Four Catalan family businesses explain their growth model: The Managing Director of Fluidra, Eloi Planes, takes part in the Esade and FemCAT debate

Goal: growth. Formula chosen: going public in Fluidra's case. The multinational's
CEO, Eloi Planes, thus rested his case at the round table debate. It was organised by
the Esade business school and the FemCAT foundation to present the strategies of
four Catalan businesses that are endeavouring to grow, consolidate themselves as
leaders in their sector and overcome the crisis.
Eloi Planes was joined by the Vice-chairman of Comsa Ente, Carles Sumarroca, the
Chairman of Ros Roca, Ramón Roca and the managing director of Voz Telecom,
Xavier Casajoana, who all gave detailed accounts of their growth processes and their
recommendations for the Catalan business sector. They all agreed on the need to
find shareholders and funding, although they had each opted for the strategy most
suited to their companies: mergers, acquisitions abroad, temporary alliances or going
public.
During his intervention, Fluidra's CEO explained that the decision to become a listed
company had been carefully thought out and was a long-term operation that he
would have no qualms about repeating, despite the uncertain evolution of the
economy since then. Eloi Planes explained how going public had made the company
more professional and had facilitated its decision-making processes. He highlighted
that one of the major day-to-day challenges after going public was the high level of
transparency required in a relationship between various stakeholders.
Fluidra's CEO made clear recommendations: never improvise, anticipate all
scenarios and remain steadfast so that the plans and decisions chosen can be kept.

Esade's lecturer in law, Eduard Geli, also took part in the debate. He stressed that all
the leading companies attending the round table discussion had decided to go down
the growth route rather than choosing other options such as selling, shutting down or
losing control of their businesses. He also highlighted that they proved that
entrepreneurs in Catalonia are no longer individualistic and are beginning to look into
business arrangements that are in the interests of their companies.
According to Fluidra's CEO, the company will continue to concentrate its future
efforts on internationalisation, with particular emphasis on growth in emerging
markets; diversification based on greater investment and innovation, and the search
for maximum efficiency through the application of lean management.