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DCC PLC on Tuesday maintained that it has made ‘significant progress’ in financial 2026, though surging exceptional costs weighed on the company’s bottom line. The Dublin-based provider of sales, marketing and distribution services to the energy sector booked £15.44 billion in revenue or the year ended March 31, down 2.9% from £15.90 billion the year prior. Pretax profit fell 1.9% to £374.1 million from £381.2 million, while attributable profit sunk 94% to £13.4 million from £206.5 million. The downturn reflected £320.1 million in exceptional costs, which swelled from £166.7 million in financial 2025. Excluding exceptional costs, attributable profit declined 11% to £333.4 million from £373.2 million. DCC noted higher restructuring and integration costs, which more than doubled to £45.7 million from £20.5 million, in the wake of recent acquisitions. ‘Costs were incurred in relation to our solar distribution business in the Netherlands following the decision to exit the business in the second half of the year, reflecting a continued deterioration in its medium-term outlook. Costs were also incurred in connection with the optimisation and integration of continuing operations within DCC Technology in North America,’ DCC said. Nonetheless, the company has proposed to lift its final dividend per share by 5.0% to 147.22 pence from 140.21p on-year, which pushes the total dividend 5.0% ahead of the previous year to 216.72p from 206.40p. In May 2025, DCC said it would return £800 million to shareholders from the sale of its Healthcare business. It has returned £100 million via buybacks and £600 million through a tender offer, with the remaining £100 million to be returned after DCC receives a deferred payment, expected in autumn 2027. DCC has launched a sale process for its Info Tech segment, and aims to reach an agreement on sale terms by the end of 2026, with proceeds to be used ‘in line with DCC’s capital allocation policy’. Last month, DCC rebuffed a takeover bid from a consortium led by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co LP, arguing that it ‘undervalues’ the company. The consortium had offered to pay 5,800p per share in cash, valuing DCC at approximately £4.95 billion, based on 85.4 million shares in issue as of April 29. DCC shares rose 0.7% to 5,990.00 pence on Tuesday morning in London, for a market capitalisation of £5.11 billion. The stock has risen 25% over the past year. Also on Tuesday, DCC proposed to change its name to DCC Energy PLC. This is expected to take effect after the company’s July 16 annual general meeting, subject to shareholder approval. Chief Executive Donal Murphy commented: ‘This has been a year of major strategic progress for DCC. We transformed the group through the disposals and provided shareholders with material capital returns. At the same time, the business performed, delivering good profit growth notwithstanding the volatile market context. This performance reflects the commitment and resilience of our teams, who have continued to deliver strongly through a period of significant transformation. ‘With a simpler, more focused group, a strong financial platform, and a highcashgenerative Energy business with attractive organic growth prospects, our performance keeps us on track to deliver our £830 million operating profit ambition by 2030.’ Adjusted operating profit totalled £634.0 million in financial 2026, up 3.6% from £612.1 million the previous year. Copyright 2026 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
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