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DCC Dcc Plc

5,485.00
-40.00 (-0.72%)
Last Updated: 15:19:09
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Share Name Share Symbol Market Type Share ISIN Share Description
Dcc Plc LSE:DCC London Ordinary Share IE0002424939 ORD EUR0.25 (CDI)
  Price Change % Change Share Price Bid Price Offer Price High Price Low Price Open Price Shares Traded Last Trade
  -40.00 -0.72% 5,485.00 5,480.00 5,490.00 5,560.00 5,485.00 5,525.00 34,677 15:19:09
Industry Sector Turnover Profit EPS - Basic PE Ratio Market Cap
Offices-holdng Companies,nec 22.2B 334.02M 3.3818 16.28 5.44B

DCC PLC Results for the six months ended 30 September 2016 (0347P)

14/11/2016 7:01am

UK Regulatory


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TIDMDCC

RNS Number : 0347P

DCC PLC

14 November 2016

14 November 2016

DCC Reports Very Strong First Half Performance and

New Acquisitions

DCC, the international sales, marketing, distribution and business support services group, today announced its results for the six months ended 30 September 2016.

 
 Highlights                            2016         2015   % change 
------------------------------  -----------  -----------  --------- 
 DCC Energy volumes (billion 
  litres)                           6.595bn      5.818bn     +13.3% 
------------------------------  -----------  -----------  --------- 
 Revenue (excl. DCC Energy)      GBP1.478bn   GBP1.407bn      +5.1% 
------------------------------  -----------  -----------  --------- 
 Operating profit1                GBP117.8m     GBP88.4m     +33.3% 
------------------------------  -----------  -----------  --------- 
 Adjusted earnings per share1         92.1p        70.3p     +31.1% 
------------------------------  -----------  -----------  --------- 
 Interim dividend                    37.17p       33.04p     +12.5% 
------------------------------  -----------  -----------  --------- 
 Operating cash flow              GBP141.0m    GBP120.7m 
------------------------------  -----------  -----------  --------- 
 

-- Very strong first half performance with Group operating profit increasing by 33.3% (up 26.5% on a constant currency basis) to GBP117.8 million, with all divisions recording growth on the prior year.

-- Adjusted earnings per share up 31.1% (24.7% ahead on a constant currency basis) to 92.1 pence.

   --     Interim dividend increased by 12.5% to 37.17 pence per share. 
   --     Continued very strong cash flow performance. 

-- The Group continues to be very active from a development perspective and, including those acquisitions announced today, has committed GBP181 million in acquisition spend in the period.

-- As separately announced today, DCC Energy has agreed to acquire Gaz Européen, a leading French natural gas retail and marketing business, for an initial enterprise value of EUR110 million (GBP96 million). In addition, DCC Healthcare has agreed to acquire Medisource, a pharmaceutical procurement, sales and marketing business in Ireland for an initial enterprise value of EUR32 million (GBP27 million). The acquisition of Dansk Fuels in Denmark by DCC Energy, announced on 23 March 2016, was completed ahead of schedule.

-- The Group expects that both operating profit and adjusted earnings per share for the year ending 31 March 2017 will be significantly ahead of the prior year and ahead of current market consensus expectations.

(1) Excluding net exceptionals and amortisation of intangible assets

Commenting on the results, Tommy Breen, Chief Executive, said:

"I am very pleased to report that the first half of the year has been another very active and successful period for DCC. The results reflect continued execution of our strategy to grow the business organically, deliver a very strong cash flow performance and redeploy capital at attractive rates of return. The Group continues to have the ambition and capacity for further development and importantly, as DCC increases in scale and geographic reach, also has the opportunity to build substantial market positions in its chosen sectors. The Group expects that both operating profit and adjusted earnings per share for the year ending 31 March 2017 will be significantly ahead of the prior year and ahead of current market consensus expectations."

Presentation of results and dial-in / webcast facility

There will be a presentation of these results to analysts and fund managers at 9.00 am today in the London Stock Exchange. The slides for this presentation can be downloaded from DCC's website, www.dcc.ie.

There will also be audio conference access to, and a live webcast of, the presentation. The access details for the presentation are:

   Ireland:                        1800 937 656 
   UK / International:        +44 (0) 203 427 1916 
   Passcode:                   7675960 
   Webcast Link:             http://edge.media-server.com/m/p/uoim6u9i 

This report, the webcast of the presentation and further information on DCC is available at www.dcc.ie.

For reference, please contact:

 
 Tommy Breen, Chief Executive                                   Tel: +353 1 2799 400 
 Fergal O'Dwyer, Chief Financial Officer         Email: investorrelations@dcc.ie 
 Kevin Lucey, Head of Group Finance & Investor                           Web: www.dcc.ie 
  Relations 
 
   For media enquiries: Powerscourt (Lisa                          Tel: +44 207 250 1446 
   Kavanagh) 
 

Group Results

A summary of the Group's results for the six months ended 30 September 2016 is as follows:

 
                                                                          2016                 2015 
                                                                         GBP'm                GBP'm           % change 
 
 Revenue                                                                 5,597                5,066             +10.5% 
 Operating profit(1) 
  DCC Energy                                                              76.0                 52.9             +43.8% 
  DCC Healthcare                                                          19.8                 18.4              +7.0% 
  DCC Technology                                                          11.3                  8.6             +31.9% 
  DCC Environmental                                                       10.7                  8.5             +26.7% 
 Group operating profit(1)                                               117.8                 88.4             +33.3% 
 Finance costs (net) and other                                          (16.4)               (14.4) 
 Profit before net exceptionals, amortisation of 
  intangible assets and tax                                              101.4                 74.0             +37.0% 
 Net exceptional charge before tax                                       (2.5)                (9.7) 
 Amortisation of intangible assets                                      (18.3)               (11.8) 
 Profit before tax                                                        80.6                 52.5             +53.7% 
 Taxation                                                               (13.0)               (10.3) 
 Profit after tax                                                         67.6                 42.2 
 Non-controlling interests                                               (2.0)                (0.9) 
 Attributable profit                                                      65.6                 41.3 
 Adjusted earnings per share(1)                                     92.1 pence           70.3 pence             +31.1% 
 Dividend per share                                                37.17 pence          33.04 pence             +12.5% 
 Operating cash flow                                                     141.0                120.7 
 Net (debt) / cash at 30 September                                     (112.2)                153.4 
 
 (1) Excluding net exceptionals and amortisation of intangible assets 
 
 

Group revenue

Overall, Group revenue increased by 10.5% (5.8% ahead on a constant currency basis) to GBP5.6 billion.

Volumes in DCC Energy increased by 13.3% to 6.6 billion litres, driven principally by acquisitions completed during the prior year. On an organic basis volumes were modestly ahead of the prior year, with good growth in Retail & Fuelcard volumes and continuing organic growth in LPG volumes, particularly with industrial and commercial customers and oil to LPG conversions. Reflecting lower oil prices, DCC Energy's revenue increased by 12.5% (up 7.3% on a constant currency basis) with average selling prices per litre reducing by 5.4% on a constant currency basis.

Revenue excluding DCC Energy increased by 5.1% (up 1.8% on a constant currency basis) to GBP1.5 billion.

Group operating profit

Group operating profit increased by 33.3% to GBP117.8 million (26.5% ahead on a constant currency basis), in the seasonally less significant first half. The average sterling/euro translation rate for the six months ended 30 September 2016 of 1.2364 was 11.1% weaker than the average of 1.3902 in the comparative period. Approximately one third of the constant currency operating profit growth was organic.

Operating profit in DCC Energy, the Group's largest division, was 43.8% ahead of the prior year (33.1% ahead on a constant currency basis), driven principally by the two large acquisitions in France completed in the prior year, which continue to perform strongly. The division also recorded strong organic profit growth in its LPG and Retail & Fuelcard businesses.

Operating profit in DCC Healthcare was 7.0% ahead of the prior year (7.7% ahead on a constant currency basis). The division again benefited from another strong performance in DCC Health & Beauty Solutions.

Operating profit in DCC Technology increased by 31.9% (27.5% ahead on a constant currency basis) in the seasonally less significant first half. The UK business performed in line with expectations and recorded good organic profit growth, assisted by cost reductions implemented during the prior year.

DCC Environmental generated excellent organic growth, with operating profit increasing to GBP10.7 million, 26.7% ahead of the prior year.

Finance costs (net)

Net finance costs increased to GBP16.6 million (2015: GBP14.6 million) primarily due to the non-cash partial unwind of discounted acquisition related liabilities acquired in the Butagaz transaction. The underlying finance costs of the Group were broadly in line with the prior year as they are largely driven by the level of the Group's gross private placement debt, which remained largely unchanged. Average net debt during the period was GBP262 million compared to GBP60 million during the six months ended 30 September 2015.

Profit before net exceptional items, amortisation of intangible assets and tax

Profit before net exceptional items, amortisation of intangible assets and tax increased by 37.0% (30.0% ahead on a constant currency basis) to GBP101.4 million.

Net exceptional charge and amortisation of intangible assets

The Group incurred a net exceptional charge before tax of GBP2.5 million in the first six months of the year. The net charge principally reflects acquisition and restructuring costs, offset somewhat by a gain in respect of the IAS 39 treatment of the Group's private placement debt and related hedging instruments.

Acquisition related costs amounted to GBP1.4 million and restructuring costs amounted to GBP2.3 million. Acquisition costs include the professional fees and tax costs (such as stamp duty) relating to the evaluation and completion of acquisition opportunities.

Most of the Group's debt has been raised in the US private placement market and swapped, using long term interest, currency and cross currency interest rate derivatives, to both fixed and floating rate sterling and euro. The level of ineffectiveness calculated under IAS 39 on the fair value and cash flow hedge relationships relating to fixed rate debt, together with gains or losses arising from marking to market swaps not designated as hedges, offset by foreign exchange translation gains or losses on the related fixed rate debt, is charged or credited as an exceptional item. In the six months ended 30 September 2016, this amounted to an exceptional gain of GBP1.9 million. The exceptional gains and losses on the Group's private placement debt and related hedging instruments will net to zero on a cumulative basis over their term.

The remaining exceptional charge of GBP0.7 million principally represents the impairment in value of freehold properties which are no longer in use.

The charge for the amortisation of acquisition related intangible assets increased to GBP18.3 million from GBP11.8 million in the prior year, with the increase principally reflecting the substantial acquisitions completed in the prior year.

Profit before tax

Profit before tax increased by 53.7% to GBP80.6 million.

Taxation

The effective tax rate for the Group in the first half of the year of 17.5% is based on the anticipated mix of profits for the full year. This rate compares to a full year effective tax rate in the prior year of 16.0%. The increase is primarily due to an increase in the proportion of profits generated in Continental Europe.

Adjusted earnings per share

Adjusted earnings per share increased by 31.1% (24.7% ahead on a constant currency basis) to 92.1 pence.

Dividend

The Board has decided to pay an interim dividend of 37.17 pence per share, which represents a 12.5% increase on the prior year interim dividend of 33.04 pence per share. This dividend will be paid on 12 December 2016 to shareholders on the register at the close of business on 25 November 2016.

