Silvia, 2021. "Dancing with giants: Contextualizing state and family ownership effects on firm performance in the Gulf Cooperation Council," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 12(4).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Dividends; Ownership concentration; International corporate governance;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • 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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