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Utilities specialist OCU Group has acquired a majority stake in Brisbane-based contractor All Energy Contracting (AEC), marking its first move into international markets.
AEC, founded in 2018, delivers services in solar, wind, storage, civil engineering and power infrastructure across Australia and New Zealand. It will continue trading under its own name and be led by its existing management team.
The deal creates a regional platform for growth as OCU seeks to expand its energy transition services overseas.
No financial details of the acquisition were disclosed.
OCU chief executive Michael Hughes said the acquisition was driven by demand from existing energy clients for support in international markets.
He added that OCU was already pursuing opportunities in Australia with some of its UK-based clients.
AEC founder Steve Urquhart said the partnership would strengthen the business’s capacity and systems while maintaining “strong cultural alignment” between the two firms.
OCU was ranked 43rd in the most recent CN100 table of top UK contractors.
It said the acquisition aligns with its long-term strategy of entering markets through partnerships with values-led businesses. The company aims to tap into Australia’s growing clean energy sector, which is supported by significant public and private investment in generation, transmission and storage.
The deal also opens up potential access to the regulated power market, including participation in long-term grid-reinforcement schemes, OCU said.