Jacob Gofman How to pronounce this name. Partner | Toronto

Recent representative transactions include acting as counsel to:

Mergers & Acquisitions

• BCE Inc. on the C$4.7-billion sale of its ownership stake in Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) to Rogers Communications Inc.

• Magnet Forensics Inc. on its C$1.8-billion acquisition by an affiliate of private equity firm Thoma Bravo

• Stonepeak on its preferred equity investment in connection with the C$1.2-billion take-private of LOGITEC Corporation (TSX: LGT.A LGT.B) by Blue Wolf Capital Partners LLC

• Ten Coves Capital and the other rolling shareholders on the C$274-million take-private of Q4 Inc. (TSX:QFOR) by Sumeru Equity Partners

• SEA Electric Inc. on its US$300-million acquisition by Exro Technologies Inc.

• Danaher Corporation in connection with its acquisitions of Aquatics Informatics, VanRx Pharmasystems, Precision Nanosystems and Tilia Labs

• Electrical Components International, Inc., a portfolio company of Cerberus Capital Management L.P., on its acquisitions of Promark Electronics Inc., BHC Cable Assemblies and Aerosystems International

• Cyclica Inc. on its acquisition by Recursion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

• Cerberus Capital Management, L.P. on its entry into a definitive agreement to acquire a majority interest in Dorel Industries, Inc., a global organization operating three distinct businesses in juvenile products, bicycles and home products, in a take-private transaction, valuing Dorel at approximately C$470-million

• The Stars Group on its US$15-billion enterprise value combination with Flutter Entertainment to form the world’s largest online betting and gaming operator, which includes the PokerStars, Fox Bet and FanDuel businesses in the U.S.

• Cronos Group Inc. in connection with the C$2.4-billion strategic equity investment in Cronos Group by Altria Group, Inc.

• Delek Group Ltd. on its acquisition of all of the outstanding common shares in the capital of Ithaca Energy Inc. not already owned by Delek by way of a supported takeover bid and subsequent compulsory acquisition which valued Ithaca's enterprise value at C$1.68-billion

• Kognitiv Corporation on its C$525-million acquisition of Aimia Inc.'s Loyalty Solutions business

• RIV Capital Inc. on its US$247-million acquisition of Etain LLC

• Element Financial Corporation on its "butterfly" spin-out transaction by way of plan of arrangement pursuant to which Element separated into two new public companies: Element Fleet Management Corp. (TSX:EFN) and ECN Capital Corp. (TSX:ECN)

• Kinross Gold Corporation on the sale of its 25% interest in the Cerro Casale project and 100% interest in the Quebrada Seca project to Goldcorp Inc. for consideration including US$300-million in cash

• Element Financial Corporation in its US$5-billion acquisition of the PHH Arval vehicle fleet management services business and its related C$1.4-billion public offering of subscription receipts, extendible convertible debentures and cumulative five-year rate reset preferred shares

• The Brick Ltd. in connection with its sale to Leon's Furniture Limited for C$700-million

• The Special Committee of InterRent REIT in connection with the internalization of the REIT's property management functions at a price of C$38-million

• Several U.S. private equity firms in connection with their acquisitions of Canadian companies operating across the technology, travel, consumer goods and manufacturing sectors

Corporate Finance

• Element Fleet Management Corp. in connection with its senior note offerings of US$750-million, US$500-million and US$450-million

• Magnet Forensics Inc. in connection with its C$115-million initial public offering of subordinate voting shares and C$74-million secondary offering of subordinate voting shares

• Intact Financial Corporation on its US$1.7-billion acquisition of OneBeacon Insurance Group, Ltd., and related C$700-million equity financing consisting of a C$360-million bought deal public offering of subscription receipts and a C$340-million private placement of subscription receipts

• The underwriters in connection with the C$1-billion initial public offering of REIT units and senior unsecured debentures of Choice Properties REIT, as well as follow-on offerings of partnership notes and senior unsecured debentures for approximately C$1.9-billion since its IPO in 2013

• The underwriters in connection with the US$1.39-billion cross-border secondary offering of common shares of Canadian Pacific Railway Limited by certain funds managed by Pershing Square Capital Management, L.P.

• Element Financial Corporation on public financings aggregating more than C$5-billion, including a C$2.8-billion prospectus offering (the third largest bought deal in Canadian capital markets history), comprising C$2.04-billion of subscription receipts (for underlying common shares), C$575-million extendible convertible subordinated debentures and C$172.5-million of rate reset preferred shares

• Cronos Group Inc. on public offerings of common shares aggregating more than C$140-million, including the first MJDS offering by a cannabis issuer

• The underwriters in connection with the US$600-million cross-border secondary offering of common shares of Restaurant Brands International Inc. by an affiliate of 3G Capital Partners LP

• The underwriters in connection with an offering by Kinross Gold Corporation of US$287.7-million of common shares

• The underwriters in connection with the US$75-million initial public offering of Mainstreet Health Investments Inc. as well as its follow-on offering of subscription receipts for US$75-million

• The underwriters in connection with various offerings of Canadian-dollar high-yield notes, including offerings by Source Energy Services, DHX Media Ltd., Wajax Corporation and GFL Environmental Inc.

Proxy Contests/Shareholder Activism Matters

• Element Fleet Management Corp. on shareholder activism and governance matters in connection with its 2018 shareholders' meeting

• Bill Wells and Greg Gubitz, former senior executives of Biovail Corporation, on their successful shareholder activism resulting in Board and management changes at Bioniche Inc.

Jacob has been recognized as a leading lawyer by:

• Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyers – Independently Rated Lawyers – 2017–2024 (As nominated by senior in-house counsel)

Jacob serves as co-chair of the Toronto Student Committee.  He is actively involved in mentoring and is a past recipient of the Firm's "Mentor of the Year" award.

Jacob has lectured on corporate governance considerations in M&A transactions at the New York University School of Law.

Jacob is a member of the Law Society of Ontario and the Canadian Bar Association.

• Co-author : M&A Take-Privates on a Roll
  Blakes Bulletin on Mergers & Acquisitions, May 28, 2024.
• Co-author : Business Is Business, But Some Acquired Businesses Are More Primary Than Others
  Blakes Bulletin on Capital Markets, April 21, 2022.

Admitted to the Ontario Bar – 2012
JD, University of Toronto – 2011
BA (Hon.), Queen's University – 2008