Maple Leaf sets spinoff terms

Article Excerpt

MAPLE LEAF FOODS INC. $28 is a hold. The company (Toronto symbol MFI; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 124.0 million; Market cap: $3.5 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.7; Dividend yield: 3.4%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.mapleleaffoods.com) sells fresh and prepared meats under the Maple Leaf and Schneider labels. It also makes plant-based hamburgers, hot dogs and other protein products under the Lightlife and Field Roast brands. Later this year, the company plans to spin off its pork processing business, which raises and processes hogs, as a separate firm called Canada Packers Inc. Investors will receive 0.2 of a Canada Packers share for each Maple Leaf share they own. They will not be liable for capital gains taxes until they sell their new shares. The new shares will trade on the Toronto exchange under the “CPKR” symbol. Maple Leaf will continue to own 16.0% of Canada Packers. So far, it does not plan to sell that stake. Investors should also note that the combined dividend of the…