Cash flow

As with its operating profit, the Group's operating cash flow is significantly weighted towards the second half of the year. The cash flow of the Group for the six months ended 30 September 2016 can be summarised as follows:

 
 Six months ended 30 September                          2016          2015 
                                                       GBP'm         GBP'm 
 
 Operating profit                                      117.8          88.4 
 
 Increase in working capital                          (17.0)         (4.4) 
 Depreciation and other                                 40.2          36.7 
 
 Operating cash flow                                   141.0         120.7 
 
 Capital expenditure (net)                            (59.8)        (51.3) 
 
 Free cash flow                                         81.2          69.4 
 
 Net interest and tax paid and other                  (42.1)        (29.8) 
 
 Free cash flow after interest and tax                  39.1          39.6 
 
 Acquisitions                                         (32.8)       (134.2) 
 Disposals                                                 -           2.3 
 Dividends                                            (55.7)        (49.9) 
 Dividends paid to non-controlling interests           (5.1)             - 
 Exceptional items (net)                               (8.8)        (10.4) 
 Share issues                                            2.1         194.0 
 
 Net (outflow) / inflow                               (61.2)          41.4 
 
 Opening net (debt) / cash                            (54.5)          30.0 
 Translation and other                                   3.5         (7.8) 
 Cash acquired - Butagaz                                   -          89.8 
 
 Closing net (debt) / cash                           (112.2)         153.4 
 
 

Operating cash flow in the six months ended 30 September 2016 of GBP141.0 million compares to GBP120.7 million in the prior year. Working capital increased by GBP17.0 million over the six month period from 31 March 2016, reflecting seasonal requirements, although on a like for like basis the value of working capital was GBP25.0 million lower than that at 30 September 2015. As a result, overall working capital days at 30 September 2016 improved on the prior year by 0.6 days to a negative 2.9 days sales.

Acquisition and capital expenditure committed

Committed acquisition and capital expenditure in the current period amounted to GBP240.3 million as follows:

 
                            Acquisitions      Capex           Total 
                                   GBP'm      GBP'm           GBP'm 
 DCC Energy                        100.0       36.1           136.1 
 DCC Healthcare                     27.4        4.3            31.7 
 DCC Technology                     53.1       16.5            69.6 
 DCC Environmental                     -        2.9             2.9 
 
 Total                             180.5       59.8           240.3 
-------------------  -------------------  ---------  -------------- 
 

Acquisition activity

Committed acquisition expenditure amounted to GBP180.5 million.

DCC Energy

Gaz Européen

As announced separately today, DCC Energy has agreed to acquire Gaz Européen Holdings SAS ("Gaz Européen"), a natural gas retail and marketing business which supplies business and public sector customers in France. DCC has agreed to acquire 97% of the share capital of Gaz Européen on completion, based on an initial enterprise value of EUR110 million (GBP96 million). The remaining shares, which are held by members of Gaz Européen's management team, will be acquired based on Gaz Européen's results for the three years ending 31 March 2021, 2022 and 2023. All of the consideration will be satisfied in cash. The acquisition is conditional, inter alia, on clearance from the French Competition Authority and is expected to complete in the first calendar quarter of 2017.

Gaz Européen was founded in 2005, when the French natural gas market was first deregulated and opened to competition. The company is a specialist retailer of natural gas and focuses on supplying energy management companies, apartment blocks (with collective heating systems), public authorities and the service sector in France. In its financial year ended 31 December 2015, the company supplied c. 5.1 TWh of natural gas (equivalent to approximately 390,000 tonnes of LPG) and currently supplies c. 10,000 sites. The company is headquartered in Paris and employs 31 staff; it has an experienced and ambitious management team with a track record of delivering strong growth. In its financial year ended 31 December 2015, Gaz Européen generated revenue of EUR205 million (GBP178 million) and normalised operating profit of EUR15.7 million (GBP13.7 million).

DCC Energy has, for some time, been developing its presence in natural gas organically in selected geographies as it believes that there is a significant opportunity to leverage its sales and marketing expertise, customer reach and brand recognition in the LPG and oil distribution markets into complementary adjacencies, including the natural gas sector. Gaz Européen will be DCC Energy's first major acquisition in natural gas and will complement Butagaz's leading position in LPG. One of the key strengths identified during the acquisition of Butagaz was its brand recognition amongst French gas consumers generally. The combination of Butagaz's marketing and brand strength and Gaz Européen's expertise in the natural gas market will provide an excellent platform for growth in the French natural gas market.

Dansk Fuels

In the prior financial year, DCC agreed to acquire Dansk Fuels, a commercial, aviation and retail fuels business in Denmark, formerly owned by Shell. Following receipt of competition clearance from the European Commission the acquisition was completed, ahead of schedule, on 31 October 2016.

Dansk Fuels comprises Shell's previous commercial and aviation distribution business in Denmark and a retail petrol station network of 139 sites (comprising 95 manned and 44 unmanned sites) together with contracts to supply 66 dealers. DCC has entered into a long-term brand partnership with Shell to operate the network under the Shell brand. The transaction will involve a total investment by DCC of approximately DKK300 million (GBP35 million). The business will be merged with DCC's existing oil distribution business in Denmark and will leverage DCC Energy's recently developed retail operating platform. The acquired business will have total incremental volumes of approximately 0.9 billion litres and is expected to generate an initial return on invested capital commensurate with DCC Energy's existing returns.

DCC Healthcare

Medisource

In November 2016 DCC Healthcare strengthened its position in the procurement, sales and marketing of pharmaceutical products in Ireland through its agreement to acquire Medisource Ireland Limited ("Medisource") for an initial enterprise valuation of EUR31.5 million (GBP27.4 million). The acquisition, which is subject to competition clearance, is expected to complete in the first calendar quarter of 2017.

Medisource is a specialist in the procurement and sale of Exempt Medicinal Products ("EMPs"). EMPs are pharmaceutical products which are imported into a market with the authorisation of the relevant regulatory authority (the Health Products Regulatory Authority in Ireland), in order to meet requirements of specific patients where no suitable licenced product is available in that market. The products are typically licenced in another jurisdiction. Medisource has a market leadership position in EMPs in Ireland based on excellent customer service and a strong network of international suppliers. The acquisition complements DCC Vital's current pharma product offering, strengthens DCC Vital's access to the hospital and retail pharmacy channel and will provide further insight into potential pharma product development opportunities. DCC Healthcare expects to generate a return on its investment in Medisource in line with the divisional return on capital employed in its first full year of ownership.

DCC Technology

Medium

In November 2016, DCC Technology acquired Medium (U.K.) Limited ("Medium"), a distributor of professional audio visual equipment to resellers in the UK. Medium, which partners with a number of leading brands in the market including CTouch, LG, NEC and Samsung, is complementary to DCC Technology's developing position in professional audio visual in the UK market. The consideration for the acquisition was based on an enterprise valuation of GBP8.3 million and was satisfied in cash at completion.

Hammer

As announced on 14 October 2016, DCC Technology has agreed to acquire Hammer Consolidated Holdings Limited ("Hammer"), a specialist distributor of server and storage solutions to resellers in the UK and Continental Europe. Employing 165 people and based in Basingstoke, Hampshire, Hammer distributes products for a range of leading suppliers and also provides product design and build solutions tailored to the requirements of customers in specific industries. The business is complementary to DCC Technology's existing server and storage business and will add almost 1,000 reseller customers. In its most recent financial year Hammer recorded sales of GBP155.0 million and operating profit of GBP6.3 million. The acquisition is based on an initial enterprise value of GBP38.3 million and is structured as an initial payment at completion, followed by earn out payments over three years based on Hammer's future trading results. The acquisition, which is subject to competition clearance from the European Commission, is expected to complete by the end of December 2016.

Total cash spend on acquisitions in the six months ended 30 September 2016

The total cash spend on acquisitions in the six months ended 30 September 2016 was GBP32.8 million. This included the payment of deferred and contingent acquisition consideration previously provided of GBP26.2 million and the completion of a number of small acquisitions for a total consideration of GBP6.6 million.

Capital expenditure

Net capital expenditure for the six months of GBP59.8 million (2015: GBP51.3 million) compares to a depreciation charge of GBP42.9 million (2015: GBP32.5 million).

The construction of DCC Technology's new, purpose built, 450,000 sq.ft. UK national distribution centre in the north of England is progressing well and the relocation to the new facility will take place on a staged basis, beginning towards the end of the current financial year.

Financial strength

An integral part of the Group's strategy is the maintenance of a strong and liquid balance sheet to enable it to take advantage of development opportunities as they arise. At 30 September 2016, the Group had net debt of GBP112 million, total equity of GBP1.4 billion, cash resources, net of overdrafts, of GBP1.0 billion and a further GBP400 million of undrawn committed debt facilities. The Group's outstanding term debt at 30 September 2016 had an average maturity of 5.8 years. Substantially all of the Group's debt has been raised in the US Private Placement market with an average credit margin of 1.69% over floating Euribor/Libor.

Outlook

The Group expects that both operating profit and adjusted earnings per share for the year ending 31 March 2017 will be significantly ahead of the prior year and ahead of current market consensus expectations.

Performance Review - Divisional Analysis

 
 DCC Energy               2016        2015   % change 
------------------  ----------  ----------  --------- 
 Volumes (litres)       6.595b      5.818b     +13.3% 
------------------  ----------  ----------  --------- 
 Revenue             GBP4.119b   GBP3.660b     +12.5% 
------------------  ----------  ----------  --------- 
 Operating profit     GBP76.0m    GBP52.9m     +43.8% 
------------------  ----------  ----------  --------- 
 

DCC Energy had an excellent first half of the financial year with operating profit increasing by 43.8% to GBP76.0 million, benefiting from acquisitions completed in the prior year and very strong performances from its LPG and Retail & Fuel Card businesses. DCC Energy sold 6.6 billion litres of product, an increase of 13.3% over the prior year. Volumes were 0.4% ahead on a like-for-like basis.

The LPG business had an excellent first half, with volumes 38.3% ahead of the prior year and 1.3% ahead on an organic basis. The business continued to drive sales growth in the commercial and industrial sector and also benefited from oil to LPG conversions.

Butagaz has continued to perform very strongly since acquisition in September 2015 and will be significantly enhanced by the acquisition of Gaz Européen, which was announced separately today. Gaz Européen is a specialist retailer of natural gas to business customers, principally co-ownership housing, in France. In its financial year ended 31 December 2015 the company supplied c. 5.1 TWh of natural gas (equivalent to approximately 390,000 tonnes of LPG) and currently supplies c. 10,000 sites. In recent years DCC Energy has developed modest natural gas businesses organically in a number of European markets. Gaz Européen will be DCC Energy's first major acquisition in natural gas and will complement Butagaz's leading position in LPG in France.

The Retail & Fuel Card business achieved an excellent result with good organic volume growth in existing markets, complemented by a strong performance in the Esso retail petrol station business in France acquired in June 2015. The business in Sweden also performed strongly and the scale of the Retail business was further increased through the acquisition of the Shell retail petrol station network in Denmark, which completed recently. DCC Energy now operates 838 retail sites across five countries and is well positioned to leverage its operating platform to drive further growth. The Fuel Card business again recorded strong organic growth and continued to grow its market share in Britain.

The Oil business experienced more challenging conditions in Britain; however the business in Denmark performed strongly, particularly in the agricultural sector, where it benefited from the acquisition of the DLG business in the prior year. The Danish business was further expanded through the recent completion of the acquisition of Shell's commercial and aviation fuels business. The Oil business continues to make good progress in expanding its activities into adjacent areas such as lubricants and aviation fuels.

