With West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.’s share price driven down sharply by the COVID-19 pandemic, B.C. billionaire Jim Pattison has boosted his stake in the company, prompting the lumber producer to adopt a shareholder rights plan. Mr. Pattison, who owned 11.9 per cent of West Fraser’s common shares in early 2020, acquired more stock last month to raise his stake in the forestry company to 13.8 per cent, according to regulatory filings.  …Given West Timber’s relatively low share prices recently, industry analysts have speculated that Mr. Pattison could be accumulating shares with the goal of eventually combining the company, Canada’s largest lumber producer, with Canfor, the country’s second-largest lumber company. …CIBC World Markets Inc. analyst Hamir Patel said that as long as the British Columbia’s NDP government remains in power, he views the prospect of a Canfor-West Fraser combination as unlikely. [We respect the copyrights of the source publication – full access may require a subscription]