French construction products company Saint-Gobain is to sell UK building materials merchant Jewson as part of a broader exit from its British business, which has fallen behind European rivals. The £740mn deal will lead to the transfer of 600 Jewson branches, including distribution hubs, to the Danish group Stark. “Although profitable, the UK business was still much below best in class level of distribution assets like France and the Nordics,” said Saint-Gobain.

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