Our banking practice has a broad-based practice that deals with all aspects of on-balance sheet and off-balance sheet debt financing for businesses. Our practice involves acting on all types of domestic, cross-border and international financings for both borrowers and lenders. This area of practice also includes providing advice with respect to the tax and regulatory issues associated with such transactions. In addition, we frequently advise financial institutions with respect to compliance matters and laws affecting business organization and governance and regulated activities. Our practice extends beyond traditional loan arrangements to include a variety of alternative funding techniques, including commercial paper financing, project finance, leasing, high-yield debt, Eurobonds, derivatives,  and private placements. We take great pride in the fact that many of the transactions in which we have been involved have been the first of their kind in Canada.

Our expertise in project financing has resulted in our participating in some of Canada's most complex financings, including the financing of the fixed link toll bridge to Prince Edward Island, the financing of the first privately financed toll road in Canada, the first public financing in Canada of airport revenue bonds, the financing of co-generation facilities and the financing of Ontario's casinos.

Here is a sampling of transactions and projects in which we have been involved; it is indicative of the diversity of our practice:

• Acting for InnVest Real Estate Investment Trust with respect to the $375 million term loan facility from a Canadian financial institution and $25 million operating line from a Canadian chartered bank;
• Acting for BCE Inc. in the Cdn$3.3 billion bridge loan from syndicate of banks in relation to repurchase of SBC's 20% interest in Bell Canada;
• Banque Bruxelles Lambert S.A. and Fortis Bank in the financing of acquisition of the Thona Group, a Beligium-based corporation that develops and produces high-quality rubber compounds, by the principals of Andlinger and Company, Inc., an international private investment management firm;
• Acting for the Bank of Montreal and syndicate in the refinancing of Montreal-based Gildan Active Wear Inc.'s $150 million credit facility;
• Acting for TD Securities and syndicate in the $3.8 billion bond offering of 5.10 per cent series 3 Canada mortgage bonds by Canada Housing Trust No. 1, a special purpose securitization trust.
  

Top of Page