The impact of taxation on total return on shares and share price behavior around ex-dividend day is an ongoing problem in the field of Corporate Finance. Several groups of theoretical approaches have evolved since 1950s. Proponents of tax impact argue that share prices decline around ex-dividend day. The extent of decline is also a subject of academic discussions. Moreover, they also claim that shares with higher dividend yield must amount to higher total return on shares before tax in order to keep the total return on shares after tax equal for all kinds of shares. On the contrary, proponents of signalling effect insist on rising share prices around ex-dividend day. This dissertation is mainly aimed at empirical evaluation of the most significant findings mentioned above; based on tests of statistical hypothesis and regression and correlation analysis. The empirical study uses relevant data of German Stock Exchange in Frankfurt upon Main from 2001 till 2009. Additionally, the changes in taxation of dividends and capital gains in 2001 and 2008 are thoroughly explained and analysed with regard to return on shares and share price behavior. The dissertation is divided into 3 main parts including an analysis of current findings, explanation of main elements of tax reforms in 2001 and 2009 and, finally, an empirical analysis. The analysis of current findings includes a review of significant research on share price behavior around ex-dividend day, signalling effect and relationship between dividend yield and total return on shares before and after tax. Moreover, the verified hypotheses in this dissertation were deduced from revailing conclusions of the review. The explanation of main elements of tax reforms in 2001 and 2008 is focused on description of changes in taxation of dividends and capital gains. In 2001, the full imputation method eliminating double axation of dividends was removed and replaced by half-income method taxing only a half of dividend. In 2008, the half-income method was replaced by withholding tax; under defined circumstances by the 60%-income method taxing 60% of dividends. In an empirical analysis, the hypothesis about decline of share price around ex-dividend day and the hypothesis about decline of share price equal to dividend after tax were tested. Additionally, existence of positive relationship between total return on shares before tax and dividend yield and existence of no significant relationship between total return on shares after tax and dividend yield were verified. The decline of share prices was proved in every year. The existence of positive relationship between total return on shares before tax and dividend yield was confirmed in every year except 2006 and 2008. |