The investment in AFG by Ambienta SGR is expected to accelerate its acquisition programme to become a Euro100m revenue water management operator by 2014.

As part of the deal, Ambienta will become a minority shareholder in AFG, a subsidiary of international operator and investor in the renewable energy and environmental sectors Amplio Group, which has projected revenues of Euro35m for 2011, while the investment forms part of AFG’s strategy to continue to expand internationally.

Amplio Group chief executive Riccardo Segat, said that the investment “marks an important step” in Amplio’s growth, adding that it will allow it to continue to consolidate its operational and financial capabilities in the environmental services sector.

He said: “Amplio Group’s strategic focus over the next five years will remain renewable energy and water treatment, which complements Ambienta’s commitment to these sectors globally. We are very excited about the strong organic growth and pipeline of acquisitions for Amplio Filtration in both Europe and the US but also in emerging markets.”

To date AFG has acquired four companies since it was founded by the Amplio Group in 2009, including Envirigon Technology, Puresep Filtration Technologies, Enviromental Water Systems and Fluxa Filtri SpA, as it seeks to consolidate its position in the water treatment and filtration process sector.

According to Amplio Filtration, its strategy is to cross-sell technologies and expertise across Europe and the US in order to strengthen its position in the global water market and deliver an enlarged global footprint.

Following the investment, AFG says it plans to continue its acquisition programme in niche markets such as the decontamination of selenium in wastewater from mining, the removal of nitrates from groundwater, systems used in the food and beverage, healthcare and oil and gas industries.

AFG head Andrea Davi, said: “This agreement with Ambienta further strengthens Amplio Filtration’s position in the attractive global water market, which is set to grow by a further 6-7% this year to c. US$600 billion.

“It allows us to accelerate Amplio Filtration’s growth via acquisition and organically through cross-selling our technologies and expertise across the business. Additionally, we now have access to the cutting-edge Italian water filtration market and we are confident that we can continue to expand Amplio Filtration’s European and US footprint and achieve revenues of Euro100m by 2014.”

Commenting on the deal, Ambienta partner Mauro Roversi, said: “Over the next three years, Ambienta will work with management on identifying and acquiring complementary businesses with the objective of creating an important player on the market.”

Carys Matthews

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