OCU Group - Annual Report 2025

127

Financial statements

OCU Group | Annual report and financial statements 2025

Strategic report

Governance

for the year ended 30 April 2025 Notes to the consolidated financial statements

27. Business combinations continued FY25 acquisitions continued McCormack Drilling

The goodwill arising from all acquisitions is attributable to the expertise and experience of the workforce and economies of scale that will arise from combining the operations with the Group. In each instance, management has estimated the useful life of the goodwill to be ten years. Acquisition performance Since their respective acquisition dates, the FY25 acquired entities have contributed £195.2m to turnover and £39.6m of profit before tax to the Group, of which RJ McLeod contributed £188.5m and £40.6m, respectively.

On 22 October 2024, the Group acquired 100% of the ordinary share capital of Carmar Ltd and its subsidiary Peter McCormack & Sons Limited (together ‘McCormack Drilling’), for an initial consideration of £24.4m and deferred consideration of £12.4m. McCormack Drilling brings trenchless technology solutions and major horizontal directional drilling projects to the Group.

Acquired net assets

FY24 acquisitions Details of acquisitions in the prior year are provided in the prior year financial statements.

McCormack Drilling £000

RJ McLeod £000

Purestream £000

Total £000

Northavon On 19 May 2023, the Group acquired 100% of the ordinary share capital of Northavon Group Limited, Northavon Holdings Limited, Northavon Water Services Limited and Multivein Limited, along with their subsidiaries (together ‘Northavon’) for total consideration of £19.8m. During the year, it was discovered that trade and other payables were understated by £1.4m at acquisition, therefore goodwill has been revalued in the current year accordingly.

Property, plant and equipment

8,090

388

5,602

14,080

Cash and cash equivalents

120,656

240

3,543

124,439

Stock

40

40

Trade and other receivables

34,057

192

4,991

39,240

Trade and other payables

(47,038)

(179)

(2,151)

(49,368)

No adjustments have been made to the figures previously reported for the other acquisitions.

Provisions for liabilities

(8,719)

(8,719)

Lease liabilities

(571)

(571)

Cash flow effect of acquisitions The aggregate cash flow effect of acquisitions was as follows:

Deferred tax

175

(965)

(790)

Total identifiable assets

107,261

641

10,449

118,351

2025 £000

2024 £000

Goodwill

196,818

1,925

27,078

225,821

Deferred tax arising on consolidation

(124,439)

Net cash acquired

(5,798)

(338)

(314)

(652)

290,086

Cash consideration including fees

79,635

Cost of the business combination

303,741

2,566

37,213

343,520

40,000

Contingent consideration paid – FY25 acquisitions

Comprising: Cash

6,200 9,000

Deferred consideration paid – FY25 acquisitions

259,421

1,425

24,430

285,276

Contingent consideration paid – FY24 acquisitions

Deferred consideration

557

12,400

12,957

400

Deferred consideration paid – FY24 acquisitions

Contingent consideration

40,000

477

— 40,477

7,450 1,667

Contingent consideration paid – FY23 acquisitions

124

Total consideration payable

299,421

2,459

36,830

338,710

Deferred consideration paid – FY23 acquisitions

1,667

Directly attributable fees

4,320

107

383

4,810

Deferred consideration paid – FY22 acquisitions

150

Total cost of acquisition

303,741

2,566

37,213

343,520

Net cash outflow on acquisitions

230,364

75,778

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