{"success":true,"data":{"pressRelease":{"id":"153952","rtpr_id":"nNFC55kmw7-20260928","ticker":"DWS","exchange":"","all_tickers":["DWS"],"title":"Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits Announces Voting Results from Its Annual General and Special Meeting of Shareholders","author":"Newsfile Corp","published_at":"2026-09-28T11:30:11.366Z","article_body":"Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - September 28, 2026) - Diamond\nEstates Wines & Spirits Inc. (TSXV: DWS) (\"Diamond Estates\" or the \"Company\")\nis pleased to announce the results of voting at its annual general and special\nmeeting of shareholders (the \"Meeting\") held on Thursday September 24, 2026 by\nteleconference.\n\nThe voting results for the election of directors were as follows:\n\n Director  Nominees  Number of Shares       Percentage of Votes Cast      \n                     For         Withheld   For            Withheld       \n Guy Blanchette      37,526,173  175,487    99.535%        0.465%         \n John De Sousa       37,408,198  293,462    99.222%        0.778%         \n Claude Gilbert      37,431,873  269,797    99.284%        0.716%         \n Andrew Howard       37,398,223  303,437    99.195%        0.805%         \n Ron McEachern       37,423,473  278,187    99.262%        0.738%         \n Vince Timpano       37,526,223  175,437    99.578%        0.422%         \n\n \n\nThe voting results for other matters before the Meeting (which are fully\noutlined in the Company's management information circular for the Meeting,\nwhich is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company's website,\nwww.diamondwines.com, under the \"Investors\" tab) were as follows:\n* Appointment of Auditors: 99.578% of the votes were in favour of the\nresolution appointing MNP LLC as auditors of the Company until the next annual\nmeeting, and 0.161% of the votes were withheld.\nPresentation by Andrew Howard, President and CEO\n\nAt after the formal portion of the Meeting, Mr. Andrew Howard, President and\nCEO of the Company, provided an update to those shareholders in attendance\nthat can be found on the Company's website under the Investors tab.\n\n\"Fiscal 2025/2026 highlights the continued and meaningful progress we have\nmade in strengthening our business. We remain focused on executing our growth\ninitiatives. Our strong positioning in the Grocery channel has allowed us to\nbenefit disproportionately from the recent retail expansion, and that same\nsuccess is now carrying into the emerging Convenience channel. The industry\nretail changes, together with enhanced government support, have created\nmeaningful opportunities for our VQA portfolio, where consumer interest in\nCanadian wines continues to strengthen our diversified platform. These\ninitiatives, along with our disciplined sales execution, position the Company\nto deliver ongoing value to our stakeholders,\" said Mr. Howard, President and\nCEO.\n\nAppointment of Officers\n\nImmediately following the Meeting, the following individuals were appointed\nofficers of the Company by the board of directors:\n\n Ron McEachern  -  Chairman                               \n Andrew Howard  -  President and Chief Executive Officer  \n Basman Alias   -  Chief Financial Officer                \n Andrew Green   -  Vice-President and Secretary.          \n\n \n\nAbout Diamond Estates Wines and Spirits Inc.:\n\nDiamond Estates is a producer of high-quality wines and ciders as well as a\nsales agent for over 120 beverage alcohol brands across Canada. The Company\noperates four facilities, three in Ontario and one in British Columbia, that\nproduce predominantly VQA wines under such well-known brand names as 20 Bees,\nCreekside, D'Ont Poke the Bear, EastDell, Lakeview Cellars, Mindful, Shiny\nApple Cider, Fresh Wines, Red Tractor, Seasons, Serenity and Backyard\nVineyards.\n\nThrough its commercial division, Trajectory Beverage Partners (\"Trajectory\"),\nthe Company serves as the sales agent for a wide range of leading\ninternational beverage brands.\n\nWine Portfolio:\n\nTrajectory represents renowned wine brands, including Fat Bastard and Gabriel\nMeffre from France; Kaiken from Argentina; Kings of Prohibition from\nAustralia; Yealands, Kono, Tohu, and Joiy Sparkling Wine from New Zealand;\nTalamonti, Cielo and Valdo from Italy; Bodegas Muriel from Spain; Porta 6,\nJulia Florista, Boas Quintas, Catedral and Cabeca de Toiro from Portugal;\nFowles Wines from Australia; Empress Wines from Croatia; as well as C.K.