Miya was created and founded by Shari Arison in 2008 as a private subsidiary of Arison Investments to realise the value in the efficient management of the world’s fresh water resources. The company provides end-to-end integrated solutions for urban water infrastructure networks on a global basis, specialising in complex, turnaround water efficiency projects.

Indaqua, a subsidiary of the group, is Portugal’s leading private water and wastewater operator. It serves seven utilities in Portugal’s north-west, covering an area of 1,000 square kilometres with a distribution network reaching more than 600,000 residents. Since acquiring the business in 2016, Miya has successfully applied its world-class efficiency practices to improve Indaqua’s operations and maximise the efficiency of water systems.

Shari Arison, owner of the Arison Group and founder and initiator of Miya, said: “Miya was created from deep within me, with the vision of bringing pure water to people around the world. What is most important to me is that this vision continues. I believe that Bridgepoint together with the management team and employees of Miya will continue this vision. I wish them all the best and continued success in bringing pure fresh water for all.”

Arison will continue to invest in companies that bring similar added value to people.

Managed by CEO Amit Horman and his team, the company employs over 600 staff and has dual headquarters in Madrid and Oporto. He said:

“On behalf of Miya management and employees, I would like to thank Shari Arison, David Arison, the Arison family, Arison Investments Chairman and CEO Efrat Peled, and the Arison Investments team for more than a decade of vision and values-based leadership. We are proud to serve the Portuguese market, and to export its talent to other parts of the world. We are thrilled to join Bridgepoint as a portfolio company, and believe this is the beginning of an exciting period of growth. We are completely aligned in understanding the challenges and opportunities in the market.”

Héctor Pérez, a Bridgepoint partner in Madrid, added: “We have been impressed with the operational performance led by Arison Investments, which Amit and his team have delivered across a diverse set of water infrastructure systems. We are excited to partner with Miya and take forward its values-led vision by further developing the company, building on its remarkable efforts to date in contributing to the availability of water resources.”

“Bridgepoint is one of the longest-established international private equity houses in Iberia and, following our recent acquisition of Ascenza (Sapec Agro) in Portugal in 2017, this transaction demonstrates our commitment to investing in businesses with a successful track record that contribute to the sustainability of natural resources while meeting the demands of a growing population” he concluded.

Miya is the first investment made by Bridgepoint Europe VI, a €5.7 billion middle market buyout fund.

Bridgepoint has been advised in this transaction by Citi (corporate finance), PwC Strategy& (commercial), Uría Menéndez (legal), EY (financial, tax & labour), ERM (ESG) and Willis (insurance).