April 17 (Reuters) - Activist investor Engine Capital on

Wednesday backed largest shareholder Simpson Oil's call to put

Canadian fuel distributor Parkland Corp ( PKIUF ) on the block as

part of a strategic review, saying a sale would result in more

value.

Simpson Oil, which holds a 19.7% stake in Parkland, had

called for a strategic review earlier this month. The call was

rejected by Parkland saying it did not deem a strategic review

necessary and in the best interests of the majority of its

shareholders."

Engine Capital, which has a 2.5% stake in Parkland, said

it expects any potential transaction to be priced at C$64 per

share. The implied value would be a premium of about 49% to

Parkland's last close, as per Reuters calculations.

"We believe a sale of the Company (in one or multiple

transactions) is likely to result in a transaction at a price

that is superior to the present value of the current strategic

plan," Engine Capital said in a release.

Parkland did not immediately respond to a Reuters

request for comment.

In January, Engine Capital had also asked for the

refreshment

of Parkland's board, saying it was concerned about the

departures of Simpson Oil board members Marc Halley and Michael

Christiansen, after being directors for eight months.

(Reporting by Seher Dareen in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil

D'Silva)