Grafton, the Dublin-headquartered builders merchanting and DIY retail group, is actively reviewing opportunities to expand its operational presence in western Europe.

THE ISEQ advanced a further 44.47 points yesterday to close at 2,997.76, marking five straight days of gain.

GRAFTON Group saw its revenues increase by 4%, year-on-year, during the first four months of this year.

Building materials and DIY group Grafton today posted pre-tax profits of €25.6m for full-year 2010, up 88% on the previous year.

GRAFTON Group has announced that Gavin Slark is to take over as chief executive on July 1. He will succeed Michael Chadwick who has been executive chairman since 1985.

Builders providers Grafton Group has announced the appointment of a new group CEO to succeed Michael Chadwick.

Builders providers Grafton have announced a before-tax profit of €13.4m for the six months to the end of June, up from €3.7m in the same period last year.

TOTAL remuneration outlay at building materials/ DIY group Grafton fell by €700,000 last year, according to the company’s latest annual report.

SHARES in building material group Grafton were up by 15% in late trading yesterday, despite a sharp reversal in its profit performance in 2009.

Builders merchants and DIY retail group Grafton believes the end of the dramatic contraction in building activity here and in the UK may be in sight.

COMEDIAN Matt Lucas has pulled out of a West End play after his ex-partner killed himself, reportedly hours after posting a message on Facebook saying “Kevin McGee thinks that death is much better than life”.

BUILDING materials to DIY group Grafton suffered a dramatic fall in pre-tax profits in the first half of 2009, ground down by the building slumps in its key Irish and British markets.

Builders providers Grafton has announced that pre-tax profit fell from €53.4m in the first half of the year to €3.7m.

GRAFTON, the builders merchants and DIY group, said in the first four months of this year it was confronted with “the most challenging trading conditions in decades”.

THE deteriorating property markets and economic conditions in Ireland and Britain have severely affected financial performance at the Dublin-headquartered building materials/DIY group Grafton.

The building materials group Grafton is warning of job losses after reporting a 73% drop in pre-tax profits to €64m. Adjusted earnings per share are down 62% at 32.2 cent.

Building materials group Grafton has seen a 50% plunge in profits for the first half of the year, down from €106.4m to €53.4m.

Building and home improvement giant Grafton Group has today reported an 8% increase in pre-tax profits, up to €228.6m from €211.4 m in 2006.

The ISEQ index of Irish shares continued its downward trend this morning, falling 53.99 points to 9,457.98.

At today's Annual General Meeting of the Grafton group in Dublin, chairman Michael Chadwick, is set to announce a strong start to 2007.

ISEQ -listed building group Grafton have announced end of year results recording an Irish turnover increase of 16% or €1.20bn.

Building company Grafton today announced a 10% hike in operating profits for the first six months of 2006 to €106.9m, up from €97.6m for the same period in 2005.

WELLINGTON Market Company is set to pay €2.2 million for a fruit market in Cornwall.

ISEQ-listed Grafton Group has advised the stock exchange that Michael Chadwick was appointed as a non-executive director of Wellington Market Company yesterday.

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.

SHARES in Grafton Group slid 4% yesterday after the building materials specialist reported strong first-half results but warned it would let 150 staff go in Britain to cope with a slowdown there.

Builders providers group Grafton's acquisition of rival Heitons in January has boosted the company's interim before-tax profits by 28% to €87.4m, up from €70.4m last year, the company announced today.

Building group Grafton has confirmed trading in the first four months of the year has been in line with expectations.

THE directors of building materials and DIY group Grafton received a 27% pay hike last year.

Pre-tax profits at building company Grafton were 29% higher at €131.9m in 2004. Turnover in Ireland increased by 25% to €1.9bn while there was a 28% rise in UK turnover to over €1.4bn.

SHARES in Grafton surged 8% yesterday after the building materials and DIY group finally got the go-ahead for its takeover of smaller rival Heiton.

The board of building group Grafton has announced that all conditions of its proposed €336m acquisition offer for Heiton Holdings have now either been satisfied or waived. The offer has therefore been declared unconditional in all respects.

BUILDING materials group Grafton turned in another strong performance yesterday as it reported a 30% hike in profits for the six months to June.

Builders Grafton Group plc have announced record levels of sales, profits and earnings for the half year to June 30, 2004.

BUILDING materials group Grafton’s British acquisitions — six so far this year — are fuelling sales growth.

Construction company Grafton has reported 'good growth' in earnings for Q1 2004.

Michael Chadwick, the executive chairman of Grafton Group, was paid a total of €712,000 last year, according to the builders’ merchants annual report.

BUILDING materials group Grafton continued its impressive growth story yesterday when it announced pre-tax profits of €102 million last year, a 27% increase on 2002.

Construction and building materials group Grafton has reported an increase of 27% in its pre-tax profits, to €102m.

A WIN for Gleneagle Lakers over Dart Killester on Saturday, a shock defeat for champions Neptune at Shamrock Rovers and an unexpected drubbing for double-chasing Mardyke UCC Demons at the hands of St Vincent's yesterday has added a new edge to the ESB SuperLeague.

GLENEAGLE Lakers coach Mark Scannell has called on basketball authorities to explain the eligibility confusion over Dart Killester’s Keith Friel.

DEFEAT for his old club, Neptune at the hands of Horan’s Healthstore Tigers on Saturday night, coupled with their own big win over Mardyke UCC Demons on Thursday night had Gleneagle Lakers coach, Mark Scannell rubbing his hands in anticipation of things to come last night.