DCC operating profit drops 11.4%

Diversified holding group DCC reported an 11.4% drop in its operating profit for the first half of 2011 after its DCC Energy unit was hit by unusually mild weather in April and May.

The company reported an operating profit of €58.3m.

However all its other four divisions gained in profits and the group is to pay an interim dividend of 27.42 per share, five per cent higher than last year.

It is forecasting that full-year profit will be 5% below last year.