The role of Business Group Affiliation on the Determination of Firm's Dividend Policy Decisions: Evidence from India

Abstract

This research article examines the role of business group affiliation on the determination of firm’s dividend policy decisions (i.e. dividend payment decision and dividend payout level decision) for 703 National Stock Exchange (NSE) listed Indian firms during 1995-2018. In order to analyze the dividend payment decision (i.e. whether to distribute or not to distribute dividend?) a dichotomous logit regression analysis is utilized on the other hand, for the purpose of analyzing the dividend payout-level decision (i.e. how much amount of dividend to be distributed out of total earnings?) a tobit or censored regression analysis is utilized. The study finds from the comparative analysis that the dividend payout ratios of firms affiliated with the business groups are higher than that of unaffiliated firms (i.e. standalone firms). The econometric analysis indicates that the firms’ affiliation with the business groups have a direct association with the likelihood of firms paying dividends. The firms affiliated with the business groups are more likely to distribute dividends and their dividend payout levels are higher than the unaffiliated firms (i.e. standalone firms). The dividend policy decisions of business group affiliated firms are less sensitive to size, profitability, investment opportunities, financial leverage and firm’s life-cycle stage on the other hand, they are more sensitive to free cash flow and business risk.