BLG Deals & Suits

The Gryphin Advantage acquires Groupe Financier Boulos, expanding its Québec market presence

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 00:00:00 Z

On Aug. 4, 2026, BLG acted as counsel to The Gryphin Advantage Inc. (Gryphin) in connection with its acquisition of 100 per cent of Groupe Financier Boulos from its shareholders pursuant to a private share purchase transaction.

Gryphin, headquartered in Ontario, is a Canadian managing general agency (MGA) serving independent insurance and financial advisors across Canada. Groupe Financier Boulos, established in 1979, is a Québec-based MGA with deep roots in the province's independent financial advisory community.

The acquisition expands Gryphin's presence in the Québec market and grows its national advisor network to approximately 2,600 advisors.

The BLG team was led by Frazer House (M&A) and included Benjamin Fuhrmann, Jordan Jaslow and Ellen Kharlanov (M&A); Guillaume Talbot-Lachance (Corporate Commercial); Joelle Kabouchi and Owen Clarke (Tax); Rick Da Costa and Abby Shine (Insurance Regulatory); Rose Massicotte (Labour and Employment); and Eric Boehm (Regulatory).

BOX Technology group to combine with MEMX in connection with a strategic transaction valued at $2.3 billion

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 00:00:00 Z

In a transaction announced on July 30, 2026, BLG is acting as Canadian counsel to BOX Technology group in connection with the approximately US$2.3 billion combination of BOX and MEMX into MEMX Group.

The transaction also involves TMX Group Limited acquiring a majority position in MEMX Group, resulting in TMX holding approximately 59 per cent of the combined business. BLG is assisting on Canadian aspects of the transaction, including M&A, securities and employment matters.

Read the news release: TMX Group and MEMX Announce Strategic Combination of MEMX and BOX into US$2.3 Billion MEMX Group.

The BLG team is led by Neil Hazan (M&A) and includes Vinay Desai (M&A); Denes Rothschild (Competition); Danny Kaufer (Labour and Employment); and Jean-Philippe Gagnon (Securities).

Element Materials Technology to divest North American Life Sciences Testing Services business to Eurofins Scientific SE for US$400 million

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 00:00:00 Z

In a transaction announced on July 20, 2026, BLG is acting as Canadian counsel to Element Materials Technology in connection with the sale of its North American Life Sciences Testing Services business to Eurofins Scientific SE for an enterprise value of US$400 million. Based in London, Element Materials Technology is a global provider of testing, inspection and certification services.

The deal is structured as a cross-border carve-out and includes pre-closing reorganization across multiple provinces in Canada and the United States. BLG is assisting on the Canadian aspects of the transaction, including M&A, labour and employment, tax, real estate and competition matters.

Read the news release: Eurofins Agrees to Acquire Element Materials Technology's Life Sciences Testing Services Business in North America.

The BLG team is led by Neil Hazan and Fabio Colias (M&A) and includes Matteo Grandillo and Sofia Prahalis (M&A); James Fu, Tommy Hong, Tommy Leung and Lisa Carlson (Labour and Employment); Joseph Takhmizdjian, Noah Weinstein and Francis Jacob (Tax); Claire Durocher and Sarah Harroch (Real Estate); and Denes Rothschild (Competition).

BLG has the privilege of working alongside the Element team and co-advisors A&O Shearman, Houlihan Lokey, EY and Deloitte.

AXISCADES Technologies Limited announces sale of global aerospace engineering services platform to Akkodis Group AG

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 00:00:00 Z

Borden Ladner Gervais LLP advised AXISCADES Technologies Limited, a leading aerospace and defence engineering company listed on India’s National Stock Exchange and Bombay Stock Exchange, in connection with the divestiture of its aerospace engineering services business to Akkodis, a leading global digital engineering consulting company, with a transaction value of US$207 million and spanning six geographies across India, Europe, and North America.

The BLG team is being led by Manoj Pundit (M&A) and includes Akaash Viswanathan (M&A), Stephen Roumeliotis (M&A), Matt Shuman (M&A), Joelle Kabouchi (Tax), Denes Rothschild (Competition, Foreign Investment), Shwan Shaker (Employment) and Alma-Mazarine Binet (Employment).

We had the privilege of working alongside the AXISCADES team and the other sell side legal counsel and advisors: Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, Lincoln International Advisors, Kelley Drye & Warren LLP, Osborne Clarke, MLL Legal, and BDO.

