By Elvira Pollina

MILAN, July 10 (Reuters) - Infrastructure investor CVC DIF has entered into an exclusivity agreement to acquire a majority stake in Italian special waste management company EcoEridania after emerging as the preferred bidder in a competitive auction process, two people close to the matter said on Friday.

Demand for specialised environmental services and the sector's regulated and defensive features have drawn strong interest from infrastructure investors seeking stable long-term cash flows.

Reuters this week reported that CVC DIF, Ardian and Swiss Life Asset Managers had advanced to the final stage of the sale process for EcoEridania, which is majority-owned by investment firm iCON infrastructure.

Founder Andrea Giustini is a minority shareholder in the group, based near Genoa.

CVC DIF's bid valued the company more than €1 billion and a deal is expected as early as next week, one of the people said.

Giustini will reinvest proceeds from the sale in the transaction to stay on as a minority shareholder, while also keeping the reins of the group, the people said, asking not to be identified because the matter is private.

iCON infrastructure did not respond to a request for comment. Giustini declined to comment. CVC DIF declined to comment. Ardian and Swiss Life were not immediately available.

JP Morgan and Lazard, who advised iCON infrastructure and Giustini respectively, declined to comment.