DCC Energy now has leadership positions in 10 countries across Europe in its chosen sectors of LPG, Retail & Fuel Card and Oil. DCC Energy continues to be well positioned to grow its business in both existing and new geographies, particularly in light of the continuing divestment programmes of the major oil and gas companies.

 
 DCC Healthcare           2016        2015   % change 
------------------  ----------  ----------  --------- 
 Revenue             GBP244.3m   GBP239.1m      +2.2% 
------------------  ----------  ----------  --------- 
 Operating profit     GBP19.8m    GBP18.4m      +7.0% 
------------------  ----------  ----------  --------- 
 Operating margin         8.1%        7.7% 
------------------  ----------  ----------  --------- 
 

DCC Healthcare recorded a good performance in the first half of the financial year, generating operating profit growth of 7.0%, approximately half of which was organic. DCC Vital performed satisfactorily, growing its profits despite the trading headwind of weaker sterling. DCC Health & Beauty Solutions continued its track record of very strong organic profit growth and benefited from the contribution from Design Plus, which has performed well since its acquisition in September 2015.

DCC Vital, which is focused on the sales, marketing and distribution of pharmaceuticals and medical devices across all channels of the healthcare market in Britain and Ireland, recorded a satisfactory performance. The first half results reflect the actions taken in the prior year to streamline its product portfolio and activities, as it continues to increase its focus on the sales and marketing of its own products. This streamlining included the reconfiguration and consolidation of its warehousing and distribution activities in Britain and the business incurred some additional cost as part of this process. Although margins were impacted somewhat due to sterling weakness, DCC Vital generated good sales growth in the GP and hospital sectors in Britain, especially in disposable products used by GPs, hospital injectable pharmaceuticals and in its Skintact medical products range, which holds a market leadership position in electrodes and diathermy consumables.

In Ireland, the business generated good sales and profit growth across its product portfolio, particularly in hospital pharmaceuticals. The proposed acquisition of Medisource, announced today, will further enhance DCC Vital's position in the procurement, sales and marketing of pharmaceuticals in Ireland.

DCC Health & Beauty Solutions, which provides outsourced solutions to international nutrition and beauty brand owners, again generated very strong organic operating profit growth. In the nutritional sector, the business benefited from its increasing focus on and its technical expertise in developing and producing more complex, higher margin products and from good cost control. The integration of Design Plus, the market leader in Britain in sachet filling for health and beauty brand owners, has extended DCC Health & Beauty Solutions' service offering to brand owners, provided access to new customers and opened up a range of additional growth opportunities, including in the US market. DCC Health & Beauty Solutions is continuing to invest in its high quality, GMP certified, manufacturing and packing facilities in Britain to expand capacity to meet increasing demand for its services and to enhance its operational capability and efficiency.

 
 DCC Technology           2016        2015   % change 
------------------  ----------  ----------  --------- 
 Revenue             GBP1.144b   GBP1.089b      +5.1% 
------------------  ----------  ----------  --------- 
 Operating profit     GBP11.3m     GBP8.6m     +31.9% 
------------------  ----------  ----------  --------- 
 Operating margin         1.0%        0.8% 
------------------  ----------  ----------  --------- 
 

DCC Technology, which trades as Exertis, achieved strong growth in the first half of the financial year, reflecting good organic profit growth and the benefit of the CUC acquisition completed in December 2015.

The business in the UK delivered very strong growth, despite continued weak market conditions in the computing and smartphone market, as the business achieved growth in areas such as professional audio visual, supplies, and smart home technologies. The growth in these areas, together with the benefit of cost reductions implemented in the prior year, resulted in an improvement in operating margin.

The UK business has continued to invest in the infrastructure and technologies that will drive and support future growth. The business has signed new suppliers to take advantage of the burgeoning market for virtual and augmented reality, expanded its capability in wireless networking and, most significantly, recently announced the acquisition of Hammer, which will materially enhance DCC Technology's position in the server and storage market and provide an excellent platform to further develop its enterprise solutions business. The acquisition is expected to complete before the end of the calendar year. In addition, the new national distribution centre in Lancashire will be commissioned on schedule in early 2017.

The business in Continental Europe achieved strong growth. In France, the CUC business, acquired in December 2015, achieved good organic profit growth, although the retail business was impacted by weak demand and margin pressure. The business in the Nordics achieved excellent organic profit growth, reflecting continued development of its professional audio visual capability and of its retail offering in both Sweden and Norway.

In Ireland, DCC Technology achieved strong growth, reflecting good business development activity, particularly in services for large mobile operators and retailers, as well as growth in security and networking products.

Over the past year, DCC Technology has developed a presence in the United Arab Emirates, initially servicing airport retail stores and more recently broadening its footprint into general retail stores in the Gulf region. Although modest, the business has developed quickly and contributed to the organic profit growth achieved.

The Supply Chain Services business traded in line with expectations in the first half of the year.

DCC Technology is well positioned to benefit from new consumer and enterprise technologies and to expand its service portfolio, while driving operational efficiencies.

 
 DCC Environmental        2016       2015   % change 
-------------------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
 Revenue              GBP89.3m   GBP78.3m     +13.9% 
-------------------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
 Operating profit     GBP10.7m    GBP8.5m     +26.7% 
-------------------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
 Operating margin        12.0%      10.8% 
-------------------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
 

DCC Environmental delivered an excellent performance in the first half of the financial year and increased its operating profit by 26.7% to GBP10.7 million, continuing the trend of improved profitability and returns on capital employed in recent years. The growth in operating profit, all of which was organic, was broadly based and reflects good business development activity and the continuing focus on operating efficiency.

In Britain, the business performed strongly and benefited from a very strong result in hazardous waste, where the business has continued to expand its service offering, particularly in waste oil recovery and services to the water industry. The non-hazardous business also increased its profits, whilst continuing to invest in process improvement and efficiency measures.

The Irish business delivered an excellent performance as it grew its market share in its core market and also further developed its capabilities in adjacent hazardous and organic waste services.

Forward-looking statements

This announcement contains some forward-looking statements that represent DCC's expectations for its business, based on current expectations about future events, which by their nature involve risk and uncertainty. DCC believes that its expectations and assumptions with respect to these forward-looking statements are reasonable; however because they involve risk and uncertainty as to future circumstances, which are in many cases beyond DCC's control, actual results or performance may differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements.

Principal risks and uncertainties

The Board of DCC is responsible for the Group's risk management and internal control systems, which are designed to identify, manage and mitigate potential material risks to the achievement of the Group's strategic and business objectives. The Board has approved a Risk Management Policy which sets out delegated responsibilities and procedures for the management of risk across the Group.

The principal risks and uncertainties facing the Group in the short to medium term, as set out on pages 15 to 17 of the 2016 Annual Report (together with the principal mitigation measures), continue to be the principal risks and uncertainties facing the Group for the remaining six months of the financial year.

This is not an exhaustive statement of all relevant risks and uncertainties. Matters which are not currently known to the Board or events which the Board considers to be of low likelihood could emerge and give rise to material consequences. The mitigation measures that are maintained in relation to these risks are designed to provide a reasonable and not an absolute level of protection against the impact of the events in question.

Group Income Statement

 
                                       Unaudited 6 months ended                         Unaudited 6 months ended                           Audited year ended 
                                          30 September 2016                                 30 September 2015                                31 March 2016 
                           -----------------------------------------------  ------------------------------------------------  ------------------------------------------- 
                             Pre exceptionals   Exceptionals                  Pre exceptionals                                          Pre 
                                                    (note 6)         Total                        Exceptionals         Total   exceptionals    Exceptionals         Total 
                    Notes             GBP'000        GBP'000       GBP'000             GBP'000         GBP'000       GBP'000        GBP'000         GBP'000       GBP'000 
 
 Revenue              5             5,596,544              -     5,596,544           5,066,240               -     5,066,240     10,601,085               -    10,601,085 
 Cost of sales                    (5,024,491)              -   (5,024,491)         (4,638,535)               -   (4,638,535)    (9,545,194)               -   (9,545,194) 
                           ------------------  -------------  ------------  ------------------  --------------  ------------  -------------  --------------  ------------ 
 
 Gross profit                         572,053              -       572,053             427,705               -       427,705      1,055,891               -     1,055,891 
 Administration 
  expenses                          (175,496)              -     (175,496)           (147,726)               -     (147,726)      (304,029)               -     (304,029) 
 Selling and distribution 
  expenses                          (283,105)              -     (283,105)           (194,441)               -     (194,441)      (463,877)               -     (463,877) 
 Other operating 
  income                                8,697            408         9,105               5,916           5,291        11,207         26,416          13,829        40,245 
 Other operating 
  expenses                            (4,326)        (4,824)       (9,150)             (3,067)        (11,154)      (14,221)       (13,878)        (28,469)      (42,347) 
                           ------------------  -------------  ------------  ------------------  --------------  ------------  -------------  --------------  ------------ 
 
 Operating profit before 
  amortisation of 
  intangible 
  assets                              117,823        (4,416)       113,407              88,387         (5,863)        82,524        300,523        (14,640)       285,883 
 Amortisation of 
  intangible 
  assets                             (18,266)              -      (18,266)            (11,884)               -      (11,884)       (31,622)               -      (31,622) 
                           ------------------  -------------  ------------  ------------------  --------------  ------------  -------------  --------------  ------------ 
 
 Operating profit     5                99,557        (4,416)        95,141              76,503         (5,863)        70,640        268,901        (14,640)       254,261 
 Finance costs                       (35,751)              -      (35,751)            (32,161)         (3,819)      (35,980)       (64,970)         (9,419)      (74,389) 
 Finance income                        19,165          1,901        21,066              17,532               -        17,532         35,981               -        35,981 
 Equity accounted 
  investments' 
  profit after tax                        182              -           182                 279               -           279            504               -           504 
                           ------------------  -------------  ------------  ------------------  --------------  ------------  -------------  --------------  ------------ 
 
 Profit before 
  tax                                  83,153        (2,515)        80,638              62,153         (9,682)        52,471        240,416        (24,059)       216,357 
 Income tax 
  expense             7              (12,685)          (386)      (13,071)             (9,232)         (1,037)      (10,269)       (36,024)             710      (35,314) 
                           ------------------  -------------  ------------  ------------------  --------------  ------------  -------------  --------------  ------------ 
 
  Profit after tax for 
   the 
   financial period                    70,468        (2,901)        67,567              52,921        (10,719)        42,202        204,392        (23,349)       181,043 
                           ------------------  -------------  ------------  ------------------  --------------  ------------  -------------  --------------  ------------ 
 
 Profit 
 attributable 
 to: 
 Owners of the Parent                                               65,588                                            41,270                                      178,031 
 Non-controlling 
  interests                                                          1,979                                               932                                        3,012 
                                                              ------------                                      ------------                                 ------------ 
                                                                    67,567                                            42,202                                      181,043 
                                                              ------------                                      ------------                                 ------------ 
 
 Earnings per ordinary share 
 Basic                8                                             73.95p                                            47.32p                                      202.64p 
                                                              ------------                                      ------------                                 ------------ 
 Diluted              8                                             73.42p                                            46.91p                                      201.02p 
                                                              ------------                                      ------------                                 ------------ 
 
 Adjusted earnings per ordinary share 
 Basic                8                                             92.14p                                            70.29p                                      257.14p 
                                                              ------------                                      ------------                                 ------------ 
 Diluted              8                                             91.48p                                            69.69p                                      255.07p 
                                                              ------------                                      ------------                                 ------------ 
 

