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More Job Losses for Sligo? - More in Balance?

There was shock in the Sligo business community yesterday evening when the large builders providers and DIY suppliers Brooks closed with the potential loss of several jobs.

Brooks on Finisklin Road closed last night following a High Court hearing where the holding group BHT came out of examinership.

The future of all 11 Brooks outlets remains unclear and could re-open on Tuesday as 'delicate' talks continue. Directors for the company said a further statement on the remaining Brooks' business was "expected in the near term".

BHT also owned Heat Merchants and Tubs Tiles which were sold to Harleston, the owner of the Irish-based Hevac heating and plumbing supplies group, for an undisclosed sum.

The future of the Sligo branches at Duck Park remains in the balance as four of the 36 branches are to close. The fate of the Sligo outlets will be known later. Updates to follow.

Update::: SligoToday.ie understands from a reliable source that the Sligo branch of Tubs and Tiles is now trading as normal under the new ownership

The BHT Group, went into examinership on February 16th.

BHT exited the examinership process yesterday with the High Court appointing Kieran Wallace of KPMG as liquidator to the group.

The liquidator said the transaction "secures a substantial number of jobs and puts both Heat Merchants and Tubs and Tiles on a more secure and viable footing". In February, the High Court was told that BHT Group had debts of €31.8m, including €21.8m to unsecured trade creditors.




















The situation remains unclear over the weekend, apart from the continued normal trading of Tubs and Tiles,and should become clearer as offices within the new group are staffed as normal on Monday.