CLE Online

Welcome and Introduction

Sven O. Milelli — McCarthy Tétrault LLP, Vancouver

Advising Directors in M&A Transactions

This panel will discuss current best practices in advising directors in M&A transactions. Topics covered will include:

• heightened regulatory scrutiny of directors in material conflict of interest situations under CSA Staff Notice 61-302
• rising standards for special committee processes
• calculation and disclosure of collateral benefits and other common issues MI 61-101; second fairness opinions after InterOil—is BC practise diverging from the rest of the country
• does the Canadian approach to defining director independence make sense (CSA Consultation paper 52-404)
• recent case law developments

Gordon R. Chambers — Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP, Vancouver
Al Hudec — Farris, Vaughan, Wills & Murphy LLP, Vancouver
Trevor Scott — Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, Vancouver

Break

Is US M&A Great Again?

The transactional landscape for US M&A in 2017-18 has been driven by strategic acquisitions, stable equity markets, and attractive debt financing markets. While uncertainty as to the impact of geopolitical disputes, trade policy political risks, and regulatory challenges impacted M&A activity generally, the US continues to be an attractive M&A destination for foreign investors. The panel will focus on recent trends and developments in inbound US M&A transactions including:

• managing effects of the Trump Administration and geopolitical factors on inbound Canada/US M&A
• CFIUS and Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act of 2018
• risks and opportunities ahead for 2019

Natascha Kiernan — King & Spalding LLP, New York
Pankaj K. Sinha — Skadden, Arps, Meagher & Flom LLP, Washington, Washington DC

Pension Counsel Perspectives on M&A

A panel of pension investment transaction counsel from BC Investment Management Corporation, Public Sector Pension Investment Board, and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board will provide their perspective on Canadian pension/institutional investment in global M&A

• weighing the legal risks of foreign investment
• comparing Canadian v. US v. global transactions
• addressing environmental, social and governance issues
• asset management post acquisition
• sourcing, engaging and working with local/global external legal advisors

Alison Breen — Vice President, Corporate Secretary & Divisional General Counsel, Public Sector Pension Investment Board, Montreal
Tara Rosenblatt — Managing Director & Associate General Counsel Investments, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, Toronto
Britta Wagner — Director Legal Affairs, BC Investment Management Corporation, Victoria

Lunch (provided) with Featured Speaker:
M&A Industry Focus: Cannabis

Desmond Balakrishnan — McMillan LLP, Vancouver

M&A Diligence Risks and Issues

• anti-bribery and anti-corruption compliance  
• privacy and cyber-security
• scaling costs, risk allocation, mitigation

Jennifer Hansen  — Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP, Vancouver
R. David Spratley — DLA Piper (Canada) LLP, Vancouver
Diego Venegas, CIA, CFE — Director, Internal Audit and Ethics, Goldcorp Inc., Vancouver

Break

Emerging Issues in Private M&A

• the impact of a prolonged "sellers market"
• emerging diligence issues
• reps and warranty insurance
• implications of the Delaware case, Akorn, on material adverse effect "MAE" claims

Jonathan L. Duckles — Director, Senior Legal Counsel, SoftBank Investment Advisers, Palo Alto, California
Erica McGuinness — Vice President, Sequeira Partners Inc., Vancouver
Susan Tomaine — Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, Vancouver

Post-Merger Integration: Getting Value from Your Deal

Why do some acquisitions succeed and some fail? This panel will examine strategies to get value from your purchases. Successful integration starts before closing and continues long after the closing celebrations are over. Key issues that will be examined include how to:

• put together an integration team
• meld culture and address human resources issues
• manage litigation
• coordinate contracts
• audit the target’s intellectual property
• optimize tax strategies

Sean Gunton — Partner, Opertional Transaction Services, Transaction Advisory Services, Ernst & Young LLP, Calgary
Shawn Lewis — Vice President & General Counsel, Stern Partners Inc., Vancouver
Daniel E. Steiner — Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP, Vancouver

Closing Remarks