Progress Against Strategy
Since 2022, we have grown significantly in this area, largely by identifying, acquiring and successfully integrating new businesses into the Group. In many cases, the entrepreneurial management teams who established these businesses remain in place under DCC ownership. The support they receive in scaling their operations and the access their businesses can get to our existing large customer base are often key factors in their decision to join and remain with the Group.
Our EMS businesses now support customers with a wide range of energy services including solar, insulation, energy controls and monitoring, efficient heating systems and backup energy systems. Demand for these products and services is growing rapidly in many markets.
Before the financial year under review, we had committed £163 million in acquiring 10 EMS businesses. Over the course of the year to 31 March 2024, we accelerated the implementation of our strategy, committing a further £346 million of capital on nine acquisitions in the EMS sector. These included Alternative Energy Solutions in Ireland, Centreco, DTGen and Next Energy in the UK, and SLER40 and Copropriétés Diagnostic in France. These new businesses are being integrated into our EMS platform and in turn provide exciting opportunities for further growth.
Our growth to date in this area has been achieved by blending strategic clarity, knowledge of the markets where we operate, and a strong commitment to partnership with core DCC skills in areas like M&A and risk management.