Business services group DCC said first-half operating profit rose 1.1 per cent and a more normal winter should see it have a strong second half.

DCC, whose energy business makes up around half its profit, was hit by mild weather last year, particularly in Britain.

The company today reiterated that, so long as winter temperatures return to normal, it expected full-year adjusted earnings per share and operating profit to rise 15 per cent on continuing activities.

"As DCC enters its seasonally more significant second half, its full-year guidance continues to be set against a weak economic environment and the important assumption that there will be a return to more normal winter temperatures," chief executive officer Tommy Breen said.

The Dublin-based group, which also sells a broad range of products from computer games to coffee, said operating profit for the six months to end-September rose to €62.4 million, excluding its IT unit which was sold in June.

Revenue on continuing activities rose 32.5 per cent to €6.1 billion, chiefly as a result of acquisitions mainly made by its energy arm.

Reuters