16 LEXPERT
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2017
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WWW.LEXPERT.CA
PHOTO:
SHUTTERSTOCK
Ewens, QC, Douglas S. PwC Law LLP
(403) 441-6366 doug.s.ewens@ca.pwc.com
Mr. Ewens has decades of experience representing major energy and resource
corporations as well as financial institutions. In addition to his expertise in
structuring transactions and financings for public and private enterprises in a
broad range of industries, he has assisted major corporations in tax disputes,
including disputes involving the general anti-avoidance rule.
Durand, Ronald K. Stikeman Elliott LLP
(416) 869-5542 rdurand@stikeman.com
Mr. Durand is senior counsel in the Toronto office and is the former Head
of the Tax Group. His practice involves divestitures, M&A, reorganizations,
corporate restructurings and financings. He is President of the International
Fiscal Association (Canadian Branch) and a member of the Business and
Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD and the International Chamber
of Commerce tax committee.
Dubord, Benoît C. Stikeman Elliott LLP
(514) 397-3655 bdubord@stikeman.com
Mr. Dubord practises within the firm's Corporate and Securities Groups.
His principally transactional practice covers several areas of corporate
and securities law, with an emphasis on cross-border, as well as domestic
M&A and corporate finance. He also advises market participants
in relation to securities laws, stock exchange regulations and corporate
governance considerations.
Dubé, Georges McMillan LLP
(416) 865-7876 georges.dube@mcmillan.ca
Mr. Dube has extensive experience in public market corporate finance,
take-over bids and M&A transactions in domestic and cross-border context
across a number of industries, including real estate, mining and technology.
Assists with strategic decisions by boards and acts frequently for special
committees and financial advisors in the context of change of control
and related-party transactions.
Drance, Jonathan S. Stikeman Elliott LLP
(604) 631-1361 jdrance@stikeman.com
Mr. Drance practises in corporate finance and securities with a focus
on M&A, public financings and reorganizations. He has acted for Canfor,
Bentall, Terasen, Duke Energy and more. He writes extensively on corporate
governance and fiduciary duties.
Doyle, Arthur T. Cox & Palmer
(506) 633-2730 adoyle@coxandpalmer.com
Mr. Doyle's practice includes public-private partnerships, M&A, private-equity
investments, energy and natural resources, financing transactions, corporate
reorganizations and corporate finance/securities. He represents a broad
range of Atlantic Canadian companies, and is involved in national offerings
and other securities-related transactions originating elsewhere in Canada,
the US and abroad.
LEXPERT RANKED LAWYERS
In the past two years, a new corporate fi-
nance structure — the special purpose acquisition
corporation (SPAC) — has emerged to great fan-
fare in Canada. SPACs have the potential to fill a
gap in the Canadian capital markets, facilitating
acquisitions of private companies in the $100- to
$500-million range.
SPACs offer qualified acquirees an easier way
(than a traditional initial public offering ) to tap
public capital markets. "It may be a more attractive
opportunity than doing an IPO because the finan-
cing is already available and the legwork has been
done, and there's a good management team they
can hook into," says Ava Yaskiel, Global Head of
Corporate, M&A and Securities at Norton Rose
Fulbright Canada LLP.
SPACs give retail investors, who would not be
able to buy into hedge funds or private-equity
funds, the chance to participate in the acquisition
of private operating companies that might other-
wise be targets for those funds. e structure also
gives investors a leveraged opportunity to partici-
pate in the upside through warrants.
e primary purpose of a SPAC — a publicly
traded shell company — is to acquire one or more
private operating companies. SPACs raise money
through an IPO. Participants include not only
SPACS
Special purpose
acquisition corporations
have caught on in recent
years. Could this quirky
investment vehicle have
broader use in M&A?
By Sheldon Gordon
DEALS
SEEKING
PURPOSE
