11 July 2024
AGM Trading Statement
DCC plc, the leading international
sales, marketing and support services
group, is issuing this update in advance of the Company's AGM to be
held at 2.00 p.m. BST today.
First quarter ended 30 June 2024
Continued growth and development activity in first
quarter
In the seasonally less significant
first quarter of the year, Group operating profit was, as expected,
modestly ahead of the prior year. DCC Energy recorded good growth,
driven by acquisitions completed in the current and prior year.
Operating profit was modestly ahead of prior year in DCC
Healthcare. As expected, operating profit was modestly behind prior
year in DCC Technology.
Outlook
DCC continues to expect that the
year ending 31 March 2025 will be a year of strong operating profit
growth and continued development activity.
Development activity
DCC has committed approximately £65
million to new acquisitions since our Final Results announcement in
May 2024. In addition to a number of small bolt-on acquisitions,
DCC has acquired:
· In
July 2024, DCC Energy completed the acquisition of WIRSOL Roof
Solutions ("WIRSOL") in Germany. WIRSOL has been providing high
quality solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery storage solutions for
more than 20 years. Based in Waghäusel, Germany, the business
employs 120 people and has planned and installed over 16,000 solar
systems for commercial and private customers throughout Germany.
Following the recent acquisition of Progas in the liquid gas
market, WIRSOL provides a platform to now develop our Energy
Management Services (EMS) offering in the German energy market-the
largest in Europe.
· In
July 2024, DCC Energy agreed to acquire Cubo, a fleet telematics
business providing integrated telematics & communication
solutions in the UK & Ireland. The complementary acquisition
provides additional digital solutions to our fleet
customers.
During the first quarter, DCC Energy
also completed the acquisitions of Next Energy, Secundo
Photovoltaik and Copropriétés Diagnostic, all of which were
announced in our Final Results announcement in May 2024.
Divestment of liquid gas business in Hong Kong &
Macau
As announced separately this
morning, DCC Energy has completed the sale of a majority stake in its liquid gas business in Hong Kong
& Macau to CITADEL Pacific Ltd ("CPL"), an Asian industrial
group with an existing and complementary business in the region.
The transaction values DCC's business at an initial enterprise
value of c.US$150 million (c.£117 million), on a debt-free,
cash-free basis. DCC received US$105 million (c.£82 million) in
cash consideration and will retain a minority stake in the combined
business.
Debt capital markets activity
Having achieved two investment grade
public credit ratings in the prior year, DCC established a Euro
Medium Term Note (EMTN) programme in June 2024. DCC recently issued
its inaugural public market debt instrument, a benchmark €500
million seven-year senior unsecured bond, refinancing recently
repaid and short-term maturity private placement debt.
Date for interim results
DCC expects to announce its interim
results for the six months ending 30 September 2024 on Tuesday 12
November 2024.
Contact information
Investor
enquiries:
|
|
Kevin Lucey, Chief Financial Officer
|
Tel: +353 1 2799
400
|
Rossa White, Head of Group Investor
Relations
|
Email: investorrelations@dcc.ie
|
Media
enquiries:
|
|
Powerscourt (Eavan Gannon/Pete
Lambie)
|
Tel: +44 20 7250
1446
|
|
Email:
DCC@powerscourt-group.com
|
About DCC plc
Invest in what the world needs
DCC is a leading international sales, marketing
and support services group. We provide solutions the world needs
across three transformative sectors: energy, healthcare and
technology; where we acquire, improve and grow diverse businesses.
We bring our growth mindset to our businesses in 22 countries
across four continents, empowering our 16,600 employees to create
long term value - for our shareholders, customers, society and the
planet.
Headquartered in Dublin, DCC plc is listed on
the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE
100. In our financial year ended 31 March 2024, DCC generated
revenues of £19.9 billion and adjusted operating profit
of £682.8 million. DCC has an excellent record, delivering
compound annual growth of 14% in adjusted operating profit and
unbroken dividend growth of 13% while maintaining high returns on
capital employed over 30 years as a public company.
Follow us on
LinkedIn.
www.dcc.ie
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.