Paul Barbeau Photo
Paul Barbeau Photo
Paul Barbeau Photo

Paul Barbeau has extensive experience in general corporate and commercial law, public and private mergers and acquisitions, all manners of securities offerings, and complex joint venture and other co-ownership vehicles. He also advises on matters relating to corporate governance, shareholder activism and general regulatory compliance. Paul is the Co-Head of the firm’s national Technology Transactions group. Paul also leads the firm’s Korea group.

Acting for a diverse range of clients, Paul represents public and private companies, private equity funds, venture capital funds and underwriters located in Canada and abroad. Paul has significant experience advising clients in the technology, energy, utilities, construction, agribusiness, mining, health-care and manufacturing sectors.

In his M&A practice, Paul advises buyers and targets on hostile and friendly takeover bids, plans of arrangement, reverse takeovers, management buy-outs, going private transactions and all other forms of corporate mergers. He also acts as independent legal counsel to special committees in connection with strategic review processes.

Paul’s securities experience includes acting for issuers and underwriters in Canada and the United States. He has a strong track record in initial public offerings (IPOs), bought deal short form offerings, subscription receipt offerings and convertible debt offerings for clients ranging from small technology startups to large multi-billion-dollar international energy companies.

Paul has been recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada for his expertise in Mergers & Acquisitions and by the Lexpert Legal Directory for his expertise in Corporate Commercial Law. Paul is a published author on topics that include corporate sales, public offerings, takeover bids, shareholder rights plans and proxy access, and is the co-author of the Annotated Alberta Business Corporations Act, published by LexisNexis.



