DCC's healthcare division has bought German medical and lab product supplier Wörner for €80m.
Established in 1991, Wörner supplies products to around 20,000 GP, primary care centre, specialist medical centre and laboratory customers in Germany and Switzerland.
Its product range include a range of goods that are currently in high demand, including Personal Protection Equipment, Covid-19 antibody tests, wound care, rapid test equipment and injectables.
DCC Healthcare said the acquisition would give it a platform for expansion into Europe, including Europe's largest healthcare market of Germany.
"DCC will also work with Wörner to accelerate the execution of its existing acquisition pipeline," it said.
Wörner will remain headquartered in Reutlingen in Germany and will be led by its existing management team.
But it will join DCC Vital, the company's medical product supplier in Ireland and the UK.
"The acquisition of Wörner represents a significant scale-up of our primary care business and extends DCC Vital's sales and marketing activities into Continental Europe for the first time," said Donal Murphy, Chief Executive of DCC.
"DCC Vital is a key growth platform for DCC and has delivered strong organic growth in recent years in the sales and marketing of medical products across the primary care, community, and hospital sectors."
"DCC Vital will continue to build its business across Europe in the coming years and Wörner will provide an excellent platform for further acquisition activity, both in Germany, Europe’s largest healthcare market, and across the DACH region."
Wörner had revenue of around €70m last year and employs 158 people.
