Wal-Mart's biggest news at its annual meeting last Friday is the world's largest retailer will repurchase $ 1.5 billion, and its shares at the same time when the monster face increased scrutiny from investors on their business overseas.
Replace the current repurchase $ 1.5 billion stock repurchase program, Wal-Mart began in 2011. Approximately $ 712 million left in the program, according to the company.
The program comes with experience how to deal with Wal-Mart bribery allegations surfaced last year in the Mexican unit of concern. The company is also building collapsed in April in Bangladesh, killing more than 1,100 garment workers pressure to increase its overseas factories supervision. Wal-Mart does not use any plant construction at the time of the crash, but it is the second largest in Bangladesh apparel retail buyers.
During the annual shareholders in the audience made four recommendations, given the incidents overseas to increase its board governance. They do not include Wal-Mart as an independent Chair's proposal. Without these resolutions passed, according to a preliminary tally shareholders.
"If the world's largest retailer refused to raise the workers 'rights and labor standards of the state, things will not change, said:" Kalpona Akter headquartered in Bangladesh, who introduced the proposal of the special shareholders' meeting, labor activist.
Wal-Mart executives have been mentioned during the meeting of foreign issues.
CEO of McDonnell Douglas g (Mike Duke), said: "Our company was established integrity." "It's no mistake - we will do the right thing."
Robson Walton, chairman and founder of the late Sam Walton's son, echoed that sentiment: "integrity, transparency and openness to guide our decisions."
Wal-Mart, which is headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas, to tackle ethical issues overseas, because it also involves the growth of the problem at home. Sales discount household goods, clothes and groceries, retailers see signs that low-income shoppers continue to struggle in the country.
Although the company said its first-quarter profit rose slightly, to report its first decline in revenue in the Wal-Mart U.S. stores open at least a year in seven quarters. Wal-Mart's U.S. stores accounted for 59% of total sales, as of January 31 this year reached 466.1 billion dollars, not including its division Sam's Club membership fees.
Wal-Mart is trying new ways to accelerate their business growth in the United States. For example, it attempts to customized merchandise stores, attracting consumers cluster.
Wal-Mart (Wal-Mart) also recently launched a three-part plan, the company said could help drive the economy. In January, the company said it will hire more than 100,000 veterans in the next five years, spend 50 billion dollars to buy more American-made goods in the next 10 years, and to help part-time workers into full-time positions.
Wal-Mart (Wal-Mart) said earlier this week, has applied for 12,000 veterans Veterans program since Memorial Day, the program kicked off. But the company still faces criticism that it did not treat their workers well.
In this regard, Wal-Mart (Wal-Mart) has launched a website called www.therealwalmart.com, it's how the company hopes will be a place of opportunity for workers tells her story, to do a better job. Bill Simon, Wal-Mart's U.S. namesake division's CEO pointed out that nearly 75% of workers in the store management positions begin on the hour position.
"What makes Wal-Mart special opportunity," he told shareholders at a meeting on Friday.
Duke surrounded himself on stage with Wal-Mart workers, cashiers and other low-level work began during the meeting, now part of the store management. "No company offers more opportunities for more people to go from where they are, they want more than Wal-Mart," he said.
Overseas, the company is trying to solve the problem, too.
The New York Times "was first reported in April 2012, Wal-Mart officials authorized millions of dollars in bribes to obtain a building permit Mexico to accelerate and get other benefits did not notify law enforcement. Since then, Wal-Mart (Wal-Mart) has with government officials cooperation, surveys in the United States and Mexico.
The company also said it has invested in tonic control overseas, and has hired a new staff, overseeing its compliance with the law on foreign bribery efforts. Beginning this year, the company also tying some successful companies is how to overhaul its compliance department, its executive pay.
In addition, Wal-Mart has been working to improve the business of garment factories in Bangladesh after the building collapse.
Wal-Mart said last month that it would in all 279 factories in Bangladesh depth examinations and information disclosure. It joined the United States and U.S. retailers and apparel retail trade group a group of garment factory, in order to improve fire and safety regulations.
All backdrop, Wal-Mart's annual meeting.
Attended the meeting, which took place University of Arkansas  Dvorak Appleton Arena, thousands all over the world, Wal-Mart workers annually. This year, 14,000 people attended the meeting.
Meetings are usually feels like a pep rally. This year, singer John Legend, Kelly Clarkson and Jennifer Hudson accepted. Actor Tom Cruise also took the stage, talk about Wal-Mart's efforts in sustainable development and women-owned enterprises.
"X-Men" and "Les Miserables" star Hugh Jackman presided over the meeting. He opened the event singing transfer "Oh, What a Beautiful Morning." Later, he sang a "Les Miserables" and his phone, his daughter's acting performance of the video.
"I've never been this early in my entire life, Jackman quipped." "Morning 7:00 do?"
Demonstrators are expected to attend the meeting. Rob Walton, said: "We are likely to join the people who want to destroy this meeting." But there is no destructive protests materialized.
During the meeting, all 14 directors elected for election shareholders also approved the related accountants, non-binding approval of the executive compensation and management incentive scheme resolutions. Shareholder vote on Monday announced the final results will be.
Wal-Mart shares rose 70 cents to close at $ 76.33 Friday. They are up a little more than 50 percent from August 2011 for about $ 50, when Wal-Mart began a turnaround in its U.S. namesake business after more than two years in the doldrums.
 



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