Sales can unlock their hidden value

Article Excerpt

Spinoffs remain a great way for companies to unlock their hidden or under-appreciated assets. However, firms can also opt to unlock that value through a sale. Here are two recent good examples, although we prefer George Weston, over Dorel, for your new buying. GEORGE WESTON LTD. $140 is a buy. The company (Toronto symbol WN; Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 149.8 million; Market cap: $21.0 billion; Dividend yield: 1.6%; Takeover Target Rating: Lowest; www.weston.ca) makes a number of bakery products through Weston Foods. It also owns a 52.6% stake in Loblaw and a 61.7% stake in Choice Properties REIT. The Weston family owns 51.7% of the outstanding shares. Holding companies tend to trade for less than the value of their underlying assets. In Weston’s case, that discount now stands at about 15%. Under a new plan to eliminate this discount, Weston recently agreed to sell its Weston Foods bakery business to FGF Brands for $1.2 billion. As well, it still plans to sell off its remaining food business,…