Shell’s oil distribution business is based in Copenhagen and has 57 employees. The company distributes 250 million litres of oil per year to some 30,000 customers.

Tommy Breen, chief executive of DCC Plc, said: “DCC’s strong relationships with many of the oil majors have presented it with opportunities to acquire a number of oil distribution businesses in Britain and Ireland over the past decade as some of the majors have withdrawn from local direct oil distribution operations in these markets.”

Added Breen: “This is an initial modest step for DCC Energy in expanding its oil distribution business beyond Britain and Ireland. With a strong local management team and the benefit of DCC’s experience in profitably managing and developing local oil distribution businesses, we look forward to growing this business in Denmark over the coming years.”

DCC Plc reported strong trading figures in the year ended 31 March 2009, with revenue up 15.7 per cent to €6.4 billion and pre-tax profits up 6.3 per cent to €159.5 million.

The transaction is expected to complete in August 2009, after a period of employee consultation.