\nMondavi & Family, Charles Krug, Line 39, Harken, FitVine and Rabble from\nCalifornia. Trajectory also represents a broad portfolio of wines sold\nexclusively to restaurants, bars and private consumers.\n\nSpirits Portfolio:\n\nTrajectory also represents distinguished spirit brands such as Cofradia\nTequila, Siempre Tequila, Chisme Tequila, Hussong's Tequila, Solmano Mezcal\nand Chica Chida Agave Spirit from Mexico; Islay Mist and Waterproof blended\nScotch whiskies from Scotland; Glen Breton Canadian whiskies from Nova Scotia;\nFive Farms Irish Cream Liqueur from the UK; Tequila Rose Strawberry Cream, 360\nVodka and Holladay Bourbon from the USA; Giffard Liqueurs from France;\nZubrowka Vodka from Poland and Becherovka from the Czech Republic.\n\nBeer, Cider, and RTD Portfolio:\n\nIn the beer, cider, and ready-to-drink (RTD) categories, Trajectory represents\nDarling Mimosa, Protini Beverages from Ontario; Mountain Joe Hard Coffee, ESA\nCocktails, Solmano Craft Cocktails, Stickler Shrub Cocktails, Sunday Session\nRTDs and Jasper Brewing Company from Alberta, and Warsteiner and Konig Ludwig\nfrom Germany.\n\nForward-Looking Statements:\n\nThis Press Release contains \"forward-looking information\" and \"forward-looking\nstatements\" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation\n(collectively, \"forward-looking statements\"). Forward-looking statements\ninclude, but are not limited to, statements regarding the future financial and\noperating performance of the Company, including its strategic priorities,\ngross margin protection, debt reduction plans, capital allocation priorities,\nand strategic growth initiatives. Forward-looking statements are typically\nidentified by words such as \"ambition\", \"target\", \"expect\", \"anticipate\",\n\"believe\", \"foresee\", \"could\", \"estimate\", \"goal\", \"intend\", \"plan\", \"seek\",\n\"strive\", \"will\", \"may\" and \"should\" and similar expressions.\n\nForward-looking statements are based on the current expectations, estimates,\nprojections, beliefs and assumptions of the Company's management at the time\nthe statements are made. These assumptions include but are not limited to: the\nsuccessful execution of the Company's strategic plan; the realization of\nanticipated cost savings and margin improvements; the continued growth of the\nCanadian wine market and the Company's market share; the stability of the\nregulatory environment, including VQA (Vintners Quality Alliance) rebates and\ntax relief; the continuation of \"Buy Canadian\" consumer sentiment and no\nmaterial adverse change in the Canada-U.S. tariff and trade environment; no\nmaterial increase in inflation or in the cost of key inputs, including grapes,\nglass, packaging, freight and labour; interest rates remaining at or near\ncurrent levels; the continued expansion of Ontario grocery and convenience\nretail channels on economics consistent with current expectations; grape\nharvests of adequate quality and quantity; the renewal or extension of the\nCompany's credit facilities as they mature; the retention of key agency brand\nrepresentation agreements; continued improvement in export market access; and\nthe availability of capital on acceptable terms.\n\nForward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks,\nuncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of\nactivity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially\ndifferent from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.\nThese risks include but are not limited to: general economic and market\nconditions; competition in the beverage alcohol industry; changes in consumer\npreferences, including declining per-capita alcohol consumption and moderation\ntrends; agricultural and weather-related risks affecting grape harvests,\nincluding fluctuations in crop yield and quality due to weather, disease or\nother causes; supply chain disruptions; the imposition, escalation or removal\nof tariffs or other trade measures between Canada and the United States,\nincluding the return of U.S. products to provincial retail shelves and any\nweakening of \"Buy Canadian\" consumer sentiment; inflation and increases in\ninput costs; elevated or rising interest rates and the resulting cost of\nservicing the Company's debt; the Company's