Welcome to your Wednesday morning briefing. Let us ensure you’re up to speed on what’s happening and are prepared for the day ahead.

Last week I was a panellist on the RTÉ sports show, Second Captains.

The Brooks Group which traces its origins to Togher in Cork in 1750 has emerged from liquidation saving 60 jobs.

Half of the Brooks Haughton timber and plastering stores across the country are to reopen for at least the next week in a last-gasp attempt to find a buyer for the stricken firm.

Up to 225 jobs at one of Cork’s oldest institutions are on the line after it took management at Brooks Haughton timber suppliers just 10 minutes to tell staff the firm was being wound up.

French building materials group Saint Gobain is tipped to boost its Irish presence through a takeover of Tubs and Tiles owner, BHT Group.

Grafton Group has been identified as a possible buyer of ailing Tubs and Tiles owner BHT Group.

1 Brooks

The group behind Tubs and Tiles is due back in the High Court after the appointment of an interim examiner last week.

An interim examiner has been appointed to the group operating the Brooks, Heat Merchants and Tubs and Tiles businesses.

Dublin: Heating and plumbing distributor Wolseley is selling its businesses in Ireland and the North.

British plumbing and building supplies firm Wolseley today announced plans to cut 2,000 jobs and close more than 200 branches in the UK and Ireland.

Two Irish hotels have received top ratings in an online travel poll.

Build Center chain Wolseley bucked the tough trading conditions in the UK today with an 11% rise in profits and a forecast of more growth to come.

Bio-pharmaceutical group Alltracel has announced third quarter revenues of €700,000.

BUILDERS merchants Heiton Group has accepted a 660 cent a share takeover bid from its larger rival Grafton.

WOLSELEY, the British builders merchants, has acquired the Brooks Group for €183 million.

British building materials group Wolseley stepped up its European expansion today with a £120m (€181m) deal for Ireland’s biggest timber distributor.

THE proposed takeover of builders’ merchant and DIY group Heiton by larger rival Grafton has taken a fresh twist with news that British builders’ products group Wolseley is set to beef up its presence in Ireland.

HEITON remains open to talks with rival builders’ merchants and DIY group Grafton in spite of Grafton’s “low-ball” approach that was rejected last week, chief executive Leo Martin said yesterday.

Marks & Spencer says the sell-off of its US chains will be delayed following last week's terrorist attacks.