DCC, the industrial holding group, has acquired a 74.9 per cent stake in Casa Garden Reha-Produkte fur die Pflege, a German manufacturer of mobility and rehabilitation products. The cash consideration is €3.8 million (£3 million).

DCC also has options, under a put and call agreement, to buy out the remaining 25.1 per cent from the founding Frankowski family. These are exercisable after March 31st, 2004. The maximum amount payable under the options is €6.14 million (£4.8 million). Casa Garden, based in Lohne in northern Germany, has been growing rapidly in the German market.