Group Statement of Comprehensive Income

 
                                                      Unaudited   Unaudited    Audited 
                                                       6 months    6 months       year 
                                                          ended       ended      ended 
                                                       30 Sept.    30 Sept.   31 March 
                                                           2016        2015       2016 
                                                        GBP'000     GBP'000    GBP'000 
 
 Group profit for the period                             67,567      42,202    181,043 
 
 Other comprehensive income: 
 Items that may be reclassified subsequently 
  to profit or loss 
 Currency translation                                    38,453       6,956     37,971 
 Movements relating to cash flow 
  hedges                                                  9,409     (3,881)      2,230 
 Movement in deferred tax liability 
  on cash flow hedges                                   (1,504)       1,337        120 
                                                     ----------  ----------  --------- 
                                                         46,358       4,412     40,321 
                                                     ----------  ----------  --------- 
 Items that will not be reclassified 
  to profit or loss 
 Group defined benefit pension obligations: 
 - remeasurements                                       (8,014)       8,041      4,894 
 - movement in deferred tax asset                         1,227     (1,132)      (570) 
                                                     ----------  ----------  --------- 
                                                        (6,787)       6,909      4,324 
                                                     ----------  ----------  --------- 
 
 Other comprehensive income for the 
  period, net of tax                                     39,571      11,321     44,645 
                                                     ----------  ----------  --------- 
 
 Total comprehensive income for 
  the period                                            107,138      53,523    225,688 
                                                     ----------  ----------  --------- 
 
 Attributable to: 
 Owners of the Parent                                   102,678      51,996    220,411 
 Non-controlling interests                                4,460       1,527      5,277 
                                                     ----------  ----------  --------- 
 
                                                        107,138      53,523    225,688 
                                                     ----------  ----------  --------- 
 
 

Group Balance Sheet

 
                                                 Unaudited   Unaudited     Audited 
                                                  30 Sept.    30 Sept.    31 March 
                                                      2016        2015        2016 
                                         Notes     GBP'000     GBP'000     GBP'000 
 ASSETS 
 Non-current assets 
 Property, plant and equipment                     778,618     723,360     739,503 
 Intangible assets                               1,345,082   1,115,861   1,297,065 
 Equity accounted investments                       26,019       5,329      22,139 
 Deferred income tax assets                         22,802      12,338      21,285 
 Derivative financial instruments                  271,609     194,133     209,518 
                                                 2,444,130   2,051,021   2,289,510 
                                                ----------  ----------  ---------- 
 
 Current assets 
 Inventories                                       435,716     402,658     393,948 
 Trade and other receivables                       997,017     898,780     916,069 
 Derivative financial instruments                   37,132       5,900      15,915 
 Cash and cash equivalents                       1,138,953   1,458,748   1,182,034 
                                                ----------  ----------  ---------- 
                                                 2,608,818   2,766,086   2,507,966 
 Total assets                                    5,052,948   4,817,107   4,797,476 
                                                ----------  ----------  ---------- 
 
 
 EQUITY 
 Capital and reserves attributable to owners 
  of the Parent 
 Share capital                                      15,455      15,443      15,455 
 Share premium                                     277,211     274,339     277,211 
 Share based payment reserve              10        16,369      13,623      14,954 
 Cash flow hedge reserve                  10         (207)    (13,006)     (8,112) 
 Foreign currency translation reserve     10       106,859      39,044      70,887 
 Other reserves                           10           932         932         932 
 Retained earnings                                 953,462     849,323     948,316 
                                                ----------  ----------  ---------- 
 Equity attributable to owners 
  of the Parent                                  1,370,081   1,179,698   1,319,643 
 Non-controlling interests                          30,238      24,314      30,833 
                                                ----------  ----------  ---------- 
 Total equity                                    1,400,319   1,204,012   1,350,476 
                                                ----------  ----------  ---------- 
 
 LIABILITIES 
 Non-current liabilities 
 Borrowings                                      1,385,011   1,285,721   1,260,421 
 Derivative financial instruments                        -       1,083         343 
 Deferred income tax liabilities                   140,811      75,060     133,646 
 Post employment benefit obligations      12         7,045        (79)         347 
 Provisions for liabilities                        233,079     220,531     213,115 
 Acquisition related liabilities                    80,548      40,319      81,411 
 Government grants                                     752       1,098         904 
                                                ----------  ----------  ---------- 
                                                 1,847,246   1,623,733   1,690,187 
                                                ----------  ----------  ---------- 
 
 Current liabilities 
 Trade and other payables                        1,536,255   1,383,587   1,437,832 
 Current income tax liabilities                     26,187      27,952      45,172 
 Borrowings                                        172,274     199,657     192,804 
 Derivative financial instruments                    2,574      18,891       8,401 
 Provisions for liabilities                         33,860      24,799      31,373 
 Acquisition related liabilities                    34,233     334,476      41,231 
                                                ----------  ----------  ---------- 
                                                 1,805,383   1,989,362   1,756,813 
 Total liabilities                               3,652,629   3,613,095   3,447,000 
                                                ----------  ----------  ---------- 
 
 Total equity and liabilities                    5,052,948   4,817,107   4,797,476 
                                                ----------  ----------  ---------- 
 
 Net (debt)/cash included above           11     (112,165)     153,429    (54,502) 
                                                ----------  ----------  ---------- 
 

Group Statement of Changes in Equity

 
For the six                                Attributable to owners of the 
months ended 30                                        Parent 
September 2016 
                 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
                                                                               Other                            Non- 
                           Share               Share         Retained       reserves                     controlling         Total 
                         capital             premium         earnings          (note         Total         interests        equity 
                                                                                 10) 
                         GBP'000             GBP'000          GBP'000        GBP'000       GBP'000           GBP'000       GBP'000 
 
At 1 April 2016           15,455             277,211          948,316         78,661     1,319,643            30,833     1,350,476 
 
 Profit for the 
  period                       -                   -           65,588              -        65,588             1,979        67,567 
Currency 
 translation                   -                   -                -         35,972        35,972             2,481        38,453 
Group defined 
benefit pension 
obligations: 
- 
 remeasurements                -                   -          (8,014)              -       (8,014)                 -       (8,014) 
- movement in 
 deferred tax 
 asset                         -                   -            1,227              -         1,227                 -         1,227 
Movements 
 relating to 
 cash 
 flow hedges                   -                   -                -          9,409         9,409                 -         9,409 
Movement in 
 deferred tax 
 liability 
 on cash flow 
 hedges                        -                   -                -        (1,504)       (1,504)                 -       (1,504) 
Total 
 comprehensive 
 income                        -                   -           58,801         43,877       102,678             4,460       107,138 
Re-issue of 
 treasury 
 shares                        -                   -            2,065              -         2,065                 -         2,065 
Share based 
 payment                       -                   -                -          1,415         1,415                 -         1,415 
Dividends                      -                   -         (55,720)              -      (55,720)           (5,055)      (60,775) 
 
At 30 September 
 2016                     15,455             277,211          953,462        123,953     1,370,081            30,238     1,400,319 
                 ---------------  ------------------  ---------------  -------------  ------------  ----------------  ------------ 
 
 
For the six                                  Attributable to owners of the 
months ended 30                                          Parent 
September 2015 
                  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
                                                                                Other                               Non- 
                            Share               Share         Retained       reserves                        controlling         Total 
                          capital             premium         earnings          (note            Total         interests        equity 
                                                                                  10) 
                          GBP'000             GBP'000          GBP'000        GBP'000          GBP'000           GBP'000       GBP'000 
 
At 1 April 2015            14,688              83,032          849,119         35,909          982,748             4,245       986,993 
 
Profit for the 
 period                         -                   -           41,270              -           41,270               932        42,202 
Currency 
 translation                    -                   -                -          6,361            6,361               595         6,956 
Group defined 
benefit pension 
obligations: 
- remeasurements                -                   -            8,041              -            8,041                 -         8,041 
- movement in 
 deferred tax 
 asset                          -                   -          (1,132)              -          (1,132)                 -       (1,132) 
Movements 
 relating to 
 cash 
 flow hedges                    -                   -                -        (3,881)          (3,881)                 -       (3,881) 
Movement in 
 deferred tax 
 liability 
 on cash flow 
 hedges                         -                   -                -          1,337            1,337                 -         1,337 
Total 
 comprehensive 
 income                         -                   -           48,179          3,817           51,996             1,527        53,523 
Issue of share 
 capital (net 
 of expenses)                 755             191,307                -              -          192,062                 -       192,062 
Re-issue of 
 treasury shares                -                   -            1,922              -            1,922                 -         1,922 
Share based 
 payment                        -                   -                -            867              867                 -           867 
Dividends                       -                   -         (49,897)              -         (49,897)                 -      (49,897) 
Non-controlling 
 interests 
 arising 
 on acquisition                 -                   -                -              -                -            18,542        18,542 
 
At 30 September 
 2015                      15,443             274,339          849,323         40,593        1,179,698            24,314     1,204,012 
                  ---------------  ------------------  ---------------  -------------  ---------------  ----------------  ------------ 
 
 
 For the year                                Attributable to owners of the 
 ended 31 March                                          Parent 
 2016 
                   ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
                                                                                 Other                             Non- 
                             Share               Share         Retained       reserves                      controlling          Total 
                           capital             premium         earnings          (note          Total         interests         equity 
                                                                                   10) 
                           GBP'000             GBP'000          GBP'000        GBP'000        GBP'000           GBP'000        GBP'000 
 
 At 1 April 2015            14,688              83,032          849,119         35,909        982,748             4,245        986,993 
 
 Profit for the 
  financial year                 -                   -          178,031              -        178,031             3,012        181,043 
 Currency 
  translation                    -                   -                -         35,706         35,706             2,265         37,971 
 Group defined 
 benefit pension 
 obligations: 
 - remeasurements                -                   -            4,894              -          4,894                 -          4,894 
 - movement in 
  deferred tax 
  asset                          -                   -            (570)              -          (570)                 -          (570) 
 Movements 
  relating to 
  cash 
  flow hedges                    -                   -                -          2,230          2,230                 -          2,230 
 Movement in 
  deferred tax 
  liability 
  on cash flow 
  hedges                         -                   -                -            120            120                 -            120 
 Total 
  comprehensive 
  income                         -                   -          182,355         38,056        220,411             5,277        225,688 
 Issue of share 
  capital (net 
  of expenses)                 767             194,179                -              -        194,946                 -        194,946 
 Re-issue of 
  treasury shares                -                   -            2,781              -          2,781                 -          2,781 
 Share based 
  payment                        -                   -                -          2,198          2,198                 -          2,198 
 Dividends                       -                   -         (80,938)              -       (80,938)                 -       (80,938) 
 Non-controlling 
  interests 
  arising on 
  acquisition                    -                   -          (5,001)          2,498        (2,503)            21,311         18,808 
 
 At 31 March 2016           15,455             277,211          948,316         78,661      1,319,643            30,833      1,350,476 
                   ---------------  ------------------  ---------------  -------------  -------------  ----------------  ------------- 
 