Representative Matters

  • Ambyint Inc., the leading provider of AI-powered production and artificial lift optimization software for the energy industry, in connection with the completion of a complex corporate restructuring, a repatriation to Alberta, Canada from the United States, and a successful capital round to existing investors Mercury and Montrose Lane and new investors BDC Capital and Accelerate Fund III.
  • Qube Technologies Inc., the global leader in cost-effective and accurate continuous emissions monitoring technology, in connection with its Series B preferred share offering to Riverbend Energy Group.
  • The Special Committee of the Board of Directors of Circa Enterprises Inc. in connection with a concurrent go-private transaction via amalgamation with Sicame Group SAS and concurrent asset sale of Circa’s telecom business to Guardian Telecom Ltd.
  • Qube Technologies Inc., in connection with its issuance of Series A Preferred Shares to SCF Ventures and National Energy Services Reunited.  Qube is a Calgary-based technology company that has developed a low-cost environmental surveillance technology.
  • Eat Well Investment Group Inc., in connection with its majority investment, through a preferred equity position, in Amara Organic Food, one of the fastest-growing baby food brands in the United States.  Eat Well is a public-traded investment company primarily focused on high-growth companies in the agribusiness, food tech, plant-based and ESG sectors.
  • KOGAS (Korea Gas Corporation) in respect of its joint venture interest in the LNG Canada liquified natural gas export terminal.
  • Pureform Diagnostic Imaging Clinics  Inc., in connection with its acquisition by Synthesis Health Inc.
  • Eat Well Investment Group Inc., in connection with its acquisition of all of the equity securities of Belle Pulses Ltd., one of the largest processors of plant-based ingredients in Canada, and the concurrent acquisition of all of the equity securities of Sapientia Technology LLC, a consumer-packaged goods platform that owns vegan snacks & intellectual property-related plant-based offerings.
  • Eat Well Investment Group Inc., in connection with its $33,500,000 revolving debt facility with a leading Canadian lender, the proceeds of which were utilized to complete the acquisition of Belle Pulses Ltd. and Sapientia Technology LLC.
  • Green Impact Partners Inc. (formerly Blackheath Resources Inc.) in connection with its acquisition of clean energy assets from Wolverine Energy and Infrastructure Inc., the completion of a $100 million brokered offering of subscription receipts and its listing on the TSX Venture Exchange through a reverse take-over (RTO) structure.
  • Great Canadian Gaming Corporation, a leading Canadian gaming, entertainment and hospitality company, in connection with its $3.3 billion acquisition by Apollo Global Management Inc
  • West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. in its $4 billion acquisition of Norbord Inc. by way of a plan of arrangement.
  • A Canadian public company, operating in the United States, in its acquisition, by way of plan of arrangement, of another Canadian public company, for equity consideration valued at approximately $835 million.
  • Great Panther Mining Limited, in its acquisition, by way of scheme of arrangement (under Australian law), of Beadell Resources Limited, for equity consideration valued at approximately $135 million.
  • Total Capital S.A. and Total Capital Canada Ltd., in connection with obtaining exemptive relief in Alberta for the offering of securities under an F-3 registration statement with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission
  • Hillcore Group/Abacus Private Equity, in connection with secured lending transactions involving Trenchant Capital and certain portfolio companies of Hillcore, including Waiward Steel and Omni Health Group.
  • Founders Advantage Capital Corp., in a $24.7 million acquisition of a 60% interest in Astley Gilbert Limited.
  • Ambyint Inc., USD$11.5 million series A preferred shares funding round, led by early stage venture capital firm Mercury Fund with participation by GE Ventures, Statoil Technology Invest, and Cottonwood Venture Partners.
  • Founders Advantage Capital Corp., in its $12 million acquisition of a 52% majority interest in Cape Communications International Inc.
  • Founders Advantage Capital Corp., in its $20.5 million acquisition of a 60% majority interest in eight Club 16 and five She’s FIT! health clubs.
  • Kissner Holdings LP, in a $400,000,000 offering of notes and related refinancing transactions.
  • Founders Advantage Capital, in its $74 million acquisition of a 60% Interest in the Dominion Lending Centre group of companies.
  • Eagle Energy Inc., in its conversion from an income trust to a dividend-paying corporation and its acquisition of Maple Leaf Royalties Corp.
  • The Special Committee of the Board of Directors of Intermap Technologies Inc., in connection with a review of strategic alternatives and subsequent funding of the company.
  • Mavenir Systems, Inc., as Canadian counsel in its proposed acquisition by Mitel Networks Corporation in a stock and cash exchange offer valued at approximately US$560 million.
  • Crossroads Systems, Inc. as Canadian counsel in a public offering of US$12 million of cumulative perpetual preferred stock.
  • The Special Committee of the Board of Directors of Sino Vanadium Inc., in connection with a take-private transaction.
  • Acumen Capital Finance Partners Ltd., in two underwritten private placements of common shares by Sylogist Ltd. for aggregate proceeds of $45 million.
  • Northern Frontier Corp., in its $27 million acquisition of Central Water & Equipment Services Ltd., a concurrent $21 million bought deal offering of common shares and warrants and the establishment of new senior credit facilities.
  • Zedi Inc., in the proposed acquisition by a management-led group in a transaction valued at $125 million.
  • Argent Energy Trust, in its $244.1 million initial public offering of trust units.
  • Compass Petroleum Ltd., in its $98 million acquisition, by way of Plan of Arrangement, by Whitecap Resources Inc.
  • Technicoil Corporation, in its business combination with Essential Energy Services Ltd., by way of Plan of Arrangement, with a total transaction value of approximately $275 million.
  • Compass Petroleum Ltd., in its $12 million public offering of common shares and “flow-through” shares.
  • Whitecap Resources Inc., in its $223 million acquisition of Spry Energy Ltd. by way of Plan of Arrangement.
  • FirstEnergy Capital Corp., as lead underwriter, in the $80 million IPO of common shares of Condor Petroleum Inc. on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
  • Acumen Capital Finance Partners Limited and AltaCorp Capital Inc., as co-lead underwriters, in the $22 million public offering of common shares of IROC Energy Services Corp.
  • Total Capital Canada Ltd. and Total Capital S.A., in the implementation of a $4 billion Canadian medium term note program guaranteed by Total S.A.
  • Pengrowth Energy Trust, in the $350 million acquisition, by way of plan of arrangement, of all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Monterey Exploration Ltd.
  • Secure Energy Services Inc., in its $66 million IPO of common shares and the initial listing of the Secure common shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
  • RBC Dominion Securities Inc., as lead underwriter, in the Churchill Corporation’s prospectus offering of $100,500,000 of Subscription Receipts and $75 million of convertible debentures.
  • EnQuest Energy Services Corp., in the sale of assets to TransForce Inc. and the concurrent plan of arrangement to restructure EnQuests share capital.
  • Western Prospector Group Ltd., in the acquisition, by way of takeover bid, of the company by CNNC International Limited through its wholly owned subsidiary, First Development Holdings Corporation, for $31 million.

