By Business & Finance 
Pictured: Stephen O’Reilly, sales manager, SAS Ireland; Tommy Breen, CEO, DCC; Ian Hyland, CEO, Business & Finance
With Tommy Breen at the helm, DCC’s strategy for growth has involved increased acquisition activity which is paying dividends for stakeholders.
DCC is a broadly-based group, operating across five focused divisions: Energy, Technology, Healthcare, Environmental and Food & Beverage.
In the six months to September 30th 2014, DCC plc reported revenues of £5,514.4m, up 1.9% on the previous year.
Overall, operating profit increased by 6.4% to £73.2m. The company said operating profit — excluding DCC Energy — increased by 16.9%, driven by strong growth in DCC Technology and DCC Healthcare.
Given these results, and assuming normal winter weather conditions, the Group expects growth in operating profit and adjusted earnings per share to be in the region of 5% to 10% on last years results, and although down from the previously guided 10-12%, this is due to the impact of mild weather in September and October.
Commenting on the results Tommy Breen, CEO of DCC, said: “In the seasonally less significant first half, operating profit of £73.2m was 6.4% ahead of the prior year.
“DCC Energy’s operating profit was modestly behind the prior year as its business was impacted by the very mild weather during the period particularly in the relatively important months of April, May and September. Operating profit, excluding DCC Energy, increased by 16.9% with each of the other four divisions reporting profit growth.”
DCC Group also increased its acquisition activity in 2014, with a clear strategy and investment of £148m committed to acquisitions this year alone.
The acquisitions of the Esso Express, Williams Medical and CapTech businesses and the disposal of the Group’s Irish food and beverage subsidiaries sees DCC well placed to continue the development of its business in existing and new geographies.
“The acquisition of Esso SAF Retail will be DCC Energy’s first acquisition in France and the second major acquisition in the European retail petrol station market following the acquisition of Qstar announced in February 2014,” Breen explains.
“It represents a significant further step in DCC’s strategy to build a larger presence in the transport fuels sector and provides DCC with an excellent platform for growth in the French market.”
About the CEO
Tommy Breen is CEO of DCC. He was appointed to the role in 2008 having previously served as Group managing director and chief operating officer within the Group.
Breen has also held a number of other senior management positions in the Group, including those of managing director of DCC’s Energy, Technology and Environmental divisions.
Breen joined DCC in 1985, having previously worked with KPMG.
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