William S. Maslechko

Partner

403.260.0377
wsm@bdplaw.com
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Education:

University of Toronto, Bachelor of Laws, 1985

Bar admission: Alberta 1991 and Ontario 1987

Practice areas:

Capital markets, Corporate governance and disclosure, Shareholder rights and activism, Mergers, acquisitions and other strategic transactions

Experience

William's focus is on securities and corporate law, including:

Capital markets
Mergers and acquisitions
Corporate governance
Shareholder activism
Advising a broad range of clients including both TSX Venture Exchange and TSX listed issuers and national and regional investment dealers

Professional involvement

Professional associations

Member, Law Society of Alberta
Member, Canadian Bar Association

Presentations

Bill lecturers at public seminars in the areas of securities law, corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions.

Representative work

Ag Growth International Inc.'s $104 million public offering

Counsel to Ag Growth International Inc. for its public offering of convertible unsecured subordinated debentures by short form prospectus for total gross proceeds of $104 million.

Ag Growth International Inc.'s $115 million public offering

Counsel to Ag Growth International Inc. in its $115 million public offering of 1,874,500 common shares.

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P's $6.8 billion acquisition of Inter Pipeline Ltd.

Counsel to Inter Pipeline Ltd. in its acquisition by Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P pursuant to a statutory plan of arrangement for $6.8 billion.

FYi Eye Care Services and Products Inc.'s strategic investment

Counsel to FYi Eye Care Services and Products Inc., the world's largest optometrist-controlled eye care company, in connection with the strategic minority equity investment in FYi made by L Catterton Management Limited, the largest and most global consumer-focused private equity firm, for an undisclosed amount.

Ag Growth International Inc.'s $86 million financing

Counsel to Ag Growth International Inc. in its public offering of $86 million senior subordinated unsecured debentures with an interest rate of 5.25% per annum maturing on December 31, 2024.

Clarke Inc.'s acquisition of Holloway Lodging Corporation

Counsel to Clarke Inc. and the special committee of Clarke's board of directors in Clarke's acquisition of the 49% of Holloway Lodging Corporation that it did not already own. The acquisition was completed by plan of arrangement.

Liquor Stores N.A. Ltd.'s proxy contest defense

Counsel to Liquor Stores in the defense of a proxy contest initiated by a dissident institutional shareholder to gain control of Liquor Stores' board of directors. BD&P’s work included the successful defense of Liquor Stores' soliciting dealer fee arrangement before a hearing of the Alberta Securities Commission.

Inter Pipeline Ltd.'s $500 million note offering

Counsel to Inter Pipeline Ltd. in a public offering of $500 million senior unsecured medium-term notes.

Tourmaline Oil Corp.'s $1.3 billion acquisition of energy assets

Counsel to Tourmaline Oil Corp. in the $1.37 billion acquisition of strategic assets located in the Alberta Deep Basin and the north east British Columbia Gundy area from Shell Canada Energy.

Tourmaline Oil Corp.'s $750 million financing

Counsel to Tourmaline Oil Corp in the $750 million financing comprising a $115 million public offering of 3,309,700 subscription receipts and the concurrent private placement offering of 18,274,000 subscription receipts with certain institutional investors for gross proceeds of approximately $635 million

Inter Pipeline Ltd.'s $600 million public offering

Counsel to Inter Pipeline Ltd. in a $600 million public offering of 22,430,000 subscription receipts.

Axia NetMedia Corporation's $272 million acquisition

Counsel to Axia NetMedia Corporation in the $272 million acquisition by Partners Group in a going private transaction completed by plan of arrangement.

Athabasca Oil Corporation's light oil joint venture

Counsel to Athabasca in the $486 million light oil joint venture with Murphy Oil Company Ltd., the Canadian subsidiary to Murphy Oil Corporation, to develop the Duvernay and Montney in the Kaybob area of northwestern Alberta.

Ag Growth International Inc.'s $221 million acquisition

Counsel to Ag Growth International Inc. in the $221 million acquisition of the Westeel division of Vicwest Inc.

Inter Pipeline Fund conversion to Inter Pipeline Ltd.

Counsel to Inter Pipeline Fund in its conversion to Inter Pipeline Ltd., a dividend paying corporation.

