Cory Kent Photo
Cory Kent Photo
Cory Kent Photo

Cory Kent’s practice focuses on corporate and securities law with an emphasis on the natural resources, cannabis and technology sectors. He provides counsel on all matters relating to capital markets, including listings on the Canadian stock exchanges (TSX, TSX-Venture), private offerings, corporate reorganizations, reactivations, hostile takeovers, reverse takeovers, plans of arrangement and amalgamations, mergers and acquisitions, and continuous disclosure obligations. He is a leader of McMillan’s Mining Group.

Highly regarded for the depth of his corporate governance experience, Cory advises shareholders as well as boards of directors in connection with shareholder activism and contested transactions.

Cory provides multi-faceted counsel to his clients, having acted on both sides of the deal-making table. He has proven skills in dealing with boards of directors, management teams, stakeholders and regulatory bodies alike.



Representative Matters

Mergers, Acquisitions and Go-Private Transactions

  • Represented Aurora Cannabis Inc. in its $3.2 billion acquisition of MedReleaf Corp. by way of a plan of arrangement.
  • Represented Auryn Resources Inc. in its approximately $350 million comprehensive reorganization transaction that included: Two sequential plans of arrangement (one each for target and parent); Two concurrent spinouts (of its Peruvian projects) into two new reporting issuers; Two concurrent financings (subscription receipts and charity-flow-through shares); Acquisition of Eastmain Resources Inc. by way of a plan of arrangement; Pre-acquisition share consolidation; Post-reorganization name change to Fury Gold Mines Ltd.; and Listing of Fury Gold Mines on the TSX and NYSE American.
  • Represented Taseko Mines Ltd. in its acquisition of all of the outstanding securities of Yellowhead Mining Inc. by way of a plan of arrangement.
  • Represented Great Panther Silver Ltd. in its option and subsequent acquisition of the Coricancha Mine in Peru.
  • Represented companies controlled by Waterous Energy Fund in their acquisition of the issued and outstanding common shares of Northern Blizzard Resources Inc. in a transaction valued approximately $244 million.
  • Represented PNI Digital Media Inc. in its $74 million sale to Staples, Inc.
  • Represented Marlin Gold Mining Ltd. in its US$78 million business combination transaction with Mako Gold Mining Ltd. (formerly Golden Reign Resources) to form Mako Mining Corp.
  • Represented Roxgold Inc. in its acquisition of exploration permits in Burkina Faso ($36 million) and $65 million in equity private placements.
  • Represented Invecture Group in its $38 million takeover bid offer for Frontera Copper Corporation.
  • Represented Starcore International Ventures Ltd. in its acquisition of a San Martin Mine for US$26 million and related equity and debt financings.
  • Represented Potash One Inc. in its acquisition of certain potash exploration licenses in Saskatchewan, including the Legacy Project.
  • Represented American Bonanza Gold Mining Corp. in its merger with International Tours Resources Inc. and subsidiary of Fairstar Explorations Inc. ($57 million).

Private and Public Equity and Debt Offering Transactions

  • Represented Aurora Cannabis Inc. in its US$345 million offering of convertible senior notes.
  • Represented Aurora Cannabis Inc. in its US$650 million at-the-market equity financing program.
  • Represented Aurora Cannabis Inc. in the sale of its shares in Alcanna Inc. for total gross proceeds of approximately $27.6 million.
  • Represented Aurora Cannabis Inc. in its US$165 million cross-border offering of units.
  • Represented Great Panther Silver Ltd. in its US$29.9 million cross-border offering of units.
  • Represented PNI Digital Media Inc. in its $7.475 million common share offering.
  • Represented Primero Mining Corp. in its $224 million secondary offering of shares.
  • Represented American Bonanza Gold Corp. in its short form offerings totalling $23.5 million.
  • Represented Starcore International Mines Ltd. in its $11 million loan transaction and retirement of outstanding hedge obligations.

