b'2022 MACA and lookingMACA is acquired into the mirrorInternational contracting groupMACA diversifies operations. BasedMACA really reminded mestill reminds meof how Thiess got going all thosein Western Australia, the mining, civilyears ago, says Michael Wright. It was a small construction company that built a and infrastructure services providerbrilliantly strong culture of achievement. They grew into process engineering and has extensive experience in traditionalmining, then expanded overseas with a gold mine in Cambodia. All the while, their commodities such as gold and iron ore,heartland remained in Western Australia. So, when they partnered with us, it feltas well as critical minerals essential forlike a natural connection. In fact, being close to the MACA culture has helped tothe global energy transition, includingrevive the best of the Thiess culture of old, especially in how it engages with the copper, nickel and lithium. communities it is in.MACA began operations in 2002, after five mates with extensive industry experience Non-coal expansionhad a casual chat about starting their own mining contracting company. Geoff Baker continues was one of those five. Firstly, we were mates, and we still arethats something to celebrate! We got discussing the idea of running our own business at my wifes Building on the strategy to diversifybirthday party over two decades ago. We each brought different capabilities and skills, into metals and minerals for the greenand the whole thing was based on treating people right. We believed that, with hard energy transition, Thiess wins work work, we could build a successful business.at a lithium mine in Western Australia,a copper mine in Queensland, and thenThe five new business owners also made a point of never seeing anything as a a nickel mine in Indonesia. problem, preferring to get up each day, and focus on the can-do spirit. That was probably just bravado! Geoff laughs. But it worked. Their first job was a gold mine in Norseman, 750 kilometres east of Perth. It required seventy people and provided MACA the opportunity to prove themselves, show their capability and start developing valuable relationships. By 2010, Mining and Civil Australia consolidated their name to MACA and was officially listed on the ASX.Geoff remained as the leader, and so did the philosophy: build with people. Through this time, Thiess had lost its way a bit in Western Australia, but still had a strong reputation. After the restructure had settled, a defined plan to diversify and grow into different commodities and markets took hold. Then Michael Wright enquired about meeting Geoff to discuss a possible shared future. Thiess came to us through a broker, and Michael and I met in a hotel in Perth, he says. As chair, I needed to entertain the idea of a sale, but I personally wasnt pushing for it. From the very start, it was clear that Michael knew about contracting, he was personable, and we agreed on the importance of people in this industry. I became confident that Thiess would look after our people, so when the financial offer came inand it was a reasonable offerthe non-financial stuff was already in place. That gave us comfort to proceed. The more we looked at it, the more perfectly we thought MACA suited our strategy, says Craig Morton, who was heavily involved in the transaction. But you need to be 134'