Almadev Real Estate Inc. completes initial public offering on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 00:00:00 Z

In June 2026, Almadev Real Estate Inc. (Almadev or the Company) completed its initial public offering and listing on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE), raising gross proceeds of NIS 325 million (approximately CAD$155 million) through the issuance of common shares at a price of NIS 8.00 per share, together with warrants, representing approximately 30% of the Company's issued and outstanding share capital.

Almadev is a Toronto-headquartered real estate development, investment and asset management company with a portfolio valued at approximately C$2.8 billion, focused on master-planned communities and mixed-use developments across Canada and the United States. Proceeds of the offering are expected to be used to advance the Company's development projects and repay certain existing indebtedness. The offering was led by Leader Capital Markets.

Alongside local Israeli counsel, Shiminov & Co, BLG represented Almadev with a team led by Stephen Nguyen that included Joe Zed, Carlos Cerqueira, Julia Russell and Laura Costen (Corporate); Raphael Roditi, Xue Yan, Tamila Ivanov, Elaine Cheng and Sashin Narayan (Real Estate); and Joseph Takhmizdjian (Tax).

BLG advises Williams Treaties First Nations Investment Vehicle on $700 million investment in Ontario's Darlington New Nuclear Project

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 00:00:00 Z

BLG represented WTFN Investment Holdings LP and its affiliates in connection with its formation and investment in OPG Financing LP and related participation in DNNP LP – a limited partnership established for Ontario Power Generation's BWRX-300 small modular reactor (SMR) project, the Darlington New Nuclear Project.

The transaction provides WTFN Investment Holdings LP with a structured debt investment of up to $700 million in Unit 1, with potential future participation rights in Units 2, 3, and 4. If all four units proceed, the project is expected to deliver approximately 1,200 MW of clean, reliable nuclear generation – making it one of the first grid-scale SMR projects in the G7.

WTFN Investment Holdings LP represents the economic development entities of the Michi Saagiig and Chippewa Anishinaabeg Nations of the Williams Treaties, including Alderville First Nation, Curve Lake First Nation, Hiawatha First Nation, Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation, Beausoleil First Nation, Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation and Chippewas of Rama First Nation. Key project participants include Ontario Power Generation, DNNP LP, the Canada Indigenous Loan Guarantee Corporation and Building Ontario Fund (as guarantors) and the project lenders.

BLG advised on all aspects of the transaction alongside independent financial advisors, MPA Morrison Park Advisors.

The BLG team was led by Cherie Brant (Indigenous, energy, corporate), Rob Blackstein (energy, corporate, M&A), Michael Alty (energy, corporate, M&A), Joshua Favel (Indigenous, energy, corporate), Nick Pinsent (energy, corporate, M&A) and Rachael Belanger (project finance and financial services), with Steve Suarez (tax), Joelle Kabouchi (tax), Jamin Chen (tax), Joe Zed (securities), Colm Boyle (energy regulatory) and Luca Vita (financial services).

Whirlpool Corporation completes US$4 billion senior secured ABL credit facility and notes offerings

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 00:00:00 Z

On June 16, 2026, Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) (Whirlpool), the leading U.S.-based multinational home appliance manufacturer, announced the completion of a US$2 billion cross-border senior secured first-lien asset based (ABL) credit facility, as well as an offering of US$1 billion aggregate principal amount of 7.500 per cent senior secured second-lien notes due 2031, and US$1 billion aggregate principal amount of 7.875 per cent senior secured second-lien notes due 2034.

Whirlpool intends to use the net proceeds from the new notes and borrowings to (i) pay the consideration for, and satisfy and discharge, the 1.250 per cent senior notes due 2026, and 1.100 per cent senior notes due 2027, in each case, issued by Whirlpool Finance Luxembourg S.à r.l.; (ii) repay its existing unsecured revolving credit facility; and (iii) pay fees and expenses in connection with the foregoing.

BLG represented Whirlpool as Canadian counsel with a team led by Shane Pearlman (Financial Services) that included Colin Yeo, Sam Babe and Kevin Lambie (Financial Services); Joe Zed and Kaitlin D'Agostino (Capital Markets); and James Fu (Pensions and Benefits).

