UDG shares have tripled over the past five years, but the best may be yet to come

The company has travelled a long road since its transition from United Drug

UDG chief executive Brendan McAtamney Picture: Fergal Phillips

The ace cards that have delivered spectacular returns for UDG shareholders over the past five years have been the company’s high calibre and experienced acquisition team; its strategic and financially disciplined approach to choosing acquirees that have real sources of competitive advantage and pricing power and can be realistically targeted to deliver double-digit to mid-teen returns on capital employed, and management’s proven expertise in integration and innovation, as well as building business models ...