IN a continuing of the rationalisation of mining services in Western Australia, Perth-based RSG Global Consulting Pty Ltd has been acquired by ASX-listed Coffey International Ltd in a deal worth almost $16 million. Revelations of the deal, in which Coffey will pay $7.5 million in cash and $8.4 million in shares, coincide with news of SRK Consulting’s takeover of Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation sulfidic mine materials business. It accelerates a trend highlighted last year when Sydney company Downer EDI, which owns contract miner Roche Mining, bought two Perth success stories – international mining consultancy Snowden, and Otraco, the leading global supplier of earthmover tyre maintenance and consulting services. And, last week, Perth-based engineering consultant HBH merged with multinational firm Sinclair Knight Merz. According to Coffey, once the merger is complete, the addition of RSG Global’s 132 employees will create the largest Australian-owned mining consultancy group. RSG Global has regional offices in South Africa and Ghana and company was expecting turnover of $20 million for the financial year ending June 30 2007. Coffey shares were trading at about $3.20 this week, valuing the group at almost $240 million. According to ASIC records, the recently registered RSG Global has a spread of shareholders among seven directors, however the interests of principal Rick Yeates and partner and manager resources, Brett Gossage, have equal dominance of the register, while partner and general manager Colin Roberts also has a large beneficial interest. Mr Yeates was a founder of RSG Global’s predecessor, Resources Services Group, in 1987. Other directors with a financial interest in the company are Ken Jeffrey, Peter Naude, Mick McMullen and Linton Kirk.