At its Annual General Meeting, German consumer and industrial products manufacturer Henkel has secured shareholder approval for all agenda items, with around 87% of the company’s voting capital represented. 

 

The meeting, once again held in person, underscored strong shareholder engagement.

 

A key outcome was a dividend increase of 1.5% for both share classes. Shareholders approved a payout of 2.07 euros per preferred share and 2.05 euros per ordinary share. The total payout ratio stands at roughly 38%, comfortably within Henkel’s target range of 30% to 40% of adjusted net income. In total, the company will distribute approximately 840 million euros in dividends.

 

The AGM also marked a significant change in governance. Stefan Hartung was elected to the Shareholders' Committee, succeeding Jean-François van Boxmeer, who stepped down at the end of the 2026 AGM and left the committee.

 

In a major strategic move, shareholders approved Henkel’s plan to establish separate legal entities in Germany for its two core business units—Adhesive Technologies and Consumer Brands. 

 

First outlined in spring 2025 and developed in coordination with supervisory bodies, the restructuring aims to sharpen agility and better align operations with future growth priorities. Henkel stressed, however, that overall Group strategy and operational management will remain unchanged.

 

The decisions signal a steady but deliberate evolution for the company as it refines its structure while maintaining strategic continuity.