By Ross Kelly 
 

SYDNEY--Logistics company Brambles Ltd. (BXB.AU) said Tuesday it acquired Ferguson Group, a supplier of containers to the offshore oil-and-gas industry, for GBP320 million (US$515 million) including debt.

The deal fits with Brambles' plan to diversify revenue sources in the goods-transportation business, while shedding other assets such as document-management and garbage-collection units.

The Australian company, which is also the world's biggest supplier of wooden pallets used to cart goods, said the acquisition represents 10 times Ferguson's forecast earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization in calendar 2014. The purchase price includes Ferguson's net-debt balance of GBP53.8 million.

In recent years, Brambles has also bought specialist aerospace and bulk-container businesses, as well as a company that makes reusable plastic containers for transporting fresh produce.

Brambles spun off its Recall document-management business in December, and sold its Cleanaway waste-management business in 2005.

Write to Ross Kelly at ross.kelly@wsj.com

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