Some local jobs saved after BHT Group liquidation

Heat Merchants and Tubs and Tiles have been acquired by the Harleston Group, parent company of Hevac Ltd, an Irish-based heating and plumbing supplies group. These two arms of BHT Group were acquired by Hevac on Friday last after the High Court appointed Kieran Wallace of KPMG as liquidator of BHT Group, which includes Brooks Builders Supplies as well as Heat Merchants and Tubs and Tiles. BHT Group had its corporate headquarters on the Moydrum Road in Athlone and was formerly known as Wolseley PLC. Hevac said this week that the acquisition, which was for an undisclosed sum, had secured 220 of the 314 jobs in the business nationwide. It's understood that of the 80 jobs based at the company's corporate headquarters and branches of Tubs and Tiles and Heat Merchants in Athlone, approximately 45 have been retained, with around 35 positions axed. However, when contacted yesterday (Tuesday) to clarify how many of the jobs based in Athlone had been secured, the managing director Seamus English was unavailable for comment. The BHT Group went into examinership on February 16, with a liquidator appointed on Friday last, April 20. A statement on Hevac's website stated: "Of the 36 Heat Merchants branches throughout Ireland, 32 will be acquired. 12 of the Tubs and Tiles branches will be acquired. Each branch will continue to trade as normal." The statement quotes Mr English as saying: "The acquisition of these businesses is welcome for several reasons. In effect, it saves and recapitalises two well positioned businesses which have been stressed for some time because of an onerous debt burden. It also adds strong networks and well regarded brands to the Harleston Group. Importantly, it secures 220 jobs in these businesses. "Harleston Group is a long established company and we understand these businesses and the markets in which they operate. We intend to strengthen and develop the businesses in the medium to long term. We look forward to working with management and staff to address the challenges and revitalise Heat Merchants and Tubs and Tiles." These two arms of BHT Group were acquired by Hevac on Friday last after the High Court appointed Kieran Wallace of KPMG as liquidator of BHT Group, which includes Brooks Builders Supplies as well as Heat Merchants and Tubs and Tiles. BHT Group had its corporate headquarters on the Moydrum Road in Athlone and was formerly known as Wolseley PLC. Hevac said this week that the acquisition, which was for an undisclosed sum, had secured 220 of the 314 jobs in the business nationwide. It's understood that of the 80 jobs based at the company's corporate headquarters and branches of Tubs and Tiles and Heat Merchants in Athlone, approximately 45 have been retained, with around 35 positions axed. However, when contacted yesterday (Tuesday) to clarify how many of the jobs based in Athlone had been secured, the managing director Seamus English was unavailable for comment. The BHT Group went into examinership on February 16, with a liquidator appointed on Friday last, April 20. A statement on Hevac's website stated: "Of the 36 Heat Merchants branches throughout Ireland, 32 will be acquired. 12 of the Tubs and Tiles branches will be acquired. Each branch will continue to trade as normal."