b'Left A cattle feedlot.the increased demand for pellet feed theyIn the 1980s, Australias economy, whichneeded to fill their ships.had been riding high for so long, was about to crash into what treasurer Paul Keating Under Al-Mukairishs guidance and instruction,would call the recession we had to have. In Max and Denis borrowed money from the1981, interest rates skyrocketed and there was bank to build a new pellet millto the tune oflittle margin for error in business. So when the about $2.5 million dollars. Forty-odd years ago,building of the ship was delayed, the banks that was a lot of money, says Denis. started getting nervous and Max was faced with the very real risk of foreclosure.In 1985, the result was a new pellet mill The pressure was on.that was regarded industry-wide as one of thebest in the world. It also meant JT Johnson &We were paying 23 per cent interest on our Sons could customise its production scale tofinance, says Denis. We had a $2.5-million-dollar suit customer demand, improving its agilityinvestment and a massive delay in production. and profits. But despite all this, in 1983, optimism was But not before a series of unfortunate high and Denis and Max were meeting with events could beset the plan, nearly derailing the bank to seal their most ambitious deal to it altogether.date. Arriving at the swanky offices of ANZon Grenfell Street, they took the elevator to the JOHNSONS100 YEARS IN THE MAKING NEW GENERATION, NEW IDEAS 45'