Corporate ownership structure and dividend policy: Evidence from Russian public companies with dual class shares

Abstract

This empirical study focuses on the relationship between ownership structure and dividend policy of the Russian public companies with dual class shares. The study analyzes the effect of different types of factors that characterize the structure of ownership on the company's dividend policy in the period from 2010 to 2012. The results of the study confirm the influence of ownership structure on dividend payments, and highlight the peculiarities of ownership structure’s influence on the dividend policies on common and preferred shares.