Hopelessly devoted to selling good cheer
By Nhada Goodfellow
SINGER Olivia Newton-John and swimsuit identity Brian Rochford are set to star on the Australian Stock Exchange.
The Koala Blue and Olivia wine brands, founded by Newton-John, and the swimwear label are part of the Signature Brands stable.
Signature Brands has raised $3.2 million through an issue of 16 million shares and is expected to list on the ASX on Monday.
Newton-John has about 250,000 shares.
Chairman Ian Duffell said Signature Brands would use the $3.2 million on acquisitions.
The company obtains much of its wine from South Australia.
“Koala Blue was a brand that was established by Olivia Newton-John about 15 years ago and it went out of business but we relaunched it… about two years ago and it’s been very successful as a wine brand in 23 countries,” Mr Duffell said.
Signature Brands had decided to list in order to raise both its profile and some spending money. “We’re looking for other particularly Australian - brands that maybe no longer exist or companies doing well but are short of funding,” Mr Duffell said.
“We can acquire those and bring them into the stable of Signature Brands.”
The company would start a series of acquisitions “very soon” after listing, but he would not name the companies involved.
Signature Brands’ 2003 revenue was $4.9 million and its prospectus is forecasting 2004 revenue of $7.6 million.
The company’s Snowdon Wines division owns the Olivia, Pipers Creek, Five Mile Creek and Koala Blue wine labels.
Mr Duffell said the premium Olivia brand was a blend obtained from SA’s Coonawarra and McLaren Vale districts.
SA wine was blended with wine from other states to produce the other three labels.
Signature Brands shares were issued at 20c each.
Photo caption:
ON SONG: Olivia Newton-John has 250,000 shares in the com-pany marketing wine carrying her name and soon to go public.