ability to renew or refinance its\ncredit facilities as they mature; changes to, or the reduction or elimination\nof, the Ontario VQA Support Program or other wine-related tax relief; the\npace, structure and economics of alcohol retail deregulation in Ontario and\nother provinces; concentration of sales with provincial liquor boards,\nincluding the LCBO; the loss or non-renewal of agency brand representation\nagreements; foreign exchange fluctuations; reliance on key personnel;\npotential dilution from outstanding convertible securities; changes in\ngovernment regulations and taxation; and the Company's ability to manage its\ndebt obligations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on\nforward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or\nrevise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,\nfuture events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.\n\nUse of Non-IFRS Measures:\n\nThis press release and/or the associated President's Report refer to certain\nnon-International Financial Reporting Standards (\"IFRS\") financial measures,\nincluding \"Adjusted EBITDA\" and \"Gross Margin\". These measures do not have any\nstandardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and may not be comparable to similar\nmeasures presented by other issuers. The Company believes these non-IFRS\nmeasures provide useful information to both management and investors in\nmeasuring the financial performance and financial condition of the Company.\n\nFor more information, please contact:\n\nAndrew Howard\nPresident & CEO, Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits Inc.\nahoward@diamondwines.com\nContact Number : 905-685-5673\n\nBasman Alias, CPA\nCFO, Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits Inc.\nbalias@diamondwines.com\n\nNeither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that\nterm is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts\nresponsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.\n\n\nTo view the source version of this press release, please visit\nhttps://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/316223","article_body_html":"","raw_payload":{"data":{"id":"nNFC55kmw7-20260928","title":"Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits Announces Voting Results from Its Annual General and Special Meeting of Shareholders","author":"Newsfile Corp","ticker":"DWS","created":"2026-09-28T11:30:11.366Z","tickers":["DWS"],"exchange":"","article_body":"Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - September 28, 2026) - Diamond\nEstates Wines & Spirits Inc. (TSXV: DWS) (\"Diamond Estates\" or the \"Company\")\nis pleased to announce the results of voting at its annual general and special\nmeeting of shareholders (the \"Meeting\") held on Thursday September 24, 2026 by\nteleconference.\n\nThe voting results for the election of directors were as follows:\n\n Director  Nominees  Number of Shares       Percentage of Votes Cast      \n                     For         Withheld   For            Withheld       \n Guy Blanchette      37,526,173  175,487    99.535%        0.465%         \n John De Sousa       37,408,198  293,462    99.222%        0.778%         \n Claude Gilbert      37,431,873  269,797    99.284%        0.716%         \n Andrew Howard       37,398,223  303,437    99.195%        0.805%         \n Ron McEachern       37,423,473  278,187    99.262%        0.738%         \n Vince Timpano       37,526,223  175,437    99.578%        0.422%         \n\n \n\nThe voting results for other matters before the Meeting (which are fully\noutlined in the Company's management information circular for the Meeting,\nwhich is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company's website,\nwww.diamondwines.com, under the \"Investors\" tab) were as follows:\n* Appointment of Auditors: 99.578% of the votes were in favour of the\nresolution appointing MNP LLC as auditors of the Company until the next annual\nmeeting, and 0.161% of the votes were withheld.\nPresentation by Andrew Howard, President and CEO\n\nAt after the formal portion of the Meeting, Mr. Andrew Howard, President and\nCEO of the Company, provided an update to those shareholders in attendance\nthat can be found on the Company's website under the Investors tab.