Athabasca Oil Corporation's $1.35 billion initial public offering

Counsel to Athabasca Oil Corporation in its $1.35 billion initial public offering of common shares.

Athabasca Oil Sands Corp.'s energy asset sale and joint venture

Counsel to Athabasca Oil Sands Corp. in the $1.9 billion sale of 60% interest in McKay & Dover Oil Sands assets to PetroChina International Investment Company Limited and negotiated related joint venture.

Just Energy Income Fund's acquisition of Universal Energy Group Ltd.

Counsel to Just Energy Income Fund in the $289 million acquisition of Universal Energy Group Ltd. completed by statutory plan of arrangement.

Formation and initial financing of Parex Resources Inc.

Counsel to Petro Andina Resources Inc. in the $500 million acquisition by Pluspetrol Resources Corporation N.V., and formation and initial financing of Parex Resources Inc.

Athabasca Oil Corporation $550 million financing

Counsel to Athabasca Oil Corporation in respect to a $550 million private offering of senior secured second lien notes

Private company equity commitment and debt financing

Counsel to a private company in respect to its $150 million equity line financing and US$160 million private placement of senior unsecured notes.

Clarke Inc. acquisition of Holloway Lodging Corporation

Counsel to Clarke Inc. and the special committee of Clarke's board of directors in connection with Clarke's acquisition of the 49% of Holloway Lodging Corporation that it did not already own. The acquisition was completed by statutory Plan of Arrangement

International Petroleum Corporation acquisition of oil and natural gas assets from Cenovus Energy Inc.

Counsel to International Petroleum Corporation in the acquisition of oil and natural gas assets in Suffield and Alderson areas of southern Alberta from Cenovus Energy Inc. for proceeds of $512 million plus an additional deferred contingent amount of $36 million

Just Energy Income Fund acquisition of Universal Energy Group Ltd.

Counsel to Just Energy Income Fund in respect to the $289 million acquisition of Universal Energy Group Ltd. completed by statutory Plan of Arrangement

Awards

Recent honours and recognition

Recognized by Chambers Canada as a leading lawyer in corporate and commercial (2016-2021, 2024)

Recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada in Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions (2023, 2024, 2025)

Named in Who's Who Legal as a recommended lawyer in Energy - Oil and Gas (2024)

Named in Who's Who Legal as a Global Elite Thought Leader in Energy (2023).

Named in Who's Who Legal as a recommended lawyer in Canada - Capital Markets (Annually since 2010), and in M&A and Energy (2018, 2023)

Named in Who's Who Legal as a recommended lawyer in Energy - Power/Electricity (2023), Capital Markets - Debt and Equity (2023), Capital Markets - Structured Finance (2023), and Energy - Oil & Gas (2023)

Named in The Legal 500 Canada as a recommended lawyer in Capital Markets (2023) and a leading lawyer in corporate and M&A (2018-2021,2023)

Senior statesperson in Corporate and Commercial law (Alberta) by Chambers Canada (2023)

Named by Lexpert/ American Lawyer Guide to the leading 500 lawyers in Canada in the area of Corporate Mid-Market (2020, 2023), Corporate Commerical (2023), Corporate Finance (2023), and in the area of M&A (2004-2011, 2014-2015, 2018-2019, 2023)

Recognized by Chambers Canada as a leading lawyer in corporate and commercial (Alberta) (2016-2021, 2024)

Named in Lexpert's special edition on Canada's leading energy lawyers (2020)

Calgary corporate law lawyer of the year by Best Lawyers in Canada (2018)

Named in Lexpert's special edition on Canada's leading corporate lawyers (annually since 2013)

Recognized by Lexpert in their Guide on the Leading US/Canada cross border corporate lawyers in Canada (2013-2016)

Named in Chambers Global as a leading lawyer in the area of corporate M&A (2006-2015)

Named in Legal Media's Expert Guide to the world's leading lawyers in M&A (2013-2017)

Named in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a leading Canadian lawyer in M&A and corporate finance and securities (annually since 2002), in corporate commercial law (annually since 2004) and in the area of corporate mid-market (annually since 2007)

Recommended lawyer in the areas of corporate law and M&A law by Best Lawyers in Canada (annually since 2006)

News

November 6, 2024