Purchase enhanced Molson’s prospects

Article Excerpt

MOLSON COORS CANADA INC. (Toronto symbols TPX.A $120 and TPX.B $127; Conservative Growth and Income Portfolios, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 214.8 million; Market cap: $27.3 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.6; Dividend yield: 1.7%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.molsoncoors.com) is the world’s fourth-largest brewer by market cap. Its main brands include Molson Canadian and Coors Light. The company has completed its acquisition of the remaining 58% of MillerCoors. It now owns 100% of this business. MillerCoors was formed in 2008, when Molson and SABMiller—its joint-venture partner in the business—combined their U.S. brewing operations. SABMiller recently merged with rival Anheuser-Busch InBev to form the world’s largest brewer. To satisfy competition regulators, SABMiller agreed to sell its 58% stake in MillerCoors to Molson for $12.0 billion (all amounts except share prices and market cap in U.S. dollars). Investors holding class B shares of Molson Coors have less voting power to elect directors than those with class A shares. But the B shares are more liquid and receive the…