Ambienta Acquires Majority Stake in Disano Lighting

Ambienta sgr, a prominent asset manager with a focus on environmental sustainability, has secured a controlling interest in Gruppo Disano, a leading European player in professional lighting solutions. The transaction, which sees the founding Di Sano family cede majority ownership, positions the Milan-based group for its next phase of expansion, particularly within the energy efficiency sector.

The deal underscores the growing investor appetite for companies that offer tangible solutions to reduce energy consumption. Lighting, a significant contributor to industrial and infrastructural energy use, presents a prime area for impactful interventions. Disano, with its nearly seven decades of operational history, has cultivated a strong market position built on a recognized brand, technically advanced product offerings, and a robust, vertically integrated manufacturing base across Italy and Spain. The company reported revenues of €113 million and an EBITDA of €18.4 million in 2024.

As part of the agreement, Patrizia Di Sano, daughter of founder Ignazio, will reinvest alongside Ambienta and assume the role of Chairperson. This continuity ensures that the company's strategic vision and operational expertise remain intact while benefiting from the financial backing and strategic guidance of its new majority shareholder. Ambienta's investment strategy often targets family-owned businesses, aiming to unlock their full potential through strategic partnerships and a shared commitment to sustainable growth.

The acquisition highlights Ambienta's strategic focus on sectors poised for significant transformation driven by sustainability mandates. The professional lighting market, valued globally in the tens of billions of euros and projected to grow steadily, is increasingly prioritizing energy efficiency and smart technologies. Disano, through its brands Disano Illuminazione and Fosnova, caters to industrial, infrastructural, outdoor, and commercial segments, offering high-performance, energy-efficient solutions that align with current market demands.

This move by Ambienta follows recent activity, including a secondary add-on acquisition for its Scandinavian platform company, No Dig Alliance, a leader in trenchless network services. Such transactions demonstrate Ambienta's consistent deployment of capital into businesses that contribute to environmental improvements and infrastructure modernization. The firm was advised by Deloitte Advisory and LABS Corporate Finance on M&A and debt advisory, with legal counsel from Gatti Pavesi Bianchi Ludovici and environmental due diligence by Ramboll.

Gruppo Disano and the Di Sano family were supported by Kitra Advisory as M&A advisor and Lexacta Global Legal Advice for legal and tax matters. The transaction is expected to facilitate further market consolidation within the European lighting sector, where companies with strong technical capabilities and a commitment to sustainability are well-positioned for accelerated growth and market leadership.