Achieve Partners’ investment in FutureFit AI, an AI-powered workforce technology platform

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 00:00:00 Z

Achieve Partners completed its strategic investment in FutureFit AI, a New York City and Toronto-based AI-powered workforce technology platform connecting individuals to careers, employers to talent, and workforce partners to integrated solutions.

FutureFit AI integrates real-time labour market data with personalized career pathways to drive measurable workforce outcomes. The platform has supported nearly 50,000 individuals in Connecticut alone, including 7,000 trained in high-demand industries with an 85 per cent placement rate. With established partnerships spanning U.S. states, Canadian provincial and federal programs, and European markets, FutureFit AI plans to use the investment to further deepen its collaborations with governments and industry organizations.

BLG represented Achieve Partners with a team led by Tasy Bacolias that included Neil Hazan, Matteo Grandillo, Stephen Roumeliotis and Sofia Prahalis (M&A/Private Equity); Joseph Takhmizdjian and Alessandro Cotugno (Tax); James Fu and Erin Minuk (Employment); Candice Hévin (Privacy, IT and AI); Gabriel St-Laurent (IP); and Mohit Sethi (Foreign Investment and Competition).

CI Global Asset Management completes acquisition of Invesco's Canadian fund assets

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 Z

On June 1, 2026, CI Global Asset Management (CI GAM) and Invesco Ltd. (NYSE: IVZ) announced the completion of CI GAM's acquisition of the management agreements relating to Invesco's Canadian fund business with combined total assets under management of approximately C$27 billion.

CI GAM, the Canadian asset management subsidiary of CI Financial Corp. (CI), has become manager of 98 mutual funds and exchange-traded funds previously offered by Invesco Canada Ltd. The transaction, which was first announced on Jan.13, 2026, has increased CI GAM's assets under management to approximately C$175 billion.

Invesco and CI GAM have also formed a long-term strategic partnership under which Invesco affiliates continue to provide portfolio management services to 61 of the funds through a sub-advisory arrangement with total assets under management of approximately C$13 billion, ensuring a consistent investment experience for securityholders in those funds.

BLG represented Invesco with a team led by Kathryn Fuller that included Chelsea Papadatos, Eni Azisllari, Christopher Yeretsian, Griffin Murphy, Mishail Khan and Kelechi Adanyi (Securities/M&A); Carlos Cerqueira, Eric Boehm, Faraneh Talaei and Marc Vani (Corporate/M&A); Denes Rothschild and Mohit Sethi (Competition); Grace Pereira, Jingcai Ying and Olivia Ruvo (Tax); Matt Certosimo and Madeleine Werker (Labour & Employment) and Giselle Chin (Intellectual Property).

Galantas Gold Corporation completes $100 million private placement to fund Chilean mining projects

Thu, 28 May 2026 00:00:00 Z

On May 28, 2026, Galantas Gold Corporation (TSX-V & AIM: GAL; OTCQB: GALKF) (Galantas or the Company) completed its previously announced private placement (the Offering) of 181,819,000 units of the Company (each, a Unit) at a price of $0.55 per Unit, for aggregate gross proceeds of $100,000,450, which included the full exercise of the option granted to the Agents. The Offering was led by Canaccord Genuity Corp. as lead agent and sole bookrunner on behalf of a syndicate of agents including Haywood Securities Inc., SCP Resource Finance LP and BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc.

Each Unit is comprised of one common share and one-half of one common share purchase warrant exercisable at CAD$0.80 per share for 24 months from closing. The Offering included participation from strategic and institutional investors including Eric Sprott, Ocean Partners UK Limited and Melquart Limited. Proceeds are expected to fund exploration and development work on the Indiana Gold and Copper Project and the Andacollo Gold Project in Chile and for general corporate and working capital purposes.

BLG represented Galantas with a team led by Julie Bogle that included James Cantwell and Dylan Corbett.

Coincheck Group partners with KDDI Corporation to expand access to digital assets

Mon, 25 May 2026 00:00:00 Z

BLG acted as Canadian counsel to KDDI Corporation (KDDI) in connection with its (i) minority investment (the Minority Investment) in Coincheck Group N.V. (Coincheck Group), and (ii) business alliance agreement with Coincheck, Inc. (the Agreement, and together with the Minority Investment, the Transaction), a subsidiary of Coincheck Group. Pursuant to the Minority Investment, KDDI and Coincheck Group have entered into a share subscription and investor rights agreement whereby KDDI will receive 28,536,516 Coincheck Group ordinary shares at a price of $2.28 for an aggregate purchase price of approximately US$65 million. The Minority Investment is expected to close in June 2026.