Speaking Engagements

Business Transitions Forum Edmonton: Entrepreneur Masterclass Workshop

May 2022

Teaching Engagements

  • Sessional Instructor, University of Calgary, Faculty of Law (Mergers & Acquisitions and Entrepreneurial Law)

News


Rankings & Recognitions

  • Recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada (2024) as a leading lawyer in the area of Mergers and Acquisitions Law
  • Recognized in the 2023 Lexpert Special Edition on Canada’s Leading Technology and Health Sciences Lawyers as a Technology Lawyer
  • Recognized in the 2023 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Repeatedly Recommended Lawyer in the area of Corporate Commercial Law
  • Recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada (2023) as a leading lawyer in the area of Mergers and Acquisitions Law
  • Recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada (2022) as a leading lawyer in the area of Mergers and Acquisitions Law

Community Involvement

  • Youth basketball coach
  • Volunteer, Heart and Stroke Foundation
  • Volunteer, Calgary Food Bank

Directorships & Affiliations

  • Law Society of Alberta
  • Canadian Bar Association
  • J. Reuben Clark Law Society
  • N. Eldon Tanner Management Society

Education & Admissions

2004
Called to the Alberta bar
2003
JDUniversity of Toronto
2000
B.Sc., ManagementBrigham Young University

Publications

Insights (9 Posts)View More

Featured Insight

Attracting Venture Capital and Private Equity Investors: The Alberta Business Corporations Act Makes Alberta the Most Investor and Business Friendly Corporate Jurisdiction in Canada

Reforms to the corporate legal regime in Alberta make it the province of choice for businesses and investors alike.

Read More
Nov 24, 2023
Featured Insight

Assessing Fairness and Reasonableness in Plans of Arrangement: Insights from the Alberta Court of King’s Bench

The ABKB issued a decision that provides helpful clarification concerning how courts in Alberta assess whether a proposed arrangement is fair and reasonable.

Read More
Sep 1, 2023
Featured Insight

Alberta Eliminates Director Residency Requirements

With the proclamation of the Red Tape Reduction Implementation Act (Alberta) into law on March 29, 2021, director residency requirements have been eliminated.

Read More
Mar 29, 2021
Featured Insight

Funding and Grants Available to Technology and Innovation Companies in Alberta, Canada

The technology industry in Alberta has grown significantly. There are a number of funding and grant opportunities for technology and innovation companies.

Read More
Jan 19, 2021
Featured Insight

Heading for the Exit: Preparation for the Sale of your Business

Heading for the Exit: Preparation for the Sale of your Business

Read More
Jul 27, 2020
Featured Insight

The Impact of COVID-19 on Agribusiness – Business and Legal Considerations

In addition to the adverse impact to public health and the public healthcare system, the COVID-19 pandemic is causing severe economic hardship to western Canada.

Read More
Apr 7, 2020
Featured Insight

Protecting Against Shareholder Activism in Uncertain Times

The aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic will provide unprecedented opportunities for shareholder activism and companies will need to prepare for coming campaigns.

Read More
Apr 6, 2020
Featured Insight

Alberta Securities Commission Introduces New Whistleblower Policy

Overview of Alberta's Recovery Plan announced June 29, 2020 and the new Invest Alberta

Read More
Dec 6, 2018
Featured Insight

The Alberta Securities Commission Expands Prospectus Exemptions for Distributions Outside Alberta

The ASC has updated ASC Rule 72-501 Distributions to Purchasers Outside Alberta and its companion policy to facilitate cross-border investment.

Read More
Aug 22, 2018

Deals & Cases (3 Posts)

Featured Insight

BGP Acquisition Corp. completes US$115 million IPO

On February 4, 2021, BGP Acquisition Corp. completed its initial public offering of 11,500,000 class A restricted voting units at an offering price of US$10.00 per Class A Restricted Voting Unit, for gross proceeds of US$115,000,000.

Read More
Feb 17, 2021
Featured Insight

Restructuring of iAnthus Capital Holdings Inc.

McMillan LLP advised iAnthus in connection with its successful restructuring transaction.

Read More
Jan 26, 2021
Featured Insight

McMillan LLP Acts for West Fraser in $4 billion Acquisition of Norbord

McMillan LLP Acts for West Fraser in $4 billion Acquisition of Norbord

Read More
Nov 26, 2020