DCC has said it has been reclassified as a distribution company, rather than a diversified industrial, by the FTSE Actuaries Industry Classification Committee. The change takes effect from the close of business on September 17th.

DCC markets and distributes both its own and third-party branded products. Among the brands marketed and distributed by DCC are: Cisco, Compaq and Hewlett-Packard in the computer market; Healthilife in the health care market; Emo and Flogas in the energy sector; and Bollinger, Kelkin and Phileas Fogg in the food division.

"This reclassification reflects DCC's focused approach to value-added marketing and distribution which generated 84 per cent of the group's operating profits in the year to [the end of] March 1999," chief executive Mr Jim Flavin said.