As part of the Transaction, BLG was also engaged by KDDI in connection with Coincheck Group’s acquisition of approximately 99.8 per cent beneficial ownership of 3iQ Corp.

The BLG team was led by Julie Bogle and included Sean Muggah, Ashley Wong and Corbin Boes (Corporate/Securities); Suhuyini Abudulai and Maria Nasr (Financial Services); Tommy Hong (Labour & Employment); and Élisabeth Lesage-Bigras (Privacy & IP).

Certara, Inc. completes US$135 million sale of its Regulatory and Medical Writing business to Veristat

Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 Z

On May 8, 2026, Certara, Inc. (Nasdaq: CERT), a global leader in model-informed drug development, completed the sale of its Regulatory and Medical Writing business to Veristat for total consideration of US$135 million.

BLG acted for Certera, Inc. on the Canadian aspects with a team led by Neil Hazan that included Vinay Desai and Stephen Roumeliotis (Corporate/M&A); Stuart Aronovitch and Laura Mensch (Labour & Employment).

Collingwood General and Marine Hospital acquires land for new acute-care hospital

Mon, 04 May 2026 00:00:00 Z

Collingwood General and Marine Hospital (CGMH) completed the acquisition of a 54-acre site at Poplar Sideroad and Raglan Street for its new acute-care hospital.

The land was secured through a development agreement with the Town of Collingwood in 2023 as part of the Minister's Zoning Order for the Poplar Regional Health and Wellness Village. The acquisition provides long-term flexibility for future growth and supports the hospital's ability to adapt to the needs of the rapidly growing South Georgian Bay region. CGMH is advancing detailed planning as part of Stage 2 of the Ministry of Health's three-stage capital planning process. The Ontario government committed up to $95.5 million in Dec. 2024 to build the new hospital, which will include up to 132 beds and expanded access to key services.

The deal required navigating municipal approvals, development agreements, charity law, reciprocal rights and coordination with Ontario's three-stage capital planning process for healthcare infrastructure - demonstrating the multi-faceted legal work required for major healthcare real estate transactions.

BLG represented Collingwood General and Marine Hospital with a team led by Brennan Carroll that included Samantha Lo, Lee English and Ryma Nasrallah, with further support from Pitman Patterson, Nick Pasquino, Andrew Baker, Sosina Tilahun, and Stella Krutkiewicz.

Lumina Metals Corp. closes its upsized $406 million initial public offering

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 00:00:00 Z

On April 30, 2026, Lumina Metals Corp. (TSX: LMCU) ("Lumina Metals" or the "Company") completed its upsized initial public offering and secondary offering of common shares ("Common Shares") of the Company (the "Offering"). It is the largest Canadian mining IPO since 2021.

The Offering includes a treasury offering by the Company for total gross proceeds of $312,470,000 and a secondary offering of Common Shares held by a selling securityholder of the Company for total gross proceeds of $93,742,500, each at a price of $12.50 per share, for total gross proceeds of $406,212,500.

The Company granted to the Underwriters (as defined below) an over-allotment option (the "Over-Allotment Option") to purchase up to an additional 4,874,550 Common Shares from treasury at a price of $12.50 per Common Share for additional gross proceeds of $60,931,875, if the Over-Allotment Option is exercised in full. The Over-Allotment Option is exercisable, in whole or in part, at any time for a period of 30 days from the closing date of the Offering. If the Over-Allotment Option is exercised in full, the gross proceeds of the Offering will be up to $467,144,375.

The Offering was managed by a syndicate of underwriters, including BMO Capital Markets, National Bank Financial Inc., Morgan Stanley Canada Limited, RBC Capital Markets and CIBC Capital Markets, as co-lead underwriters and joint bookrunners, and Trigon Dom Maklerski S.A., Canaccord Genuity Corp., Haywood Securities Inc., SCP Resource Finance LP and Stifel Canada (collectively, the "Underwriters").

The Common Shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "LMCU".

BLG acted for Lumina Metals with a team comprised of Fred R. Pletcher, Graeme Martindale, Sal Pimentel and Ashley Wong.

