Veolia buries the Agbar brand
The French multinational that owns the group decides to unify all its activities under a single brand
BarcelonaThe Agbar brand, born from the company founded 158 years ago, has its days numbered. Specifically, it has six months left. Veolia, the French multinational that owns it, has decided to unify the entire group and its activities under a single brand. The change affects more than 100 local brands.
The transition process, which extends from headquarters—such as the one on Passeig de la Zona Franca in Barcelona—to the water bills received by customers and the company's vehicles, will last six months. For half a year, both brands will coexist, and "starting this summer, all brands will be integrated under the Veolia umbrella," explained Daniel Tugues, Veolia's director in Spain.
There will be some exceptions in cases where they have other partners or contractual obligations, as is the case with Aigües de Barcelona, the joint venture in which the Barcelona Metropolitan Area (AMB) and Criteria, the investment company of La Caixa, which owns 5% of Veolia, are shareholders.
The objective, which has been given the name "one Veolia"The goal is for all activities to work in synergy, projecting an image of a solid, solvent, and global partner." And with a significant commitment to supporting Spain in its environmental challenges. Tugues explained that in Spain, the climate crisis, specifically the drought, could have worse consequences than in other periods. There was a previous relationship with the former president of Agbar, Àngel Simon, who later became CEO of Criteria. has ended up being one of Veolia's main shareholders with 5% and an advisor. Simon was dismissed by La Caixa a few months ago.
Coordinated work
The company's intention, as Tugues explained, is to present a unified image and work in a coordinated manner across all its areas of activity. This includes water management, serving more than 13 million customers throughout Spain; water technologies, an activity that has gained prominence since the 2022 merger with Suez, Agbar's previous owner; the circular economy, energy efficiency, and decarbonization; and the treatment of solid and hazardous waste. Of the €300 million in annual investments planned for 2024, 2025, and the projected 2026, €50 million are earmarked for acquisitions and €250 million for industrial investment, according to Tugues, who assured that the 2027 forecasts have been met and will remain at a high level. Between 2019 and 2024, the group invested a total of €800 million across its three business lines (water, waste, and energy) in Spain. In addition to providing drinking water services to 13 million people in Spain, it treats nearly 825,000 tons of waste annually and produces 2,713,000 MWh of local energy. The group's revenue in Spain last year was €2.84 billion. Veolia, he said, plans to bid on the contracts for the eight municipalities in the area. Metropolitan area where the water management concession expires. These are Corbera de Llobregat, Palma de Cervelló, Molinos de Rey, Ripollet, Sant Andreu de la Barca, Cervelló, Sant Cugat del Vallès, and Tiana. Tugues admits they haven't yet decided whether they will follow the same path as Veolia or Aigües de Barcelona.
