DCC has expanded its energy business in Britain with the €16 million (£12.6 million) acquisition of the Altagas brand.

The Dublin-based business support services group has acquired depots, cylinders and a number of brands including Tallages from Altagas plc, which went into receivership in November. The acquisition will give DCC a 10 per cent share of the British market for liquified petroleum gases, including butane and propane. DCC already distributes LPG in Ireland and Britain under the Flogas name.

Altagas is headquartered in Liverpool and has 23 depots across Britain. The business, which was started in 1994, employs 254 people. The price "represents a significant discount to the replacement cost of the assets", said Mr Jim Flavin, the chief executive and deputy chairman of DCC.