AUSTRALIAN Defence Apparel has been sold to a joint venture company comprising Australian and Canadian interests.But a spokesman for ADA says there will no changes to the company’s operations, including its Bendigo manufacturing base.ADA marketing manager Alan Bent said the company’s four original shareholders sold their shares to a new company, Parsons Logistik.That company is a 50-50 joint venture between Australian textiles wholesaler Charles Parsons, based in Sydney, and Canadian firm Logistik Unicorp, which has major contracts including the manufacture of uniforms for Canadian and UK defence forces.ADA designs and manufactures clothing for military, police and emergency service use.It employs up to 250 people at its plant in East Bendigo, where ADA has manufactured since 1989, when it was still a part of government-owned Australian Defence Industries.Manufacturing commenced in Melbourne in 1912.A factory was established in East Bendigo in 1989.All manufacturing was consolidated in Bendigo in 1992, three years before it was privatised and sold to the four original shareholders.Parsons Logistik sales and marketing manager Chris Dixon said the purchase would allow their company and ADA to capitalise on the strengths of the other.“We see it as getting the best of both worlds for us and for ADA,” he said.Mr Dixon said there would be no change to ADA’s day-to-day operation.“I would say it’s business as usual,” he said.“There will be no changes for the foreseeable future for staff by any means.”Mr Dixon said his company would benefit from ADA’s expertise, while ADA would have access to a global market through the takeover.The ADA deal is Parsons Logistik’s first acquisition.
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