\n\n\"Fiscal 2025/2026 highlights the continued and meaningful progress we have\nmade in strengthening our business. We remain focused on executing our growth\ninitiatives. Our strong positioning in the Grocery channel has allowed us to\nbenefit disproportionately from the recent retail expansion, and that same\nsuccess is now carrying into the emerging Convenience channel. The industry\nretail changes, together with enhanced government support, have created\nmeaningful opportunities for our VQA portfolio, where consumer interest in\nCanadian wines continues to strengthen our diversified platform. These\ninitiatives, along with our disciplined sales execution, position the Company\nto deliver ongoing value to our stakeholders,\" said Mr. Howard, President and\nCEO.\n\nAppointment of Officers\n\nImmediately following the Meeting, the following individuals were appointed\nofficers of the Company by the board of directors:\n\n Ron McEachern  -  Chairman                               \n Andrew Howard  -  President and Chief Executive Officer  \n Basman Alias   -  Chief Financial Officer                \n Andrew Green   -  Vice-President and Secretary.          \n\n \n\nAbout Diamond Estates Wines and Spirits Inc.:\n\nDiamond Estates is a producer of high-quality wines and ciders as well as a\nsales agent for over 120 beverage alcohol brands across Canada. The Company\noperates four facilities, three in Ontario and one in British Columbia, that\nproduce predominantly VQA wines under such well-known brand names as 20 Bees,\nCreekside, D'Ont Poke the Bear, EastDell, Lakeview Cellars, Mindful, Shiny\nApple Cider, Fresh Wines, Red Tractor, Seasons, Serenity and Backyard\nVineyards.\n\nThrough its commercial division, Trajectory Beverage Partners (\"Trajectory\"),\nthe Company serves as the sales agent for a wide range of leading\ninternational beverage brands.\n\nWine Portfolio:\n\nTrajectory represents renowned wine brands, including Fat Bastard and Gabriel\nMeffre from France; Kaiken from Argentina; Kings of Prohibition from\nAustralia; Yealands, Kono, Tohu, and Joiy Sparkling Wine from New Zealand;\nTalamonti, Cielo and Valdo from Italy; Bodegas Muriel from Spain; Porta 6,\nJulia Florista, Boas Quintas, Catedral and Cabeca de Toiro from Portugal;\nFowles Wines from Australia; Empress Wines from Croatia; as well as C.K.\nMondavi & Family, Charles Krug, Line 39, Harken, FitVine and Rabble from\nCalifornia. Trajectory also represents a broad portfolio of wines sold\nexclusively to restaurants, bars and private consumers.\n\nSpirits Portfolio:\n\nTrajectory also represents distinguished spirit brands such as Cofradia\nTequila, Siempre Tequila, Chisme Tequila, Hussong's Tequila, Solmano Mezcal\nand Chica Chida Agave Spirit from Mexico; Islay Mist and Waterproof blended\nScotch whiskies from Scotland; Glen Breton Canadian whiskies from Nova Scotia;\nFive Farms Irish Cream Liqueur from the UK; Tequila Rose Strawberry Cream, 360\nVodka and Holladay Bourbon from the USA; Giffard Liqueurs from France;\nZubrowka Vodka from Poland and Becherovka from the Czech Republic.\n\nBeer, Cider, and RTD Portfolio:\n\nIn the beer, cider, and ready-to-drink (RTD) categories, Trajectory represents\nDarling Mimosa, Protini Beverages from Ontario; Mountain Joe Hard Coffee, ESA\nCocktails, Solmano Craft Cocktails, Stickler Shrub Cocktails, Sunday Session\nRTDs and Jasper Brewing Company from Alberta, and Warsteiner and Konig Ludwig\nfrom Germany.\n\nForward-Looking Statements:\n\nThis Press Release contains \"forward-looking information\" and \"forward-looking\nstatements\" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation\n(collectively, \"forward-looking statements\"). Forward-looking statements\ninclude, but are not limited to, statements regarding the future financial and\noperating performance of the Company, including its strategic priorities,\ngross margin protection, debt reduction plans, capital allocation priorities,\nand strategic growth initiatives. Forward-looking statements are typically\nidentified by words such as \"ambition\", \"target\", \"expect\", \"anticipate\",\n\"believe\", \"foresee\", \"could\", \"estimate\", \"goal\", \"intend\", \"plan\", \"seek\",\n\"strive\", \"will\", \"may\" and \"should\" and similar expressions.