REMONDIS Maintenance & Services International GmbH completes acquisition of CIMS

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 00:00:00 Z

On April 15, 2026, REMONDIS Maintenance & Services International GmbH, a Germany‑based industrial services provider, acquired CIMS Limited Partnership, a Canadian industrial maintenance, shut down, capital project, fabrication and modularization services company with operations across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario. The transaction represents REMONDIS' strategic expansion into the North American market and establishes a direct operational presence in Canada.

BLG represented REMONDIS with a team led by Andrian Lozinski and Brandon Evenson that included Shanna Stanley‑Hasnain, Michael Shafarenko, Alexander Gray, Shane Morganstein, Rambod Behboodi, and Stacey Fruin (Corporate/M&A); Justin Cuperfain, Sashin Narayan, Michael Akins, Matthew Gruchey, and Parisa Hurst (Commercial Real Estate); Peter Sullivan and Luca Vita (Financial Services); Andrew Zinman, Lisa Carlson, Laura Mensch, and Tommy Hong (Labour and Employment); Laura Day, Robert Stefanelli, Sarah Sweet, Emily Pitre, Tamara Tomomitsu, Darren Glossop, and Raphael Jacob (Insurance and Tort Liability); Diana Weir and Andre Matheusik (Environmental, Municipal, Expropriation and Regulatory); Daniel A. Boan (Disputes – Commercial and Construction); Any Obando Ospina (Intellectual Property); and Nicholas Burton, Deva Middleton, Alex Caron, Surajreet Singh and Geordie Goodman (Articling Students – Corporate Law).

AtkinsRéalis Group Inc. completes $700 million private offering of unsecured debenture

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 00:00:00 Z

On April 6, 2026, AtkinsRéalis Group Inc. (TSX: ATRL), a world-class engineering services and nuclear company with offices around the world, completed its offering of $400 million aggregate principal amount of 4.411 per cent Series 9 unsecured debentures due June 15, 2031 (the “Series 9 Debentures") and $300 million aggregate principal amount of 4.756 per cent Series 10 unsecured debentures due March 15, 2033 (the “Series 10 Debentures", and together with the Series 9 Debentures, the “Debentures").

The Debentures were offered through a syndicate of agents led by BMO Capital Markets, CIBC Capital Markets and National Bank Capital Markets, as joint bookrunners, and included BNP Paribas (Canada) Securities Inc., RBC Dominion Securities Inc., Scotia Capital Inc., TD Securities Inc., Desjardins Securities Inc. and BofA Securities.

BLG represented AtkinsRéalis with a team led by Tim McCormick that included Francesca Lee and Alex Caron.

Alaris Equity Partners complete $75.3 million investment in Kubik

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:00:00 Z

On April 2, 2026, Alaris Equity Partners (TSX:AD.UN) ("Alaris") completed a $75.3 million investment into Kubik LP (Kubik). Kubik is a Toronto based, full-service designer and fabricator of custom tradeshow exhibits, brand activations and immersive environments for museums, handling everything from concept and fabrication to installation and logistics for its global clients.

The $75.3 million Kubik investment consists of a $62.5 million investment in debt and preferred equity as well as an investment of $12.8 million in exchange for a minority common equity ownership in Kubik. The proceeds from the Kubik investment were used to provide partial liquidity to existing Kubik shareholders.

BLG represented Kubik with a team led by Stefan Timms that included Stephen Nguyen, Valérie Olivier, Julia Russell and Mark Abdelsayed (Corporate); Steve Suarez and Jamin Chen, Jingcai Ying (Tax); Christine Mason and Luca Vita (Financial Services); Noah Burshtein and Andrew Zinman (Labour & Employment) and Tamila Ivanov (Real Estate).

Future of Sport Commission delivers final report on sport reform in Canada

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 00:00:00 Z

The Future of Sport in Canada Commission, led by Commissioner Lise Maisonneuve, former Chief Justice of the Ontario Court of Justice, has delivered its final report outlining findings and recommendations on how to improve safe sport and the sport system in Canada from the grassroots to high performance. The independent review provides a roadmap for change focused on prevention, response, and support in safe sport, and on renewed leadership, alignment, governance, funding and investment across the Canadian sport system.

Established in December 2023, the Commission engaged thousands of participants, including victims and survivors, sport participants, subject-matter experts, academics, advocates, sport organizations and governments, through a nationwide engagement process, which included a public online submission portal, meetings, in-camera sessions, subject-specific and regional roundtables, a public online survey and a National Summit on the Future of Sport in Canada, which took place in Ottawa in September 2025.

