TransAlta Attracts Interest

Article Excerpt

TRANSALTA CORP. $29.89 (Toronto symbol TA; SI Rating: Average) jumped as high as $32.36 in July on speculation that the company may follow BCE and Alcan as a takeover target. Luminus Management, a New York-based private equity firm, now owns 6.7% of TransAlta. The recent stock market setback may make it harder for a potential buyer to raise debt and/or equity financing for a takeover. But while a sale is far from certain, takeover interest helps draw attention to TransAlta’s improving outlook and balance sheet (debt is down to 110% of shareholders’ equity from 180% at the end of 2001). Meanwhile, the stock yields 3.4%. TransAlta is still a buy. buy…