Initial Public Offerings and Listing Transactions

  • Represented Metron Capital Corp. in its reverse takeover transaction with INEO Solutions Inc.
  • Represented Knol Resources Corp. in its reverse takeover transaction with Freckle I.O.T. Ltd.
  • Represented PNI Digital Media Inc. in its acquisition of Pixology PLC for $19 million, related cross-border equity financing and registration, and subsequent TSX listing.
  • Represented Allegiant Gold Ltd., a subsidiary of Columbus Gold Corp., in its spin-out by way of a statutory plan of arrangement for the purpose of becoming listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange Venture.
  • Represented Nevada Sunrise Gold Corporation in its initial public offering and listing on the TSX Venture Exchange.
  • Represented Golden Oasis Exploration Ltd. in its initial public offering and listing on the TSX Venture Exchange, and subsequent merger with American Copper Corporation and Lebon Gold Mines Limited.
  • Represented Potash One Inc. in its listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
  • Represented Starcore International Mines Ltd. in its listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
  • Represented Klondex Mines Ltd. in its listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Hostile Transactions and Contested Meetings

  • Represented Aurora Cannabis Inc. in its $1.1 billion successful unsolicited takeover bid for CanniMed Therapeutics Inc.
  • Represented Taseko Mines Limited in its successful defence in a litigious proxy contest initiated by a dissident shareholder group.
  • Represented Maritime Resources in its successful defense of a hostile bid by Anaconda Mining Inc.
  • Represented BullRun Capital in its proxy contest with Growmax Resources.
  • Represented Sennen Resources in its successful takeover bid defense.
  • Represented a TSX listed mining company in its successful takeover bid defense.
  • Represented THEMAC Resources Group Limited. in its reactivation transaction, acquisition of the Copper Flat Project, and related equity and debt financings.
  • Represented various TSX and TSX Venture Exchange issuers with equity financings, listing matters, corporate governance issues, property option, earn in and joint venture transactions.

Speaking Engagements

Corporate Governance Disclosure, 2nd Advanced Securities Compliance Course, Vancouver

September 2008

Royalty Interests, Conference on Mining and Finance Law

April 2008

News


Rankings & Recognition

  • Recognized in the 2024 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Repeatedly Recommended Lawyer in the area of Corporate Finance & Securities and Mining
  • Recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada (2024) as a leading lawyer in the area of Mining Law
  • Recognized in the 2023 Lexpert Special Edition on Canada’s Leading Mining Lawyers
  • Recognized in the 2023 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Repeatedly Recommended Lawyer in the areas of Corporate Finance and Securities and Mining
  • Recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada (2023) as a leading lawyer in the area of Mining Law
  • Recognized in the 2022 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Repeatedly Recommended Lawyer in the area of Mining
  • Recognized in the 2021 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Repeatedly Recommended Lawyer in the area of Mining
  • Listed in the Legal500 Canada 2021 as a Recommended Lawyer – Energy and Natural Resources Mining
  • Listed in the Legal500 Canada 2020 as a “Recommended Lawyer” – Energy and Natural Resources: Mining
  • Recognized in the 2019 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Repeatedly Recommended lawyer in the area Mining

Education & Admissions

1996
Called to the British Columbia bar
1995
LLB University of British Columbia
1990
BA Carleton University

Publications

Insights (15 Posts)View More

Featured Insight

The Latest Risk to the BC Natural Resource Sector: Government Uses Little Known Law to Freeze Mining Rights Unless First Nations Consent

BC's government has issued unprecedented orders, to prohibit mining activity in certain areas, unless First Nations consent.

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Mar 11, 2024
Featured Insight

BC Government Consulting on New Law to Give Indigenous Groups Control over Crown Land Decisions

The Government of BC is seeking to amend the Land Act to provide decision making power over Crown land to Indigenous groups.

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Jan 24, 2024
Featured Insight

SCC Reference re Impact Assessment Act: A step in the right direction for the mining industry

On October 13, 2023, the SCC ruled that certain core provisions of Canada's Impact Assessment Act and its Physical Activities Regulations were unconstitutional.

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Jan 9, 2024
Featured Insight

Indigenous Law Update: What the B.C. Natural Resource Sector Should Know About “Non-Treaty” Agreements

This bulletin discusses non-treaty agreements with indigenous groups in British Columbia.

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Aug 22, 2023
Featured Insight

SEC Approves NYSE and NASDAQ Clawback Listing Standards – Assessing the Implications for Canadian Foreign Private Issuers

On June 9, 2023, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission approved the clawback listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange.

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Aug 2, 2023
Featured Insight

Canadian Securities Administrators Comment on Disclosure Related to Mineral Projects and Technical Reports

On November 3, 2022, the Canadian Securities Administrators published Staff Notice 51-364 Continuous Disclosure Review Program Activities for 2022 and 2021.

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Jan 24, 2023
Featured Insight

Proposed Changes to the Promotional Activity Disclosure Requirements: Instrument 51-519

An overview of the proposed Instrument 51-519 from the BC Securities Commission on promotional activity disclosure requirements.

