Estelle Brachlianoff, CEO of Veolia, firmly denied speculation about a potential sale of Agbar, part of the Veolia Group since 2022, during a press meeting on Monday. “There is no reason to sell Agbar—quite the contrary,” she stated, emphasizing the strong performance of the Spanish subsidiary, which generates an annual turnover of €1 billion, reports Europa Press.
Brachlianoff confirmed that there are no ongoing discussions regarding a sale and ruled out any changes to Agbar’s capital structure, which is fully owned by Veolia.
When asked about the company’s partnership with CriteriaCaixa and the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona (AMB) in managing Aigües de Barcelona, Brachlianoff praised the collaboration. “It’s a partnership that works perfectly,” she said, adding that there is no need to alter the arrangement. “They are important partners in addressing Catalonia’s water management needs,” she added.
Brachlianoff highlighted Veolia’s plans to allocate €50 million this year toward the acquisition of eight companies, alongside ongoing investments in water infrastructure. These investments are part of the company’s strategy to enhance operational efficiency and address critical issues like drought and infrastructure modernization.
Commenting on the recent 6% increase in Aigües de Barcelona's water bill, she clarified that the decision was made by the AMB and will fund infrastructure improvements. She noted that water bills represent around 1% of a typical Spanish household’s annual budget, and the investment is designed to maintain this percentage while addressing future challenges.
Brachlianoff reiterated Veolia’s commitment to sustainable water management and investment in critical infrastructure to meet evolving environmental and societal needs.
