Stampede executives reject DCC counterclaims in $24m US lawsuit

Businessmen have sued Irish group over alleged sum in earn-outs

Donal Murphy, chief executive of DCC

John Mulligan

The founders of a US company who sold the business in 2018 to Irish distribution giant DCC have rejected a slew of counterclaims made by the group against them. They’ve insisted in a New York court that the counterclaims are barred “by the doctrines of unjust enrichment” and other allegations.

The founders of Stampede Global Holdings, Kevin Kelly and Mark Wilkins, claimed in a lawsuit filed in 2022 that they are owed more than $24m (€22m) by DCC in respect of earn-out payments under the terms of the acquisition. They also made a number of other stark allegations regarding DCC’s work practices.