Donaghys buys Australian rope business
Donaghys has completed its third acquisition deal in a year, buying Melbourne-based National Ropes, a rope manufacturing
and distribution company.
National Ropes was owned by the Fiji-based Patel family, well known and respected in business circles and who own a
number of other businesses, including Ropes Fiji.
“This deal is part of our ongoing strategy of growing Donaghys through targeted acquisitions that add to our product
range and business strength,” says Donaghys managing director Jeremy Silva.
The acquisition will be settled today, and includes National Ropes manufacturing assets, intellectual property, customer
base and key staff.
“National Ropes helps us to add critical mass in our international rope and cordage business, which was strengthened
earlier this year by the acquisition of premium ropemaker Southern Ocean Ropes.”
National Ropes provides its customers with a variety of technical and commodity ropes, some made at its Melbourne plant
and some made under contract by manufacturers in Asia.
“We will be able to offer an increased range of high quality ropes to our customers as a result of the National Ropes
acquisition.”
“Donaghys as a company will be able to enhance its product development in the high-end safety rope market, which
includes abseiling braids and rescue ropes, as a result of the National Ropes acquisition.”
“Donaghys will also continue to invest in the research and development required to maintain a world-class range of
technical safety ropes.”
A number of key management staff from National Ropes will also join the Donaghys team, strengthening the company’s
international marketing and sales capacity. The staff, machinery and plant from the existing National Ropes site will
relocate to Donaghys Brunswick factory in Melbourne.
“Our hi-tech specialist braid manufacturing facility in Brunswick, Melbourne, will have doubled its international sales
in a year, assisted by the National Ropes acquisition and the earlier Southern Ocean Ropes acquisition.”
Production at Donaghys ISO 9001 accredited world-class Dunedin factory, which employs 64 people, will also increase as a
result of the National Ropes acquisition.
In September last year Donaghys bought Jenkins Biolabs, an animal and plant management business with a strong reputation
for its pro-biotic, bio-stimulant, and mineral products.
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