DSI Underground Australia and Fero Group Pty Ltd (Fero) have signed an agreement under which DSI Underground Australia will acquire 100 per cent of privately owned Fero.

Employing 300 people, DSI Underground Australia is an Australian manufacturing business that supplies Australian-made strata reinforcement and ground support products essential to safety and efficiency in the underground mining, infrastructure and construction sectors.

The DSI Underground head office and main manufacturing facility is based in Newcastle.

CEO of DSI Underground Australia, Derek Hird said the acquisition will add to the business’ service offering.

“The acquisition of Fero will add galvanising and mesh manufacturing processes into DSI

Underground Australia’s manufacturing capability, allowing us to better serve customers, continue to invest in research and development, and increase exports to African and Asian mining services markets,” Derek said.

The owners of Fero, the Franco family of Perth, have agreed to invest part of the sale proceeds into DSI Underground Australia’s parent company, DSI Underground Holdings S.a.r.l. and will become a shareholder in DSI Underground’s global mining business.

Group CEO of DSI Underground International, Michael Reich said the aim was to provide customers with a broader range of products, allow for continued research and development investment; and adapt to the digitalisation of products and services.

“I am very pleased that the owners of Fero, the Franco family, will become shareholders in DSI Underground and Fero’s Managing Director, Michael Franco, will continue to support DSI Underground at an operational level and as an advisor to the global DSI Underground Board,” Michael said.

“I look forward to welcoming Michael and the entire Fero team to DSI Underground.”

Fero’s Managing Director, Michael Franco said the Franco family was extremely proud of the entire Fero team and the leading business it had have built together.

“We now look forward to working closely with the DSI team to support the continued growth of the combined businesses. Personally, I look forward to becoming part of the DSI global team,” Michael said.

Terms of the acquisition have not been disclosed and the transaction is conditional on regulatory approval.

IMAGE | One of Fero Group Pty Ltd’s facilities.