\n\nForward-looking statements are based on the current expectations, estimates,\nprojections, beliefs and assumptions of the Company's management at the time\nthe statements are made. These assumptions include but are not limited to: the\nsuccessful execution of the Company's strategic plan; the realization of\nanticipated cost savings and margin improvements; the continued growth of the\nCanadian wine market and the Company's market share; the stability of the\nregulatory environment, including VQA (Vintners Quality Alliance) rebates and\ntax relief; the continuation of \"Buy Canadian\" consumer sentiment and no\nmaterial adverse change in the Canada-U.S. tariff and trade environment; no\nmaterial increase in inflation or in the cost of key inputs, including grapes,\nglass, packaging, freight and labour; interest rates remaining at or near\ncurrent levels; the continued expansion of Ontario grocery and convenience\nretail channels on economics consistent with current expectations; grape\nharvests of adequate quality and quantity; the renewal or extension of the\nCompany's credit facilities as they mature; the retention of key agency brand\nrepresentation agreements; continued improvement in export market access; and\nthe availability of capital on acceptable terms.\n\nForward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks,\nuncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of\nactivity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially\ndifferent from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.\nThese risks include but are not limited to: general economic and market\nconditions; competition in the beverage alcohol industry; changes in consumer\npreferences, including declining per-capita alcohol consumption and moderation\ntrends; agricultural and weather-related risks affecting grape harvests,\nincluding fluctuations in crop yield and quality due to weather, disease or\nother causes; supply chain disruptions; the imposition, escalation or removal\nof tariffs or other trade measures between Canada and the United States,\nincluding the return of U.S. products to provincial retail shelves and any\nweakening of \"Buy Canadian\" consumer sentiment; inflation and increases in\ninput costs; elevated or rising interest rates and the resulting cost of\nservicing the Company's debt; the Company's ability to renew or refinance its\ncredit facilities as they mature; changes to, or the reduction or elimination\nof, the Ontario VQA Support Program or other wine-related tax relief; the\npace, structure and economics of alcohol retail deregulation in Ontario and\nother provinces; concentration of sales with provincial liquor boards,\nincluding the LCBO; the loss or non-renewal of agency brand representation\nagreements; foreign exchange fluctuations; reliance on key personnel;\npotential dilution from outstanding convertible securities; changes in\ngovernment regulations and taxation; and the Company's ability to manage its\ndebt obligations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on\nforward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or\nrevise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,\nfuture events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.\n\nUse of Non-IFRS Measures:\n\nThis press release and/or the associated President's Report refer to certain\nnon-International Financial Reporting Standards (\"IFRS\") financial measures,\nincluding \"Adjusted EBITDA\" and \"Gross Margin\". These measures do not have any\nstandardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and may not be comparable to similar\nmeasures presented by other issuers. The Company believes these non-IFRS\nmeasures provide useful information to both management and investors in\nmeasuring the financial performance and financial condition of the Company.\n\nFor more information, please contact:\n\nAndrew Howard\nPresident & CEO, Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits Inc.\nahoward@diamondwines.com\nContact Number : 905-685-5673\n\nBasman Alias, CPA\nCFO, Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits Inc.\nbalias@diamondwines.com\n\nNeither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that\nterm is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts\nresponsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.