Australia: A Board of 13 has been appointed to lead the merger of Adelaide-based ABB Grain, AusBulk and United Grower Holdings, Nationwide News posted on June 7. The board will be scaled back to nine after the 2006 annual meeting, if the merger goes ahead by the proposed date of September 30 this year.

The companies announced on June 6 the 11 non-executive directors - five from both ABB Grain and AusBulk and one from AusBulk grain-grower holding company UGH. ABB Grain managing director Michael Iwaniw would lead the new company and join AusBulk's John Murray as an executive director.

ABB chairman Trevor Day, Ken Dingwall, Ross Johns, Timothy Ryan and Max Wilksch will represent ABB. AusBulk chairman Max Venning, Perry Gunner, Jeff Clift, Andrew Inglis and Kevin Osborn - and Adrian Glover for UGH - would represent the other two companies. Mr Perry was named chairman of the inaugural combined board.

08 June, 2004