Mergers and Acquisitions Mergers and Acquisitions

Cannabis Act passes final vote in Senate

On June 19, 2018, the Senate voted to pass Bill C-45, the Cannabis Act. Senators voted 52-29, with two abstentions, to pass the final version of the...

Cannabis Act passes in Senate with amendments

After six months of study, Bill C-45, the Cannabis Act, passed third reading in the Senate. The Senate voted to adopt the Bill with a total of 46...

Canada tables NWMM to ratify MLI; Updates MLI reservations

Canada takes next step toward ratifying the MLI (to implement certain tax treaty changes), and removes some of its prior reservations. Learn more.

Proposed Acquisition of Aecon by CCCI Blocked on National Security Grounds

The Canadian federal government has blocked a proposed takeover of construction firm Aecon Group Inc. by China Communications Construction Company...

Poison pills under the new bid regime: lessons & questions flowing from Canada’s largest cannabis M&A deal to date

On March 15, 2018, the OSC and the Financial Consumer Affairs Authority of Saskatchewan issued their reasons for the Aurora-CanniMed decision.

Québec Court of Appeal harmonizes Canadian law by prohibiting pre-leave discovery in securities class actions

A Québec Court of Appeal decision in Amaya inc. c. Derome harmonizes the law across Canadian provinces with regard to the prohibition against...

Securities regulators referee the Aurora hostile bid for CanniMed

On December 22, 2017, the Ontario Securities Commission (the OSC) and the FCAAS made an order cease trading the shareholder rights plan adopted by...

Livent decision and the scope of auditor liability

In a significant decision on December 20, 2017, the Supreme Court of Canada provided important guidance on the scope of responsibility of auditors in...

Top public M&A and proxy contest developments in 2017

While the number of Canadian M&A transactions this year has been slightly higher than in 2016, the total value of deals is somewhat lower.