The Paradox of Managerial Dividend Policy in Corporate Malaysia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26710/reads.v5i1.394%20%20Keywords:
Devolution Dividend Policy, Firm Value, Malaysia.Abstract
The prime objective of this paper is to survey the managers of Bursa Malaysia listed non-financial firms and to divulge their views regarding the significance of various potential factors that may affect dividend decisions. In addition to that, we are also interested in highlighting that how managerial perception about the importance of these factors varies from country to country. Our next objective is to know the level of importance, Malaysian managers give to dividend processes and pattern, firm value. Dividend policy (DP) and residual dividend policy (RDP). Finally, we are interested in measuring the level of support that Malaysian managers provide for different justifications for the payment of dividends. Survey instrument including a cover letter was mailed to chief finance officers (CFO) and finance managers of 493 Bursa Malaysia listed firms in October 2017. In the cover letter, a request was made to all respondents that in case of their non-involvement in dividend decision the letter must be forwarded to concerned authority involved in dividend decisions. The response rate of the current study is 40.09 percent (202 out of 493 firms). The study has used a mail survey of Bursa Malaysia listed non-financial firms that have paid at least one cash dividend during the period of 2013-2016 as a primary means of collecting data. No single pattern in rankings of factors among different countries has emerged. However, like their American, Canadian and Indonesian counterparts, According to Malaysian managers, dividend decisions have a significant effect on firm value. Although, a great deal of support has already been established with all dividend theories, however clientele and agency theory has proven to be the strongest one.
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