By Ian Neubauer
ASX-listed McGuigan Simeon Wines Limited yesterday announced a change of name to Australian Vintage Limited.
The change of name was authorised following a poll at the company’s 2008 EGM. According to company records, 54,790,662 shareholders directed the proxy to vote yes for the name change, while 422,808 voted no. In addition, 29,612 shareholders directed the proxy to abstain from voting on the notion.
Australian Vintage is the name the company operated under until 2002, when McGuigan’s and Simeon Wines merged to form McGuigan Simeon.
Chris Byrne from the Riverland Winegrape Growers Association told the ABC the name change was a response to consumer resistance that was believed to be a result of the company’s poor treatment of growers.
Australian Vintage CEO Dane Hudson discounted the claim, saying the name change was designed to unite several brands under a company umbrella.