IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijfss/v12y2024i2p57-d1417302.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Share Repurchases and Corporate Sustainability: Evidence from South Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Frank Mouton

    (School of Accountancy, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa)

  • Carly Londt

    (School of Accountancy, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa)

  • Gerhard Cloete

    (School of Accountancy, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa)

  • Wynand Hattingh

    (School of Accountancy, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa)

  • Gretha Steenkamp

    (School of Accountancy, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa)

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between share repurchases and corporate sustainability in South Africa during 2011–2019. According to stakeholder theory, companies may feel a sense of obligation to not only distribute returns to shareholders through share repurchases but also to other stakeholders by investing in environmental, social or governance (ESG)-related projects. Our study, the first of its kind in the context of an emerging economy, reported a positive relationship between share repurchases and corporate sustainability in South Africa (proxied using ESG scores)—specifically social scores. The emphasis on the social, rather than the environmental, dimensions of ESG might result from the emerging economy context, where several societal problems are experienced. The results support stakeholder theory, but increased disclosure pertaining to the social dimension of ESG in years when share repurchases are executed might also provide evidence of ‘social washing’ (when companies employ their integrated report disclosures to paint an overly positive picture of their social responsibility initiatives).

Suggested Citation

  • Frank Mouton & Carly Londt & Gerhard Cloete & Wynand Hattingh & Gretha Steenkamp, 2024. "Share Repurchases and Corporate Sustainability: Evidence from South Africa," IJFS, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-15, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijfss:v:12:y:2024:i:2:p:57-:d:1417302
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7072/12/2/57/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7072/12/2/57/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Eugene F. Fama & Kenneth R. French, 2001. "Disappearing Dividends: Changing Firm Characteristics Or Lower Propensity To Pay?," Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, Morgan Stanley, vol. 14(1), pages 67-79, March.
    2. Gretha Steenkamp & Nicolene Wesson, 2020. "Post-recession share repurchase behaviour by JSE-listed companies: transparent or not?," Journal of Accounting in Emerging Economies, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 10(3), pages 465-486, July.
    3. Jensen, Michael C. & Meckling, William H., 1976. "Theory of the firm: Managerial behavior, agency costs and ownership structure," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 3(4), pages 305-360, October.
    4. repec:bla:jfinan:v:59:y:2004:i:2:p:651-680 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Manconi, Alberto & Peyer, Urs & Vermaelen, Theo, 2019. "Are Buybacks Good for Long-Term Shareholder Value? Evidence from Buybacks around the World," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 54(5), pages 1899-1935, October.
    6. Tina He & Wilson Li & Gordon Tang, 2012. "Dividends Behavior in State- Versus Family-Controlled Firms: Evidence from Hong Kong," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 110(1), pages 97-112, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ma, Pengfei & Li, Chengcheng & Wang, Xiaoqiong, 2024. "Why do undervalued firms repurchase shares? Evidence based on the market-timing effect in China," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    2. Anneleen Michiels & Wim Voordeckers & Nadine Lybaert & Tensie Steijvers, 2015. "Dividends and family governance practices in private family firms," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 44(2), pages 299-314, February.
    3. Vincent Molly & Anneleen Michiels, 2022. "Dividend decisions in family businesses: A systematic review and research agenda," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(4), pages 992-1026, September.
    4. Nishant B. Labhane, 2019. "Dividend Policy Decisions in India: Standalone Versus Business Group-Affiliated Firms," Global Business Review, International Management Institute, vol. 20(1), pages 133-150, February.
    5. Paul B. McGuinness, 2024. "Research note: An investigation of the relation between pre-IPO dividends and vendor sales," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 62(3), pages 889-910, April.
    6. Pantelis Longinidis & Panagiotis Symeonidis, 2013. "Corporate Dividend Policy Determinants: Intelligent Versus A Traditional Approach," Intelligent Systems in Accounting, Finance and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 20(2), pages 111-139, April.
    7. Young Mok Choi & Kunsu Park, 2019. "Foreign Ownership, Agency Costs, and Long-Term Firm Growth: Evidence from Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-17, March.
    8. Custódio, Cláudia & Ferreira, Miguel A. & Laureano, Luís, 2013. "Why are US firms using more short-term debt?," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 108(1), pages 182-212.
    9. González, Maximiliano & Guzmán, Alexander & Pombo, Carlos & Trujillo, María Andréa, 2012. "Family involvement and dividend policy in listed and non-listed firms," Galeras. Working Papers Series 034, Universidad de Los Andes. Facultad de Administración. School of Management.
    10. Paul Tanyi & David B. Smith & Xiaoyan Cheng, 2021. "Does firm payout policy affect shareholders’ dissatisfaction with directors?," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 57(1), pages 279-320, July.
    11. du Jardin, Philippe & Séverin, Eric, 2011. "Dividend policy," MPRA Paper 44382, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    12. Peter Cziraki & Luc Renneboog & Peter G. Szilagyi, 2010. "Shareholder Activism through Proxy Proposals: The European Perspective," European Financial Management, European Financial Management Association, vol. 16(5), pages 738-777, November.
    13. Gérard Charreaux, 2002. "Variation sur le thème:"À la recherche de nouvelles fondations pour la finance et la gouvernance d'entreprise"," Revue Finance Contrôle Stratégie, revues.org, vol. 5(3), pages 5-68, September.
    14. Tran, Quoc Trung, 2021. "Local corruption and dividend policy: Evidence from Vietnam," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 195-205.
    15. James, Hui & Benson, Bradley W. & Wu, Chen (Ken), 2017. "Does CEO ownership affect payout policy? Evidence from using CEO scaled wealth-performance sensitivity," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 328-345.
    16. Brav, Alon & Graham, John R. & Harvey, Campbell R. & Michaely, Roni, 2005. "Payout policy in the 21st century," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 77(3), pages 483-527, September.
    17. Schmid, Thomas & Ampenberger, Markus & Kaserer, Christoph & Achleitner, Ann-Kristin, 2010. "Controlling shareholders and payout policy: do founding families have a special 'taste for dividends'?," CEFS Working Paper Series 2010-01, Technische Universität München (TUM), Center for Entrepreneurial and Financial Studies (CEFS).
    18. Marco Belloni & Maciej Grodzicki & Mariusz Jarmuzek, 2024. "Why European banks adjust their dividend payouts?," Journal of Banking Regulation, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 25(3), pages 284-304, September.
    19. Zhe An & Wenlian Gao & Donghui Li & Dezhu Ye, 2022. "Dividend payouts, cash‐flow uncertainty and the role of institutions," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 49(7-8), pages 1356-1390, July.
    20. Breuer, Wolfgang & Rieger, M. Oliver & Soypak, K. Can, 2014. "The behavioral foundations of corporate dividend policy a cross-country analysis," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 247-265.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijfss:v:12:y:2024:i:2:p:57-:d:1417302. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.