Group Cash Flow Statement

 
                                              Unaudited   Unaudited     Audited 
                                               6 months    6 months        year 
                                                  ended       ended       ended 
                                               30 Sept.    30 Sept.    31 March 
                                                   2016        2015        2016 
                                                GBP'000     GBP'000     GBP'000 
 Cash flows from operating activities 
 Profit for the period                           67,567      42,202     181,043 
 Add back non-operating expenses/(income) 
 - tax                                           13,071      10,269      35,314 
 - share of equity accounted investments' 
  profit                                          (182)       (279)       (504) 
 - net operating exceptionals                     4,416       5,863      14,640 
 - net finance costs                             14,685      18,448      38,408 
                                             ----------  ----------  ---------- 
 Group operating profit before 
  exceptionals                                   99,557      76,503     268,901 
 Share-based payments expense                     1,415         867       2,198 
 Depreciation                                    42,913      32,534      74,822 
 Amortisation of intangible assets               18,266      11,884      31,622 
 Loss on disposal of property, 
  plant and equipment                               369         208         415 
 Amortisation of government grants                (101)       (176)       (419) 
 Other                                          (4,334)       3,346     (3,412) 
 (Increase)/decrease in working 
  capital                                      (17,046)     (4,427)      37,585 
                                             ----------  ----------  ---------- 
 Cash generated from operations 
  before exceptionals                           141,039     120,739     411,712 
 Exceptionals                                   (8,752)    (10,386)    (19,567) 
                                             ----------  ----------  ---------- 
 Cash generated from operations                 132,287     110,353     392,145 
 Interest paid                                 (33,313)    (31,348)    (64,432) 
 Income tax paid                               (28,122)    (15,927)    (35,346) 
                                             ----------  ----------  ---------- 
 Net cash flows from operating 
  activities                                     70,852      63,078     292,367 
                                             ----------  ----------  ---------- 
 
 Investing activities 
 Inflows: 
 Proceeds from disposal of property, 
  plant and equipment                             6,076       3,439      13,523 
 Dividends received from equity 
  accounted investments                             121           -         365 
 Disposal of subsidiaries and equity 
  accounted investments                               -       2,296       4,173 
 Interest received                               19,191      17,479      36,004 
                                                 25,388      23,214      54,065 
                                             ----------  ----------  ---------- 
 Outflows: 
 Purchase of property, plant and 
  equipment                                    (65,878)    (54,695)   (134,172) 
 Acquisition of subsidiaries                    (6,609)    (43,315)   (390,042) 
 Payment of accrued acquisition 
  related liabilities                          (26,200)     (1,059)     (3,913) 
                                             ----------  ----------  ---------- 
                                               (98,687)    (99,069)   (528,127) 
                                             ----------  ----------  ---------- 
 Net cash flows from investing 
  activities                                   (73,299)    (75,855)   (474,062) 
                                             ----------  ----------  ---------- 
 
 Financing activities 
 Inflows: 
 Proceeds from issue of shares                    2,065     193,984     197,727 
 Net cash inflow on derivative 
  financial instruments                           1,002           -       1,953 
 Increase in finance lease liabilities                -          68          59 
                                                  3,067     194,052     199,739 
                                             ----------  ----------  ---------- 
 Outflows: 
 Repayment of interest-bearing 
  loans and borrowings                         (29,895)           -    (14,832) 
 Repayment of finance lease liabilities            (79)        (83)       (151) 
 Dividends paid to owners of the 
  Parent                                       (55,720)    (49,897)    (80,938) 
 Dividends paid to non-controlling              (5,055)           -           - 
  interests 
                                               (90,749)    (49,980)    (95,921) 
                                             ----------  ----------  ---------- 
 Net cash flows from financing 
  activities                                   (87,682)     144,072     103,818 
                                             ----------  ----------  ---------- 
 
 Change in cash and cash equivalents           (90,129)     131,295    (77,877) 
 Translation adjustment                          43,894      13,322      38,249 
 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning 
  of period                                   1,090,037   1,129,665   1,129,665 
                                             ----------  ----------  ---------- 
 Cash and cash equivalents at end 
  of period                                   1,043,802   1,274,282   1,090,037 
                                             ----------  ----------  ---------- 
 
 Cash and cash equivalents consists 
  of: 
 Cash and short term bank deposits            1,138,953   1,458,748   1,182,034 
 Overdrafts                                    (95,151)   (184,466)    (91,997) 
                                              1,043,802   1,274,282   1,090,037 
                                             ----------  ----------  ---------- 
 
 

Notes to the Condensed Financial Statements

for the six months ended 30 September 2016

   1.         Basis of Preparation 

The Group condensed interim financial statements which should be read in conjunction with the annual financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2016 have been prepared in accordance with the Transparency (Directive 2004/109/EC) Regulations 2007, the related Transparency rules of the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority and in accordance with International Accounting Standard 34, Interim Financial Reporting (IAS 34) as adopted by the European Union.

The preparation of the interim financial statements requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the application of policies and reported amounts of certain assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses together with disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis.

These condensed interim financial statements for the six months ended 30 September 2016 and the comparative figures for the six months ended 30 September 2015 are unaudited and have not been reviewed by the Auditors. The summary financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2016 represent an abbreviated version of the Group's full accounts for that year, on which the Auditors issued an unqualified audit report and which have been filed with the Registrar of Companies.

   2.         Accounting Policies 

The accounting policies and methods of computation adopted in the preparation of the Group condensed interim financial statements are consistent with those applied in the Annual Report for the financial year ended 31 March 2016 and are described in those financial statements on pages 185 to 192.

The Group has adopted the following amendments to existing standards during the period which did not result in a material change to the Group's consolidated financial statements:

   --      Annual Improvements 2012-2014 Cycle; 
   --      Amendments to IAS 1 Disclosure Initiative; 
   --      Amendments to IFRS 11 Accounting for Acquisitions of Interests in Joint Operations; and 

-- Amendments to IAS 16 and IAS 38 Clarification of Acceptable Methods of Depreciation and Amortisation.

There were a number of other amendments to existing standards which became effective for the Group for the first time from 1 April 2016. None of these had a material impact on the Group.

   3.         Going Concern 

Having reassessed the principal risks facing the Group (as detailed on pages 15 to 17 of the Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2016), the Directors believe that the Group is well placed to manage these risks successfully.

The Directors have a reasonable expectation that DCC plc, and the Group as a whole, has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future, a period of not less than twelve months from the date of this report. For this reason, the Directors continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the condensed interim financial statements.

   4.         Reporting Currency 

The Group's financial statements are presented in sterling, denoted by the symbol 'GBP'. Results and cash flows of operations based in non-sterling countries have been translated into sterling at average rates for the period, and the related balance sheets have been translated at the rates of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date. The principal exchange rates used for translation of results and balance sheets into sterling were as follows:

 
                               Average rate                                          Closing rate 
             ------------------------------------                      ------------------------------------- 
                 6 months            6 months                    Year      6 months            6 months                     Year 
                       ended              ended              ended               ended              ended                 ended 
                    30 Sept.           30 Sept.         31 March              30 Sept.           30 Sept.           31 March 
                       2016                2015                 2016                2016      2015                         2016 
                      StgGBP1=           StgGBP1=           StgGBP1=            StgGBP1=            StgGBP1=           StgGBP1= 
 
Euro                   1.2364             1.3902             1.3697              1.1614             1.3541              1.2633 
Swedish 
 Krona               11.5928            13.0057            12.7937             11.1742            12.7397               11.6547 
Danish 
 Krone                 9.2173           10.3763            10.2297               8.6542           10.1013                 9.4134 
Norwegian 
 Krone               11.5655            12.2304            12.4995             10.4373            12.8971              11.8938 
 
 
   5.         Segmental Reporting 

DCC is a sales, marketing, distribution and business support services group headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. Operating segments are reported in a manner consistent with the internal reporting provided to the chief operating decision maker. The chief operating decision maker has been identified as Mr. Tommy Breen, Chief Executive and his executive management team. The Group is organised into four operating segments: DCC Energy, DCC Healthcare, DCC Technology and DCC Environmental.

DCC Energy markets and sells liquefied petroleum gas products and services for commercial/industrial, home heating, cooking/leisure and transport use in Europe. DCC Energy markets and sells oil products and services for similar uses, in addition to marine and aviation uses in Europe. DCC Energy also owns, operates and supplies unmanned and manned retail service stations in Europe.

DCC Healthcare sells, markets and distributes own and third party pharmaceuticals and medical products to healthcare providers across all sectors of the British and Irish healthcare markets. DCC Healthcare also provides outsourced product development, manufacturing, packaging and other services to health and beauty brand owners in Europe.

DCC Technology sells, markets and distributes a broad range of consumer and business technology products and services in Europe.

DCC Environmental provides a broad range of waste management and recycling services to the industrial, commercial, construction and public sectors in Britain and Ireland.

Net finance costs and income tax are managed on a centralised basis and therefore these items are not allocated between operating segments for the purpose of presenting information to the chief operating decision maker and accordingly are not included in the detailed segmental analysis below.

The consolidated total assets of the Group as at 30 September 2016 of GBP5.053 billion were not materially different from the equivalent figure at 31 March 2016 and therefore the related segmental disclosure note has been omitted in accordance with IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting.

Intersegment revenue is not material and thus not subject to separate disclosure.

 
 
  An analysis of the Group's performance by segment and geographic 
  location is as follows: 
 
 (a) By operating segment 
                        Unaudited six months ended 30 September 2016 
  --------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 
 
                                                                                             DCC                       DCC                        DCC                       DCC 
                                                                                        Energy           Healthcare          Technology    Environmental                       Total 
 
                                GBP'000     GBP'000          GBP'000  GBP'000        GBP'000 
 
 Segment revenue              4,118,774     244,283        1,144,229   89,258      5,596,544 
                              ---------  ----------  ---------------  -------  ------------- 
 
 Operating profit*               76,033      19,760           11,302   10,728        117,823 
 Amortisation of intangible 
  assets                       (13,390)     (3,307)          (1,481)     (88)       (18,266) 
 Net operating exceptionals 
  (note 6)                      (1,819)     (1,361)          (1,236)        -        (4,416) 
                              ---------  ----------  ---------------  -------  ------------- 
 Operating profit                60,824      15,092            8,585   10,640         95,141 
                              ---------  ----------  ---------------  -------  ------------- 
 
 
 
                          Unaudited six months ended 30 September 2015 
  -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 
 
                                                                                            DCC                     DCC                        DCC                      DCC 
                                                                                        Energy           Healthcare           Technology     Environmental                        Total 
 
                                 GBP'000     GBP'000          GBP'000  GBP'000        GBP'000 
 
 Segment revenue               3,659,729     239,120        1,089,055   78,336      5,066,240 
                               ---------  ----------  ---------------  -------  ------------- 
 
 Operating profit*                52,885      18,465            8,570    8,467         88,387 
  Amortisation of intangible 
   assets                        (7,246)     (3,307)          (1,092)    (239)       (11,884) 
  Net operating exceptionals 
   (note 6)                      (6,221)       3,586          (2,503)    (725)        (5,863) 
                               ---------  ----------  ---------------  -------  ------------- 
  Operating profit                39,418      18,744            4,975    7,503         70,640 
                               ---------  ----------  ---------------  -------  ------------- 
 
 
 
                                            Audited year ended 31 March 2016 
  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 
 
                                                                                            DCC                     DCC                        DCC                      DCC 
                                                                                        Energy           Healthcare           Technology     Environmental                        Total 
 
                                GBP'000     GBP'000          GBP'000  GBP'000       GBP'000 
 
 Segment revenue              7,515,308     490,617        2,441,705  153,455    10,601,085 
                              ---------  ----------  ---------------  -------  ------------ 
 
 Operating profit*              205,181      45,039           35,125   15,178       300,523 
 Amortisation of intangible 
  assets                       (21,381)     (7,138)          (2,627)    (476)      (31,622) 
 Net operating exceptionals 
  (note 6)                      (9,057)       5,859         (10,454)    (988)      (14,640) 
                              ---------  ----------  ---------------  -------  ------------ 
  Operating profit              174,743      43,760           22,044   13,714       254,261 
                              ---------  ----------  ---------------  -------  ------------ 
 

* Operating profit before amortisation of intangible assets and net operating exceptionals

   (b)           By geography 

The Group has a presence in 15 countries worldwide. The following represents a geographical analysis about the country of domicile (Republic of Ireland) and countries with material revenue.

