Magna founder Frank Stronach is ready to relinquish control of the Canadian mega-supplier.

Well, score a big victory for the Stronach family. Magna International Inc. (TSX: MG.A; NYSE: MGA) today announced that its shareholders approved the previously announced proposal to eliminate Magna’s dual class share structure, paying the founding Stronach family a huge premium in the process.

Stronach currently controls more than 54% of Magna shares while owning just 1% of its equity.

The controversial deal ends founder Frank Stronach’s control of the company, but at a steep price to shareholders of the common stock, and gives him control of a new electric car components operation for very little money.

The so called “Plan of Arrangement” that buys out the Stronachs was approved by 75.28% of the 89,847,120 votes cast by the disinterested “minority” holders of Magna’s Class A Subordinate Voting Shares.

Following the Loonies!

Critics contend that the proposed transaction is “abusive of shareholders and the capital markets” for a number of reasons, including the estimated 1,800% premium being paid by Magna for the Stronach Class B Shares relative to the market price of the Subordinate Voting Shares. One study shows that the usual premium for such a deal is about 30%.

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Stronach is ready to trim his ties to the Canadian mega-supplier - but at a steep price.

Magna International Inc. (TSX: MG.A, NYSE: MGA) today announced that it has filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission a disclosure supplement  to Magna’s Management Information Circular/Proxy Statement that was previously mailed to shareholders.

The Circular details the proposed elimination of Magna’s dual-class share structure by which the founding family controls the company with little actual equity. The supplement contains all additional disclosures that Magna is required to make by an order issuedby the Ontario Securities Commission when shareholders objected to the new corporate structure.  (See OSC Orders Magna to Disclose More on Stock Deal)

Loonie?

The controversial deal would end founder Frank Stronach’s control of the company, but at a steep price to other shareholders of the common stock Stronach would also get control of  Magna’s newly formed electric car components operation for very little money.

Stronach currently controls more than 54% of Magna shares while owning just 1% of its equity. The proposal would give him $300 million in cash, and nine million shares of what would then become watered common  stock.

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Magna founder Frank Stronach is ready to trim back his ties to the Canadian mega-supplier.

The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) has issued an order requiring Magna International Inc. (TSX: MG.A, NYSE:MGA) to make additional disclosures in order to proceed with its proposed transaction to eliminate the company’s dual class share structure.

The deal would apparently end founder Frank Stronach’s control of the company, but at a steep price to shareholders of the common stock.

Stronach controls more than 54% of Magna shares while owning 1% of its equity.

OSC said the proxy “fails to provide sufficient information concerning the desirability or fairness of the Proposed Transaction and the board of directors of Magna has not made useful recommendations regarding the arrangement in the Circular.”

OSC also said, “it has been alleged that the Proposed Transaction is abusive of Shareholders and the capital markets for a number of reasons, including the estimated 1,800% premium being paid by Magna for the Class B Shares relative to the market price of the Subordinate Voting Shares.”

Then OSC went on to say, “It is clear that the Special Committee (of the Magna Board) was aware and concerned that the premium being paid to the Stronach Trust under the Proposed Transaction is considerably in excess of the premiums paid on other transactions collapsing multiple voting share structures.”

Stocks!

Under a Magna Board approved plan, the Stronach Trust would receive $300 million in cash and 9 million Class A shares for the Class B stock that currently gives the family roughly 66% of voting rights at the Canadian auto parts maker. The deal values Stronach’s payout at $927 million. In New York Class A is trading at about $70 a share.

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