Share conversion plan on track

Article Excerpt

TELUS CORP. (Toronto symbols T $65 and T.A $65; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 325.8 million; Market cap: $21.2 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.0; Dividend yield: 3.9%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.telus.com) recently received shareholder approval for its plan to convert its 151 million non-voting class A shares into regular common shares (one vote per share) on a one-for-one basis. The B.C. Supreme Court must still approve this move, probably in early 2013. Telus also reported that non-Canadian investors now own about 15% of its common shares, down from 33% six months ago. It’s likely that U.S.-based hedge fund Mason Capital, which opposes the conversion plan, has cut its 18.7% stake. This drop also makes it easier for Telus to attract more non-Canadian investors without violating Ottawa’s foreign ownership limits on phone companies. Even though they receive identical dividends and have similar liquidity, the non-voting shares are usually cheaper than the common shares. Telus A stock is a buy. buy…