DCC - which has interests in IT, healthcare and energy - has reported pre-tax profits of €116m for the year to the end of March, up 6% on the previous year. This was before exceptional costs of €8.2m.
Sales were down 2% at €2.2 billion, but the fall was mainly due to currency movements. Earnings per share grew by 15% to 121.89 cent and a 15% higher dividend of 32.4 cent has been declared.
Chief executive Jim Flavin said the results were helped by an 'excellent' second half, when profits rose by 12%. The company also said it was in talks with a number of companies on acquisitions.
A breakdown showed that energy profits rose 8% to €45.8m; healthcare profits were up 19% to €13.6m; and environmental profits climbed 57% to €5m.
But profits at DCC's IT distribution division fell 3% to €31.3m, though there was growth of 3.8% when currency movements were stripped out. The company added that there was strong growth in the second half of the year.
Food and beverage profits dropped 7.5% to €10.9m. This was attributed to a slowdown in demand in the Irish grocery and food service sectors.
Exceptional costs included €4.8m linked to costs associated with the breach of a contract to supply DCC with powered mobility products. Damages and costs have been awarded to DCC, but have not yet been received. There were also restructuring costs of €3.4m.
DCC shares closed 38 cent higher at €12.78 in Dublin this evening.
