Australian water and infrastructure consultancy Sequana has made its first international acquisition, buying UK utilities and infrastructure firm INFRACO as it expands its presence in the UK market. The deal, in which Sequana acquires INFRACO’s established UK team, takes the company to more than 300 staff across Australia, New Zealand and the UK.
The announcement did not disclose the financial terms of the transaction.
Why Sequana acquires INFRACO
According to Sequana, the acquisition brings together its Australian expertise in water security, desalination and major infrastructure delivery with INFRACO’s UK team. The company said the move is intended to expand its presence in the UK market.
The announcement included comments from Sequana’s chief executive, Frank Fisseler, and INFRACO’s managing director, Andy Findlater.
Experience on major UK infrastructure programmes
Sequana said INFRACO’s team has experience across major UK programmes, including Thames Tideway, HS2 and Lower Thames Crossing. These are among the largest infrastructure schemes undertaken in the UK in recent years.
The Thames Tideway Tunnel, often described as London’s “super sewer”, is a 25 km tunnel built to capture sewage overflows that previously discharged into the River Thames. HS2 is the high-speed railway under construction in England. The Lower Thames Crossing is a road scheme promoted by National Highways that would link Kent and Essex via a tunnel under the Thames.
AMP8 investment in the UK water sector
The acquisition comes as the UK enters AMP8, with more than £104 billion in expenditure approved for the water sector between 2025 and 2030, according to Sequana.
AMP8 is the eighth asset management period, the five-year cycle in which the economic regulator Ofwat sets the price limits and investment programmes of water and wastewater companies in England and Wales. The current period runs from April 2025 to March 2030.
The scale of planned spending has made the UK water market a focus for engineering and consultancy firms seeking to expand their capacity during the period.
Sequana’s international expansion
Before the deal, Sequana’s operations were in Australia and New Zealand. Adding INFRACO gives it a UK team alongside its existing staff in those two countries.
The transaction is part of a wider pattern of consolidation among firms serving utilities and infrastructure clients. H2O Global News has previously reported on other consultancy deals, including Stantec’s acquisition of Irish engineering and environmental consultancy Ryan Hanley.
Frequently asked questions
Who has acquired INFRACO?
Australian water and infrastructure consultancy Sequana has acquired INFRACO, a UK utilities and infrastructure firm. It is Sequana’s first international acquisition.
Which major UK projects has INFRACO worked on?
According to Sequana, INFRACO’s team has experience across major programmes including Thames Tideway, HS2 and Lower Thames Crossing.
How many staff does Sequana have after the INFRACO acquisition?
The acquisition takes Sequana to more than 300 staff across Australia, New Zealand and the UK.
Why is Sequana expanding into the UK water market now?
The acquisition comes as the UK enters AMP8, with more than £104 billion in expenditure approved for the water sector between 2025 and 2030. Sequana said the deal expands its presence in the UK market.
Who leads Sequana and INFRACO?
Frank Fisseler is chief executive of Sequana, and Andy Findlater is managing director of INFRACO.
