Bunzl plc, the international distribution and outsourcing group, reported sales for the first half of £2.94 million (US$4.87 million), a 1 percent decrease over the same period a year ago. Organic sales increased 2 percent. Profit increased 5.4 percent to £176.6 million (US$292.6 million). 

Bunzl acquired four companies in June and July: 365 Healthcare Limited, Premiere Products, Lee Brothers Bilston Limited and Guardsman Limited.

365 Healthcare Limited is a distributor based in Droitwich, England, offering healthcare products to a variety of customers including hospitals, GP practices and private clinics. Revenue was £10.9 million (US$18.1 million) in 2013.

Premiere Products, Cheltenham, England, is a distributor of cleaning and hygiene products, a business of The Premiere Polish Company Limited. Revenue was £6 million (US$99.4 million) in 2013.

Lee Brothers Bilston Limited is a safety business supplying personal protection equipment and workplace consumables to customers largely in the construction and engineering sectors. Revenue was £8.7 million (US$14.4 million) in 2013.

Guardsman Limited, Leicester, England, supplies safety equipment and workwear to customers in various manufacturing industries as well as the construction and engineering sectors. Revenue was £9.2 million (US$15.2 million) in the fiscal year ended July 31, 2014.

 “365 Healthcare has expanded our product offering of medical consumables to the healthcare sector while Premiere Products has extended the breadth of our own brand product offering and has further strengthened our cleaning and hygiene supplies business,” said Michael Roney, CEO of Bunzl. “The purchase of Lee Brothers and Guardsman together represent an important development for our safety business.”