Canadian Western Bank stock downgreaded by BMO post-acquisition deal By Investing.com

On Wednesday, BMO Capital adjusted its stance on Canadian Western Bank (TSX::CN) (OTC: CBWBF) stock, downgrading from Outperform to Market Perform, while simultaneously raising the price target to Cdn$52.00 from Cdn$35.00.

This revision followed the announcement made Tuesday that Canadian Western Bank has entered into an agreement to be acquired by National Bank of Canada (OTC:) (NA-TSX; Restricted) in an all-stock transaction.

The deal, which values Canadian Western Bank at approximately Cdn$5 billion, is contingent on regulatory approvals and the support of at least two-thirds of CWB shareholders.

The terms of the agreement detail a fixed exchange ratio, where each CWB common share will be swapped for 0.450 of a National Bank common share. This arrangement implies a roughly 110% premium over Canadian Western Bank’s closing price on Tuesday, positioning the bank’s value at 1.41 times its book value.

The acquisition, if finalized, will conclude with Canadian Western Bank shareholders receiving a significant premium on their investment relative to the bank’s most recent closing price.

The premium is reflective of the value that National Bank of Canada sees in merging with Canadian Western Bank, a move that will likely reshape the competitive landscape within the Canadian banking sector.

BMO Capital’s new price target of Cdn$52.00 reflects the anticipated value of Canadian Western Bank shares post-acquisition, aligning with the terms and premium offered in the proposed transaction.

As the market awaits the finalization of this acquisition, the downgrade to Market Perform indicates a neutral perspective on the stock’s near-term growth potential, given the pending changes in ownership and structure.

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