As usual, Falabella made at the Courtyard By Marriott Hotel its Shareholders’ Board, which was chaired by the president of the holding, Enrique Ostalé, and the general manager, Alejandro González. In the appointment, both leaders approached the main results of exercise 2024 and presented the details of the growth plan for 2025, period in which the company projects investments for US $ 650 million.
But outside the room, the industry looked at another issue: the shareholders pact -which joins the four branches of the Solari clan, next to those of the river, Cúneo and Sergio Cardone- That there is ad benches of beating and, according to knowledgeable sources, an agreement for its renewal is not yet achieved.
To this scenario is added the interest of the Müller clan to enter the pact, after, through a series of purchases, they reached a 5.5% participation in Falabella. This has coincided with the recent departure of Tomás Müller Benoit from the Mallplaza directory, the group of commercial centers of the group: the family has sold participation in this company, to, in contrast, grow in the matrix.
However, from the administration they sought to calm the spirits. “The renewal or not of the pact, does not have and should not have any impact on how Falabella is governed. I may have an impact on things up, but in the things I see to manage business, no, ”Gonzalez emphasized in a press point.
The Executive said that if this pact does not reach Puerto, The company will have “seven groups that will have to get used to living together. As, eye, today they already live.”
In addition, he reinforced that the strategic driving of the firm continues to have transversal support. “Today the structural decisions of the board are taken by the majority of nine directors and that will continue to occur. There is a very strong support,” he added.
Consulted by the possible entry of Tomás Müller to the Holding Board of Directors, González just said that “(as we work) he will not change for the entry of only a new director (…) He knows Falabella, he is a partner in Mallplaza, and now he is a shareholder here.”
The rebound of Falabella and the Commercial War
Regarding the performance of 2024, the Executive said that although the balance was positive, the results are still below what they expect to achieve. “What we achieved last year does not reach the full potential to which we can reach, With the numbers we show I do not feel satisfied”He acknowledged.
Already so far from 2025, the Executive said that the company maintains a “positive flight”, With visible improvements in all businesses.
“If you look at the results that we present last year and compare them with what it was before the pandemic, it is not to throw fireworks. For this year we hope to continue on that path of recovering market share,” he emphasized, emphasized, adding that the goal is to return to the prepaandemics levels between this and next year.
At the international level, González addressed the possible effects of new tariff measures by the United States. Although he considered that there will be no direct impacts on Falabella, he stressed that there could be rather macroeconomic indirect repercussions, such as greater inflation and possible recession.
“Falabella is a group with more than 135 years of history that has successfully navigate different economic cycles. The direct effect of tariffs is limited, but anticipating possible impacts on the macro environment, we are building the greatest possible flexibility in inventories and contracts,” said the executive.
And he concluded that “we are financially prepared to face economic challenges with ordered expenses and inventories and a solid financial position, without relevant maturities in 2025 and 2026. We have teams prepared to face challenges with agility.”
