Stockport-based OCU Group is now the majority owner of All Energy Contracting (AEC), an Australian contractor specialising in renewables and energy infrastructure services.
Financial details were not disclosed.
Established in 2018 and headquartered in Brisbane, Australia, AEC delivers solar, wind, storage, civil, and power infrastructure services across Australia and New Zealand.
AEC will continue to be led by its current management team under its existing brand.
OCU was founded in 1994 as O鈥機onner Utilities Group by brothers Tim and Tom O鈥機onnor. They sold it to private equity firm Triton Partners in August 2022.
OCU Group chief executive Michael Hughes said of the AEC acquisition: 鈥淭his investment represents a measured first step in our international journey. AEC has built a strong reputation in energy infrastructure, and the alignment of values and ambition between our teams makes this a natural fit. A number of our energy transition clients operate internationally and have asked whether OCU can support them beyond the UK. We are already pursuing opportunities in Australia with several of these clients, creating further growth potential for AEC. Together, we have the opportunity to deliver greater impact across Australia鈥檚 energy transition landscape.鈥�
Steve Urquhart, founder of AEC, said: 鈥淧artnering with OCU Group is a significant new chapter for us. Their strength, in depth clear focus on energy transition, and commitment to people and systems development will support our long-term growth. We see strong cultural alignment and look forward to shared learning across both teams.鈥�
OCU is the second UK contractor to make an Australian acquisition this month. Just last month Amey 鈥� also private equity owned, like OCU 鈥� revealed that it had acquired a construction consultancy business called Premise, also based in Brisbane, like AEC. [See previous report here.]
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