The Commission’s 98 Calls to Action urge coordinated reform to make sport in Canada safe, accountable and inclusive. They call for consistent safe sport standards and accessible complaint pathways nationwide (moving toward a single Pan-Canadian Safe Sport Authority); fair, trauma-informed resolution processes with meaningful sanctions and supports; and prevention-focused investments in education, background screening, safeguarding officers, and a pan-Canadian registry of sanctioned individuals in sport. The final report also calls for stronger leadership and oversight through intergovernmental collaboration and the creation of a Centralized Sport Entity, mandatory governance standards, and greater system efficiency, supported by a renewed funding strategy with clear conditions, monitoring and audits. The Commission finally calls for coordinated action to reduce financial barriers, improve sport infrastructure, and advance equity, diversity, and inclusion, including fulfilling the Government of Canada’s commitments under the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action related to sport, respecting Indigenous self-determination, and ensuring Indigenous perspectives inform implementation of the Commission’s final report.

BLG was legal counsel to the Commissioner – led by Nadia Effendi, alongside Karine Fahmy and Chanel Maillet Glas. The firm’s deep expertise in administrative and public law, combined with the team’s experience managing sensitive reviews and inquiries, positioned them to navigate the complex privacy, access to information, constitutional and public law issues inherent in this mandate. The firm provided strategic counsel throughout the Commission’s activities, including during the engagement process, the drafting of both reports, and the National Summit on the Future of Sport in Canada.

Read the full report here: Future of Sport in Canada Commission Final Report Transforming Sport in Canada: Time for Action - Canada.ca

InnVest Hotels acquires Hotel Grand Pacific in Victoria

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 00:00:00 Z

InnVest Hotels, Canada's largest owner and operator of hotels, completed its acquisition of the Hotel Grand Pacific in Victoria, British Columbia on March 31, 2026. The 304-room luxury hotel sits prominently on Belleville Street in Victoria's Inner Harbour. The hotel features premium amenities including a 25-metre lap pool and the 14,000-square-foot Victoria Athletic Club.

The acquisition represents InnVest's strategic entry into the Victoria hospitality market, adding a landmark waterfront property to its diverse portfolio of internationally recognized hotel brands. The deal marks the latest in a series of acquisitions by InnVest, reflecting its recent growth trajectory, including the purchase of 10 hotels from Morguard Corporation in 2024.

BLG represented InnVest Hotels on all aspects of the transaction with a team led by Mario Rubio (Real Estate) that included Avnit Dhaliwal (Real Estate), Shelley-Mae Mitchell and Sam Stepney (Labour and Employment), Sean Muggah and Eric Little (Corporate), Robert Biggar, Scott Gorski, and Olivia Ruvo (Tax), Kathleen Lemieux (Intellectual Property) and Chris Roine and Claudia Wheler (Indigenous Law).

Desjardins completes $1.67 billion take-private acquisition of Guardian Capital Group Limited

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 00:00:00 Z

On March 23, 2026 Guardian Capital Group Limited (Guardian) completed its $1.67 billion take-private acquisition by Desjardins Global Asset Management Inc. (DGAM), one of the largest transactions in the Canadian independent asset management sector in recent years.

The transaction was completed by way of a statutory plan of arrangement, with DGAM acquiring all issued and outstanding shares of Guardian for $68 per share (other than shares held by certain rollover shareholders). Guardian and DGAM now oversee approximately $280 billion in combined assets under management and advisement. The transaction follows Desjardins' 2023 acquisition of Guardian's Worldsource business for $750 million, where BLG acted for Guardian.

BLG represented Guardian with a team led by partners Carlos Cerqueira, Tim McCormick and Andrew McLean that included Frazer House, Galen Flaherty, Francesca Lee, Ben Fuhrmann, Stephen Nguyen, Patrice Martin, and Matthew Shuman (M&A/Corporate); Michael Taylor and Julie Mansi (Investment Funds Regulatory); Steve Suarez, Grace Pereira, and Jingcai Ying (Tax); Jason Howg (Intellectual Property); Graham Splawski and Natalia Paunic (Litigation); Tamila Ivanov (Real Estate); James Fu (Employment); and Denes Rothschild (Competition).