Big purchase wins two key approvals

Article Excerpt

MOLSON COORS CANADA INC. (Toronto symbols TPX.A $128 and TPX.B $133; Conservative Growth and Income Portfolios, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 214.7 million; Market cap: $28.6 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 6.2; Dividend yield: 1.6%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.molsoncoors.com) has received approval from competition regulators in Canada and Europe for its purchase of the 58% of MillerCoors held by its joint venture partner SABMiIler. MillerCoors was formed in 2008, when the two companies combined their U.S. brewing operations. Molson is paying $12.0 billion for this stake (all amounts except share prices and market cap in U.S. dollars). Owning 100% of MillerCoors will add $4.7 billion to Molson’s annual revenue. Combining purchasing and distribution operations will also save $200 million a year by the end of the fourth year. Moreover, the deal will give Molson $250 million of annual tax savings for the next 15 years. It should complete the purchase by the end of 2016. Molson Coors B is a buy. buy…