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Bakery Sale Raises Speculation That Loblaw May Go Private

Ongoing negotiations to sell its U.S. bakery business have increased speculation that George Weston Ltd. could use the proceeds from that sale to take Loblaw Cos. private.

TORONTO — Ongoing negotiations to sell its U.S. bakery business have increased speculation that George Weston Ltd. here could use the proceeds from that sale to take Loblaw Cos. private. Weston is a 62% stakeholder in Loblaw. In response to a leaked report last week, George Weston confirmed it was in talks to sell its U.S. bakery business — the largest in the U.S. — to Grupo Bimbo in a deal analysts say could raise more than $1.5 billion. That money, analysts speculated, could be used to take Loblaw private. Loblaw shares gained more than 5% Thursday and were up again in midday trading Friday.

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