21 Invest to exit Energreen and reinvest alongside Ambienta and the Founder

21 Invest, European investment company founded by Alessandro Benetton, with operations in Italy, France and Spain, and part of 21 NEXT, alternative asset management platform, announces the sale of Energreen to Ambienta, one of Europe’s largest asset managers exclusively focused on environmental sustainability, and its reinvestment in the company’s next phase of development, together with the founder, Daniele Fraron.

Vegetation management is vital to ecosystem resilience and infrastructure safety, yet conventional methods are inefficient and environmentally harmful. Poor vegetation control heightens systemic risks such as road and railway accidents, flooding and wildfires, with up to 50% of European land potentially exposed to annual fire danger by 2050. At the same time, mechanical mowing still relies largely on fuel-hungry, low-productivity tractors that provide only partial coverage. Purpose-built machines are replacing tractor-and-boom-mower solutions, offering higher productivity and fuel efficiency per hectare, while accessing tougher terrain through extended reach, stability and manoeuvrability. Energreen’s machines are redefining vegetation management, making it more efficient and sustainable, and qualifying the Group as both a Resource Efficiency and Pollution Control investment under Ambienta’s proprietary Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) framework.

The global vegetation-control machinery market is valued at c. €4bn, supported by long-term sustainability trends such as climate change and urbanisation. Purpose-built machines account for almost a fifth of the market but are its fastest-growing segment, expanding at double-digit rates - more than 5x faster than traditional tractor-and-boom-mower solutions - a clear sign of a structural shift.

Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Pojana Maggiore (Vicenza), Energreen designs and manufactures self-propelled and remote-controlled machines for vegetation control. Over more than 25 years, Energreen has evolved from a visionary Italian pioneer into an established international player, combining technologically superior products with a customer led approach to innovation. A proven track record and consistent field performance have made the Group a trusted partner for customers worldwide. Energreen is the clear leader in its segment and the only player with a native purpose-built DNA. Its product portfolio is widely recognised as the broadest and most advanced on the market, delivering on average around 40% higher productivity than tractor-based solutions, which it is progressively replacing. From a centralised Italian manufacturing base, the Group serves its core markets in the US, France, Spain and Germany, with long-standing relationships across a diversified customer base in road, rail, energy, water and urban applications. With a strong brand, an asset-light, well-invested assembly platform and a workforce of almost 200 people, Energreen is well positioned to lead the next phase of the market’s development.

Ambienta has followed this transition closely for several years, building deep sector knowledge through dedicated sustainability research that underpins its conviction in Energreen’s potential. Alongside Daniele Fraron and the management team, Ambienta intends to accelerate the Group’s growth, supporting its expansion across the US and Europe, both organically and through targeted M&A, while continuing to invest in R&D and operational improvements.

Andrea Mazzucato, Managing Partner at 21 Invest, commented: “It has been a privilege to work alongside Daniele Fraron and the team in supporting Energreen’s growth, and international expansion. In Ambienta, with its European reach and sustainability focus, we have found the right partner to lead Energreen into its next phase of growth. By retaining a minority stake, we will continue to support its long-term ambitions.”

Daniele Fraron, Founder and CEO of Energreen, added: “We thank 21 Invest for the growth journey and we are very pleased to partner with Ambienta as Energreen enters the next stage of its development. The business has considerable growth potential, and Ambienta’s sector expertise, sustainability focus, long-term perspective and strategic guidance will support us in accelerating our growth and further strengthening our leadership in vegetation control, while enhancing our organisation and capabilities. Together, we will help our customers protect infrastructure and communities in a changing climate.”

Mauro Roversi, Private Equity Chief Investment Officer and Founding Partner at Ambienta, commented: “Energreen is exactly the kind of company Ambienta exists to back: a true leader in a sector where sustainability drives growth. Its machines make vegetation management more efficient and less polluting, a task that is becoming critical to protecting infrastructure and communities as the climate changes. We are proud to add Energreen to the Ambienta portfolio.”

Massimiliano Lecchi, Partner at Ambienta, commented: “Energreen is a true environmental champion, exporting Italian engineering and sustainability know-how to customers around the world. Purpose-built machines are rapidly replacing legacy solutions, and Energreen is best placed to lead that shift as vegetation control becomes key to protecting critical infrastructure and mitigating environmental risks. We look forward to working with Daniele and the team to take the Group to the next level.”