DCC has paid £3.39 million for the 12.3 per cent stake in its Printech computer services subsidiary held by Scottish Provident. Scottish Provident received a stake in Printech after it refused to accept DCC's full takeover bid for the company three years ago and threatened legal action to prevent its shares. being compulsorily acquired.

Under the terms, which increases DCC's stake in Printech to 87.3 per cent, Scottish Provident is to receive 1.1 million DCC shares - equivalent to 1.4 per cent of DCC's enlarged equity and £613,000 in cash.