 
                        Unaudited   Unaudited            Audited 
                         6 months    6 months               year 
                            ended       ended              ended 
                         30 Sept.    30 Sept.           31 March 
                             2016        2015               2016 
                          GBP'000     GBP'000            GBP'000 
 
 Republic of Ireland      339,219     318,768            659,723 
 United Kingdom         3,421,914   3,537,671          6,985,521 
 France                 1,038,271     485,229          1,487,875 
 Other                    797,140     724,572          1,467,966 
                       ----------  ----------  ----------------- 
                        5,596,544   5,066,240         10,601,085 
                       ----------  ----------  ----------------- 
 
   6.         Exceptionals 
 
                                                Unaudited   Unaudited    Audited 
                                                 6 months    6 months       year 
                                                    ended       ended      ended 
                                                 30 Sept.    30 Sept.   31 March 
                                                     2016        2015       2016 
                                                  GBP'000     GBP'000    GBP'000 
 
 Restructuring costs                              (2,280)     (6,458)   (16,517) 
 Acquisition and related costs                    (1,374)     (4,633)    (7,478) 
 Impairment of property, plant and equipment        (684)           -      (947) 
 Adjustments to contingent acquisition 
  consideration                                        73           -      6,290 
 Gain arising from legal case settlements               -       5,201      4,291 
 Legal and other operating exceptional 
  items                                             (151)          27      (279) 
 Net operating exceptional items                  (4,416)     (5,863)   (14,640) 
 
 Mark to market of swaps and related debt           1,901     (3,819)    (9,419) 
                                               ----------  ----------  --------- 
 Net exceptional items before taxation            (2,515)     (9,682)   (24,059) 
 
 Tax attributable to net exceptional items          (386)     (1,037)        710 
                                               ----------  ----------  --------- 
 Net exceptional items after taxation             (2,901)    (10,719)   (23,349) 
 
 Non-controlling interest share of net 
  exceptional items after taxation                      -           -      (323) 
                                               ----------  ----------  --------- 
 Net exceptional items                            (2,901)    (10,719)   (23,672) 
                                               ----------  ----------  --------- 
 

The analysis of the net operating exceptional items is as follows:

 
                                  Unaudited   Unaudited          Audited 
                                   6 months    6 months             year 
                                      ended       ended            ended 
                                   30 Sept.    30 Sept.         31 March 
                                       2016        2015             2016 
                                    GBP'000     GBP'000          GBP'000 
 
 Exceptional operating income           408       5,291           13,829 
 Exceptional operating expense      (4,824)    (11,154)         (28,469) 
                                 ----------  ----------  --------------- 
                                    (4,416)     (5,863)         (14,640) 
                                 ----------  ----------  --------------- 
 

Acquisition related costs amounted to GBP1.374 million and restructuring costs amounted to GBP2.280 million. Acquisition costs include the professional fees and tax costs (such as stamp duty) relating to the evaluation and completion of acquisition opportunities.

Most of the Group's debt has been raised in the US private placement market and swapped, using long term interest, currency and cross currency interest rate derivatives, to both fixed and floating rate sterling and euro. The level of ineffectiveness calculated under IAS 39 on the fair value and cash flow hedge relationships relating to fixed rate debt, together with gains or losses arising from marking to market swaps not designated as hedges, offset by foreign exchange translation gains or losses on the related fixed rate debt, is charged or credited as an exceptional item. In the six months ended 30 September 2016 this amounted to an exceptional gain of GBP1.901 million. The exceptional gains and losses on the Group's private placement debt and related hedging instruments will net to zero on a cumulative basis over their lives.

There was a net tax charge of GBP0.386 million in relation to the above net exceptional items.

   7.         Taxation 

The taxation expense for the interim period is based on management's best estimate of the weighted average tax rate that is expected to be applicable for the full year. The Group's effective tax rate for the period was 17.5% (six months ended 30 September 2015: 16.0% and year ended 31 March 2016: 16.0%).

   8.         Earnings per Ordinary Share 
 
                                      Unaudited   Unaudited    Audited 
                                       6 months    6 months       year 
                                          ended       ended      ended 
                                       30 Sept.    30 Sept.   31 March 
                                           2016        2015       2016 
                                        GBP'000     GBP'000    GBP'000 
 
 Profit attributable to owners 
  of the Parent                          65,588      41,270    178,031 
 Amortisation of intangible assets 
  after tax                              13,235       9,315     24,201 
 Exceptionals after tax (note 6)          2,901      10,719     23,672 
                                     ----------  ----------  --------- 
 Adjusted profit after taxation 
  and non-controlling interests          81,724      61,304    225,904 
                                     ----------  ----------  --------- 
 

Basic earnings per ordinary share

Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing the profit attributable to owners of the Parent by the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the period, excluding ordinary shares purchased by the Company and held as treasury shares.

The adjusted figures for basic earnings per ordinary share (a non-IFRS financial measure) are intended to demonstrate the results of the Group after eliminating the impact of amortisation of intangible assets and net exceptionals.

 
                                         Unaudited   Unaudited    Audited 
                                          6 months    6 months       year 
                                             ended       ended      ended 
                                          30 Sept.    30 Sept.   31 March 
                                              2016        2015       2016 
                                             pence       pence      pence 
 
 Basic earnings per ordinary share          73.95p      47.32p    202.64p 
 Amortisation of intangible assets 
  after tax                                 14.92p      10.68p     27.55p 
 Exceptionals after tax (note 6)             3.27p      12.29p     26.95p 
                                        ----------  ----------  --------- 
 Adjusted basic earnings per ordinary 
  share                                     92.14p      70.29p    257.14p 
                                        ----------  ----------  --------- 
 Weighted average number of ordinary 
  shares in 
  issue (thousands)                         88,691      87,216     87,854 
                                        ----------  ----------  --------- 
 

Diluted earnings per ordinary share

Diluted earnings per share is calculated by adjusting the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding to assume conversion of all dilutive potential ordinary shares. Share options and awards are the Company's only category of dilutive potential ordinary shares.

Employee share options and awards, which are performance-based, are treated as contingently issuable shares because their issue is contingent upon satisfaction of specified performance conditions in addition to the passage of time. These contingently issuable shares are excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per ordinary share where the conditions governing exercisability would not have been satisfied as at the end of the reporting period if that were the end of the vesting period.

The adjusted figures for diluted earnings per ordinary share are intended to demonstrate the results of the Group after eliminating the impact of amortisation of intangible assets and net exceptionals.

 
                                        Unaudited   Unaudited    Audited 
                                         6 months    6 months       year 
                                            ended       ended      ended 
                                         30 Sept.    30 Sept.   31 March 
                                             2016        2015       2016 
                                            pence       pence      pence 
 
 Diluted earnings per ordinary 
  share                                    73.42p      46.91p    201.02p 
 Amortisation of intangible assets 
  after tax                                14.81p      10.59p     27.32p 
 Exceptionals after tax (note 6)            3.25p      12.19p     26.73p 
                                       ----------  ----------  --------- 
 Adjusted diluted earnings per 
  ordinary share                           91.48p      69.69p    255.07p 
                                       ----------  ----------  --------- 
 Weighted average number of ordinary 
  shares in 
  issue (thousands)                        89,332      87,968     88,564 
                                       ----------  ----------  --------- 
 

The weighted average number of ordinary shares used in calculating the diluted earnings per share for the six months ended 30 September 2016 was 89.332 million (six months ended 30 September 2015: 87.968 million). A reconciliation of the weighted average number of ordinary shares used for the purposes of calculating the diluted earnings per share amounts is as follows:

 
                                        Unaudited   Unaudited    Audited 
                                         6 months    6 months       year 
                                            ended       ended      ended 
                                         30 Sept.    30 Sept.   31 March 
                                             2016        2015       2016 
                                             '000        '000       '000 
 
 Weighted average number of ordinary 
  shares in issue                          88,691      87,216     87,854 
 Dilutive effect of options and 
  awards                                      641         752        710 
                                       ----------  ----------  --------- 
 Weighted average number of ordinary 
  shares in 
  issue (thousands)                        89,332      87,968     88,564 
                                       ----------  ----------  --------- 
 
   9.         Dividends 
 
                                                  Unaudited              Unaudited    Audited 
                                                   6 months               6 months       year 
                                                      ended                  ended      ended 
                                                   30 Sept.               30 Sept.   31 March 
                                                       2016                   2015       2016 
                                                    GBP'000                GBP'000    GBP'000 
 
 Interim - paid 33.04 pence per share 
  on 7 December 2015                                      -                      -     30,292 
 Final - paid 64.18 pence per share 
 on 21 July 2016 (paid 55.81 pence 
 per share on 23 July 2015)                          55,720                 49,897     50,646 
 
                                                     55,720                 49,897     80,938 
                                         ------------------  ---------------------  --------- 
 
 

On 11 November 2016, the Board approved an interim dividend of 37.17 pence per share (GBP32.995 million). These condensed interim financial statements do not reflect this dividend payable.

