With the recent death of Helen Walton, the family announced that a "significant portion" of the Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT) stock in her estate would go to charity and be sold over a period of several years. Ms. Walton owned about 8.1% of the company's shares and their divestiture could cause a significant increase in the company's float -- the number of freely trading shares.

According to a statement released by Wal-Mart on behalf of the family, "While Helen Walton's disposition of her Wal-Mart interest will not require sales of a substantial number of Wal-Mart shares for the next several years, it is expected that Wal-Mart shares will be disposed of over time to fund charitable programs."

Members of the Walton family currently control about 40% of the company's stock, effectively limiting the control of outside investors in the management of the company. However, unlike the situation at the New York Times, the company has not been run in a way that has drawn the scrutiny of its major investors.

But here's my question: Over the years as the Walton family's share of the company declines with deaths and sales, could Wal-Mart's stagnant share price cause investors to seek strategic alternatives? Could Wal-Mart become the largest private equity buyout in history? Just a thought.

Waltons loosen hold on Wal-Mart originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 25 Apr 2007 19:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.