The Irish diversified marketing and distribution group DCC has acquired BP's oil marketing and distribution business excluding retail service stations in Scotland and part of northern England for approximately euro 15 million.
The business, which will trade under the name Scottish fuels, has a turnover of approximately euro 240 million and employs 200 people.
The assets acquired from BP include nine oil storage depots - eight are located throughout Scotland and one in Northumberland, northern England - and a fleet of ninety road tankers.
The head office and the main telesales centre are based in Falkirk, between Edinburgh and Glasgow, and there are two other telesales centres in Inverness and Dumfries.
Mr Jim Flavin, founder and chief executive of DCC, said today’s deal will help DCC build a significant oil distribution business in Britain over time.
"The British oil distribution market is fragmented and we plan further acquisitions which will complement this acquisition geographically." Mr Flavin said.