\n\n\nTo view the source version of this press release, please visit\nhttps://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/316223"},"type":"article","timestamp":"2026-09-28T11:30:11.42559785Z","server_sent_at_ms":1790595011425},"received_at":"2026-09-28T11:30:11.476Z","source_url":"https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/316223"},"analysis":{"id":"142735","press_release_id":"153952","analysis_json":{"industry":{"label":"Beverages","sector":"Consumer Staples"},"redFlags":[],"eventType":"board_change","narrative":"Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits reported shareholder voting results from its September 24, 2026 annual general and special meeting, with all six director nominees elected with roughly 99% support.\n\nShareholders also approved the appointment of MNP LLC as auditors, and the board reappointed its existing officers, including Andrew Howard as President and CEO and Ron McEachern as Chairman.\n\nThe release includes only promotional commentary from the CEO about growth in Ontario grocery and convenience channels and the VQA wine portfolio; no new financial figures were disclosed.","sentiment":"neutral","agentHooks":{"shouldPost":false,"suggestedAngle":"Routine AGM governance results with near-unanimous director support -- no actionable content."},"keyFigures":{},"quotedText":"Our strong positioning in the Grocery channel has allowed us to benefit disproportionately from the recent retail expansion, and that same success is now carrying into the emerging Convenience channel.","namedEntities":{"people":[{"name":"Andrew Howard","role":"President and CEO"},{"name":"Ron McEachern","role":"Chairman"},{"name":"Basman Alias","role":"Chief Financial Officer"},{"name":"Andrew Green","role":"Vice-President and Secretary"},{"name":"Guy Blanchette","role":"Director"},{"name":"John De Sousa","role":"Director"},{"name":"Claude Gilbert","role":"Director"},{"name":"Vince Timpano","role":"Director"}],"products":["20 Bees","Creekside","EastDell","Lakeview Cellars","Shiny Apple Cider","Fat Bastard","Charles Krug"],"companies":[{"name":"Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits Inc.","ticker":"DWS"},{"name":"MNP LLC","relationship":"auditor"},{"name":"Trajectory Beverage Partners","relationship":"subsidiary/commercial division"}],"dollarAmounts":[]},"materialImpact":{"score":1,"reasoning":"Routine annual meeting results: all director nominees elected with ~99% support and standard officer appointments (existing roles reaffirmed). No new strategic, financial, or leadership-change information."},"tickerRelevance":{"others":[],"primary":"DWS"},"globalImportance":10,"audienceRelevance":8,"eventTypeSecondary":[],"importanceComponents":{"tickerTier":"micro-cap TSXV","eventGravity":"routine-AGM-voting-results","issuerAuthored":true}},"event_type":"board_change","event_type_secondary":null,"sentiment":"neutral","material_impact_score":1,"narrative":"Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits reported shareholder voting results from its September 24, 2026 annual general and special meeting, with all six director nominees elected with roughly 99% support.\n\nShareholders also approved the appointment of MNP LLC as auditors, and the board reappointed its existing officers, including Andrew Howard as President and CEO and Ron McEachern as Chairman.\n\nThe release includes only promotional commentary from the CEO about growth in Ontario grocery and convenience channels and the VQA wine portfolio; no new financial figures were disclosed.","key_figures":{},"named_entities":{"people":[{"name":"Andrew Howard","role":"President and CEO"},{"name":"Ron McEachern","role":"Chairman"},{"name":"Basman Alias","role":"Chief Financial Officer"},{"name":"Andrew Green","role":"Vice-President and Secretary"},{"name":"Guy Blanchette","role":"Director"},{"name":"John De Sousa","role":"Director"},{"name":"Claude Gilbert","role":"Director"},{"name":"Vince Timpano","role":"Director"}],"products":["20 Bees","Creekside","EastDell","Lakeview Cellars","Shiny Apple Cider","Fat Bastard","Charles Krug"],"companies":[{"name":"Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits Inc.","ticker":"DWS"},{"name":"MNP LLC","relationship":"auditor"},{"name":"Trajectory Beverage Partners","relationship":"subsidiary/commercial division"}],"dollarAmounts":[]},"model_name":"glm-5.3-flashx","prompt_hash":"sha256:727b4b9429a443af","schema_hash":"sha256:05005c02d9cffac9","created_at":"2026-09-28T11:30:16.840Z","global_importance":10,"audience_relevance":8,"importance_components":{"tickerTier":"micro-cap TSXV","eventGravity":"routine-AGM-voting-results","issuerAuthored":true}},"durationMs":5346,"modelName":"glm-5.3-flashx"}}