Wolseley UK has bought 22 Burdens branches across the UK, involving some 600 employees, for £30m, it was announced today, 2nd November 2012.

Burdens is one of the leading suppliers of utility and civil engineering products in the UK.

Burdens has a well established reputation in the marketplace and is a highly valued brand. Its great product range will also complement Drain Center’s product proposition offering, providing customers with more choice. The deal gives Wolseley UK the opportunity to build on its position in the utilities market and gain one of the leading roles in the underground drainage sector.

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Steve Ashmore, Managing Director, Wolseley UK said: "The deal marks another exciting milestone in Wolseley UK's development. We believe the utilities market, particularly the water industry, offers many growth opportunities and this purchase would put us in a great position in that market.

"The deal is also in line with Wolseley UK’s strategy to hold leading market positions in all of its businesses."

Legal ownership and operational responsibility for the Burdens branches transfers to Wolseley UK today. Wolseley UK will now make a filing with the UK’s Office of Fair Trading to clear the purchase and given the largely complementary businesses of Burdens and Wolseley UK, it hopes to complete the process as soon as possible.

(CD/GK)