Irish distie DCC saw overall profits rise in the year to March despite a difficult first half for its computer distribution arm SerCom.

DCC brought in revenues of €3.4bn and a profit of €142m for the year ended 31 March 2006.

The computer division - DCC SerCom - bounced back from a bad first half of the year, but still saw revenues fall 4.9 per cent. The second half saw SerCom increase profits by 22 per cent to €17.4m, compared to just €7.6m in the first half of the year - a 37 per cent fall on the same period a year ago.

DCC SerCom was hit by price deflation, a falling UK retail market and significant decline of European enterprise demand. The second half benefited from the increased focus on consumer digital products, the launch of the Xbox 360, and the acquistions of DVD distie Pilton Company and AB Computing.

The division brought in revenues of €1.1bn and made a profit of €25m.

Directors are recommending a dividend of 42.85 cents per share, up 15 per cent on last year. ®

More details from DCC here.