Builders’ merchants group Grafton has expanded its asset base in Britain, through the acquisition for an undisclosed fee of English timber merchant Beaumont Forest Products.

Dublin-based Grafton Group said its Plumbase and Buildbase merchanting businesses in the UK increased turnover by 4% to €1.46bn last year, despite a decline in the overall market.

BUILDERS’ merchants group Grafton is being linked with more acquisition movement as consolidation in the international merchanting sector heats up.

GRAFTON Group delivered strong results in line with market expectations last year. It was a two-sided story, however, with the Irish division delivering exceptional results while performance in the British market was flat.