Competition watchdog to examine B&Q acquisition of Homebase stores in Waterford, Navan and Letterkenny

Deal will expand the DIY retailer's eight current stores

B&Q Ireland is a subsidiary of Kingfisher, which operates in a number of countries across Europe as B&Q, Screwfix, Castorama, Brico Dépôt and TradePoint.

Ireland's competition watchdog is to examine the acquisition by retailer B&Q of Homebase outlets in Waterford, Navan and Letterkenny.

The DIY hardware chain said it acquired the three leasehold stores for a total purchase price of £3.2m (€3.86m) with the stores to be rebranded to join B&Q's eight existing outlets in the Republic of Ireland.