UPDATE 1-DCC H1 earnings down 8.7 percent, beats forecast

* H1 EPS down 8.7 pct to 50.07 cents, vs forecast 48 cents

* Says will acquire Shell Direct Austria for 18.3 mln euros

* Sees flat year operating profit and adjusted EPS

* Shares up 1.2 percent in early trading

(Adds detail, comment)

By Antonella Ciancio

DUBLIN, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Irish business services group DCC (DCC.I) posted an 8.7 percent fall in first-half adjusted earnings, beating forecasts, and said it was buying Shell's (RDSa.L) oil distribution business in Austria.

Adjusted earnings per share in the six months to the end of September fell to 50.07 cents, above a forecast for 48 cents, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

DCC, whose interests range from oil to cosmetic, forecast both operating profit and adjusted earnings per share for full year 2009-10, on a constant currency basis, would be "broadly in line with last year".