Aninver Development Partners eyes M&A expansion into Asia Pacific
With an eye towards South and Southeast Asia and the Pacific, Aninver Development Partners – a specialized international advisory firm – has announced it will pursue strategic M&A expansion in the region.
The Malaga-headquartered company has initiated a buy-side process aimed at acquiring a consulting or engineering services firm with a track record of working with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and a significant presence across multiple markets in the Asia-Pacific area.
Strategic rationale for Asia-Pacific expansion
The strategic decision for the move fits into Aninver’s broader goal to significantly scale its infrastructure, public-private partnerships (PPP), and sustainability offerings in one of the world’s most dynamic regions. The acquisition is intended to enhance the firm’s service delivery capabilities specifically across South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific island nations.
The target firm is expected to seamlessly complement the existing expertise of Aninver in navigating multilateral development bank (MDB) funding and complex projects. It will also strengthen the company’s ability to execute work across critical sectors including transport, water management, energy, climate change and ESG, and digital services.
Desired partner profile
Jose de la Maza, CEO at Aninver, outlined the specific requirements for the ideal acquisition target: “We are looking for a partner with real credentials and strong local delivery capabilities across different countries in the region.”
“Our goal is to combine Aninver’s robust business development and execution capabilities in MDB-funded consulting contracts with an Asia-Pacific platform that is already operational in multiple countries and prepared to accelerate its growth trajectory.”
Aninver is looking towards sectors include water and sanitation, waste management, circular economy, sustainability and climate, and IT and digital solutions. Experience with other International Financial Institutions (IFIs) such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) or the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is also highly valued.
Geographically, Aninver’s ideal acquisition has experience in at least three to five Asia-Pacific countries, with a preference for presence in the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan, among other APAC countries.
In terms of scale, the target should have annual revenues between $0.5 million and $3 million and maintain a positive EBITDA. Aninver is open to acquiring businesses that have flexibility in their model, combining generalist or specialized consulting and engineering services, and are open to a ‘buy-and-build’ strategy for further expansion.
The award-winning consulting firm is also interested in leadership scenarios where senior executives are willing to either transition into senior advisory roles or remain with the company to co-drive the next phase of growth.
What Aninver offers
For the acquired entity, Aninver says it would offer immediate access to global MDB project pipelines and an expansive client base. It also notes its strong track record in emerging markets with delivery experience in over 70 countries.
The company anticipates commercial synergies, facilitated by a global business development team that will expand its reach to new clients, utilizing a proven strategy of partnerships to increase success rates in securing contracts.
De la Maza notes the firm’s flexible and partnership-oriented approach to integration. “For our partner, we can serve as a ‘bridge to global markets’. We can plug the Asia Pacific team into global MDB pipelines, amplify delivery capabilities, and scale the work of the team.”
Aninver Development Partners is a boutique advisory firm dedicated to delivering programs end-to-end – from initial design and appraisal through to execution. The firm’s work spans infrastructure and public services, including mobility, water and sanitation, energy and climate, urban and regional development, digital and data solutions for government, tourism, and the blue economy.
