Hera Group acquires Sostelia and becomes Italy’s leading player in water treatment
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The recognition rewards the credibility and consistency with which the Group integrates ESG factors into its strategy, governance and corporate culture

We ranked first in the 2026 ESG Identity Corporate Index, developed by ET.Group to measure the extent to which ESG factors are integrated into companies’ strategies and decision-making processes. The results of the eleventh edition were presented today in Milan at the ESG Business Conference.
Our growth, together with the progressive evolution and increasing maturity of our ESG model, has gone hand in hand with continuous advances in governance, enabling us to rank among the Top 10 for 9 consecutive years and on the podium for six years in a row.
A more selective assessment focused on ESG credibility
The recognition is even more significant as it is the outcome of a rigorous assessment process carried out against a benchmark that continues to rise. The 2026 edition included a record 109 companies, all demonstrating increasingly advanced levels of ESG maturity. The assessment itself has also become more demanding, shifting the focus from disclosure alone to companies’ ability to demonstrate the effective integration of ESG factors into strategy, decision-making processes and corporate culture. The analysis centres on the development of a robust and coherent ESG strategy geared towards value creation, transparent reporting of results, and the ability to anticipate and manage risks.
For us, particular emphasis was placed on:
- governance as an enabler, supported by the active involvement of dedicated governance bodies;
- the integration of ESG targets into remuneration policies and long-term strategies;
- the ability to foster a cross-functional ESG culture involving all business functions and the entire value chain.
Over more than twenty years, we have combined sustained economic growth with the evolution of our governance towards increasingly demanding targets, clear accountability and measurable performance. The credibility of our commitment rests on a consistent track record of delivery, as demonstrated by significant investments, completed projects and reported impacts. The same rigour underpins investment in people development through skills, inclusion and professional growth, as well as incentive systems that embed sustainability targets.
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Hera Group acquires Sostelia and becomes Italy’s leading player in water treatment
With this integration, the multiutility further strengthens its positioning also in the industrial and civil water treatment sector

Hera Group further strengthens its leadership in the environmental sector, in particular in the treatment of civil and industrial water, thanks to the binding agreement signed for the purchase of 100% of STA and the related stakes in the subsidiaries that are part of the Sostelia Group (NTW, CID, NPC, Trentino Acque, COMS, Acque della Concordia, Arcobaleno GC). Sostelia is an important Italian private player for technologies and the treatment of industrial and civil water, 65% controlled by Xenon Fidec, an impact private equity fund managed by Xenon AIFM, and with the remaining 35% held by entrepreneurs representing the companies within the group.
The transaction has an enterprise value of €138 million. The acquisition by Hera Group is subject to certain customary closing conditions (including notifications and approvals by the competent authorities) and is expected to be completed by the end of March 2026.
Once fully integrated, the transaction is estimated to contribute more than €20 million to the consolidated EBITDA growth of Hera Group, in addition to the value of the expected integration synergies.
The strategic lines of the transaction
The transaction creates a benchmark player in Italy with an integrated offering in the water treatment market - from design and construction (EPC) to operation and maintenance (O&M), up to the treatment and disposal of liquid waste and sludge related to purification processes. It also enables a strong system of synergies with Herambiente, the Hera-controlled subsidiary and Italy’s foremost environmental operator, enhancing quality, efficiency, and service continuity for both public and private customers.
Synergies are, in fact, one of the main drivers of value creation. On the one hand, the integration of Sostelia’s services could enable Herambiente to broaden its commercial offering by providing its customers with additional services such as revamping solutions and the design of new plants, or the operation and maintenance of existing private plants, ensuring technical-operational continuity that translates into greater reliability and lower operating costs. On the other hand, Sostelia’s customer portfolio represents a significant opportunity for Herambiente to integrate its own service offering.
More generally, the combination of Sostelia’s technical expertise, plant infrastructure, and commercial capability will enable Hera Group to expand its customer base, diversify revenues, and increase business resilience in a sector that requires speed of intervention, high quality of service, and continuous innovation.
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