Dividend policy in Nordic listed firms

In this paper we analyze the results from a survey among all publicly listed Nordic firms on their dividend payout policy. The results show that 72% of the Nordic companies have a specified dividend policy. Larger and more profitable companies are more likely to have a defined dividend policy in place. The dividend policy is mostly influenced by capital structure considerations and the outlook of future earnings. We also find that the likelihood for a firm having an explicit dividend policy is positively related to ownership concentration as well as to the presence of large long-term private or industrial owners. Our results support the use of defined dividend policies for agency or monitoring reasons rather than signaling reasons.</p

High-frequency Trading–to Regulate or Not to Regulate-That is the Question? : Does Scientific Data Offer an Answer?

High-frequency trading (HFT) certainly captures public (and regulatory) attention. On May 6th 2010, the Dow Jones (DJ) experienced its largest intraday point drop in history, shedding $1 trillion of its market value in half an hour. Largely as a consequence of the event– named Flash Crash–regulatory authorities sharpened the regulations concerning HFT: in the U.S., circuit breakers were introduced [1], and the European Union made regulative changes that require equity orders to delay for at least half a second. Also, in the markets, there has been a demand for introducing a financial transactions tax (FTT) in order to discourage high frequency trading. So, what is high-frequency trading? And why should it be regulated? And if it is regulated, how should that regulation be designed? In this editorial article, I will focus on existing scientific evidence on how HFT affects the market, and on the big questions about HFT that remain unanswered

Chairmens' Perceptions of Female Board Representation: A Study of Nordic Listed Companies

´Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to survey chairmen’s perceptions of female board representation in five Nordic countries, focusing on whether the chairman’s perception of board work is related to gender diversity, and on differences between high- and low-risk firms. Design/methodology/approach – The authors combine data from a questionnaire directed to the chairmen of the boards in Nordic listed companieswith data on firmcharacteristics and board composition. Findings – The authors find that the chairmen (97.5 percent male) are significantly less satisfied with female board members as compared to male ones. The authors also find that firms with nomination committees have more gender diverse boards, as well as indications of a more positively perceived contribution of female representation in high-risk firms. Research limitations/implications – The study is restricted to perceptions of chairmen for listed Nordic firms. The low response rate of 20.1 percent is a severe limitation. Practical implications – The increasing practice of using nomination committees in the Nordic countries seems advantageous from gender balance perspective. Originality/value – The authors contribute to the literature on gender diversity in boards by providing results from a board intern perspective. Keywords Diversity, Board of directors, Board effectiveness, Gender minority Paper type Research pape

Chairman’s Perception of Board Work Upon Female Board Representation: : A Study on Nordic Listed Companies

In this study we consider the consequences of female board representation on board work in listed firms in the five Nordic countries. Using survey data provided by company chairmen, we contribute to the literature on gender diversity in boards by providing an insider perspective. Survey data reveals that chairmen, the operative syllable being "men," are significantly less satisfied with female board members when asked to rate various groups of board members. Controlling for a number of factors, gender diversity is not perceived to provide a positive contribution to board work. However, concluding that homogeneous groups would work better when risk is high is not warranted, as data reveals evidence that gender diversity produces positive results in high-risk firms. Furthermore, the results indicate that when a company has a nomination committee, the likelihood that the company will have a gender diverse board increases dramatically

Determinants of capital budgeting methods and hurdle rates in Nordic firms

We study the determinants for the choice of capital budgeting methods and the setting of hurdle rates (WACCs) in five Nordic countries. Combining survey data with a rich set of determinants, including ownership data, CFO characteristics, and financial data, we find that the use of the Net Present Value method and the sophistication of the capital budgeting are related to firm characteristics, vari- ables proxying for real option features in investments and CFO characteristics (age and education). We also find support for significantly higher hurdle rates than motivated by economic theory. The premium is weakly positively related to managerial short-term pressure and strongly negatively related to the sophistica- tion level of the firm’s capital budgeting

A Model of Optimal Dividend Policy to Maximize Shareholder Wealth : When Taxes are Considered

The article analyzes theoretically how a firm maximizes the value of shareholder’s wealth with its dividend policy. Corporate dividend policy is one of the major puzzles with modern finance. The overall question is whether company should pay out dividend at all. However, the large majority of listed companies pay dividend and they also carry sophisticated dividend policies. In this paper we outline when it is optimal for a company to pay out dividend and when it should reinvest the profit from operations. The model takes taxes in to consideration estimating the value of a company, i.e., the present value after deduction for taxes, is used as objective function.Four different taxes are considered. The analysis shows the terms on which it is profitable to receive dividend payout or to reinvest at an arbitrary time. Under the assumption of a unique maximum net present value, the terms at the time for the maximum net present value are also presented

Short-term Expectations in Listed Firms: : The Effects of Different Owner Types

We report empirical evidence regarding the disciplining role of differentinstitutional and other owners in reducing managerial myopia. Using data from alarge Nordic survey, we find that companies to a reasonably high degree feelthat external pressure for a good result in the short-term generates conflictwith the company’s long-term goals. We test for the effect of several ownershiptypes, and find that especially in firms with a large private equity owner theperceived pressure for short-term actions is reduced. In addition, we find anegative association between firm profitability and short-term pressure. Wealso find support for a behavioral characteristic: younger managers feelsignificantly more pressure. Firms subject to higher pressure undertake moreactions to accommodate that pressure. Again, the impact of especially a largeprivate equity owner is beneficial because such firms undertake significantlyless often actions that are likely to destroy value, such as deprioritizingtheir long-term investments or R&amp;D

Dividend or reinvestment when taxes are considered?

The article analyzes theoretically how a firm maximizes the value of shareholder’s wealth with its policy for dividend/reinvestment of the profit from operations, when taxes are considered. In the study, the net present value, i.e. the present value after deduction for taxes, is used as objective function. Four different taxes are considered. The analysis shows the terms on which it is profitable to receive dividend payout or to reinvest at an arbitrary time. Under the assumption of a unique maximum net present value, the terms at the time for the maximum net present value are also presented. The article can be applied in forest economy