   10.        Other Reserves 
 
 
 For the six months ended 30 
  September 2016 
                                                                                Foreign 
                                                    Share based  Cash flow     currency 
                                                        payment      hedge  translation     Other 
                                                        reserve    reserve      reserve  reserves      Total 
                                                        GBP'000    GBP'000      GBP'000   GBP'000    GBP'000 
 
 At 1 April 2016                                         14,954    (8,112)       70,887       932     78,661 
 
 Currency translation                                         -          -       35,972         -     35,972 
 Movements relating to cash 
  flow hedges                                                 -      9,409            -         -      9,409 
 Movement in deferred tax liability 
  on cash flow hedges -                                            (1,504)            -         -    (1,504) 
 Share based payment                                      1,415          -            -         -      1,415 
                                            -------------------  ---------  -----------  --------  --------- 
 At 30 September 2016                                    16,369      (207)      106,859       932    123,953 
                                            -------------------  ---------  -----------  --------  --------- 
 
   For the six months ended 30 September 
   2015 
                                                                                Foreign 
                                                    Share based  Cash flow     currency 
                                                        payment      hedge  translation     Other 
                                                        reserve    reserve      reserve  reserves      Total 
                                                        GBP'000    GBP'000      GBP'000   GBP'000    GBP'000 
 
 At 1 April 2015                                         12,756   (10,462)       32,683       932     35,909 
 
 Currency translation                                         -          -        6,361         -      6,361 
 Movements relating to cash 
  flow hedges                                                 -    (3,881)            -         -    (3,881) 
 Movement in deferred tax liability 
  on cash flow hedges -                                              1,337            -         -      1,337 
 Share based payment                                        867          -            -         -        867 
                                            -------------------  ---------  -----------  --------  --------- 
 At 30 September 2015                                    13,623   (13,006)       39,044       932     40,593 
                                            -------------------  ---------  -----------  --------  --------- 
 
 
 For the year ended 31 March 
  2016 
                                                                                Foreign 
                                                    Share based  Cash flow     currency 
                                                        payment      hedge  translation     Other 
                                                        reserve    reserve      reserve  reserves      Total 
                                                        GBP'000    GBP'000      GBP'000   GBP'000    GBP'000 
 
 At 1 April 2015                                         12,756   (10,462)       32,683       932     35,909 
 
 Currency translation                                         -          -       35,706         -     35,706 
 Movements relating to cash 
  flow hedges                                                 -      2,230            -         -      2,230 
 Movement in deferred tax liability 
  on cash flow hedges -                                                120            -         -        120 
 Transfer to non-controlling 
 interests arising on acquisition                             -          -        2,498         -      2,498 
 Share based payment                                      2,198          -            -         -      2,198 
                                            -------------------  ---------  -----------  --------  --------- 
 At 31 March 2016                                        14,954    (8,112)       70,887       932     78,661 
                                            -------------------  ---------  -----------  --------  --------- 
 
 
 
   11.        Analysis of Net (Debt)/Cash 
 
                                       Unaudited     Unaudited           Audited 
                                        30 Sept.      30 Sept.          31 March 
                                            2016          2015              2016 
                                         GBP'000       GBP'000           GBP'000 
 Non-current assets: 
 Derivative financial instruments        271,609       194,133           209,518 
                                    ------------  ------------  ---------------- 
 
 Current assets: 
 Derivative financial instruments         37,132         5,900            15,915 
 Cash and cash equivalents             1,138,953     1,458,748         1,182,034 
                                    ------------  ------------  ---------------- 
                                       1,176,085     1,464,648         1,197,949 
                                    ------------  ------------  ---------------- 
 Non-current liabilities: 
 Finance leases                            (131)         (199)             (127) 
 Derivative financial instruments              -       (1,083)             (343) 
 Unsecured Notes                     (1,384,880)   (1,285,522)       (1,260,294) 
                                    ------------  ------------  ---------------- 
                                     (1,385,011)   (1,286,804)       (1,260,764) 
                                    ------------  ------------  ---------------- 
 Current liabilities: 
 Bank borrowings                        (95,151)     (184,466)          (91,997) 
 Finance leases                            (322)         (358)             (379) 
 Derivative financial instruments        (2,574)      (18,891)           (8,401) 
 Unsecured Notes                        (76,801)      (14,833)         (100,428) 
                                    ------------  ------------  ---------------- 
                                       (174,848)     (218,548)         (201,205) 
                                    ------------  ------------  ---------------- 
 
   Net (debt)/cash                     (112,165)       153,429          (54,502) 
                                    ------------  ------------  ---------------- 
 
 
   12.        Post Employment Benefit Obligations 

The Group's defined benefit pension schemes' assets were measured at fair value at 30 September 2016. The defined benefit pension schemes' liabilities at 30 September 2016 were updated to reflect material movements in underlying assumptions.

The net deficit on the Group's post employment benefit obligations increased from GBP0.347 million at 31 March 2016 to GBP7.045 million at 30 September 2016. The increase in the deficit was primarily driven by an actuarial loss on liabilities arising from a reduction in the discount rate used to value these liabilities. This actuarial loss was somewhat offset by contributions in excess of the current service cost.

The following actuarial assumptions have been made in determining the Group's retirement benefit obligation for the six months ended 30 September 2016:

 
                          Unaudited   Unaudited    Audited 
                           6 months    6 months       year 
                              ended       ended      ended 
                           30 Sept.    30 Sept.   31 March 
                               2016        2015       2016 
 Discount rate 
 - Republic of Ireland        1.50%       2.50%      2.00% 
 - UK                         2.45%       4.00%      3.60% 
                         ----------  ----------  --------- 
 
   13.        Business Combinations 

A key strategy of the Group is to create and sustain market leadership positions through acquisitions in markets it currently operates in, together with extending the Group's footprint into new geographic markets. In line with this strategy, there were a number of relatively small acquisitions completed by the Group during the period.

The acquisition data presented below reflects the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired (excluding net cash/debt acquired) in respect of acquisitions completed during the six months ended 30 September 2016, together with measurement period adjustments made to the provisional fair values in respect of the acquisition of Butagaz S.A.S. ('Butagaz') which was completed during the year ended 31 March 2016. These measurement period adjustments primarily comprised reclassifications between categories of assets and liabilities.

 
                                                                 Butagaz 
                                                             measurement 
                                                                  period 
                                          Acquisitions       adjustments                Total                Total 
                                                6 months        6 months       6 months             6 months 
                                                      ended        ended             ended                ended 
                                                  30 Sept.      30 Sept.          30 Sept.             30 Sept. 
                                                       2016         2016                 2016                 2015 
                                                    GBP'000      GBP'000              GBP'000              GBP'000 
Assets 
Non-current assets 
Property, plant and equipment                            68      (2,168)              (2,100)              235,743 
Intangible assets - other intangible 
 assets                                                   -            -                    -              120,453 
Equity accounted investments                              -        1,762                1,762                   42 
                                       --------------------  -----------  -------------------  ------------------- 
Total non-current assets                                 68        (406)                (338)              356,238 
                                       --------------------  -----------  -------------------  ------------------- 
 
Current assets 
Inventories                                           1,324            -                1,324               44,420 
Trade and other receivables                           3,252          472                3,724               88,896 
                                       --------------------  -----------  -------------------  ------------------- 
Total current assets                                  4,576          472                5,048              133,316 
                                       --------------------  -----------  -------------------  ------------------- 
 
Liabilities 
Non-current liabilities 
Deferred income tax liabilities                        (13)            -                 (13)             (44,441) 
Provisions for liabilities and 
 charges                                                  -            -                    -            (189,639) 
Total non-current liabilities                          (13)            -                 (13)            (234,080) 
                                       --------------------  -----------  -------------------  ------------------- 
 
Current liabilities 
Trade and other payables                            (2,517)        4,962                2,445             (75,365) 
Provisions for liabilities and 
 charges                                                  -      (5,043)              (5,043)             (18,328) 
Current income tax liability                          (193)        8,672                8,479             (13,332) 
Acquisition related liabilities                           -      (9,717)              (9,717)                    - 
                                       --------------------  -----------  ------------------- 
Total current liabilities                           (2,710)      (1,126)              (3,836)            (107,025) 
                                       --------------------  -----------  -------------------  ------------------- 
 
Identifiable net assets acquired                      1,921      (1,060)                  861              148,449 
Non-controlling interest arising 
 on acquisition                                           -            -                    -             (18,542) 
Intangible assets - goodwill                          5,738        1,060                6,798              237,374 
                                       --------------------  -----------  -------------------  ------------------- 
Total consideration                                   7,659            -                7,659              367,281 
                                       --------------------  -----------  -------------------  ------------------- 
 
Satisfied by: 
Cash                                                  8,813            -                8,813              134,744 
Cash and cash equivalents acquired                  (2,204)            -              (2,204)             (91,429) 
                                       --------------------  -----------  -------------------  ------------------- 
Net cash outflow                                      6,609            -                6,609               43,315 
Acquisition related liabilities                       1,050            -                1,050              323,966 
                                       --------------------  -----------  -------------------  ------------------- 
Total consideration                                   7,659            -                7,659              367,281 
                                       --------------------  -----------  -------------------  ------------------- 
 

None of the business combinations completed during the period were considered sufficiently material to warrant separate disclosure of the fair values attributable to those combinations.

There were no adjustments made to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities acquired in arriving at their fair values. The initial assignment of fair values to identifiable net assets acquired has been performed on a provisional basis in respect of a number of the business combinations above given the timing of closure of these transactions. Any amendments to these fair values within the twelve month timeframe from the date of acquisition will be disclosable in the Group's condensed interim financial statements for the six months ending 30 September 2017 as stipulated by IFRS 3.

The principal factors contributing to the recognition of goodwill on business combinations entered into by the Group are the expected profitability of the acquired business and the realisation of cost savings and synergies with existing Group entities.

Acquisition related costs included in other operating expenses in the Group Income Statement amounted to GBP1.374 million (six months ended 30 September 2015: GBP4.633 million).

No contingent liabilities were recognised on the acquisitions completed during the financial period or the prior financial years.

The gross contractual value of trade and other receivables as at the respective dates of acquisition amounted to GBP3.318 million. The fair value of these receivables is GBP3.252 million (all of which is expected to be recoverable) and is inclusive of an aggregate allowance for impairment of GBP0.066 million.

The fair value of contingent consideration recognised at the date of acquisition is calculated by discounting the expected future payment to present value at the acquisition date. In general, for contingent consideration to become payable, pre-defined profit thresholds must be exceeded. On an undiscounted basis, the future payments for which the Group may be liable for acquisitions completed during the period range from nil to GBP4.7 million.

The acquisitions during the period contributed GBP8.3 million to revenues and GBP0.7 million to profit after tax. The revenue and profit of the Group determined in accordance with IFRS for the period ended 30 September 2016 would not have been materially different than reported in the Income Statement if the acquisition date for all business combinations completed during the period had been as of the beginning of the period.

   14.        Seasonality of Operations 

The Group's operations are significantly second-half weighted primarily due to a portion of the demand for DCC Energy's products being weather dependent and seasonal buying patterns in DCC Technology.

   15.       Related Party Transactions 

There have been no related party transactions or changes in the nature and scale of the related party transactions described in the Annual Report in respect of the year ended 31 March 2016 that could have had a material impact on the financial position or performance of the Group in the six months ended 30 September 2016.

   16.       Events after the Balance Sheet Date 

Dansk Fuels

On 23 March 2016 DCC announced it had reached agreement to acquire Dansk Fuels, a commercial, aviation and retail fuels business in Denmark, formerly owned by Shell. Following receipt of competition clearance from the European Commission the acquisition was completed on 31 October 2016. The transaction requires a total investment by DCC of approximately DKK300 million (GBP35 million). An initial assignment of fair values to identifiable net assets acquired has not been completed given the timing of the closure of the transaction.

Hammer

As announced on 14 October 2016, DCC Technology has agreed to acquire 100% of the issued share capital of Hammer Consolidated Holdings Limited ('Hammer'), a specialist distributor of server and storage solutions to resellers in the UK and Continental Europe. The acquisition is based on an initial enterprise value of GBP38.3 million. The consideration will be paid entirely in cash and is structured as an initial payment at completion, followed by earn out payments over three years based on Hammer's future trading results.

The acquisition, which is subject to competition clearance from the European Commission, is expected to complete by the end of December 2016. As such, an initial assignment of fair values to identifiable net assets acquired has not yet been performed.

Medium

In November 2016 DCC Technology acquired Medium (U.K.) Limited, a distributor of professional audio visual equipment to resellers in the UK. The consideration for the acquisition was based on an enterprise valuation of GBP8.3 million and was satisfied in cash at completion. An initial assignment of fair values to identifiable net assets acquired has not been completed given the timing of the closure of the transaction.

