Wolseley, which bought timber and builders merchants Brooks for €183 million last August, has said it enjoyed a strong rise in sales and profits in the five months to the end of December.
The world's largest supplier of plumbing and heating equipment said solid demand in its main US and British markets and commodity price inflation helped it to lift trading profits by more than 30 per cent and sales by more than 15 per cent on a constant currency basis.
It also said it expected favourable conditions to continue in its second half.
The news prompted its shares to gain more than 5 per cent in London as they surged to an all-time high.
The company singled out its North American plumbing business, which increased sales by more than 15 per cent and profits by more than 40 per cent, as the star performer.
Outside the US, Britain proved to be its strongest market.
In continental Europe, most of its businesses showed sales and trading profit growth despite broadly flat markets.
Of Brooks, Wolseley said only that it was trading in line with expectations. Wolseley paid €183 million for the company, which has 18 branches around the island of Ireland.
As part of the deal, it arranged to sell freehold and leasehold properties owned by Brooks to raise €55 million.
Additional reporting, Reuters
