Grupo Elektra

Grupo Elektra is a Mexican financial and retail corporation owned by Grupo Salinas. It is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (EKT), the Bolsa Mexicana de Valores (ELEKTRA*) and on the Spanish Stock Market Latibex (XEKT). Grupo Elektra, is Latin America 's leading specialty retailer and financial services company, serving the mass market by providing consumer credit. Grupo Elektra is divided mainly in two divisions: retail and financial. At the same time, the retail division is divided in two geographical areas: Mexico , which includes our four store formats; and Latin America ( Guatemala , Honduras and Peru ), where only the Elektra store format operates and credit is still granted through the commercial division. Grupo Elektra's financial division only operates in Mexico and Panama and includes Banco Azteca, a bank that offers financial services to Mexico 's mass market; Afore Azteca, a retirement fund manager; Seguros Azteca, an insurance company; and Circulo de Crédito, the new credit information bureau for individuals in Mexico. The Grupo Elektra and Banco Azteca were criticized in a 2007 BusinessWeek magazine article for abusing microcredit practices in Mexico due to lax bankruptcy, consumer protection and interest rates laws of the country.^[1] Grupo Elektra owns more than 1,000 stores in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and Peru. The stores owned by this group offer in-store credit to consumers in Mexico and Central America and financial services through Banco Azteca in Mexico and Panama.

References

1. ^ The Ugly Side of Microlending, BusinessWeek magazine , December 13, 2007

External links

• Official site