FB Roundup: Henkel, America Movil, and Walmart
New Henkel CEO to boost investments
German consumer goods maker Henkel AG & Company, led by the Henkel family since 1876, said it plans to increase spending in order to promote its top brands in emerging markets.
According to new chief executive Hans van Bylen, who took over in May, the group will invest as much as €3 billion ($3.2 billion) in the next four years.
Known for washing powder Persil, beauty line Schwarzkopf, and deodorant Right Guard, Henkel said the group understood the growing importance of e-commerce and new sales channels.
"China is an interesting example for us in that regard," he said. "We entered the market with our beauty products relatively late but now generate half of our sales there digitally."
The group posted revenues of €18 billion ($20.35 billion) in 2015.
America Movil CFO to hike dividends
Mexican telecommunications corporation América Móvil, owned by billionaire Carlos Slim, is likely to pay a higher dividend for the current year, as the firm does not expect to make large acquisitions, according to chief financial officer Carlos Garcia Moreno.
"If we don't do a large acquisition that means we'll have to do something extra in the distribution," Garcia Moreno said at the Morgan Stanley annual Technology, Media and Telecoms conference in Barcelona this week.
America Movil has already paid out dividends of 0.14 pesos each, up from two payments of 0.13 pesos in 2015.
América Móvil was founded in 2000 and is the fourth largest mobile network operator in the world. The firm reported a third-quarter profit of 2.1 billion pesos last month.
Walmart's Q3 hammered in the UK
The Walton family's Walmart has revealed dire performance by its UK division, Asda.
According to a financial statement, the UK was Walmart's weakest international market, recording a decrease in sales of 5.8% compared to the same time last year.
In contrast, Walmart's Mexico and Central America division saw sales growth of 7% compared to the same period last year. Brazil recorded an 8.2% increase in sales.
Walmart was founded by Sam Walton in 1962 in Rogers, Arkansas. The discount department store business now operates more than 11,000 retail units and reportedly employs 2.2 million individuals around the world—almost as many people as the total population of Arkansas.
Walmart posted revenues of $482.1 billion in 2016.
