Overview
Florind’s practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, shareholder activism, and corporate governance. He is known for his pragmatic, results-oriented approach, which is why clients rely on him for strategic advice. Florind has advised on some of the most significant and complex transactions in Canada and abroad, providing clients with exceptional service and a clear path to achieving their strategic goals.
Florind provides superior service and legal advice to domestic and foreign companies in connection with mergers and acquisitions, dispositions, and reorganizations. He also represents public and private issuers, underwriters, and large financial institutions across a wide range of industries, including banking, mining, technology, industrials, healthcare, real estate, and capital markets, in relation to various public and exempt offerings of debt and equity. Additionally, he has extensive experience in contested situations, including hostile takeover bids, topping bids, and advising special committees of boards of directors in various proxy contests.
Florind’s business acumen and proven ability to advise on some of Canada’s largest corporate finance and M&A transactions are invaluable assets to his clients.
He has been repeatedly recognized nationwide for his expertise in mergers and acquisitions and capital markets by IFLR1000: The Guide to the World’s Leading Financial and Corporate Law Firms and Lawyers.
Before joining the Firm, Florind was a Partner in the Securities and Mergers & Acquisitions group at a leading international law firm.
Professional achievements & leadership
- Rising Star Partner, Mergers & Acquisitions, IFLR1000
- Rising Star Partner, Corporate Finance, IFLR1000
Notable matters
- Advised a syndicate of dealers led by TD Securities in connection with the offering by the Toronto-Dominion Bank in respect of an offering of C$1.75 billion aggregate principal amount through the issuance of 5.77% medium-term non-viability contingent capital due on April 9, 2024.
- Advised IAMGOLD Corporation in respect of the acquisition of Vanstar Mining Resources Inc. pursuant to a court-approved plan of arrangement for a total transaction value of C$31 million.
- Advised Canaccord Genuity Corp. and SCP Resource Finance LP as co-lead underwriters in respect of various bought deal offerings of common shares of Fission Uranium Corp. for aggregate gross proceeds of C$75 million and in respect of offering of “flow-through” shares for aggreagte gross proceeds of C$9 million.
- Advised Silver Tiger Metals Inc., a mineral exploration company engaged in exploring for gold and silver, in respect of an underwritten bought deal offering of common shares for aggrgate proceeds of C$18 million.
- Advised Sprott Capital Partners LP and CIBC Capital Markets in respect of a “best efforts” private placement offering of US$65 million principal amount of secured convertible debentures of i-80 Gold Corp.
- Advised ASG III, LLC, an affiliate of Alpine Software Group in respect of the purchase of 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of ThinkLP Inc. and Anderson Oxford Inc. which are providers of loss prevention and safety case, audit, and analytics management software.
- Advised a syndicate of dealers led by TD Securities Inc. in respect of the largest corporate bond offering in Canada pursuant to which the Toronto-Dominion Bank issued medium term notes for aggregate value of C$3 billion.
- Advised the special committee of Katanga Mining Limited in respect of the largest rights offering in Canadian history for aggregate gross proceeds of C$7.6 billion.
- Advised Gold Fields in respect of its proposed acquisition of Yamana Gold Inc. for US$6.7 billion.
- Advised Elemental Royalties Corp. in respect of its successful defense against a hostile bid launched by Gold Royalty Corp. pursuant to which, Elemental ultimately announced that the hostile bid was unsuccessful as a result of failing to meet the statutory minimum tender condition.
- Advised Barrick Gold Corporation in respect of its indirect acquisition of certain prospecting licenses in Tanzania which were indirectly held by Tembo Gold Corp., for an aggregate amount of US$45 million.
- Advised the special committee of Katanga Mining Limited in respect of the sale to Glencore International AG of the remaining minority stake that was publicly-held by shareholders.
- Advised Lion Point Capital in respect of a cooperation agreement with Sierra Wireless in respect of certain proxy matters.
- Advised Desjardins Securities Inc. and BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. in respect of a bought deal offering of common shares and units of Ascot Resources Ltd., a junior exploration and development company focused on re-starting the past producing Premier gold mine located in British Columbia's Golden Triangle.
- Advised Aphria Inc. on its successful defense against a hostile takeover bid from Green Growth Brands.
- Advised Zijin Mining in respect of the acquisition of certain rights from Freeport-McMoran in the Timok copper and gold mine in Serbia with a transaction value of US$390 million.
- Advised St. Barbara Limited in respect of its acquisition of Atlantic Gold Corporation pursuant to a court-approved plan of arrangement with a transaction value of C$802 million.
- Advised Golden Star Resources in respect of a US$125 million strategic investment by La Mancha.
- Advised De Beers in respect of its acquisition of Peregrine Diamonds for a transaction value of C$107 million.
- Advised Zijin Mining in respect of its acquisition of Nevsun Resources Ltd., a leading mid-tier mining company pursuant to a friendly offer with a transaction value of C$1.86 billion.
- Advised Aphria Inc. in respect of an offering of convertible senior notes for aggregate gross proceeds of US$350 million.
- Advised CGX Energy in respect of an equity rights offering for aggregate gross proceeds of C$29 million.
- Advised a syndicate of underwriters led by Sprott Capital Partners LP and PI Financial Corp. in connection with the offering of common shares and charity flow-through common shares for aggregate gross proceeds of C$12.5 million.
- Advised Golden Star Resources Ltd., an established gold mining company that owns and operates the Wassa underground mine in Ghana, West Africa on its sale to Chifeng Jilong Gold Mining Co., Ltd. pursuant to a court-approved plan of arrangement for a total transaction value US$470 million.
- Advised Anjac SAS on the acquisition of Apollo Healthcare Corp. pursuant to a court-approved plan of arrangement for aggregate consideration of C$327 million.
- Advised Aphria Inc. on its business combination with Tilray, Inc. in an all-share acquisition valued at approximately C$5 billion, creating the world's largest global cannabis company based on pro forma revenue.
- Advised Canaccord Genuity Corp. and CIBC Capital Markets as co-lead underwriters in respect of a bought deal offering of common shares of Orezone Gold Corporation for aggregate gross proceeds of C$65 million.
- Advised The Flowr Corporation in respect of its strategic acquisition of Terrace Global Inc., a multi-country operator focused on the development and acquisition of international cannabis assets.
- Advised New Gold Inc. in respect of a flow-through financing to fund exploration drilling programs at its Rainy River and New Afton sites for net proceeds of US$10 million.
- Advised Aphria Inc. in respect of its acquisition of SW Brewing Company, LLC, one of the largest independent craft brewers in the United States based on volume, with a transaction value of US$300 million.
- Advised Pasofino Gold Limited in respect of a bought deal private placement of special warrants for aggregate gross proceeds of C$10 million.
- Advised Guyana Goldfields Inc. in respect of its sale to Zijin Mining Group Co., Ltd. pursuant to a court-approved plan of arrangement with a transaction value of C$323 million.
Professional memberships
- Canadian Bar Association
- Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC)
Bar admissions & education
- Ontario, 2015
- Juris Doctor, Osgoode Hall Law School at York University, 2014
- iBBA (Honours) Magna Cum Laude, Schulich School of Business at York University, 2011
- Exchange Program, Business, HEC Paris, 2010
