Burns merges with Burns and Ferrall

Press, 24 September 1980, Page 22

Burns merges with Burns and Ferrall

I The chairman of John Burns and Company, Ltd (Mr G. R. Brabant) and the chairman of Burns and Ferrall Holdings, Ltd (Mr L. S. Drake) announce that an agreement has been reached for the merging of the trading subsidiaries of Burns and Ferrall Holdings into the John Burns group of companies. The Burns and Ferrall group consists of three private companies founded in 1949 by the late Mr K. M. Burns and Mr R. W. Ferrall, with factories in both Auckland. and Christchurch, and employs 170 staff in the manufacture of a wide range of products in stainless steel and other metals.

The. group (which is the leader in its industry) trades in hospital and industrial equipment, in commercial and domestic .building materials, and in other specialised areas, has a sizeable export business to Australia and the Pacific Basin, and won an Export Award in 1978.

“The group will thus integrate very satisfactorily into the changed and revitalised John Burns . group, which has divisions throughout New Zealand, with particular interest in steel and non-ferrous metals, equipment manufacturing, and distribution and merchant activities,” they say. The merger is effective forthwith and will be financed by payments in cash by John Bums to Burns and Ferrall Holdings over an agreed period. The managing director of Bums and Ferrall Holdings will be retiring at his. own wish, but will be retained as a consultant, and all other staff will continue to be employed in their present positions. The boards of both companies see'this as a particularly ' desirable development. It will broaden the base of operations and lead to increased opportunities both domestically and in export markets for the enlarged John Burns group — to the advantage of shareholders and all employees, they say,