Topic: How To Invest

Pat: I hold shares of Magna International. Magna plans to eliminate its voting share/non-voting share structure. Could you explain what is happening? Is the stock a buy?

Article Excerpt

Magna International, $72.92, symbol MG.A on Toronto (Shares outstanding: 112.8 million; Market cap: $8.2 billion), has two classes of shares: the class A shares (symbol MG.A) are non-voting and the class B shares (which are not listed on a stock exchange) carry 300 votes per share. Frank Stronach, Magna’s chairman and founder, indirectly owns all of the 726,829 outstanding class B shares through the Stronach Trust. Because each class B share carries 300 votes, the Stronach Trust has about 66% of Magna’s voting rights. Stronach has proposed a plan to eliminate the dual-share structure. Subject to approval from the class A shareholders, Magna would buy all 726,829 class B from the Stronach Trust and cancel them. In return, the Stronach Trust would receive 9 million newly issued class A shares and $300 million U.S. in cash. This plan will simplify Magna’s capital structure and put all shareholders on an equal footing in the event of a takeover or sale of the company…