AquaGreen secures 60 million DKK investment from Japanese Conglomerate Marubeni Corporation and current shareholders

• July 19, 2024

At AquaGreen, a global technology leader in biomass treatment technology, we are excited to announce that we have received a 60 million DKK strategic investment from the Japanese Conglomerate Marubeni Corporation and current investors: Nordic Alpha Partners, Swedish FMG Circular Invest AB, and Impagt Invest Sjælland. The investment and partnership will enable the commercial acceleration of AquaGreen’s patented factory technology platform globally.

The announcement from Marubeni can be read here.

AquaGreen was founded, based on a vision to build fully automated wet biomass treatment plants, that would enable a capital and energy efficient recirculation of critical nutrients such as phosphorus, while eliminating PFAS and other harmful pollutants and large scale capturing and sequestration of CO2. With its firstfull scale plants going into operation 2 years ago the company has experienced fast paced commercial acceleration growing 2700% in a few years period and is now ready to expand its scalable factory concept outside the Northern European region. The 60 mDKK capital injection will, in combination with the global presence and fulfilment capabilities of the Marubeni Corporation, enable the next expansion phase of the company, in a strong fit with the rest of the industrial and professional shareholder group.

Carsten Gram Haagensen, CEO of AquaGreen, says “We are thrilled to welcome Marubeni as an investor in AquaGreen. As a leading Japanese trading house with adistinguished track record in water treatment and distribution, Marubeni’s investments span multiple countries and serve 16.6 million people through comprehensive water solutions. Their services and fulfilment capabilities andexpertise in water supply, wastewater treatment, and seawater desalination,coupled with their commitment to sustainability, perfectly aligns with AquaGreen’s expansion strategy. This partnership marks a strategic milestone in addressing global environmental challenges and advancing sustainable water infrastructure”.

“Marubeni Corporations Infrastructure Project Divisions purpose is, among others, to invest in various field including innovative technologies which contribute to social sustainability. AquaGreen and their technique that reduces CO₂ emissions by transforming sewage sludge, into valuable resources, such as biochar, while eliminating harmful substances is fully aligned with our investment purpose within the water sector. We foresee a significant global demand for AquaGreen’s offering and are excited to be part of the globalization of AquaGreen,” adds General Manager, Kazuaki Shibuya”.

“At Nordic Alpha Partners, we strive to spot the technology pioneers within the green transformation, that can scale into global market leaders. AquaGreen is a perfect example, and we are thrilled with the global attention and partnership opportunities that the company is getting from leading large-scale conglomerates within the water industry, and it is clear with this capital injection and partnership with Marubeni, that the company is now ready to expand it’s leading technology platform globally, to the benefit of the climate, the environment and sustainable food production, says Rasmus Lund,Senior Partner at Nordic Alpha Partners”. 

The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2024, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approval.

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Facts about Marubeni Corporation

Marubeni Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries use their broad business networks, both within Japan and overseas, to conduct importing and exporting (including third country trading), as well as domestic business, encompassing a diverse range of business activities across wide-ranging fields including lifestyle, IT solutions, food, agri business, forest products, chemicals, metals & mineral resources, energy, power, infrastructure projects, aerospace & ship, finance, leasing & real estate business, construction, industrial machinery & mobility, next generation business development and next generation corporate development. Additionally, the Marubeni Group offers a variety of services, makes internal and external investments, and is involved in resource development throughout all of the above industries. More info: Marubeni Corporation

Facts about Nordic Alpha Partners

Nordic Alpha Partners is a Nordics and Germany-based GreenTech Growth Fund established in 2017 with offices in Copenhagen and Munich with 400mEUR assets under management. It is investing in sustainable HardTech companies with the potential to pioneer and accelerate the global green transformation. NAP’s investment approach is based on a highly active and operationally supporting ownership model, which in combination with a methodic value creation approach enables visionary founders to scale from local players to global marketleaders. More info: https://napartners.dk/

Facts about FMG Circular Invest AB

FMG Circular Invest is a joint investment initiative between Feralco Group and its owner Mellby Gård with the purpose of scaling-up sustainable water treatment solutions.

Feralco Group, founded in 2000, is a leading supplier of water treatment chemicals with production facilities and support services throughout Europe. Over 100 million people get their drinking water purified with the help of Feralco Group’s products and services. The company has a turnover of approx. SEK 2.5 billion annually. For more information, visit www.feralco.com/en/

Mellby Gård is a family-owned investment company, active in four verticals: industry,consumer goods, agriculture and services. The three cornerstones of our business model, the Mellby Gård model, are a long-term view, active corporate governance and partnership. The goal of the business is to take companies from promising to leading. For more information, visit  www.mellby-gaard.se/en/

Facts about Impagt Invest Sjælland

Established by Andel and Sparekassen Sjælland-Fyn, Impagt Invest Sjælland offers patient and long-term investments aimed at making Eastern Denmark even more attractive for businesses, newcomers, and current residents. The ambition is to identify and invest in potential growth companies at a stage where they have proven their business model with national or international market potential and need funds to support further growth.

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