New investor could unlock more gains

Article Excerpt

MAPLE LEAF FOODS INC. $9.61 (Toronto symbol MFI; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 136.8 million; Market cap: $1.3 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.3; Dividend yield: 1.7%; SI Rating: Average) rose 5% in August after the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan sold some of its Maple Leaf shares to private equity fund West Face Capital Inc. at $8.25 a share. West Face now owns about 11.0% of Maple Leaf. The pension plan will hold on to its remaining 25.2% stake for now. West Face has a history of unlocking value in companies, so its involvement should help spur Maple Leaf’s share price. Maple Leaf Foods is a buy. buy…