Max Ettinger, Calgary

About Max

Max advises clients on a diverse range of corporate and commercial transactions and other matters.

He has extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions, including buy-side and sell-side mandates for strategic and private equity investors across a broad scope of industries, including oil and gas, power, renewables, agri-business, infrastructure, aviation and technology. He has advised clients on a number of strategically significant transactions.

Max is also experienced in structuring joint ventures, project development, internal reorganizations and other complex commercial transactions and arrangements. His experience includes facilitating investment in and development of various projects and assets in the energy value chain, including upstream oil and gas production, pipeline and rail transportation, midstream, downstream and marketing, power and renewables, and carbon capture, storage and utilization.

Max articled and practised with the Corporate & Commercial group in Toronto prior to joining the Corporate & Energy group in Calgary.

Prior to joining Blakes, Max worked in the energy marketing department of a large oil and gas company in Calgary.

Select Experience

Energy Transactions/Projects

Energy Capital Partners on its preferred equity investment in a renewable fuels refining facility
Suncor Energy Inc. on its C$1-billion acquisition of an additional 21.3% working interest in the Fort Hills Project from Teck Resources Limited
Wolf Midstream on the investment in and development of a number of midstream facilities and related commercial arrangements, including refining, pipeline transportation and carbon capture, utilization and storage
TC Energy on its sale of a 65% equity interest in the Coastal GasLink Pipeline to KKR and AIMCo
ENMAX Corporation on its acquisition of Emera Maine's transmission and distribution business from Emera Inc.
Capstone Infrastructure on its acquisition of the Wild Rose wind projects from NaturEner and subsequent power purchase arrangements
Kinder Morgan Canada on its C$4.5-billion sale of the Trans Mountain Pipeline system and expansion project to the Government of Canada
Suncor Energy Inc. on its acquisition of assets from Environmental Refueling Systems Inc.
Painted Pony Petroleum Ltd. on its acquisition of UGR Blair Creek Ltd., an operator of natural gas assets in the Montney region of British Columbia
A Canadian energy company in connection with a strategic joint venture to assess potential floating LNG projects in British Columbia

Agri-Business Transactions/Projects

Nutrien Ltd. on the internal reorganization of its US and Canadian operations
Nutrien Ltd. on its acquisition of assets from BRA Defensivos Agricolas Ltda., a Brazilian pesticide company
Nutrien Ltd. on its acquisition of the Tec Agro Group, a leading agricultural retailer in Brazil
Nutrien Ltd. on its acquisition of Agrosema Comercial Agricola Ltda., an agricultural retailer in the southern Brazil crop input market
Nutrien Ltd. on its acquisition of Agrichem do Brasil S.A., one of Brazil's largest liquid NPK fertilizer companies, from Patria Investments Ltda.
Agrium Inc. on its US$38-billion merger of equals with Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc.
Agrium Inc. on the reorganization of its domestic wholesale business
A global milk company on its proposed licensing arrangements to enter the Canadian market

Private Equity Transactions/Projects

Newlook Capital Partners, on the divestiture of its investment in a fixed-gas detection business in Canada
J.F. Lehman & Company on its acquisition of Wenzel Associates, Inc., a designer and manufacturer of crystal oscillators and related systems and products for military, space, and commercial markets
GenNx 360 Capital Partners on its acquisition of multiple targets in the aviation services sector
KPS Capital on its US$425-million purchase of TaylorMade Golf from Adidas
Lone Star Funds on the reorganization of certain holdings in brick, pipe and precast products manufacturing in conjunction with a joint venture and initial public offering
H.I.G. Capital on its acquisition of AVI-SPL, a provider of digital workplace collaboration technology and solutions
Lone Star Funds on its US$1.4-billion acquisition of Hanson Building Products from HeidelbergCement Group
A private equity firm in connection with the establishment of a dental service organization and its continuing consolidation of specialist dental and orthodontist practices across Canada

Other Transactions/Projects

NRC Group on its acquisition of Iron Horse Response Limited
Vela Software, an operating subsidiary of Constellation Software Inc., on its acquisition of the MOSAIC business unit from Quorum Business Solutions Inc.
DP World Limited on its US$3.7-billion joint venture with Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec to create an investment platform focused on investing in ports and terminals globally
Cliffs Natural Resources on the sale of various assets used in connection with the Bloom Lake and Wabush Mines iron ore mines and other related matters
LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton on its acquisition of a controlling interest in luggage manufacturer RIMOWA
Various purchasers and potential purchasers on acquisitions and proposed acquisitions of aircraft fleets and other aviation-related assets