Two Groups Compete for AySA in the Government’s Largest Ongoing Privatization – La Nación | 15/09/26

The privatization of Agua y Saneamientos Argentinos (AySA) moved forward with two bidders seeking to acquire 90% of the company’s shares. AySA provides drinking water and sewage services to 14 million people across the City of Buenos Aires and 26 districts in the surrounding metropolitan area. Of the 17 participants initially registered in the process, only the Rowing-Arcos-Transclor-PHX consortium, led by Rowing S.A. and including businessman Mauricio Filiberti, and Roggio ROAS S.A.U. “and others” submitted proposals. The bids will now undergo technical analysis, after which qualified groups will be allowed to submit their financial offers; the winner will be the bidder offering the highest amount, as the tender establishes no base price or minimum value. The Economy Ministry expects to raise around US$450 million, while the remaining 10% of AySA will continue to be held by employees. The transaction represents the government’s largest ongoing privatization in terms of direct revenue for the state, and the successful bidder will be required to invest US$1.94 billion during the first five years and US$15.04 billion over 30 years. Filiberti’s consortium includes Transclor — an AySA chlorine supplier and its sole supplier of polyaluminum chloride since 2009 — as well as Rowing, Arcos and PHX; Filiberti is also a partner of José Luis Manzano and Daniel Vila in Edenor, while AySA is the largest electricity consumer in the Buenos Aires metropolitan area and Edenor’s largest customer. The other bidder, Grupo Roggio, has specific industry experience through Aguas Cordobesas and also operates Buenos Aires’ subway system and the Urquiza railway line through Metrovías. Meanwhile, international companies previously associated with the process, including Veolia, Mekorot and Sabesp, did not submit bids, following a pattern seen in other recent privatizations dominated by Argentine groups. Link to Article