Private Equity and Venture Capital | Practices | Lawson Lundell

Overview

Private Equity and Venture Capital transactions have unique considerations. Advising private equity and venture capital clients requires specialized knowledge, and most of all, experience.

Lawson Lundell has one of the leading private equity and venture capital practices in Western Canada. Our lawyers provide strategic advice and have a thorough understanding of all aspects of private equity and venture capital investment and fund management. We understand the needs and objectives of our private equity and venture capital clients, and we know what terms are market and what terms are not.

We regularly assist:

Fund sponsors in both the formation of their private equity and venture capital funds, and in the ongoing management of those funds
Fund investors in structuring and negotiating the terms of their fund investments
Canadian and international funds in making their equity and debt investments, both in Canada and abroad
Investee companies in negotiating private equity or venture capital financing

Our lawyers understand our clients’ unique business objectives and regulatory requirements. When it comes to private equity and venture capital, our experience sets us apart.

Experience

Experience

Fund Formation and Administration

Key Members:

Some of our representative experience includes advising:

Sponsors of various Western Canada based private equity and venture capital funds with investment mandates in technology, manufacturing and services businesses, and social impact investments, in relation to the formation of the funds including all tax structuring for domestic and foreign investors
Various acquisition and investment transactions on behalf of Private Equity and Venture Capital funds including cross-border transactions
Various dispositions, including by way of merger, of portfolio companies held by private equity and venture capital funds

Institutional and Pension Fund Investors

Key Members:

Some of our representative experience includes advising:

A pension fund in a series of acquisitions in the hotel industry
Institutional investors in a $1.0 billion forestry acquisition
A consortium of 12 Canadian private sector pension plans in a $1.4 billion investment in a combination of Northleaf’s Private Credit Fund and concurrent secondary market purchase of a 16% interest in Antares Holdings a US middle market lender
A consortium of Canadian private sector pension plans in a $175 million secondary market purchase of a portfolio of P3 infrastructure contracts
Institutional and pension fund investors in connection with numerous private equity and alternative investments across various asset classes
On formation, organization and ongoing operations of retail mutual funds, hedge funds, pooled funds and other investment funds
Advising dealers, advisers, and investment fund managers with respect to registration and on-going securities regulatory and compliance matters
A major western Canadian public sector pension plans and government investment entities with respect to investments in various domestic and international private equity funds and investments
Westshore Income Fund in the formation of its income fund which, at the time, was the largest income fund in Canada at a $890 million offering
A pension fund in obtaining a revolving credit facility in the sum of $250 million
Pension funds, life insurance companies and banks as lenders, in financing independent power (run of the river) projects

Acquisitions and Divestments

Key Members:

Some of our representative experience includes advising:

Various Canadian and international private equity funds with respect to the structuring of their investments in and divestments of various investee entities in transportation, manufacturing, supply, food, and industrial products
A private equity firm in connection with the acquisition of a specialty metals distribution and processing business with operations in Western Canada and the United States, and the subsequent sale of that business

A consortium of investors in relation to the acquisition of British Columbia's largest fitness company
A major international mining consortium with respect to the divestment of certain of its undeveloped Canadian mining assets
Catalyst Paper Corporation in connection with its acquisition of two US paper mills
Venture capital fund in its acquisition of an interest in a security technology company
Dassault Systemes in its acquisition of Gemcom Software
Temenos Group AP in its acquisition of Primisyn, a business intelligence software company
Dialogic Corporation in its acquisition of Veraz Networks, Inc.
Taleo Corporation in its acquisition of Cytiva Software Inc.
An electric utility in the $825 million acquisition of an interest in a hydroelectric dam and related assets
An alternative energy company in its financing and acquisition activities
A US based public clean energy company in a strategic acquisition in Western Canada
A private equity fund in acquisitions of manufacturing businesses in Western Canada
A food products manufacturer and brand company in its strategic acquisitions in North America and internationally
A newsprint and directory company in its acquisition of a recycled paper facility
A BC public company in its $1.2 billion acquisition of a newsprint and directory manufacturing business
Acquiring and target companies in connection with acquisitions of public and private company targets in the technology, life sciences, natural resources and consumer products industries
A private equity buyer in the acquisition of a BC-based retail chain
An international mining company in connection with the take-private acquisition of a TSX listed gold producer
Burger King Worldwide, Inc., as British Columbia counsel, in connection with its acquisition of Tim Hortons Inc. for approximately US $12.5 billion, including with respect to acquisition structuring and a related private placement of US $2.25 billion of second lien secured notes
A Canadian private equity firm in the structuring, negotiation, establishment and syndication of $94,000,000 credit facilities in connection with the acquisition of a 50% equity interest in the largest Canadian manufacturer of specialized truck tanks and trailers
A Canadian private equity firm in the structuring, negotiation, establishment of senior syndicated and subordinated credit facilities aggregating $96,500,000 providing acquisition, term and operating financing for a leading manufacturer, marketer and distributor of private label and branded food products
A private equity firm in its acquisition of shares representing a controlling interest in an advertising company
A private equity firm in its acquisition of shares representing a controlling interest a plastic production company
A Vancouver based private equity firm with respect to the disposition of part of its investment in a large Canadian real estate services company
A large BC private equity fund in the acquisition and disposition by their funds including dispositions by way of initial public offering
A subsidiary of an international private equity firm in an all-cash acquisition and transaction
A large consumer focused private equity firm in the acquisition of issues and outstanding shares of a wellness and aromatherapy company

Venture Capital

Key Members:

Some of our representative experience includes advising:

A venture capital firm in raising a total of $63 million in the close of its fund
A venture capital fund in the formation of a new $235 million venture capital fund which invests in technology companies
Numerous investments by venture capital investors in early-stage technology companies across a range of sub-sectors
A privately-held clean technology company with respect to a cross-border strategic investment
Investors in the acquisition of shares of a venture capital backed technology company in a secondary offering by early investors
Counsel to lead investor in Series D financing of a California-based marketing technology company
Lead counsel to a syndicate of Canadian and U.S.-based investors in Series C financing of a Toronto-based digital media company
Acted for Vancouver-based SaaS provider in connection with a Series Seed financing with foreign and Canadian venture capital firms
Counsel to SaaS provider in connection with a Series C financing with U.S. and foreign venture capital firms
A foreign venture capital fund in its investment in a Series B financing of a Vancouver-based SaaS provider
Regularly act for companies in connection with seed, angel and venture- backed investment rounds
Venture capital fund in its acquisition of an interest in a security technology company

Mezzanine Lending and Debt Financing

Key Members:

Some of our representative experience includes advising:

On the structuring of subordinated and mezzanine loan investments in various entities
A syndicate of investors in a US$60M Series A mezzanine financing of a private life sciences corporation

Practices & Industries

Jump to Page