DCC plc, the parent company of Certas Energy, has agreed an £84m deal to buy Esso’s 274-strong Express unmanned retail petrol station network and its 48 motorway concessions in France, as well as contracts to supply about 75 dealer owned dealer operated sites.

The Express Network has a 4.2% share of the transport fuel retail market in France, and the motorway sites represent 11% of the national motorway network and hold 8% of the motorway fuels market.

On completion of the acquisition, which is expected in the first half of 2015, DCC Energy will operate 672 retail service stations across Europe and supply in excess of 2,000 dealer owned service stations.

This will be DCC Energy’s second major acquisition in the European unmanned retail petrol station market following the acquisition of Qstar in Sweden in May 2014.

Tommy Breen, chief executive of DCC plc, said: “The acquisition of Esso SAF Retail will be DCC Energy’s first acquisition in France and the second major acquisition in the European retail petrol station market following the acquisition of Qstar announced in February 2014.

“It represents a significant further step in DCC’s strategy to build a larger presence in the transport fuels sector and provides DCC with an excellent platform for growth in the French market.”