Ron Finemore Transport snaps up 9pc stake in Lindsay Australia

Ron Finemore Transport was established in 2004 and has 900 staff. Picture: David Vile

Ron Finemore Transport’s move to pounce on its competitor, Lindsay Australia, by snapping up its shares was seen as a curious move by industry operators, who say it could be related to a management change at the successful privately owned logistics firm.

As reported on Monday, an entity controlled by Mr Finemore’s company, called Safe Driving Concepts Pty Ltd, purchased an 8.9 per cent interest in Lindsay, a substantial shareholder notice revealed.

Lindsay Australia has a $227m market value and made a $15.8m underlying net profit for the six months to December.

It’s recently embarked on an acquisition of its own, flagging the purchase in its half-year result last month of GJ Freight – an operator in South West Western Australia that generates more than $20m in annual revenue.

Late last year, Ron Finemore hired former Australia Post executive James Dixon to become chief executive.

In 2023, Lindsay Australia acquired assets in Scott’s Refrigerated Logistics after the business, previously owned by Anchorage Capital Partners, was placed into liquidation.

Sources at the time said Ron Finemore took a look at Scott’s while it was in receivership.

Ron Finemore Transport describes itself as family owned and operated.

It was established by Ron Finemore in 2004 following his acquisition of Wodonga-based company Lewington’s Transport.

In 2005 Smith’s Transport in Orange was also purchased, forming the foundation of the company.

With 280 prime movers and 900 staff, Ron Finemore Transport provides regional and inter-capital city line-haul road transport services across two major operating divisions – food, produce (either ambient or temperature controlled) and manufactured goods and bulk liquids.