Grafton Group returns 4% rise in first-half turnover

Grafton Group has reported a 4% year-on-year rise in first-half turnover, to €1.05 billion; adding that detailed half-year figures will be “in line with expectations”.

The Dublin-headquartered building merchants group said that the increase — from €1.01bn for the same period in 2011 — was mainly driven by favourable exchange rates when translating sterling turnover into euro.

Nearly three quarters of Grafton’s total annual revenues are generated from its Britain-based operations.