Topic: Growth Stocks

TIM HORTONS INC. $80 – New York symbol THI

TIM HORTONS INC. $80 (New York symbol THI; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 132.8 million; Market cap: $10.6 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 3.8; Dividend yield: 1.5%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.timhortons.com) became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Wendy’s hamburger chain in 1995. Under pressure from activist investors, Wendy’s spun off Tims as a separate company in 2006.

The stock is up 183% since the spinoff, partly because Tims has just accepted a friendly takeover offer from Miami-based Burger King Worldwide Inc. (New York symbol BKW).

Tims shareholders can opt to take $88.50 (Canadian) a share in cash, or 3.0879 shares of Burger King (worth $93.72 U.S.). However, Burger King plans to limit the overall cash payout, so most Tims investors will get $65.50 (Canadian) in cash plus 0.8025 of a share (for a total of $84.69 U.S.).

Brazilian private-equity firm 3G Capital Management, which currently owns 70% of Burger King, will own 51% of the combined company.

The new parent company will be based in Oakville, Ontario. That will let it take advantage of Canada’s 15% corporate tax rate, compared to 35% in U.S. However, U.S. government is looking at ways to prevent these “tax inversion”takeover deals. Without these tax advantages, it’s possible that Burger King could withdraw its offer.

Tim Hortons is now a hold.

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