DCC, the energy to technology distribution and services group, saw its shares fall in London on Thursday as the £1.05 billion (€1.22 billion) it achieved in a deal to sell its healthcare unit fell short of expectations.
The Dublin-based, but London-listed group is selling the unit to HealthCo Investment, which is owned by funds run or advised by London-based private equity firm Investindustrial Advisors, it said in a statement on Tuesday.
The planned deal is on a cash-free, debt-free basis and is subject to various regulatory approvals. It will involve a cash consideration of £945 million, with £130 million deferred for payment within two years.
Leases, taxes owing and other liabilities transferring with the healthcare unit bring the total enterprise value of the transaction to £1.05 billion.
A number of analysts had expected the healthcare business to achieve between £1.3 billion and £1.6 billion. Shares in DCC fell 4.5 per cent to £47.54 in London.
Goodbody Stockbrokers analyst Ken Rumph had forecast a figure at the top of the range. However, he said the most important fact for investors is that a deal has been reached, as DCC seeks to focus on its energy division.
“Given the market backdrop, we are encouraged that DCC have managed to get this deal across the line in advance of the June schedule despite market conditions worsening daily,” said Mr Rumph.
Financial markets have been in turmoil over the past month amid concerns about US president Donald Trump’s protectionist trade policies.
DCC, founded in 1976 by businessman Jim Flavin as a provider of venture capital for start-ups before floating almost two decades later, revealed in November it was abandoning its conglomerate roots with a plan to sell its healthcare division and review “strategic options” for its technology business, in order to focus on its energy unit.
DCC is seeking to boost the technology unit’s profitability before selling it.
Chief executive Donal Murphy has said the group believes that its energy business – now by far its largest division – and related opportunities in energy transition presents the largest growth opportunity available to the group.
“The disposal of DCC Healthcare is a material step in simplifying DCC’s operations and focusing on our high growth, high return, energy business. Our strategy will continue to be to build DCC as a market-leading multi-energy business,” said Mr Murphy on Tuesday.
“The profitable sale creates immediate value for our shareholders and we are confident that Investindustrial will take DCC Healthcare forward in the best long‐term interests of its employees, customers and suppliers.”
The distribution and services conglomerate, which sells everything from catheters to hospitals to audiovisual equipment to events companies, hired JP Morgan at the time to preparation the healthcare division for sale.
DCC Healthcare is made up of two businesses: DCC Vital, which sells medical products and devices to doctors and hospitals; and DCC Health & Beauty Solutions which focuses on developing and manufacturing nutritional supplements such as vitamin gummies and beauty products for brand owners.
DCC reiterated that it expects to return surplus cash generated from the healthcare business sale to shareholders, while maintaining a strong, investment-grade balance sheet.
In the year March 31st, 2024, DCC Healthcare recorded revenue of £859.4 million and adjusted operating profit of £88.1 million. The unit represented approximately 13 per cent of group operating profit.
