Michael Elder, Toronto

About Michael

Michael has experience in a wide range of domestic and cross-border M&A transactions and corporate reorganizations, advising public and private companies on acquisitions, divestitures, private equity investments, joint ventures and other corporate transactions.

In recent years, Michael has advised on the acquisition, disposal and reorganization of retail and commercial banks, insurance companies and brokerages, fund, asset and wealth managers, and retail and commercial loan portfolios. Michael also has extensive experience in general M&A outside the financial services sector, including technology, media, health care and manufacturing transactions.

Michael regularly acts for a variety of companies in connection with corporate structuring, private governance and corporate reorganizations, including advising foreign companies on the establishment and structuring of their Canadian operations.

Select Experience

Recent representative matters include acting for:

Royal Bank of Canada on its C$13.5-billion acquisition of HSBC Bank Canada
Hub International Limited on its acquisition of Mitchell Sandham Inc.
CI Financial Corp. on its acquisition of Coriel Capital Inc.
Definity Financial Corporation and McDougall Insurance Brokers Limited on its C$208-million acquisition of Drayden Insurance Ltd.
The Canada Life Assurance Company on its acquisition of Value Partners Group Inc.
Definity Financial Corporation and McDougall Insurance Brokers Limited on its C$232-million acquisition of McFarlan Rowlands Insurance Brokers Inc. and affiliated entities
Hub Financial Inc. on its acquisition of Bridgeforce Financial Group Inc.
A major Canadian pension fund on the reorganization of its investment holding structure
CPM Holdings, Inc. on its acquisition of Dorssers, Inc., a Canadian pellet mill manufacturer for the feed and biomass industries
Pearson plc on its sale of Éditions du renouveau pédagogique inc. (ERPI) to TC Media, part of Transcontinental Inc.
CI Financial Corp. on its acquisition of Northwood Family Office
The shareholders of Landmark Student Transportation (Landmark) on the sale of a majority interest in Landmark to Connor, Clark & Lunn Infrastructure
Everest Clinical Research, a leading Canadian contract research organization, on the sale of a majority interest to Arlington Capital Partners
A shareholder of Canada Protection Plan on the sale of its life insurance distribution business to Foresters Financial
BDC Capital on its investment in Pliteq Holdings Inc., an Ontario based global leader in commercial sound control building product
Inverness Graham, as Canadian counsel on its sale of Kalkomey Enterprises to Cove Hill Partners
Hub International Limited on its acquisition of the Canadian benefits consulting business of Morneau Shepell Ltd.
Blue Cross Life Insurance Company of Canada in connection with its national alliance with Pacific Blue Cross, The Canassurance Hospital Service Association and the other members of the Canadian Association of Blue Cross Plans
Intact Financial Corporation on its C$1-billion acquisition of The Guarantee Company of North America and MGA Frank Cowan Company Limited
RBC Ventures on its acquisition of Dr. Bill, a premium billing solution for Canada's medical community
Fengate Asset Management in connection with the Macdonald Block Reconstruction Project, a project to design, build, finance and maintain Macdonald Block, which is a complex of four towers in Toronto, Ontario
Simpson Oil Limited (Simpson Oil) on its C$1.57-billion sale of 75% of SOL Investments Limited to Parkland Fuel
CI Financial Corp. on its acquisition of WealthBar Financial Services Inc.
Hub International Limited on its acquisition of the property and casualty insurance business of Cypher Systems Group Inc.
Siemens Healthineers on its US$200-million purchase of Epocal from Alere Inc.
Lavazza S.p.A. on its acquisition of Kicking Horse Coffee Co. Ltd.
Just Eat plc on its acquisition of SkipTheDishes Restaurant Services
CIT Financial on the sale of substantially all of its Canadian operations to Laurentian Bank for over C$1-billion
The Bank of Nova Scotia on the sale of the business and assets of Roynat Lease Finance, a division of its subsidiary Roynat Inc., to Meridian Credit Union Limited
Ventura Foods, LLC on its acquisition of the sauces and condiments business of Canadian-based Wing's Foods