Gaz Européen

DCC Energy has agreed to acquire Gaz Européen Holdings SAS ('Gaz Européen'), a natural gas retail and marketing business which supplies business and public sector customers in France. DCC has agreed to acquire 97% of the share capital of Gaz Européen on completion, based on an initial enterprise value of EUR110 million (GBP95.7 million). The remaining shares will be acquired based on Gaz Européen's results for the three years ending 31 March 2021, 2022 and 2023. All of the consideration will be satisfied in cash.

The acquisition is conditional, inter alia, on clearance from the French Competition Authority and is expected to complete in the first calendar quarter of 2017. As such, an initial assignment of fair values to identifiable net assets acquired has not yet been performed.

Medisource

In November 2016, DCC Healthcare agreed to acquire Medisource Ireland Limited, a specialist in the procurement and sale of Exempt Medicinal Products, for an initial enterprise valuation of EUR31.5 million (GBP27.4 million). The acquisition, which is subject to competition clearance, is expected to complete in the first calendar quarter of 2017. As such, an initial assignment of fair values to identifiable net assets acquired has not yet been performed.

   17.       Board Approval 

This report was approved by the Board of Directors of DCC plc on 11 November 2016.

   18.        Distribution of Interim Report 

This report and further information on DCC is available at the Company's website www.dcc.ie. A printed copy is available to the public at the Company's registered office at DCC House, Leopardstown Road, Foxrock, Dublin 18, Ireland.

Statement of Directors' Responsibilities

We confirm that to the best of our knowledge:

1. the condensed set of interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting as adopted by the EU;

   2.   the interim management report includes a fair review of the information required by: 

Regulation 8(2) of the Transparency (Directive 2004/109/EC) Regulations 2007, being an indication of important events that have occurred during the first six months of the financial year and their impact on the condensed set of financial statements; and a description of the principal risks and uncertainties for the remaining six months of the year; and

Regulation 8(3) of the Transparency (Directive 2004/109/EC) Regulations 2007, being related party transactions that have taken place in the first six months of the current financial year and that have materially affected the financial position or performance of the entity during that period; and any changes in the related party transactions described in the last annual report that could do so.

On behalf of the Board

John Moloney Tommy Breen

Chairman Chief Executive

11 November 2016

Supplementary Financial Information

Alternative Performance Measures

The Group reports certain financial measures that are not required under International Financial Reporting Standards ('IFRS') which represent the accounting principles under which the Group reports. The Group believes that the presentation of these non-IFRS measures provides useful supplemental information which, when viewed in conjunction with our IFRS financial information, provides investors with a more meaningful understanding of the underlying financial and operating performance of the Group and its divisions.

These non-IFRS financial measures are primarily used for the following purposes:

   --   to evaluate the historical and planned underlying results of our operations; 
   --   to set director and management remuneration; and 
   --   to discuss and explain the Group's performance with the investment analyst community. 

None of the non-IFRS measures should be considered as an alternative to financial measures derived in accordance with IFRS. The non-IFRS measures can have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for an analysis of our results as reported under IFRS.

The principal non-IFRS measures used by the Group, together with reconciliations where the non-IFRS measures are not readily identifiable from the financial statements, are as follows:

Operating profit before net exceptionals and amortisation of intangible assets ('EBITA')

Definition

This comprises operating profit as reported in the Group Income Statement before net operating exceptional items and amortisation of intangible assets.

 
                                                      6 months   6 months   Year ended 
                                                         ended      ended 
                                                      30 Sept.   30 Sept.     31 March 
                                                          2016       2015         2016 
                                                       GBP'000    GBP'000      GBP'000 
--------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------  ----------- 
 Operating profit                                       95,141     70,640      254,261 
 Net operating exceptional items                         4,416      5,863       14,640 
 Amortisation of intangible assets                      18,266     11,884       31,622 
--------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------  ----------- 
 Operating profit before net exceptionals 
  and amortisation of intangible assets ('EBITA')      117,823     88,387      300,523 
--------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------  ----------- 
 

Net interest

Definition

The Group defines net interest as the net total of finance costs and finance income before interest related exceptional items as presented in the Group Income Statement.

 
                                            6 months   6 months       Year 
                                               ended      ended      ended 
                                            30 Sept.   30 Sept.   31 March 
                                                2016       2015       2016 
                                             GBP'000    GBP'000    GBP'000 
-----------------------------------------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
 Finance costs before exceptional items     (35,751)   (32,161)   (64,970) 
 Finance income before exceptional items      19,165     17,532     35,981 
-----------------------------------------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
 Net interest                               (16,586)   (14,629)   (28,989) 
-----------------------------------------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
 

Effective tax rate

Definition

The Group's effective tax rate expresses the income tax expense before exceptionals and deferred tax attaching to the amortisation of intangible assets as a percentage of EBITA less net interest.

 
                                                6 months   6 months   Year ended 
                                                   ended      ended 
                                                30 Sept.   30 Sept.     31 March 
                                                    2016       2015         2016 
                                                 GBP'000    GBP'000      GBP'000 
---------------------------------------------  ---------  ---------  ----------- 
 EBITA                                           117,823     88,387      300,523 
 Net interest                                   (16,586)   (14,629)     (28,989) 
---------------------------------------------  ---------  ---------  ----------- 
 Earnings before taxation                        101,237     73,758      271,534 
---------------------------------------------  ---------  ---------  ----------- 
 
   Income tax expense                             13,071     10,269       35,314 
 Income tax relating to exceptional items          (386)    (1,037)          710 
 Deferred tax attaching to amortisation 
  of intangible assets                             5,031      2,569        7,421 
---------------------------------------------  ---------  ---------  ----------- 
 Income tax expense before exceptionals 
  and deferred tax attaching to amortisation 
  of intangible assets                            17,716     11,801       43,445 
---------------------------------------------  ---------  ---------  ----------- 
 Effective tax rate (%)                            17.5%      16.0%        16.0% 
---------------------------------------------  ---------  ---------  ----------- 
 

Net capital expenditure

Definition

Net capital expenditure comprises purchases of property, plant and equipment, proceeds from the disposal of property, plant and equipment and government grants received in relation to property, plant and equipment.

 
                                              6 months   6 months       Year 
                                                 ended      ended      ended 
                                              30 Sept.   30 Sept.   31 March 
                                                  2016       2015       2016 
                                               GBP'000    GBP'000    GBP'000 
-------------------------------------------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
 Purchase of property, plant and equipment      65,878     54,695    134,172 
 Proceeds from disposal of property, plant 
  and equipment                                (6,076)    (3,439)   (13,523) 
 Net capital expenditure                        59,802     51,256    120,649 
-------------------------------------------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
 

Free cash flow

Definition

Free cash flow is defined by the Group as cash generated from operations before exceptional items as reported in the Group Cash Flow Statement after interest paid, income tax paid, net capital expenditure, dividends received from equity accounted investments and interest received.

 
                                             6 months   6 months        Year 
                                                ended      ended       ended 
                                             30 Sept.   30 Sept.    31 March 
                                                 2016       2015        2016 
                                              GBP'000    GBP'000     GBP'000 
------------------------------------------  ---------  ---------  ---------- 
 Cash generated from operations before 
  exceptionals                                141,039    120,739     411,712 
 Interest paid                               (33,313)   (31,348)    (64,432) 
 Income tax paid                             (28,122)   (15,927)    (35,346) 
 Net capital expenditure                     (59,802)   (51,256)   (120,649) 
 Dividends received from equity accounted 
  investments                                     121          -         365 
 Interest received                             19,191     17,479      36,004 
------------------------------------------  ---------  ---------  ---------- 
 Free cash flow                                39,114     39,687     227,654 
------------------------------------------  ---------  ---------  ---------- 
 

Free cash flow (before interest and tax payments)

Definition

Free cash flow (before interest and tax payments) is defined by the Group as cash generated from operations before exceptional items as reported in the Group Cash Flow Statement after net capital expenditure.

 
                                            6 months   6 months        Year 
                                               ended      ended       ended 
                                            30 Sept.   30 Sept.    31 March 
                                                2016       2015        2016 
                                             GBP'000    GBP'000     GBP'000 
-----------------------------------------  ---------  ---------  ---------- 
 Cash generated from operations before 
  exceptionals                               141,039    120,739     411,712 
 Net capital expenditure                    (59,802)   (51,256)   (120,649) 
-----------------------------------------  ---------  ---------  ---------- 
 Free cash flow (before interest and tax 
  payments)                                   81,237     69,483     291,063 
-----------------------------------------  ---------  ---------  ---------- 
 

Committed acquisition expenditure

Definition

The Group defines committed acquisition expenditure as the total acquisition cost of subsidiaries as presented in the Group Cash Flow Statement (excluding amounts related to acquisitions which were committed to in previous years) and future acquisition related liabilities for acquisitions committed to during the year.

 
                                               6 months    6 months        Year 
                                                  ended       ended       ended 
                                               30 Sept.    30 Sept.    31 March 
                                                   2016        2015        2016 
                                                GBP'000     GBP'000     GBP'000 
--------------------------------------------  ---------  ----------  ---------- 
 Net cash outflow on acquisitions during 
  the year                                        6,609      43,315     390,042 
 Acquisition related liabilities arising 
  on acquisitions during the year                 1,050     323,966      81,519 
 Net cash outflow on acquisitions committed 
  to in the previous year                       (6,609)    (24,425)   (351,045) 
 Acquisition related liabilities committed 
  to in the previous year                       (1,050)   (322,866)    (79,288) 
 Amounts committed in the current year          180,515      20,425      39,000 
--------------------------------------------  ---------  ----------  ---------- 
 Committed acquisition expenditure              180,515      40,415      80,228 
--------------------------------------------  ---------  ----------  ---------- 
 

Net working capital

Definition

Net working capital represents the net total of inventories, trade and other receivables (excluding interest receivable), and trade and other payables (excluding interest payable, amounts due in respect of property, plant and equipment and current government grants).

 
                                                     As at         As at         As at 
                                                  30 Sept.      30 Sept.      31 March 
                                                      2016          2015          2016 
                                                   GBP'000       GBP'000       GBP'000 
--------------------------------------------  ------------  ------------  ------------ 
 Inventories                                       435,716       402,658       393,948 
 Trade and other receivables                       997,017       898,780       916,069 
 Interest receivable included in trade 
  and other receivables                              (151)         (280)         (230) 
 Trade and other payables                      (1,536,255)   (1,383,587)   (1,437,832) 
 Interest payable included in trade and 
  other payables                                     5,342         5,252         3,967 
 Amounts due in respect of property, plant 
  and equipment included in trade and other 
  payables                                             228           752         2,967 
 Government grants included in trade and 
  other payables                                        83            25            26 
--------------------------------------------  ------------  ------------  ------------ 
 Net working capital                              (98,020)      (76,400)     (121,085) 
--------------------------------------------  ------------  ------------  ------------ 
 

Working capital (days)

Definition

Working capital days measures how long it takes in days for the Group to convert working capital into revenue.

 
                                As at      As at       As at 
                             30 Sept.   30 Sept.    31 March 
                                 2016       2015        2016 
                              GBP'000    GBP'000     GBP'000 
-------------------------  ----------  ---------  ---------- 
 Net working capital         (98,020)   (76,400)   (121,085) 
 September/March revenue    1,014,498    988,134     967,014 
-------------------------  ----------  ---------  ---------- 
 Working capital (days)       (2.9        (2.3       (3.9 
                               days)       days)      days) 
-------------------------  ----------  ---------  ---------- 
 

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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November 14, 2016 02:01 ET (07:01 GMT)

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