The European Commission has approved DCC’s acquisition of the French retail motor fuel distribution business of ESSO SAF.

The Irish fuels-to-healthcare-to-technology conglomerate will acquire 272 unmanned Esso Express stations; 48 motorway Esso service station concessions; and contracts to supply fuel to a further 75 service stations. DCC will also enter into a long-term branded supply agreement with Esso's French arm.

The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would not raise competition concerns, because there are no overlaps between the companies’ activities.

The deal represents DCC’s second major foray into unmanned stations, where customers pump their own fuel having prepaid with a credit or debit card onsite.

In January 2014, the Dublin-headquartered, London-listed company agreed to buy Qstar in Sweden, a £40 million chain of more than 300 stations.