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Jun 30, 2021
Featured Insight

Stop the Presses: Printing of Disclosure Documents May Be a Thing of the Past

A summary of the proposal by CSA to adopt an "access equals delivery" model for disclosure documents.

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Jan 22, 2020
Featured Insight

CSA Notes Inadequate Disclosure of Financial Interest in Cannabis M&A

Securities regulators provided guidance regarding disclosure of financial interests and conflicts of interest in Cannabis transactions

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Nov 15, 2019
Featured Insight

Breaking New Ground: SEC Updates Rules to Modernize Property Disclosures Required for Mining Issuers

The Securities and Exchange Commission's new rule amendments seek to modernize the property disclosure requirements for mining registrants in the United States.

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Nov 24, 2018
Featured Insight

In Aurora, Securities Regulators Affirm the New Take-over Bid Regime and Signal that Exemptive Relief under the New Regime will Prove to be Difficult and that Tactical Shareholder Rights Plans may be Extinct

The OSC and the FCAAS released their reasons for the orders granted concerning the hostile take-over bid by Aurora Cannabis Inc. for CanniMed Therapeutics Inc.

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Mar 20, 2018
Featured Insight

Divergent Regulatory Approaches to Cryptocurrency Offerings: Developments in Canada, the United States, and China

Divergent Regulatory Approaches to Cryptocurrency Offerings: Developments in Canada, the United States, and China

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Oct 9, 2017
Featured Insight

McMillan Advises on First Initial Coin Offering Granted Exemptive Relief by Canadian Securities Regulators

McMillan Advises on First Initial Coin Offering Granted Exemptive Relief by Canadian Securities Regulators

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Sep 4, 2017
Featured Insight

Proxy Access in Canada — Another US Corporate Law Practice Makes Its Way Up North

Proxy Access in Canada -- Another US Corporate Law Practice Makes Its Way Up North

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May 17, 2017
Featured Insight

Finders be Aware – BCSC Proposes to Revoke Trade-Based Exemption

Finders be aware - BCSC proposes to revoke trade-based exemption

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Feb 15, 2013

Deals & Cases (11 Posts)

Featured Insight

Aurora Cannabis Inc. Completes US$137.9 Million Cross-Border Bought Deal Offering

On January 26, 2021, Aurora Cannabis Inc. completed a bought deal public offering of units for total gross proceeds of US$137,940,000 pursuant to a prospectus supplement to the company’s short form base shelf prospectus dated October 28, 2020.

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Feb 23, 2021
Featured Insight

Taseko Mines Limited Completes US$23 Million Bought Deal Offering

On November 17, 2020, Taseko Mines Limited (TSX: TKO; NYSE American: TGB; LSE: TKO) completed a US$23 million bought deal public offering pursuant to an underwriting agreement dated November 11, 2020 among the company and Cantor Fitzgerald Canada Corporation, as lead underwriter and sole bookrunner, and a syndicate of underwriters including Velocity Trade Capital Ltd., BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc., National Bank Financial Inc. and TD Securities Inc.

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Feb 19, 2021
Featured Insight

Aurora Cannabis Inc. Completes US$165 Million Cross-Border Offering

Aurora Cannabis Inc. Completes US$165 Million Cross-Border Offering

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Dec 3, 2020
Featured Insight

Auryn Resources Inc. completes comprehensive reorganization transaction

Auryn Resources Inc. completes comprehensive reorganization transaction

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Oct 13, 2020
Featured Insight

Great Panther completes acquisition of Beadell

Great Panther completes acquisition of Beadell

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Mar 5, 2019
Featured Insight

Great Panther Silver completes US$29.9 million cross-border equity financing

Great Panther Silver completes US$29.9 million cross-border equity financing

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Jul 1, 2016
Featured Insight

Great Panther Silver launches US$10 Million at-the-market offering

Great Panther Silver launches US$10 Million at-the-market offering

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Apr 21, 2016
Featured Insight

Merus Labs International closes subscription receipt offering

Merus Labs International closes subscription receipt offering

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Mar 1, 2016
Featured Insight

Plentyoffish acquired for US$575 million by Match.com

Plentyoffish acquired for US$575 million by Match.com

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Jul 15, 2015
Featured Insight

Great Panther completes acquisition of Cangold

Great Panther completes acquisition of Cangold

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May 27, 2015
Featured Insight

Primero Mining Corp. Announces a $1.2 Billion Merger Agreement With Northgate Minerals Corp.

Primero Mining Corp. Announces a $1.2 Billion Merger Agreement With Northgate Minerals Corp.

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Jul 14, 2011