Wolseley buys timber merchant Brooks

Building materials trade distributor Wolseley announced today it had completed its purchase of Irish company Brooks.

Wolseley, a trade distributor of plumbing, heating and building materials, has made four acquisitions in Europe and North America which it hopes will add around £195 million a year to the group's turnover.

Brooks is a timber distributor and builders' merchant with 18 branches across Ireland and 430 employees.

Wolseley announced it had sold a number of properties belonging to Brooks for €55 million.

The company has spent a further €18 million on three other purchases.