The managing directors of three profitable listed companies discussed their companies' dividend policies at a business lunch.

Company A; has deliberately paid no dividends for the last five years.

Company B; always pays a dividend of 50% of earnings after taxation.

Company C; maintains a low but constant dividend per share (after adjusting for general price index), and offers regular scrip issues and shareholder concessions.

Each managing director is convinced that his company's policy is maximizing shareholders wealth.

Required

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the alternative dividend policies of the three companies? Discuss the circumstances under which each managing director might be correct in his belief that his company's dividend policy is maximizing shareholders wealth. State clearly any assumptions you make.

b) Briefly discuss five sources of external finance that a medium-sized company might use to finance its export sales.