This article was originally posted at 1:08 p.m. ET on March 3 ; it was updated with a corrected hometown for Betafence at 8:29 a.m. ET on March 4.

LONDON — The company whose stone-filled barriers became almost synonymous with providing protection to British troops and others at bases during the fight against the Taliban in Afghanistan has been purchased by a Belgian security fence specialist.

The acquisition will see Leeds, England-based Hesco become a standalone subsidiary of the Betafence Group the Belgian company announced Thursday.

The cost of the acquisition was not made public.

Filled with sand and stones, thousands of the British company's cheap but effective perimeter barriers protected troops in forward operating bases, the huge British military base at Bastion and elsewhere during the Afghan conflict.

Other customers include the US Army, the United Arab Emirates military and the United Nations.

Founded in 1991, Hesco produces a range of barriers for flood protection, base protection, safe haven bunkers and others security systems. It also has a line of body armor.

The founder of Hesco, Jimi Heselden, was killed in a 2010 accident when the Segway he was riding fell off a cliff. Heselden also owned Segway.

Betafence of Ghent*, Belgium, produces a range of perimeter security systems and employs 1,400 people across the world.

Majority owned by CVC Capital Partners, Betafence recently acquired SecureUSA to build its position in the US market.

"Today's deal underpins Betafence's accelerated international growth strategy  to provide global protection solutions to secure assets and protect people," Betafence CEO Michele Volpi said.

* An earlier version of the article incorrectly stated that Betafence was based in Genk, Belgium.

Email: achuter@defensenews.com

Andrew Chuter is the United Kingdom correspondent for Defense News.

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