THE Woodies DIY company, Grafton Group, has acquired Boormans, a plumbing and heating merchant, based at Crowborough, Sussex, for £285,000 sterling, its third British purchase this year.
Boormans will now trade under the Lumleys trade name and will be integrated as part of Grafton's Lumley Plumbase network in Sussex. This, said Grafton, will complement the network of H Bradley, the Grafton subsidiary which made acquisition, in the London area.
The takeover of Boormans brings to 14 the total number of Bradleys and Lumleys branches in London and Sussex which have been acquired and developed by Grafton in the past two year.
Boormans generated profits of around £25,000 sterling on turnover of £856,000 in the year to March 31st, 1995.
Grafton's executive chairman, Mr Michael Chadwick, said Boormans' profits will be boosted "quite substantially" when it is integrated.
Grafton on Wednesday announced the acquisitions of the builders' merchandiser of R.J. Johnson and Company, Oxford, and the mortar business of Scottish PPS Structural Services for £5.5 million. Mr Chadwick said the group is looking for further acquisitions.
