Premier buys Ireland-based Brooks Group

Premier Forest Products has bought Ireland’s largest timber distributor the Brooks Group out of insolvency for an undisclosed sum.

It is a major move into the Irish market for Premier, which is buying six Brooks branches.

Sixty of the 120 jobs at Brooks will be secured in the deal.

Brooks will continue to conduct business operations at two sites in Dublin - Sandyford, Bluebell/Naas Road, - and in Cork, Tullamore, Galway and Sligo.

“We are pleased to announce the successful sale of the Brooks business to what is a very successful operator in the timber and building materials sector,” said Kieran Wallace of liquidator KPMG.

“It’s even more satisfying that the sale secures both the Brooks brand and, importantly, 60 jobs. We wish both operations every success for the future.”

Brooks managing director Mark Lohan thanked staff, management, suppliers and customers for their support during the insolvency process.

“Our new owners are timber people and understand the business,” he said.

“Together, we look forward to rejuvenating the Brooks brand and will continue to place an emphasis on quality and customer service in the delivery of timber and timber-based products and the entire range of building materials.”

Brooks Group had 13 branches when it was granted bankruptcy protection by the High Court in Dublin in March.

It was part of the debt-laden BHT Group, which had also comprised Heat Merchants and Tubs and Tiles – businesses since sold by liquidator KPMG. Brooks recorded losses of €500,000 in the second half of 2011 from a turnover of about €56m.